“You’re not.” Her voice broke as she tried to assess the damage. “The bullet’s still in there. You need?—”
“I know.” He tightened his hold, his face buried in her hair. “But right now, I just need you, little girl.”
Relief flooded Seth. Beck—even half dead on his feet—was taking care of their girl…making sure she felt safe and loved.
Suddenly, he heard the clatter of a kitchen chair tumbling across the tile and turned to find his trembling mother wrenching open the basement door. “Carl!”
Footsteps pounded up the stairs. The burly man appeared, disheveled and pale, but whole. He pulled his mother into his arms and held her close as she sobbed against his chest.
Seth let everyone else have their moments. Right now, his son needed him.
He schooled the violence from his expression as he approached a white-faced Hudson. The teen still stood rooted in place, eyes glassy and unfocused, clenching and unclenching his fists at his sides. His chest heaved like he’d just run a marathon.
Shock. Adrenaline crash. Seth knew the signs.
He slowed his approach to keep from spooking Hudson and cupped his shoulder. “What you did was brave, son. Dangerous as fuck, but brave.”
Hudson’s breath hitched. He blinked slowly, and when his eyes met Seth’s, tears flooded down his cheeks. His whole face crumpled—fear, rage, relief, all of it hitting at once.
“I’m sorry, Dad.” His voice cracked. “I didn’t know what else to do. That cockbag threatened to kill us all and make you watch.” He swiped at his face with the back of his hand, but the tears kept coming. “He grabbed Heavenly. He was going to do her first. I-I don’t know what happened. I just lost it. I couldn’t let him k-kill her.”
Seth’s throat tightened. Fear of what could have been threatened to choke him as he yanked Hudson against his chest and held him tight. “It’s okay. You did good. You saved Heavenly’s life…saved everyone’s lives. But seeing you pin Gene down, watching him try to break free and kill you…it scared the hell out of me. I could have lost you.”
Hudson collapsed against him, his body shaking with raw, ugly sobs.
“I’ve got you, son,” Seth assured, cupping the back of Hudson’s head. “You’re safe. Heavenly is safe. Everyone’s going to be all right.”
“Beck?” Hudson demanded.
“Right behind us. He needs medical attention, but he’ll be okay. Deep breath.”
Hudson nodded, his fists gripping Seth’s shirt like he was drowning. “I was so scared.”
“I know. But you didn’t let fear win. You protected them. You protected her.” He held Hudson tighter. “I’m so proud of you, son.”
“I wasn’t trying to be brave. I just…reacted.”
Seth understood that perfectly, and that spoke volumes about Hudson’s character. Proud was an understatement. “I love you.”
Hudson’s breath stuttered. He clung harder. “I love you, too.”
Seth pressed his lips to the top of Hudson’s head, his own eyes burning. Then, because the kid needed it, he pulled back just enough to meet his gaze and forced a crooked smile. “Maybe we don’t mention this to your mom right away, yeah?”
Hudson choked out a laugh, swiping at his tears again as he worked to pull himself together. “If ever.”
Seth squeezed his shoulder once more. “You good?”
His son nodded. “Yeah. I’ll stop crying like a pussy.”
“You’re not a pussy. It’s adrenaline drop. Go check on Grandma Grace. And maybe don’t tell her you’re a pussy when she asks how you are.”
Hudson’s smile brightened. “I don’t think she’ll care. Did you hear the words coming out of her mouth?”
“Yeah. She was once married to a cop.” Seth winked.
As the kid crossed the room to where Grace and Carl embraced, Seth turned and damn near lunged for Heavenly. He couldn’t wait another second to hold her.
She saw him coming and broke away from Beck to throw herself into his arms. Seth caught her, lifting her off the ground as he clutched her to his chest and buried his face in her neck. She wrapped her arms around him so tightly she nearly crushed him.
