It didn’t exactly go how I saw it in my head. I wasn’t planning to burn it all down. But then Damien pulled his shit, and I made my choice.
She begins to stir, mumbling. I pour a glass of water, setting it on the nightstand, then sit on the edge of the bed. She’s not fully awake just yet, but close. The mattress creaks under my weight as I reach for her hand, then change my mind, balling my fists in my lap instead.
She’s going to hate me. She’s going to be scared. But I’d rather she be mad and yell at me than vanish without a trace.
I’ll take her anger. I’ll take every ounce of blame if it means she’s safe and gets a chance to choose her own life, even if it doesn’t have me in it.
I wait and watch. Noticing the way her breathing changes, pulling herself back to reality. She’s coming back to me, whether she wants to or not. And I hope to hell that when she does, she understands why I did what I did. Why I’d do it all again, fuck the consequences.
Ivory’s lips part as she tries to swallow past the taste of whatever she was dosed with. Her eyes finally find me, wide and glassy, trying to focus.
I brace myself for the yelling, the tears, the accusations…anything. Hell, I’d welcome her screaming at me. At least I’d know where I stood. Instead, she just looks scared. Wrecked.
“What… What happened?” Her voice is raw.
I’m still sitting at the edge of the bed, my fingertips digging into my knees to keep from reaching for her. “You were drugged at the gala. Damien gave you something and tried to take you out a side door. I stopped him and got you out of there, bringing you here.”
She blinks slow and swallows hard. Her arms shake as she pushes herself up, clutching the blanket to her chest. “You…you took me? My dad…Hudson, my dad is going to kill you.” Her voice cracks. “He’ll come after you. You don’t know what he’s capable of.”
I can’t help myself. I move closer, resting my hand on top of hers. She’s cold. “Let him come,” I say. “He’ll have to go through me.”
That’s when she breaks. Tears running down her cheeks. It’s not anger, but fear. “You don’t understand,” she whispers. “He’ll ruin you. He ruins everyone who gets in his way.”
I pull her into my arms. She doesn’t fight it, letting her body melt against me. Her shoulders shake as she sobs into my chest. I hold her tight, resting my chin in her hair, breathing in her scent, trying to ground us both. “You’re safe, baby,” I tell her. “No one’s going to touch you, Ivory. Not your father, not Crest, not anyone.”
She lets go of one last sob before taking in a few shallow breaths, trying to pull herself together. I stroke her back, slow and steady, waiting her out. It kills me to see her this way, so fucking scared, blaming herself for what I chose to do.
When her breathing slows, and her mind becomes a little clearer, I loosen my hold just enough so she can see my face.Her eyes search mine, all red and wet. “Hudson, promise me you won’t let him hurt you,” she pleads.
I almost smile. After everything that’s happened, all she’s worried about is me.
“I promise. No one’s going to lay a hand on me. Not as long as I’ve got you to fight for.”
She nods, sniffling, and settles back into my chest. But it doesn’t go unnoticed that there’s a fight burning in her, under all that fear.
We stay like that for I don’t know how long, me holding her close. The whole time, I’m silently promising myself I’ll fight the whole fucking world if I have to. Do whatever needs to be done to keep her safe.
I loosen my grip, and she sits up, swiping at her mascara-streaked face. “Can I take a shower?”
She acts hesitant, her voice so quiet I barely register what she says.
I nod. “Of course.”
She gradually stands to her feet, pointing in either direction till I indicate the correct one.
“That way.”
Before leaving, she bends down, placing a soft kiss against my lips. I close my eyes, letting myself drink her in.
She pulls back, her tiny hand finding my cheek. “Thank you, Hudson. For saving my life,” she says, resting her forehead against mine.
Fuck me.
I grunt. I know this is not the time, but my dick has a mind of its own, rising to the occasion.
“You’d better go, before I throw you on this bed and fuck you senseless.”
She giggles. “Promise?”
