Caged (The Defiant Kings Book 1)

With just a few days left before the fight, training starts earlier and lasts longer. But that doesn’t mean it’s all day. So, with my first break between sessions, I grab my phone to get out of the gym and away from everyone for a couple of hours.

I haven’t seen my sister Lenny in a few days. My siblings and I try to do some form of family dinner once a week, if we can. Whether that’s a Sunday night at the Kings games or all of us picking a night to watch the Revolution play during the season, we still try. Occasionally, we actually manage to get together at Dad’s old house, where his final wife, Ashlyn, and our youngest sister, Madeline, still live. But we skipped family dinner altogether last week, since so many of us spent the weekend in London watching the Kings game. I wasn’t disappointed about missing that trip.

After I make a pit stop at Amelia’s bakery to grab something for Len, I head to her house. When I walk through her front door, I notice Lenny’s gray eyes look like she’s gone a few rounds in the ring with one of my opponents and lost.

Of course, that’s not what it is because long before I’d ever get the opportunity to destroy anyone who hurt my sister, Len’s husband, Sebastian, would have killed any man who even considered laying a hand on her.

According to the family group text, my nine-month-old nephew, Maverick, has another ear infection and has gone on a sleep strike. Which means his momma isn’t getting any sleep either.

I hold up the cup carrier I’m hiding behind my back and smile, knowing the large coffee and bag of muffins should at least help a little. “I come bearing caffeine and muffins from Sweet Temptations.” And maybe an ulterior motive, but she doesn’t need to know that.

“Shh . . . Maverick’s sleeping in the swing. If you wake him up, I swear to God, you’re taking him home with you, Hudson.” Scolding complete, she lifts up on her toes and kisses my cheek. “But seriously, you know you’re my favorite brother.”

I hand Lenny the coffee. “Sure I am.”

Don’t get me wrong. I love being Len’s favorite brother. Considering there’s five of us, that title is hard-won. We’ve always been close, and it’s a title I cherish. But right now, she’d say that to anyone who walked through the door with coffee.

Lenny grabs the bag of muffins from the counter, then sits down on a kitchen chair and kicks up her legs to rest on the one across from her before she sniffs the bag. “Our sister is a goddess.”

“Hey.” I pull out the chair next to her and sit. “Amelia’s great and all, but I’m the one who brought you sustenance. She only made it.”

Her tired eyes roll before she picks her muffin and throws the bag at my head. “I said you were my favorite. What more do you want from me?”

I catch the bag, stick my nose in it, and inhale deeply. Then I push it aside.

“Just eat one, Hud. You know you want to.”

“Training camp, remember? I’ve got a fight in four days.” I pat my abs and ignore the growl coming from her. “No sugar. You know the rules.”

“Why are you here and not at the gym then?” She rips off a chunk of the cinnamon swirl goodness and pops it into her mouth, then moans.

“Save it for Bash, Len. I don’t need to know what that sounds like.” I lean out of the way when she tries to smack me. “I was already there this morning, and I’ve got to be back later today.”

Maverick picks that moment to let us know he’s awake with a pathetic whimper, and one look at Len tells me she’s about to burst into tears right behind him. I push her coffee closer to her and stand. “You stay here. I’ve got him.”

An exhausted smile pulls at her lips as she whispers—“Definitely my favorite brother”—while I walk out of the room.

When I stop in front of the swing, Len’s lazy bulldog is laying at the foot of the baby swing, snoring. He’s completely ignoring my chunky little nephew, who stops mid-scream and stares at me. Tear-soaked dark-brown eyes blink before I unbuckle him from the seat and scoop him up. “Mav, my main man. Where’s your binky, dude?” I search the cushioned seat for the green pacifier, then stuff my finger in the hollow end, and plunk it back into his mouth, making sure to rub his gums the way Bash showed me. “Come on, dude. Your momma is going on strike if you don’t let her sleep soon.” He curls into my chest and closes his eyes, revealing the fat, wet teardrops sticking to his long lashes.

“You’re so good with him, Hud.”

I turn to find my sister watching me. “Yeah well, I get to give him back at night, Len. It’s way easier to be the cool uncle than the tired parent.”

She takes a step toward me, then runs her hand over Mav’s back. “At some point, you’re going to love someone so much, you’ll refuse to let go.”

“It’s not like I don’t want that. I just haven’t found it yet, Len.” My confession is quiet, so I don’t upset the ticking time bomb in my arms, but it’s true, nonetheless. No one has ever held my interest for more than a night or two.

But even as I think that, I know it’s a lie.

I’d love to have what some of my siblings have found. But I honestly didn’t know if it was in the cards for me. Not until now. I’m pretty sure my chance has been right in front of my face, and I just needed to open my damn eyes.

Maverick’s breathing evens out, but I don’t put him down. Not yet. I want to make sure Len gets a few minutes to rest. “Is Bash at the stadium?”

Her husband is a monster on our football team.

“Yeah. They got back from London really early yesterday, so we took the day off together. But we ended up at the pediatrician’s office in the afternoon.” I follow her back into the kitchen and watch her inhale her coffee. “Did you really just stop by to check on me and bring me coffee?”

Did I?

I stand there with my hand spread wide over Mav’s back, debating how I want to answer her question. But I don’t have to debate for long.

“Are you going to tell me what’s going on with you and Maddie Dixon?” Lenny picks up her muffin and tears another piece off. When I don’t answer her right away, she tosses the piece at my head. “Word travels fast, Hudson. Especially when your coach is married to our sister.” She tsks at me a few times, with a cocky expression. “He’s not happy with you. Says you picked a shit week to decide you’re ready to claim your girl.”

When my mouth drops open, Lenny smiles. “His words. Not mine. So, tell me again, Hud. Why are you here?”

“Don’t ever let anyone tell you you’re not the smartest sibling, Len.” I sit back down and press a kiss to Mav’s big old head. “How did you know Bash was worth the fight?” I ask, then shake my head. “That’s not what I meant . . .”

“Stop. I know what you mean, and I was there. I know I had to fight for my husband. But he was worth it. It was like it was something I knew deep down. There wasn’t any one thing. It was everything.” Her tired eyes rest on my sleeping nephew, and her whole body relaxes. “As soon as I realized that, I knew I was ready to dig my heels in and refuse to let go.”

She crosses the room and refills her coffee cup from the pot brewing on her counter. “Listen to me, big brother. Dad did a number on all of us, in one way or another. But just because he couldn’t keep it in his pants, and fell in and out of love more often than most people change their underwear, doesn’t mean any of us have to be that way. I honestly think because of that, none of us will be like him. Bash is it for me. He’s the love of my life. I don’t know what I’d do without him.”

“How long did it take you to figure that out?”

“A week. Maybe less. But there’s no rule book here, Hud. Bash had his own issues to deal with, and from what I’ve heard, so does Maddie.” She sips her coffee and hums happily to herself. “If you’re looking for a rule book to follow, you’re going to be disappointed. It looks different for everyone. But seriously, if you’re here asking these questions, I think you already know your answer.”

Maverick buries his face against my neck and whimpers, so Lenny takes him from me and pats his bottom. “Somebody needs a diaper change. Wanna help, Uncle Hud?”

“That’s all you, Len. I’ve got to get back to the gym.” I stand from the chair and drop a kiss on her head. “Any chance we can keep this talk between us?”

The little brat laughs. “Not a chance. We were all taking bets on who you’d go to. Honestly, I thought it would be Max.”

“You coming to the fight Saturday night?” I ask as she follows me to the door.

“Wouldn’t miss it, big brother. Love you.”

A sound comes out of Maverick, followed by a smell I wouldn’t have expected from a baby. “Yeah . . . I’m out. See ya, Len.”

“Coward,” she calls back.

Ha. That’ll be the day.

Maddie

Tuesday afternoon, I finish up my meetings a little late and rush into the house to change for the gym. In hindsight, I really should have been paying closer attention. A scream is ripped from me as a man pops out in front of me. Instinct kicks in, and I smack him with my computer.

I guess I should have waited a minute before I did that because Brandon’s best friend and Kings teammate, Watkins, is now curled in a ball on the floor, cupping his hand between his legs and groaning.

“Shoot.” I squat down next to Watty. “Did I knee you in the nuts too?”

He shakes his head in response and rolls away from me when I lay my hand on his back. “I’m so sorry. But what the heck were you doing scaring me like that?”

“What the hell?” Brandon stops at the bottom of the stairs and looks between Watty and me, then doubles over laughing. “Don’t break him, Mads. We need him on Sunday.”

I flip him the bird and offer Watkins my hand while he fights his way back onto his feet, eyeing me like I’m going to attack again. “Shoot, Mads?” His voice is hoarse and clipped. “Seriously? Shoot? You kicked me in the junk, and shoot is the best you got?”

He walks gingerly into the kitchen and helps himself to the trusty bag of peas in the freezer, then joins Brandon on the couch and shoves the peas down the front of his gym pants.

My brother hands him the Xbox remote with a scowl. “Throw them out when you’re done, asshole. I don’t want to ice up later with produce that’s touched your balls.”

I drown the two of them out and slip my heels off, moaning, now that I can finally feel my toes again. Why do cute shoes always cause so much pain?

“Mads,” Brandon looks away from the game they’ve queued up on the flat screen and waits until I stop walking. “I’m dropping you off at Crucible tonight, and Hudson’s bringing you home.”

Maybe it’s because I’d already kneed Watkins tonight, but I’m feeling a little extra ragey. Or maybe it’s just that the last of my carefully held patience has finally snapped. Either way, the result is the same.

I snap.

Well, actually . . . I throw.

A shoe.

Oh my God.

I just threw a shoe.

At my brother’s head.

And it bounces off him. Well, off his forehead, to be exact. Oh, thank goodness the heel didn’t get him. I stand perfectly still—in complete shock that I just did that—until he stands up, yelling. That’s when my anger comes back in full force.

“What the hell, Maddie? You hit me with your fucking shoe.” He waves the black patent-leather heel around in the air as a lump quickly forms on the front of his head.

“I’m done, Brandon. I’m done. I’m not a child, and I’m tired of you treating me like one. And you know what? It’s my own fault for letting you think you’ve had the final say in my life for so long. Because guess what?” My entire body shakes, I’m so mad right now.

Mad at him.

Mad at me.

Mad at Watty for being here to witness my meltdown.

“Maddie . . .” Brandon starts, fury lacing his tone, but my phone chimes, cutting him off.

I yank it out of my bag and stare at the text on the screen for a second before walking over to Brandon and grabbing my heel out of his hand. I slip both torture devices back on my feet and grab my bag.

“What are you doing?” He eyes me, confused while Watty looks between us like he’s watching a real-life soap opera.

“Daphne just went into labor. I’m meeting her at the hospital.” Brandon stands, like he’s going to come with me, but I stop him. “I’ll call you when the baby’s here. Don’t come now.”

A wave of pain washes over his face. Daphne is his friend too, but she’s not going to want to see him now. And I certainly don’t want to be around him tonight. “Be safe,” he tells me as I pull open the door. I don’t bother to answer as I slam it shut behind me.

I called Cade on my way to the hospital and canceled my class for the night. He’d already heard the news from Scarlet and told me not to worry about it. It’s hard to believe this is my second time here in less than a week. But tonight is for a much happier reason.

When I walk into the fancy waiting room in the labor and delivery wing of Kroydon Hills Hospital, Scarlet, and Becket are already here, but they’re the only Kingstons present.

That won’t last long.

Within an hour, they’re all here. Everyone but Cade and Hudson. Even Amelia’s husband, who isn’t exactly big on public gatherings, sits next to his wife, who was just here giving birth to their daughter a few months ago.

Once Max frantically pushes through the doors—his blond hair pushed away from his face, looking crazy, and his white dress shirt, which had been perfectly pressed when I saw him earlier but now a wrinkled mess—I know Daphne is ready. When he calls my name, I’m more than a little relieved to be getting out of the fishbowl of Kingstons I’m currently in.

I know Daphne wants me with her for her labor. It’s part of her birth plan. She doesn’t have any real family of her own, but Carys, Chloe, and I are all she needs, especially considering she has enough in-laws to fill their own football stadium.

I still can’t believe that I get to be here for this with my best friend as we walk along the hospital corridor. “Are you hanging in there, Max?”

This normally unshakable man looks completely undone under the humming fluorescent lights. “You get nine months to get ready for this. You read all the books you can get your hands on. You talk to your sisters and your friends who’ve all had kids. You hear all the stories, and you think you’re ready. They all say that once the baby is born, it’s like walking around with your heart outside your body.”

We turn a corner toward the hall full of delivery rooms, and he points at one a few feet away. “But nobody tells you what it’s like to know your wife is in pain and there’s nothing you can do about it.”

We stop outside Daphne’s room, and Max’s dark eyes boring into me remind me so much of his brother’s that they seem to soothe my nerves. “I need her to be okay, Maddie.” He wraps an arm around my shoulder, and I force myself not to pull away.

“She will be, Max. She’s the strongest person I know.”

He must like that because a shaky smile pulls at his lips right before we walk into D’s room. I was expecting her to be a mess, but that’s never been Daphne’s way. With tears filling her eyes, she reaches out her hand, and I take it. “Sorry for making you wait.” She laughs and gestures around her. “They had to hook me up to all of this.”

“You doing okay, D?” I gently brush her hair out of her face. “Need anything?”

“I’m okay for now.” She looks me over, then shrugs. “They said it could be a while. I should have told you, you had time to change.”

I kick my heels off and set them against the wall, then bite my lip and hold back a silent laugh when I think about hitting Brandon with one of them earlier.

“Spill it, sister. What’s that smile about?”

A little embarrassed, I manage to tell D what happened with my brother earlier without sounding too much like a complete psychopath. At least I do, in my opinion. I’m not quite sure what Max thinks because the smart man keeps it to himself. And when a contraction has Daphne gripping both our hands tight a few minutes later, my confession is long forgotten.

Eventually a nurse comes in with a pair of dark-blue hospital socks with little grippers on the bottom to slip on over my pantyhose.

“Damn girl, you look hot,” Daphne snickers, looking me over.

“Yeah, yeah, yeah.” I mean, my black stockings with the seam up the back of my legs seemed like a good idea when I was getting dressed earlier today. Now, not so much. But how was I to know that I’d be in labor with my best friend?

Seven hours and thirty-five minutes later, to be exact, Serena Kingston is born, screaming her way into the world. She’s a tiny, little thing, with an adorable button nose, a strong set of lungs, and a purplish shade of red covering her small body.

And this little girl is the most perfect thing I’ve ever seen.

As the nurse brings Serena to Daphne’s chest, Max leans his head against hers, and they share quiet words meant to only be heard by their new family.

Without another thought, I snag my heels and walk over to the door to quietly duck out, but Daphne catches me before I make my escape. “Love you, Mads. Thank you for being here.”

I hold tight to the emotion clogging in my throat. “There’s no place I’d rather be.”

Daphne swallows. “Will you share the news with anyone who might still be waiting out there?”

“Tell them to come back tomorrow.” Max looks at his wife with so much adoration in his eyes, tears burn the back of my lids. “Tonight’s just for us.”

I grab my bag from the chair, slip my shoes inside and smile. “Love you guys. I’ll be back in the morning.”

The crowd in the waiting room has dwindled down to just the Kingston siblings. The spouses are gone, probably to take care of their own kids. But these brothers and sisters aren’t leaving until they know what’s happening with their brother’s family.

I ignore most of them and find Hudson, who stands from his chair as soon as he sees me.

The overwhelming emotions of the day pull me under, and I walk right into his open arms, close my eyes, and take a deep breath. I soak in his strength, stealing some for myself before I look up at everyone, suddenly aware of what I just did. I try to pull back, but Hudson wraps his arms around me and gently squeezes.

“It’s a girl,” I announce to the room. “Serena Kingston. Six pounds, four ounces. She’s got a full head of blonde hair and a great set of lungs. Max asked me to let you all know that Daphne and Serena are perfect, but they’re exhausted and want everyone to come back tomorrow.”

The room is filled with voices and commotion as everyone celebrates the good news.

But Hudson never looks away from me. “Are you okay?”

I manage to answer through a yawn. “I’m good. Just tired.”

“Can I drive you home?” Hud tucks a lock of my no doubt messy hair behind my ear, and those cobalt blue eyes seem to stare into my soul.

It’s my undoing. It’s . . . it’s too much and not at all enough.

“Any chance I could crash at your place tonight? I got into a stupid fight with my brother earlier. I’m exhausted, and I—”

“I’ve got you, sunshine. Leave your car here, and we’ll get it in the morning.” He takes my hand in his, and I don’t pull it away. And somewhere deep in the recesses of my brain, I realize I don’t want to.

My eyes stay glued to where his fingers are laced with mine while he says goodnight to the horde of Kingstons still dominating the room.

It’s not until we get into his SUV that he looks over at me with a funny expression on his face. “Madison.”

I lift my head at his use of my full name.

“Why aren’t you wearing any shoes?”

Once I start laughing, it feels like I can’t stop—like a damn broke at some point, and the water has been trickling through all day, wearing away at the once small hole. But I can’t plug it back up anymore. It’s too overwhelming, and my emotions and control are flowing through with no chance of stopping them now. Tears leak from my eyes, and my side hurts by the time my laughter dies down.

Then I look at Hudson.

Really look at him.

No man should look this good this late in the day.

Like a Greek god with sexy scruff dusting his chiseled jaw. His blond hair is messy and falling into his eyes, looking like it’s been tugged on for hours. And for just one moment, I imagine what that would feel like.

If I was the one tugging on his hair.

What would that stubble feel like against my skin.

My neck.

My thighs.

“Take me home, King.”