SWNOVELS Chapter 41
Chapter 41
Brooklyn
Aden grips me hard, his hand over my mouth, a look of pure fury on his face.
But I'm not scared. I look up at him with victory in my eyes.
He wouldn't be shutting me up if he didn't think it would be a problem for him, make his life harder. He'd let me scream until I passed out.
No, there's a reason he doesn't want me to get the attention of the house.
Aden gives me a little shake. Nothing rough, just enough to try to teach me he's in control. But I just laugh against his hand.
Maybe I've lost my mind, but who cares? Today has just been too much to handle.
And underneath it all-under the receding fear, the victory, the hatred for Aden-there's something else. Adrenaline.
Lust.
Was he right? Was my body responding to something in this, to the challenge, or the danger of it all? Aden's voice is gruff. "I'm going to let you go, but if you scream again, I swear..."
But before either of us can make the next move, the door to my room swings open and Hudson bursts into the room, panic and worry on his face.
His eyes grow wide when he sees me wrapped in his father's arms, his hand over my mouth.
"What the hell is going on here?!" Hudson shouts, striding over to us.
Aden lets me go instantly as I gasp for air, falling back against the desk.
Hudson stops by the bed, his father between us. His eyes sweep over me, ascertaining that I'm okay, before turning with anger to his dad.
"What were you doing to my fiancée?!"
Aden has regained his composure faster than I thought he would.
Coolly, he slips his hands back into his pockets and gives Hudson a little smirk. "Nothing, Hudson. Everything is fine."
Hudson's gaze slips to mine, looking for confirmation.
I hesitate for a moment, looking between father and son, and then give a little shrug, deciding not to push
it.
Aden has made his point; I need to do what he says. But if he was really going to hurt me, he'd have done it by now.
And I have made my point, too. If he pushes me too far, I'll make sure the whole house knows it. And that could destroy everything he's trying to build.
"See?" Aden says, looking at his son. "She's fine."
With that, Aden strides from the room, not giving me another look.
Confused, Hudson looks after him, then turns to me.
"Am I crazy?" he asks. "Or did I hear you scream?"
I sigh and sink onto the bed.
"You're not crazy," I say. "I did."
He shakes his head, still in disbelief. "But you're okay now?"
I nod as he sits down next to me, concern all over his face.
I have to admit that I am a little surprised by it. All this time I think I thought, at least a little, that I'm just a pawn in Hudson's life.
It feels good to know that he cares about me enough to come running when he hears that I'm in trouble.
"I just...well, I broke a rule," I say, twisting my hands together and grimacing at him. Hudson groans, understanding. After all, he grew up in this house, with these rules.
"Yeah," he says with a grimace. "He does not like that. What did you do?"
"Um..." I bite my lip, trying to decide where to start. I was watching some of your dad's homemade porn in
the basement doesn't seem like quite the auspicious beginning, so I jump ahead.
"He told me not to go into the basement. And I did. And I saw him..."
I hesitate, wondering how much he knows.
Hudson's face drops, going a little pale.
"I'm sorry, Brooklyn," he says softly. "Some of the stuff that goes on down there...is... Did anyone get hurt?"
I nod a little, and he puts a hand on my shoulder.
"Does it happen often?" I ask softly.
"I don't really know," he tells me. "I saw it once as a kid and then...I never went down again. Honestly, I think my dad was little disappointed in me. He doesn't want me to be... Well, a sissy. But I'm not a killer. I don't have it in me."
I bite my lip, feeling for Hudson, growing up in this place, being so different. After a beat, I feel a question rise in me.
"Hudson?" I ask. "How are you going to inherit this family, its...business...if you can't handle its methods?"
He shakes his head at me, looking sad.
"I ask myself that all the time. I don't think even my dad has an answer. Honestly, sometimes it feels like he's fighting so hard to keep this family's power together so that he can give it to me, pass it on to future generations, but... If it were up to me, maybe I just don't want it."
I nod. I also know that there's so much at stake. Even if Hudson were to give up the family's business, it would cause a power vacuum in the city that could be disastrous, even lethal to the people he loves. He's in a tough place, and I feel for him.
"I'll do my best," Hudson says, looking at me seriously, "to protect you from all of that, in the future."
I thank him for his generous offer.
But inside, part of me remembers the rush, the adrenaline, and wonders whether I want him to keep that promise.