Page 33 of Breaking Hudson

“We just wanted to pay our respects,” Vlad says. Dallas holds onto me tighter, so I don’t run away, but I want nothing more than to fucking kill them.

“I appreciate that. She shouldn’t have died like this,” Hudson says. “She was a kind woman who never hurt anyone.”

“That’s what we hear. We also heard you have vowed to find her killer, yes?” Dima asks.

“Yes. I won’t rest until I avenge her,” Hudson promises.

“With all due respect, I think you should give proof of death,” Vlad says. “We have no problem helping, but we do need some sort of assurance that we are fighting the right fight.”

“Anyone is free to look at her. It’s closed casket for a reason, but she would want to give that assurance if it means finding those who hurt her.”

“What do you mean?” Dima asks.

“She would be okay with people seeing her like this if it meant finding her killer,” Hudson clarifies.

“May we?” Vlad asks.

“Go ahead. Just be warned, the shot was to the head,” Hudson says. He turns away from the casket when they open it. I’m glad I have a veil on because my mouth falls open when I see the body of a woman. She has essentially no face but the same hair color and body shape. That’s unsettling.

“What’s shame. She was a beautiful woman. Look at her now,” Dima says.

“She still is beautiful,” Hudson says softly. “That will never change.”

“I understand. I hope you know that we mean no disrespect,” Vlad says. “Thank you for the assurance.”

“I just want to help her find peace,” he says.

“It’s time,” Dallas says gently.

“We will go. We just wanted to pay our respects,” Vlad says. “Let us know if you need anything.”

“Will do,” Hudson says tightly. When they leave, Hudson sighs heavily. “I’m going to fucking kill them.”

Unless I get to first…

After the funeral, we go to the gym. Everyone changes clothes while Hudson makes the call for all the trusted groups and families to join us. The gym is neutral ground, so here is best. Victoria decided to go home with Mom, Dad and Hudson's parents. She’s still nervous about being in public and I don’t blame her.

I am past scared. I am not panicked. I’m pissed. They tried to fucking kill me because I defended myself. Fuck that. No, they will die. If Hudson doesn’t kill them, I will.

“Ready?” Hudson asks me.

“Mhmm,” I say.

The door that leads to the outside staircase opens and people emerge. They immediately look confused as they come in. We say nothing until everyone is here.

“Hey, guys. So, I know I just saw you all at the funeral. If you can’t tell, Colette isn’t dead,” Hudson says. “She was shot three days ago, and we felt it was best to go this route so we could plan and not have to worry about someone trying to kill her again. We know it’s the Ivankov brothers and the reason is simple.”

“You want us to go against Vlad?” a man asks.

“He and his two brothers brutally raped Colette a few months ago. In the process, she defended herself while trying to get away. She hit Akim with a board that unknowingly had a nail in it. This killed Akim, and they have been trying to kill her since. This time, she was nearly killed by a bullet that hit her arm instead. Luckily, it wasn’t bad, but it could have been. She is also pregnant. So not only did they try to kill my wife, but my child as well. There is a lot unsaid here, but these are the facts.”

“Also,” I say,” looking at Hudson. He nods, so I continue. “Vlad and Dima are my biological brothers. Victoria gave me up as a newborn because Boris has a habit of murdering babies that weren’t boys. They have brutally raped her many times as well.”

“Their own mother?!” a woman asks. “Who in the fuck does that?”

“Monsters,” I say. “Monsters that do not deserve to breathe anymore. Vlad and Dima are a danger to everyone. Your wife, girlfriend, mistress, sister, mother, grandmother, kids… everyone. They are horrible people, and I nearly died because I tried to get them to stop raping me. I didn’t do anything in cold blood. I didn’t go out of my way to harm anyone. Hell… I didn’t even want to kill them, but now I do.”

“We need numbers,” Hudson says. “They have only themselves and a small number of people that they keep close. This would be an easy in and out job and we will take care of most everything.”

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