Page 80 of A Pen Pal for Christmas

“Stay right there!” Rex barked, his voice a jagged edge of panic and fury. He tightened his grip on me, dragging me backward. My feet stumbled over the frost-hardened ground, every step sending shocks of pain from the cuts in my soles.

Hudson and Tommy stayed still, their hands at their sides, their eyes locked on Rex like predators waiting for the right moment to strike.

“Let her go,” Hudson said, his voice the perfect blend of cool steel wrapped in fire. He took one measured step forward, and Rex jerked me back harder.

“I swear I’ll do it!” Rex screamed. “I’ll do it! Don’t test me!”

I couldn’t breathe. My entire world narrowed to the gun pressed against my skin, the feel of Rex’s erratic breaths against my neck, and the sound of Hudson’s calm, deliberate voice.

“You don’t want to hurt her, Rex,” Hudson said. “This isn’t about hurting her, right? You love her. It’s me you want to kill.”

Everything inside me wanted to scream in protest, but then my frantic gaze shot to Tommy. He crinkled his eyes in just the right, subtle way that I snapped my mouth shut. That one look was a reminder of who they were—smart. Controlled. The opposite of the man who thought he was running this show.

I needed to trust them… and I would. I just hoped doing so wouldn’t get one of them killed.

“Let her go, and then we can finish this. Just you and me.” Hudson said, holding his hands out.

Why were they unarmed? Oh, right. Because we’d been at the Gingerbread Ball. My cop brother was off-duty, and my Marine boyfriend didn’t carry an M16 in his suit like James Bond.

Lovely.

Rex laughed, high and unhinged. “Finish this? You think I’m stupid? I let her go, and what—you take me out? No way.”

I could see Hudson’s jaw tighten, the muscle feathering beneath his skin, but his voice didn’t waver. “You’re the one with the gun, Rex. Not me. Let her go, and come for me. Unless… you don’t think you’d win a gunfight against an unarmed man?”

I closed my eyes, that taunting question ringing in my ears. “Hudson…”

“Shut up!” Rex’s arm tightened around my chest, his hold suffocating. “I’m not scared to fight you. You’re the one who should be scared. You don’t know what I’m capable of.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Tommy shift. It was subtle—a step to the side. Rex didn’t notice, but Hudson did. His gaze flicked to Tommy for a split second before returning to Rex.

“Let her go,” Hudson said again. “I’m not going to tell you again.”

Rex shifted, but he didn’t respond. Every second felt like an eternity, stretched taut and ready to snap.

Then it happened. Fast. Faster than I could process.

Hudson lunged forward, closing the distance between us in a blink. Rex’s grip on me loosened as he swung the gun toward Hudson, but Hudson was faster. His hand clamped down on Rex’s wrist, forcing the gun upward as a shot cracked through the night, echoing off the trees.

Tommy was there in an instant, yanking me out of Rex’s hold and pulling me against his chest. My knees buckled, but his arms held me upright. I was vaguely aware of him freeing my hands with deft, shaking fingers, but I couldn’t take my eyes off Hudson.

“You’re okay,” Tommy murmured, his voice low and fierce. “I’ve got you.”

But I wasn’t okay. I struggled against Tommy’s hold for no good reason as Hudson and Rex launched into a brutal struggle. What could I do? I had to do something, but?—

Hudson twisted Rex’s arm behind his back, the gun still clutched in his hand. He made a sharp motion, and there was the unmistakable snap of a bone before Hudson ripped the weapon from Rex’s failing grasp.

Rex roared in frustration and pain, swinging wildly, but Hudson ducked the blow and countered, his fist slamming into Rex’s jaw. Rex stumbled, his balance faltering, but Hudson didn’t stop. Another blow sent him sprawling to the ground in the prone position—lights out.

Tommy’s arms loosened, and I stumbled forward, my legs shaking so badly I almost fell. I didn’t feel the pain in my feet anymore, didn’t notice the cold air on my bare skin. All I could see was Hudson.

He stood over Rex’s crumpled body, his shoulders rising and falling with every ragged breath. His hands were clenched at his sides, one of them bloodied and raw.

He didn’t move until I called his name.

His head snapped up, and his eyes found mine. For a split second, the hard edge in his gaze gave me pause, but then he blinked as if he were snapping out of a bad dream. His whole face softened, then, and he took a small step toward me.

That was all it took.

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