Page 25 of Curvy Desire's Second Shot

“That’s the point,” I said, my frustration bubbling to the surface again. “You don’t know what you’re walking into. And one day, I might not get there in time.”

Her eyes filled with tears, and she looked away, her voice barely above a whisper. “I just wanted to prove I could do something.”

“You don’t have to prove anything to me,” I said, my voice softening. “You’re not a liability, Naomi. You never were.”

She looked at me then, her expression a mix of anger, fear, and something else—something I couldn’t quite name.

“We need to go,” I said, taking her hand. “It’s not safe here.”

As we walked back to the truck, I couldn’t shake the sick feeling in my gut. This wasn’t over. Not by a long shot.

Chapter Nineteen

Naomi

The ride back to the apartment was quiet, tension lingering in the air like a storm about to break. I kept sneaking glances at Hudson, his jaw tight as his hands gripped the steering wheel. The glow of the dashboard lights cast shadows across his face, making him look as fierce as he had when he’d thrown that punch back at the warehouse.

But beneath the frustration in his eyes, there was something else—worry. And it hit me in a way I wasn’t ready for.

“Hudson,” I said softly, breaking the silence.

“What?” he asked, not taking his eyes off the road.

“Thank you.”

His grip on the wheel tightened. “Don’t thank me, Naomi. Just... don’t put me in that position again.”

I opened my mouth to argue but stopped myself. He wasn’t wrong. I’d acted impulsively, and it could’ve ended badly. Still,the stubborn part of me bristled at the idea of being treated like a problem to solve.

“I get it,” I said finally. “I do. But I’m trying, Hudson. I’m trying to figure out how to be part of this without being a burden.”

He glanced at me then, his eyes softening just enough to make my chest ache. “You’re not a burden. You never were.”

I turned to look out the window, hiding the emotion I knew was written all over my face. Hudson had this way of seeing right through me, breaking down the walls I’d spent years building. It was terrifying and comforting all at once.

Back at the apartment,we settled into a quiet routine. Hudson made coffee while I spread out the notes and scraps of information we’d collected. The events of the past few days felt like a blur, but as I looked at everything laid out on the table, a clearer picture began to emerge.

“This is all connected,” I said, tapping the page with Marco’s notes. “My ex, The Fold, the threats—they’re all part of the same plan.”

Hudson leaned over the table, his brow furrowed. “What’s the endgame?”

“Control,” I said, the word tasting bitter on my tongue. “My ex always wanted control. Over me, over everything. Joining The Fold? It’s his way of getting it.”

Hudson nodded, his jaw tightening. “And they’re using you as leverage to make sure he stays loyal.”

“Exactly,” I said, my voice trembling slightly. “But it’s not just about me, is it? This is about you, too.”

He looked at me, his expression unreadable. “What do you mean?”

“They want you out of the picture,” I said. “You’re a threat to them, Hudson. You always have been.”

His lips pressed into a thin line, and he leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. “Then we take the fight to them.”

The determination in his voice sent a shiver down my spine. Hudson wasn’t the type to back down, and while part of me admired his resolve, another part of me was terrified of what it might cost.

The hours passedas we pieced together the final clues. Marco’s notes mentioned a key location—a safe house where The Fold stored their most sensitive information. If we could get in, we might find the leverage we needed to end this once and for all.

Hudson outlined the plan with a precision that left no room for doubt. I listened intently, my heart pounding as I realized how dangerous it was. But this time, I didn’t feel like a bystander. This time, I felt like I was part of something bigger.

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