Page 24 of Curvy Desire's Second Shot

She paused with her hand on the doorknob but didn’t turn around. “Maybe you should figure out what you really want, Hudson. Because right now, it feels like you’re just trying to keep me out.”

The door slammed behind her, leaving me alone with the weight of her words.

The minutes stretched into an hour,then two, as I paced the apartment, my phone in hand. I’d called her three times already, each attempt going straight to voicemail. The knot in my stomach tightened with each passing second.

She was out there, angry and alone, and the thought made my chest ache. Naomi wasn’t reckless—not usually—but she was stubborn. And when she felt like she had something to prove, there was no stopping her.

I sank onto the couch, running a hand through my hair. I hated this. I hated not knowing where she was, not knowing if she was okay. But more than anything, I hated the way we’d left things. I’d let my frustration get the better of me, and now she was out there, thinking I didn’t trust her. Thinking I didn’t believe in her.

My phone buzzed in my hand, and I answered it immediately, hope flaring in my chest. “Naomi?”

“It’s Marco,” the voice on the other end said. “Thought you’d want to know—your girl’s poking around where she shouldn’t be.”

My blood ran cold. “What are you talking about?”

“She’s at the warehouse district,” Marco said. “Looks like she’s trying to follow that lead we talked about. Thought I’d give you a heads-up before things go south.”

“Damn it,” I muttered, grabbing my keys. “Thanks for letting me know.”

“Don’t mention it,” Marco said. “And Hudson? Be careful. That area’s crawling with Fold members.”

I didn’t bother responding. I was already out the door, my heart pounding as I drove toward the warehouse district. The streets blurred together as I pushed the truck harder, faster, the knot in my stomach tightening with each passing second.

When I arrived,the sun was dipping below the horizon, casting long shadows across the deserted buildings. I spotted her immediately, standing near the side entrance of one of the warehouses. She was looking around cautiously, her phone in hand.

Relief flooded through me, but it was short-lived. A figure stepped out of the shadows behind her, his movements quick and predatory. My blood turned to ice as I saw the man reach for her, his intentions clear.

“Naomi!” I shouted, sprinting toward her.

She turned just as the man lunged, her eyes wide with fear. My body moved on instinct, and I closed the distance in a heartbeat. My fist connected with the man’s jaw with a sickening crack, sending him stumbling backward.

He recovered quickly, his hand going to his waistband, and my stomach sank as I realized he was reaching for a weapon. I didn’t wait for him to pull it. I tackled him to the ground, my knee driving into his chest as I pinned him down.

“Hudson!” Naomi’s voice was frantic, but I couldn’t look at her. Not yet.

The man struggled beneath me, his eyes wild as he spat curses. “You’re making a mistake,” he snarled.

“The only mistake was letting you get this close,” I growled, my voice low and dangerous.

I reached for his wrist, twisting it until the knife he’d been holding clattered to the ground. Naomi grabbed it, her hands trembling as she stepped back, her eyes wide.

I leaned closer, my voice cold. “Tell The Fold to back off. Or the next time I see you, you won’t walk away.”

The man’s eyes narrowed, but he didn’t respond. I let him go, watching as he scrambled to his feet and disappeared into the shadows.

Only then did I turn to Naomi, my chest heaving with adrenaline and anger. She was staring at me, her face pale, her hands clutching the knife like it was the only thing keeping her upright.

“Are you okay?” I asked, my voice softer now.

She nodded, but the fear in her eyes told me otherwise.

I reached for her, my hands settling on her shoulders. “Naomi, what were you thinking?”

“I was trying to help,” she said, her voice trembling.

I closed my eyes, my jaw tightening. “You can’t do this, Naomi. You can’t keep putting yourself in danger.”

“I didn’t know he’d be here,” she said weakly.

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