Page 26 of Curvy Desire's Second Shot

“Are you sure about this?” Hudson asked, his eyes locking with mine.

“Yes,” I said, my voice steady. “We have to do this.”

He nodded, his gaze lingering on me for a moment before he reached out, his hand covering mine. The warmth of his touch grounded me, giving me the strength I didn’t know I needed.

Later that night,as we sat on the couch, a quiet moment settled between us. The tension that had defined so much of our relationship seemed to melt away, replaced by something softer, more intimate.

“Naomi,” Hudson said, his voice low.

“Yeah?”

He hesitated, his gaze searching mine. “Do you know how strong you are?”

I let out a soft laugh, shaking my head. “Strong? Hudson, I’ve spent most of my life trying to avoid conflict. That’s not exactly strength.”

“Yes, it is,” he said firmly. “You’ve been through hell, and you’re still here. You’re still fighting. That’s strength, Naomi.”

His words wrapped around me like a warm blanket, and for the first time in a long time, I felt like I could breathe. I leaned back, letting my head rest against the cushions.

“Can I tell you something?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

“Anything.”

“For the first time,” I said, swallowing hard, “I feel like I belong. With you. In my own skin. It’s... it’s new, but it feels right.”

Hudson’s expression softened, and he reached out, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear. “You belong, Naomi. With me, with this. You always have.”

His words filled the empty spaces inside me, the ones I’d tried so hard to ignore. I leaned into him, my head resting against his shoulder, and for the first time, I felt like I was exactly where I was meant to be.

The moment was interruptedby the sharp buzz of my phone. I reached for it, frowning as I saw the notification. A text from an unknown number.

I opened it, my stomach dropping as I read the message.

“You’ve gone too far. You won’t make it to the end.”

My hands trembled as I handed the phone to Hudson, his face darkening as he read the words.

“They’re getting desperate,” he said, his voice low and dangerous.

“Desperate is worse,” I said, my voice trembling. “It means they’re willing to do anything.”

Hudson nodded, his jaw tightening. “Then we need to be ready. Whatever happens next, we face it together.”

I looked at him, his determination steady and unshakable. For the first time, I believed we could win. But the fear in my chest told me the fight wasn’t over.

Not yet.

Chapter Twenty

Hudson

The warehouse sat on the edge of town, its skeletal frame silhouetted against the dim glow of the streetlights. It was the perfect place for a group like The Fold to plan their moves, tucked away from prying eyes but close enough to the city to stay connected.

I crouched in the shadows, watching the steady trickle of men coming and going from the building. My instincts screamed that something big was about to happen. The tension in the air was palpable, like the world itself was holding its breath.

Beside me, Naomi shifted, her breath visible in the cool night air. She hadn’t said much since we’d left the apartment, but her presence alone was enough to keep my focus razor-sharp. She shouldn’t have been here, and I knew it. But convincing Naomi to stay behind was like trying to stop the tide. Futile.

“What do you see?” she whispered, leaning closer.

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