Page 49 of Curvy Desire's Second Shot

Hudson

The photograph sat on the table like a taunt, daring me to do something about it. The image of Naomi and me, carefree in the park, felt invasive, wrong. But it was the message on the back that clenched my fists and sent my blood boiling.

“We’re not done yet.”

The words were sharp, deliberate, a challenge I couldn’t ignore. Jared. It had to be him. This had his fingerprints all over it—his need for control, his obsession with Naomi, his endless attempts to insert himself back into her life. The Fold had given him the resources to make that happen, but this time he’d gone too far.

Across from me, Naomi sat stiffly, her arms crossed, her expression a mix of frustration and unease. She hadn’t said much since we’d opened the package, but the tension in her posture spoke volumes. She was waiting for me to take the lead, to figure out our next move.

“Jared,” I said finally, breaking the silence.

Her gaze snapped to mine, sharp and unflinching. “You think it’s him?”

“It has to be,” I said, running a hand through my hair. “No one else would do this. And if he’s working with The Fold, this is just the beginning.”

Naomi exhaled sharply, her fingers drumming against the table. “So what do we do?”

I spentthe next two hours making calls, reaching out to old contacts—people who owed me favors, people who might still have ties to the kind of world I’d tried to leave behind. Most of the responses were hesitant, vague at best. The Fold’s reputation was enough to keep most people quiet. But one name kept coming up, whispered like a curse:The Warehouse.

It was on the outskirts of town, a nondescript building that had supposedly been abandoned years ago. Now, it was rumored to be a hub for The Fold—a meeting place, a staging ground, a fortress. If Jared was still in Cedar Hill, there was a good chance he was operating out of there.

I stared at the address scrawled on a scrap of paper, my mind racing. This could be it—the lead we needed to finally put an end to this. But the risks were undeniable.

“What is it?” Naomi’s voice broke through my thoughts.

I looked up to see her standing in the doorway, her arms crossed, her expression equal parts concerned and determined.

“A lead,” I said, holding up the paper. “There’s a warehouse on the edge of town. It’s tied to The Fold. It might be where Jared’s operating from.”

“Then we need to check it out,” she said immediately.

“No,” I said firmly, shaking my head. “It’s too dangerous.”

Her eyes narrowed, and she stepped closer. “You can’t be serious.”

“I am,” I said, meeting her gaze. “Naomi, this isn’t just a lead. If Jared’s there, so are his people. It’s not safe.”

“It’s never safe,” she shot back, her voice rising. “But I’m not sitting here while you go after him alone.”

“I’m not trying to do this alone,” I said, trying to keep my tone steady. “I’m trying to keep you alive.”

Her jaw tightened, and she crossed her arms. “I’m not a liability, Hudson. I’m your partner. Or at least, I thought I was.”

The words hit harder than I expected, and for a moment, I couldn’t find a response. She was right. Shewasmy partner. And no matter how much I wanted to protect her, I couldn’t do it by shutting her out.

“You’re right,” I said finally, my voice softer now. “You’re my partner. But that means we have to be smart about this.”

Naomi’s expression softened slightly, though the fire in her eyes remained. “So what’s the plan?”

We spentthe rest of the evening mapping out every detail we could. The warehouse wasn’t far, just a fifteen-minute drive, but it felt like a world away. I pulled up a satellite view of the area, noting every potential entry and exit point, every blind spot, every shadow that might offer cover.

Naomi hovered over my shoulder, pointing out details I hadn’t considered—places where someone could be watching, paths we could use to avoid detection. Her insight was sharp, her focus unwavering, and I couldn’t help but feel a surge of pride.

“You’ve been paying attention,” I said, glancing at her.

“Of course I have,” she said, rolling her eyes. “You think I’d just sit back and let you handle everything?”

“Kind of,” I teased, earning a playful shove.

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