Page 30 of In Their Arms

“I’m saying I’ll meet with Hudson.” I watch as Grayson’s expression changes from shock to horror to disappointment. “I don’t expect him to give me anything. But I need to know what his endgame is. We also need to know what the fuck he knows.”

Maceo watches me carefully, arms crossed, lips pressed into a tight line. I know that look. It’s the same one he gives when he’s trying to hold his tongue, when he wants to argue but knows I’ve already made up my mind. "It may not be smart to meet with Hudson after everything," he finally says, his voice devoid of the laidback, doesn’t give two shits that I’m used to. He’s holding back, trying to be respectful but that’s not us.

I throw him a glare, something he’ll understand. Then I refocus the conversation. “Meeting him face to face will give me the answers we need. I doubt he has Luca. He wouldn’t be calling if he did but I need to know where he thinks Luca is—whether at Hearthstone or somewhere else."

Maceo huffs out a breath. "You don’t trust him."

"Not for a goddamn second. From what you told me, it’s all too easy. Hearthstone’s involvement and the investigation still open but not any further along? No, something is off here."

Because Hudson never does anything without an angle. I lean down, pressing a slow, lingering kiss to the top of Blake’s head, breathing him in. His scent is finally calm, finally soft again, no longer overpowered by the stress and grief of the last few days. My purr rumbles through my chest, Blake humming his own sweet sound, one I don’t get to hear very often.

Grayson, still sitting beside us, lets out a quiet chuckle, stretching his arms over the back of the couch. "I don’t think he’s going to be sitting anywhere else for a while."

I smirk, tilting my head up just enough to meet his gaze. "And I wouldn’t mind one bit."

Maceo groans, rubbing his hand over his face. "Jesus, you two."

But there’s no real heat behind it. Because despite everything, despite the waiting, the anger, the uncertainty—this is ours. And I’ll burn the fucking world down before I let Hudson take another piece of it away from us.

18

Luther

Blake’s heat is riding him hard. As adorable as he is, he’s also miserable, his skin flushed, and those gorgeous brown eyes constantly shifting around the room. He’s searching for Luca, that much is for sure but there’s nothing I can do about it. And despite how irritable he is, when I told him I had to leave for the company, he looked at me like I’d suggested ripping his heart out. He wasn’t getting left at home. Not even while I was meeting with Hudson.

Everyone agreed it was a terrible fucking idea. Which is why we turned it into a family affair.

Grayson and Maceo are coming, ensuring Hudson doesn’t try anything stupid. Not that it would stop me from putting him in the ground if he so much as breathes wrong. But having them there means I don’t have to waste my energy worrying about who’s watching my back and who’s making sure Blake behaves.

Blake shouldn’t be coming with us, but trying to leave him behind was pointless. His body is too wound up, his instincts too locked onto me, making it impossible for him to be more than a room away. I tried to sit him in his office once we got in, but he wouldn’t have it.

"I need to be with you," he had growled, his fingers clawing at my shirt. I don’t usually give in but those puppy dog eyes made me fold immediately. I had forgotten how demanding Blake could be during a heat and how equally soft I could be in return.

Now he’s sitting in my office, curled up in the chair closest to mine, restless but present. Grayson smooths a cream under Blake’s nose, the scent dulling the worst of his heat-driven instincts. It won’t stop it, but it’ll keep him from lunging at Hudson the second he sees him. Or equally ripping one of our pants open and stuffing himself on our cock—not that that isn’t a fantasy I’ve had more than once.

However, the moment Hudson steps into my office, everything shifts. One of the new officers I hired after Hudson’s first visit, bows his head and steps outside, waiting for when I ultimately dismiss this Alpha from my office. His presence soaks the air like something rancid, his scent making me bite my tongue to keep from snarling. Blake shifts a little closer to me, eyes wide before his nose scrunches up in disgust. God, I love him.

Hudson scans the room, his gaze landing on me for only a second before flicking over to Blake. Then his mouth curls into that smug fucking smirk. "Where’s my Omega?"

Blake moves before anyone can stop him. He launches out of his chair, his entire body coiled tight, his scent spiking, his instincts slamming forward in full force. "He’s not your Omega," Blake yells. "He’smine."

Grayson grabs him by the scruff of his neck, firm fingers wrapped around the back before Blake can move further, yanking him onto his lap. His growl rumbles through the space, warning our Omega not to try that shit again. "Stay put."

Blake trembles in his grip, his body still fighting, his need to defend what’s his, overwhelming everything else. As much as I love that he’s standing up for Luca, I don’t trust Hudson not to react. The Alpha’s hands are already fisted at his side, the man stepping farther into my office. I don’t really want him in here but this was the only place that I could control, the only place that didn’t have wandering eyes, and the only place the police wouldn’t be currently watching.

Hudson shouldn’t be anywhere near me or my family and I’m still out on bail, Hudson under investigation. No part of this meeting should be happening but I need answers. I glance over at Grayson wrapped around Blake, an adorable pout on his lips despite his glare. Maceo is a few feet away, standing against the wall, arms folded across his chest. There’s a rumbling growl, barely audible coming from him, and I can’t help but be proud of my family.

It'll be even better when Luca is back in my arms.

Hudson clears his throat, irritation kicking up in his expression. “Well? Where the fuck is Luca? You called me in here to talk, to what? Taunt me? And don’t pull some bullshit that he’s at home. You would have never left him there alone.”

I lean back in my chair, forcing my body to relax when all I want to do is wring the truth out of him with my bare hands. I tilt my head slightly, meeting his glare with an even one of my own. “I’d like to ask you the same damn thing. Grayson called Hearthstone enough times to ask. They won’t give us an answer. Police won’t say a thing, but I’m not entirely sure he’s still there. My only question, really, is what did you do withmyOmega?” I don’t mention the feeling Blake described to me from a few days ago. Hudson doesn’t need to know that.

Hudson’s entire demeanor shifts, barely contained rage simmering beneath his expression. “I don’t fucking have him.” He grits his teeth, finding a seat to fall into before leaning forward and placing his elbows on his knees. “I visited that shit hole and found out that he’d left somehow. That he was gone. Or they were hiding him from me. I’m not sure.” His eyes darken. “All I know is that he’s not where he’s supposed to be and the only one dumb enough to remove him would be you guys.”

Blake tenses against Grayson’s lap and I catch the sharp twinge of fear flowing through the bond and then my little Alpha’s surge of warmth right after it. “Where’s Luca?” Blake asks in a small, broken voice. “Where’s my Omega?”

Hudson’s gaze darts back over to Blake, Blake’s stupid enough to glare at him head-on. However, the moment Hudson’s lip starts pulling up in a snarl, I’m not having it. I stand and walk around my desk, catching the Alpha by the throat and hauling him to his feet. His eyes widened in surprise as I thrust him back against the wall, shocking that smug look off his face. “Let’s get one thing straight, Hudson. I didn’t back down in the station because I was out of options or I was afraid of you. There just wasn’t a reason to fight when I knew my family would be taken care of. However, your bullshit has made it very clear that you’re not playing fair so I’m done trying to be nice.”

---