Page 38 of Sardonic Burn

ELEVEN

Iend up opening the door again.

It’s just sheer curiosity, no other grand reason. I’m curious as to why he’s in this state and why he thought coming to me was a good idea. I would’ve rather bled out and died than ever consider going to Hudson.

He’s leaning against the wall in the hallway with blood surrounding him. It’s not too much, but, if he continues to stay like this, he will bleed out. I pull out my phone and quickly call Cecilia.

She’s the only doctor I know who would be willing to help without asking questions. By the time I take him to the hospital,he’ll be long dead. Cecilia responds in record time, and I know she’ll be here soon.

I crouch down and stare at him.

Hudson blinks weakly. His forehead is covered in sweat, and his breathing is shallow. I don’t want to touch him and risk infecting the wound or killing him by accident. Not like this.

It’s not fair to kill him when he’s half-dead.

“Look who changed her mind.” He tries to laugh but fails. He groans in pain. “Did you finally let someone into your dark, stone-cold heart?”

My left eye twitches at the provocation, and I laugh bitterly. His eyes are barely open, yet he has enough time to fuck with my head? I get annoyed by his words and by the small smirk he has on his face, despite his pathetic state.

My hands move quicker than I can process what I’m doing.

I plunge my index and middle fingers deep into his wound, feeling the organs inside pulsating around my fingers. His warm blood coats my fingers, and I pull them out just as quickly as I forced them in.

Hudson hisses out in pain, but he’s no longer keeping his eyes closed. Pure hatred and annoyance are written on his face, and he wants to pounce on me. Sadly for him, his state is too severe for him to even move a muscle.

“You bitch,” he spits out, his voice weak and hoarse. “Why don’t you just kill me?”

I tilt my head to the side. “Why would I? It’s better to torture you first.”

“You might just be a bigger sadist than me.”

“Is that a compliment I hear from you? I guess it’s true what they say; a near-death experience truly changes a person.”

“Piss off.” He chuckles, then hisses in pain. “Are you letting me rot in this hallway?”

I motion with my head toward the cameras in the corner. “No, I’d get kicked out of my home if I ever did that, but I am waiting for back-up.”

“What are you going to do to me?”

“Cecilia will fix you and then, while you’re asleep, I’ll put you in a cage with a pretty collar and keep you as my bitch forever.”

“Stop messing around.”

I blink. “But I’m not.”

Well, it was a half-joke. The more I think about it, the more appealing it sounds. An image of Hudson wearing a pink collar with his name and a muzzle flashes behind my eyes and I can’t stop the wide smile that tugs on the corner of my lips.

“I will fucking break your arms and legs if you so much as try to put me on a leash.”

“Tempting.” I smile. “But how about you threaten me when you’re in a state of going through with it? Empty threats don’t suit you, little De Santis.”

He opens his mouth to respond but closes it just as quickly. His eyes flutter shut, and he’s no longer responding to my voice. I panic, slapping his cheek and pulling on his hair.

Cecilia walks into the hall as if on cue.

She’s baffled, to say the least. She’s carrying her emergency kit on her. By the looks of it, she just came from a night out. Her makeup is pretty, her hair gorgeously styled, and her dress to die for.

“Is this your new thing? Nearly killing them, then calling me to fix them?”

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