Page 51 of Sardonic Burn

“Who said I don’t?”

My left eye twitches because he interrupted me again. “Well, you never interfered before.”

“That’s because you always got to them first,” he mumbles.

“Oh, so you’ll work for me?”

He blinks. “Work for you? No, no, Your Highness. I’ll workwithyou.”

I give him a tight smile. “Good to know. Now, show me the bullet.”

“I don’t have it on me, but I have pictures of it.”

He unlocks his phone, scrolls a bit, and then gives it to me. Immediately, I send it to myself as evidence before giving it a good look. It looks like any bullet except it’s engraved with the same skull that was found on the victim’s necks.

“It matches,” I mumble.

“Do you suspect anyone?”

“No.” I sigh, then rub my temple with my index finger. “There are too many criminals who’d love to see me dead, you included. So I’ll go and find out everything I can about who purchased the bullets, and you try to find out where the girls were taken and if there are any auctions.”

He tilts his head to the side. “Auctions?”

“Yes. They’re probably selling them. It’s just a guess, though. If it does end up being like that, it works in our favor. It’s easier to find them like that.”

“This is dangerous,” he says, rising to his feet and approaching me. “Are you sure you can handle this?”

“Yes.” I don’t miss a beat. “I’m capable of doing at least that much. Besides, you’re helping. I’m not just using you for information. I’ll need you to go to the auction with me.”

“Absolutely not. I’ll go; you stay put.”

“Careful, little De Santis.” I wink. “One might think you actually care about my wellbeing.”

Hudson gags. “What gave you that impression? Listen, Noelle. We have a temporary truce. It means I’m putting up with you because the enemy of my enemy is my friend. That’s all. Themoment that scum is wiped off the face of the Earth, I will skin you alive and dry your bones.”

“And turn them into a pretty necklace?”

Hudson is speechless. A rosy tint covers his cheeks, darkening at the tips of his ears. His eyes are wide, mouth slightly open. I managed to leave this blabbermouth without words. It’s one of my proudest moments.

“What?”

I inch closer to him, closing the distance between us. My finger is outlining the scar I gave him, and a small smile tugs on the corner of my lips. Hudson shivers under my touch. I can’t help but feel that I managed to get permanently sucked under his skin.

“Being confident is good. Being arrogant will be your doom, little De Santis. Physically, you’re stronger than me. In every other aspect, you’re lacking. If I get killed by someone like you, then my aspirations and dreams are too small. Give it your best try, but I’d never allow you to come close to my bones, let alone allow you to dry them.”

With a deep breath, I step back and leave Hudson to ponder my words. He doesn’t blink, doesn’t move, and doesn’t speak. He’s frozen in the spot and remains there until I’m gone, leaving me to wonder what the hell possessed me to act like that.

I’m in a daze.

For the first time, I deliberately closed the distance between Hudson and me. It was an impulse I couldn’t control. Every inch of my body yearned to be suffocated in his scent.

I’m praying he didn’t notice it.

“Hello? Noah? Are you listening to me?” Lucas screams in the earpiece, and I wince. I shake my head, desperately trying to shut off any thoughts about Hudson for the time being. Once I make it out of this mess alive, I’ll have more than enough time to analyze him.

“I’m here. Stop yelling,” I whisper and pull the zipper of my jacket up.

“I need you to focus,” Lucas warns. “There are four people inside. I don’t know anything else. The CCTV only shows that much. You’re on your own once you go inside. Are you okay with that?”

---