Page 79 of Preacher

That was all it took.

In a blink, Hudson was across the room, and his hands were up, cupping my face like he wasn’t sure whether to hold me or break something. His voice was strained as he growled, “He touched you?”

I nodded, swallowing hard.

“I’m gonna fucking kill him.”

“How did this happen?” Sergei asked with concern. “How was he able to get to you?”

“I don’t know. He just showed up at the barn, and before I knew it, he had me pinned to the wall.” I blinked, trying to push the tears away, but it was no use. “He said Dimitri didn’t teach me well enough. Said we were gonna pay.”

Rage filled Hudson’s eyes as he turned to Sergei and barked, “Why the fuck didn’t you tell me he already made a move?”

“He didn’t know,” I said quickly. “No one knew. It just happened.”

Hudson turned back to me, and his eyes were softer now but no less intense. “You should’ve called me the second it happened.”

“I was about to, but the buyers came and…”

My voice cracked, and he stepped forward and wrapped his arms around me, pulling me into his chest. And that’s when the dam broke. I wasn’t a crier—not anymore, but there was something about Hudson that gave me the okay to break. I knew he had me, so I let the tears fall as I told him, “I thought we were done with them, but they just won’t let go. Vasili will never let go.”

“He won’t have a choice.” He held me tighter. “I’m not letting that bastard anywhere near you again.”

I nodded against him, relieved that he was there and so understanding.

Today was bad. Really bad.

But I had a sinking feeling that this was just the beginning.

19

PREACHER

“How the hell did you let this happen?”

“I didn’t let anything happen,” Sergei argued. “I called her. I was going to tell her to get to the house, but she didn’t answer.”

“You didn’t think to call her back. Text her. Or send a guard after her.”

“I thought we had more time.”

“Well, that’s what you get for thinking.” I was struggling to keep my anger in check as I barked, “I thought we had an understanding.”

“We did, and I was working on it.” Sergei lowered his head and sighed. “Look, I’m just as upset about this as you are. Do you have any idea how long it’s been since I’ve seen my mother cry? Fuck. I want to rip that asshole in two for hurting her, but it’s not as simple as putting a bullet in his head.”

“I was thinking more like slitting his throat.”

“Doesn’t matter how you want to go about it. You can’t do it. Not without putting a target on our backs. I know you’re aware of the Volkov family ties. I don’t know what experience you have with the Russian mafia, but I can assure you, they don’t take kindly to you taking out one of their own.”

I didn’t say anything right away.

I couldn’t.

I was too fucking angry to speak.

My fists were clenched, and my jaw was locked so tight it hurt. Every part of me wanted to storm out that damn door and hunt Vasili down myself. I didn’t give a shit who his family was or what retaliation might come. He’d touched her, he’d put his hands around her throat like she was his to punish, and there was no way in hell I was going to let that fucking go.

But as much as I’d hated it, Sergei was right.

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