Page 148 of The Sweetest Cruelty: Hudson
It was Storm. “Sup?”
She sounded like she’d been running. “Molly didn’t show for lunchtime practice. Tate’s having kittens, is she with you?”
My brow furrowed. “When was she due at practice?”
“Dur, lunchtime,” she snarked.
“Maybe she’s talking to one of the headshrinkers?” I suggested. “Have you called her cell?”
“Yes, dumbass. I’m not stupid. It goes straight to voicemail.” That was odd when Molly told me specifically to keep mine on.
Shit. Now I was worried.
“I need to pull over. I’ll call you back.”
I was passing through a town and saw a space by the sidewalk. Pulling up to the curb, I undid my belt and grabbed my cell.
As soon as I did, it started ringing. I never answered calls from unknown numbers, as it was usually someone selling shit, and I didn’t have the patience. For some reason, a sixth sense told me I needed to answer.
“Gage,” I said as I swiped to accept it.
And then fear tore through my guts. My anxiety levels tripled so fast and so much that I felt a sharp pain in my chest.
“Hudson, it’s Xander. Please don’t hang up. Just listen. They’ve taken Molly.”
I’m having a fucking heart attack.
“What the fuck?” I yelled, my hand gripping my phone so tight I heard it crack.
Panic was swirling through me.
What have you done, Hudson?
“Who has her. What the hell are you saying?”
My thoughts shifted to the drugs in the back of the truck.
“Listen to me. Focus. Do you still have them? The drugs?” Xander whisper-shouted.
I toyed with lying. Maybe he was bluffing. I needed to speak to Molly. She was probably just at school, and her phone died. Then Storm’s call came flooding back. Fuck!
“Tell me where she is!” I roared. If anyone touched a hair on her head, they would pay.
He just kept repeating the same thing. “The drugs Hudson. Do you still have them?”
And then I realized I was screwed. For the first time in my life, I had bitten off more than I could chew.
Creed wasn’t asking if I had them; he wanted to know if Istillhad them.
“Yes. I have them.”
I heard Xander’s sigh of relief. “Thank fuck. You need to bring them to my father’s club. Tell no one. No cops, or your brothers,justyou. If you don’t come alone, they could hurt her.”
Hurt my Molly? I wouldkillevery last one of those motherfuckers if theyeven breathed on her.
“Why should I believe you?”
“You’re not the only one who had a monster as a father. You’ve seen what my dad did to my face.”
