Page 152 of The Sweetest Cruelty: Hudson
Eventually, Rafe had Hudson pinned on the floor. Both their faces were battered.
“Get him to his knees and you, boy, bring the girl over,” Creed said.
I rushed past Xander and threw myself at Hudson, and his arms came around me automatically.
“Please, Hudson, just give them what they want.”
“Molly, I’m sorry. I’m so fucking sorry.”
“I don’t care. I just want it to be over.” I was then dragged away as Anton Creed’s fingers snagged my upper arm and tugged me up. I was shoved roughly into Sulton’s arms.
Looking over my shoulder, his sneery face lit up as his beefy hands came around me. He grabbed the back of my neck, and the pressure forced my Tree of Life necklace into my skin.
“Get your fucking hands off her!” Hudson yelled, pushing to his feet.
“I will ask you once more, where are the rest of my drugs?”
“OK, OK,” Hudson said, his voice suggesting he was winded. He then held up a finger. “Just give me a minute.”
I struggled against the guy called Sulton and looked down at Tommo, who was still trying to get free of the zip ties.
And then, Hudson smiled sadistically. Fucking smiled? Even with a busted lip and bashed-up face.
He then raised a finger, and the other arm reached back towards his pocket, where he pulled out his phone.
Holding it to his ear, he said. “Bring the last two bricks up. Mr Creed wants all his drugs returned.”
Anton Creed walked up to Hudson, a frown on his crabby face. “Why the fuck wasn’t he searched?”
I hadn’t seen the other man by the door, he was bearded with a big belly and bald head, very bouncer-like. “He’s a punk ass kid. I didn’t think he’d have any weapons. So, I didn’t think I needed to.”
“He could have been wearing a wire, you fucking imbecile.”
Hudson’s face then became smug as he held the phone in the air, in front of Creed’s face. “Welcome to the twenty-first century. I don’t need to wear a wire. It’s called Apple, dickhead.”
Shock swept across Creed’s features, and then fury replaced it as he ripped the iPhone from Hudson’s hand.
Scanning the screen, relief drained away some of his anger as he lifted his head, darting Hudson a look. “It isn’t recording, you fool.”
“Nope. But if you look, I’m on call.”
Creed tapped the top of the phone. “Say hello,” Hudson went on. “You see.I’mnot recording, but the guy on the other end of that is.”
“You son of a bitch.” Creed then lifted the phone to his ear and growled. “Whoever this is, if you doanythingwith what you’ve heard today. You’ll never see your friends again.”
My mouth dropped open, and I pulled free from Sulton’s grasp, feeling the chain around my neck split. At first, I thought I suddenly had super strength, but from the looks of it, he was leaving. And then I heard more banging coming from downstairs.
I moved towards Tommo to try and help, but then my focus swung to the door, which shot open andbangedagainst the wall.
Phoenix Carter stood there with his phone in his hand. The way he swept into the room was almost like a prince in a panto. “Never say never motherfucker,” he boomed.
As Sulton went to dart from the room to flee the scene, I watched as Nix drew back his fist and smacked him in the face, knocking him out with one punch.
Stepping over the henchman’s body, he then stalked across the room towards Hudson and Rafe. Seeing his brother, his face warmed slightly as he said, “Hi, honey, I’m home.”
Although younger than the criminals in the room, Nix was much bigger than everyone there, and a look of horror swam over Rafe’s face.
“You’re a big fucker, aren’t you?” he sneered, backing away.
