Page 41 of Fire Daddies

“Enough,” he says firmly, his jaw clenched and his eyes blazing with anger.

My mother scoffs, dismissing Hudson’s words with a flick of her wrist. “You may have her fooled, but I know my daughter. She’s nothing but trouble. Mark my words, you’ll regret getting involved with her.”

Hudson’s gaze never wavers, his support unwavering. “I highly doubt that,” he replies, his voice steady and confident. “Let’s go, Harper,” he murmurs, his touch steady and warm against my skin. I can feel the tension radiating off him, but there’s an underlying tenderness in his actions that bolsters me.

My mother’s face contorts in fury, her eyes wild and her cheeks flushed. “You’re not leaving,” she snarls, a vein throbbing in her temple.

“Watch us,” Hudson replies, his grip on my hand tightening as he pulls me toward the door. My heart races in my chest, adrenaline and something deeper, more primal, coursing through my veins like wildfire.

Before we get too far I turn back to face my mother. “You chose this,” I tell her, my voice steady despite the storm raging within me. “You chose to be alone instead of being with family.”

There’s a flicker of pain in her eyes, but it’s quickly replaced by defiance. “You’ll come crawling back,” she spits, bitterness dripping from every syllable. “You always do.”

I shake my head, determined to sever these toxic ties once and for all. “Not this time,” I whisper, finally breaking free from her grasp on my heart. “This time, I choose me.”

Hudson’s arm wraps around my waist, drawing me close to his warmth. I spot two child-sized winter coats hanging by the door, still smelling faintly of smoke, and we grab them on our way out. We leave my mother behind, her sobs echoing through the icy night, but I refuse to look back. There’s nothing left for me in that house but pain and heartache.

“Are you all right?” Hudson asks, concern etched into his handsome features.

“Getting there,” I admit, my gaze flicking back toward the house where my mother still stands, a broken figure in the doorway. The ache in my chest threatens to consume me, but I refuse to let it win.

“Hey, it’s okay.” Hudson’s deep voice cuts through the haze of my thoughts. “You did what you had to do.”

“Thank you,” I whisper, sliding into the back seat next to Olivia and Peter, their small faces reflecting a mixture of confusion and worry. I wrap my arms around them, pulling them close. “I love you both so much.”

“We love you too, Mommy,” Olivia murmurs, snuggling against me.

“Where we goin’?” Peter pipes up, his innocent question tugging at my heartstrings.

“Somewhere new, buddy,” I tell him as the engine roars to life. “A place where we can be happy.” And more importantly, safe.

“Is it far?” Olivia asks, her big blue eyes searching mine.

“Not too far, sweet pea,” I say softly, stroking her hair.

“Okay,” she agrees, settling down in my embrace.

“Let’s hit the road then,” Hudson announces, shooting me a reassuring glance in the rearview mirror.

“Wait,” Benedict interjects, offering a gentle smile. “May I?”

“Of course,” I reply, touched by his thoughtfulness.

He leans over, pressing a tender kiss to my forehead—a simple yet powerful gesture that sends warmth radiating through my body. “For courage,” he murmurs, his breath hot against my skin.

“Thank you,” I breathe, my heart swelling with gratitude and desire. My resolve strengthens.

“I want one!” Peter exclaims, and Benedict laughs before giving him a kiss on the forehead too.

“Let’s go,” Hudson says, shifting gears as we pull away from the house, my past receding in the rearview mirror.

21

HUDSON

As I watch Harper handle a difficult situation with grace and determination, I can’t help but admire her strength and resilience. Despite all the struggles she’s been through recently, it never ceases to amaze me how resilient and determined she is—especially when it comes to her children. I watch her take a deep breath, steeling herself for whatever comes next.

“Mommy?” Olivia pipes up from the back seat, her voice breaking through my thoughts. “Are we going back to the bakery soon? I miss it.”

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