Reclaim Me (22 page)

Allie took a deep breath. She knew full well Max would have never revealed what Julian had been holding over their heads. Without a doubt his statement would have been brief and to the point, focusing on Julian’s crimes, not Hudson’s. “Julian contacted me when we were in Europe over New Year’s. He wanted me to return his ring, but when I brought it to him, he was livid that I had ended our engagement. In his mind I had backed out on a business deal and he was to be compensated.”

The detective didn’t write a single word in the notebook she held in her hands. Instead, she kept her eyes trained on Allie. The scrutiny left her painfully aware of not only the words she spoke, but every movement or gesture she made. She folded her hands in her lap in an effort to keep her trembling fingers from betraying her nerves.

“He wanted me to break up with Hudson, then offer to take him back only if he signed over his interest in Ingram Media. Once that was accomplished, Julian wanted me to marry him with a prenup in place that gave him full reign over the company he felt he rightfully deserved.”

“What did you tell him?”

Allie let out a disgusted huff. “That he was crazy and that there was no way I would ever agree. That’s when he told me he killed my parents.” Her voice cracked and her gaze dropped to her hands. After a beat passed, she cleared her throat. “He murdered them, Detective, same as if he’d been the one to pull the trigger.” Allie met her shrewd stare. “And he was threatening to harm Hudson if I didn’t do exactly as he instructed.”

“Did it ever occur to you to contact to the police?” Green asked, scribbling a few words in the notepad that Allie couldn’t make out.

“Of course it did. But the investigation wasn’t yielding any results, and I didn’t have any proof. It was my word against his. Until now. I had a digital recorder tucked inside my blouse tonight. Julian discovered it just before Hudson arrived.” She swallowed hard. “It was what set him off.”

“He admitted his involvement?”

Allie nodded. “Everything.”

Ben reached for the device inside his suit jacket. It was wrapped in the handkerchief that usually peeked from the front pocket in an immaculate square. “It’s all on here.”

Green pulled a plastic bag marked
EVIDENCE
out of her leather satchel and sealed the recorder inside.

“Julian Laurent killed my parents, and right now all I can do is sit in that waiting room praying he hasn’t taken my husband as well. Julian might be dead, but the damage he’s done is irreversible. For that he will never fully be out of my life, but the sooner I can start trying to put him behind me, the better.”

“If what’s on this device corroborates your story, I don’t anticipate any further issues.” Her eyes softened. “I’m not an especially religious woman, Mrs. Chase, not with what I see on a daily basis. But I’ll be praying for your husband’s recovery. If anyone deserves a happy ending, it’s the two of you.”

“Thank you, Detective.” Out of the corner of her eye Allie caught a flash of blue. She turned her head just in time to see a woman in hospital scrubs entering the family waiting room. “If you’ll excuse me,” she said, not even bothering to wait for a reply before hurrying down the hall.

“Is he okay?” Allie blurted out the moment she yanked open the door.

The woman in scrubs was standing in front of Nick, who was seated in one of the molded plastic chairs. His foot was tapping at a frantic pace, making his entire leg shake, and his face seemed to have aged well beyond his twenty-two years.

“He’s still in surgery,” Nick said. His voice was so quiet and flat, Allie hardly recognized it.

“These are Mr. Chase’s personal effects,” the woman said, holding out a large manila envelope. “I’m sorry I don’t have any news for you. Hopefully someone will be out with an update soon.”

“Thank you.” Allie sat in one of the chairs on the opposite wall and reached into the envelope. Hudson’s smartphone and wallet were inside, but there was no sign of the burner. Surely he’d had it; how else would he have gotten her text and known she was with Julian? But where the hell was it?
Max
, she thought. Of course he would have taken care of any loose ends before the police arrived. Unlike the unregistered phone Hudson had used for their covert conversations, the phone Allie held in her hand was for business. The four inches of technology that was his constant link to an ever-expanding conglomerate. Allie felt confident the only entries would be work-related, but on the outside chance there was anything even slightly incriminating . . .

She powered on his cell phone. The fact that his pass code was her birthday made her smile, but when the home screen popped up, her smile faded and tears sprang to her eyes. Staring back at her from the device Hudson looked at all day while he ruled his empire was their wedding day selfie. She drank in every detail of the photo, from the way she snuggled so close to her new husband to the way his hand curled possessively around her shoulder. But it was the look in their eyes that jumped off the screen to pierce her heart. A look that said simply, “I am home.”

Curious if the shot of the two of them sharing a kiss after sampling wedding cake was also on the phone, Allie tapped the album icon. When she did, she found not only the photo she was looking for, but dozens of others. All candid shots, and all of her. Browsing the rolls of wrapping paper at the Christkindlmarket; sharing a laugh in front of the fire with Harper; reading a book, wrapped in a cashmere throw in Hudson’s library. Picture after picture taken during unguarded moments of happiness. The fact that Hudson had not only captured them, but kept them stored on his phone, was just another example of the romantic nature he so vehemently denied having. She smiled to herself. When he woke up, she was going to give him hell for this.

When he woke up . . .

If he woke up . . .

No
. She shook her head to clear it. Thinking that way wouldn’t help anyone. She had to stay positive. If not for her, then for Nick. With the few exceptions when Harper had corralled him into a chair, Nick had been pacing the room nonstop. The panic and fear in his eyes the few times he’d glanced her way had caused the ache in Allie’s chest to tighten to an excruciating level. It was clear his emotions, and quite possibly his sobriety, were hanging in the balance. Seeing Allie break down would only test his tenuous hold. The last thing she wanted to do was make this any harder on him.

So instead of lingering on photos that conjured memories so happy they were sad, Allie turned her attention back to the manila envelope. She reached inside to retrieve his wallet, but when she did, her fingers encountered something else: his wedding ring. She held the platinum band up, and for the first time realized there was an inscription. She hadn’t noticed the words when she’d slipped the band on his finger. The barn had been lit in dim candlelight, and her gaze had been focused on the man she loved, not his ring. But in a hospital waiting room, under harsh fluorescent light, the words etched inside were impossible to miss.

Hers Forever 1/17/15

It was too much. Allie clutched the ring in her hand and held it to her chest. Hudson was her love, her life. She couldn’t imagine a world without him in it. Tears fell in heavy streams down her cheeks and her body shook with sobs.

“Mrs. Chase?” Allie looked up to find a woman in pale blue hospital scrubs standing just inside the door. Her delicate features were drawn with exhaustion. “I’m Doctor Katz. Why don’t we find some place private where we can talk?”

Hudson woke, and his first instinct was to sit up. Shit, not a good fucking idea. His side let out a scream that hit him with a shot of pain so intense, he had to draw in a shallow breath. Because anything deeper was going to feel like a nail gun between the ribs.

Gun . . . Julian . . . Allie . . .

What had that fucker done to her? He fought the urge to go full throttle out of . . . where the hell was he? The place had about as much warmth as a meat locker and looked like a cross between a flower shop and a funeral home. Christ, was he dead? No, the pain shooting through his whole body was a reminder that he was very much alive. His head and chest ached and his lids were heavy, but he was alive. So fucking alive.

He needed to get to his wife.

Instead of making another attempt to sit up, Hudson turned his head. The face of an angel rested on the hospital grade blanket, her blond hair fanned out, her lips slightly parted. His gaze shifted to a delicate hand encompassing his, and his fingers squeezed with what little strength he had.

“Allie . . .” he rasped. His throat felt raw.

She lifted her head and blinked. “Hudson . . .” As awareness seeped in, tears brimmed her eyes. “Oh, thank God.”

“Where am I?”

“Northwestern. You’re in the ICU.”

“How long have I been out of it?”

“A day.” She started to pull away, but his grip tightened.

“No. Stay.” His hoarse voice sounded louder than he’d have thought possible.

“Shh, it’s okay.” She gave him a reassuring smile. “I’m here. I’m not going anywhere. But I need to let them know you’re awake. They’ll want to check your vitals, and from the looks of it, you could use another dose of morphine. “

“No, don’t. I want to be lucid for this. Tell me what happened.”

“How much do you remember?” she asked.

“I remember seeing the two of you through the window.” The image of Julian with his hands all over his wife caused an ache in Hudson’s chest worse than anything he’d felt since he came to. “And I remember struggling for the gun. After that, it’s a blank.”

“The gun went off between you.” She paused for a beat, and Hudson knew she was fighting to control her emotions. It killed him to think about what she’d been through in the last twenty-four hours. If the situation had been reversed, he would have gone out of his mind.

“Did they arrest Julian?” Hudson winced as a sharp pain stabbed him, then receded.

“He’s dead.” The color drained from Allie’s face. “You were bleeding to death on the floor and he was making me leave you there. If I hadn’t stopped him . . .” Her voice trailed off, but then she cleared her throat. When she spoke again, it was with an unquestionable resolve. “I’d do it again if it meant saving your life.”

He reached for her. “Come here.” Allie leaned down, and with a shaky hand he pulled her closer. “You’re so brave. You amaze me,” he said, pressing a tender kiss to her lips. “Thank you.” The sense of relief he felt over Julian being out of the picture was short-lived as reality bombarded him from every direction.

“Fuck,” he said. “What about Nick? Did they find out about him? The video?” He made a move to get out of bed. “Where’s my phone?”

“Oh no, you don’t.” Allie pressed a gentle hand against his shoulder. “No moving. Doctor’s orders.”

“Fine.” Hudson lowered his head. As if he was going anywhere hooked up to miles of tubing and a goddamn catheter anyway. “Now answer me.”

“Your phone is with me.” Before he could speak, she added, “And you don’t need it. Darren is taking care of everything at the office. As for Nick.” She lowered her voice. “Max arrived shortly after I called 911. I don’t know the details, nor do I think we should discuss it here, but he assured me the threat no longer exists.”

“Have the police been here?”

“Detective Green came by yesterday. She took my statement and I gave her the recording.”

“You got him to admit what he did?”

Allie nodded. “Everything. From the sound of it, wrapping up the case is just a matter of a few formalities now. Although I believe you still have some explaining to do.”

“Explaining? I was fucking shot, what’s there to explain?”

“Not to the detective, to your brother. He’s rather pissed.”

Hudson lifted a brow. “And why’s that?”

“In the chaos he
may
have heard me blurt out that I was your next of kin.”

“Is that so?

The smile she’d been fighting curved her lips. “Mmmhmm. And he may be a little pissed there wasn’t a bachelor party.”

“Shit.” Hudson rubbed the stubble on his chin. No doubt Nick would have tried to recreate the Playboy club right in the middle of Hudson’s penthouse. Yeah, not a chance in hell.

“He’s out in the waiting room with Harper. Neither of them would go home.”

A vague memory flashed through Hudson’s mind, and he shot her an amused look. “Was I hallucinating on painkillers or did you pull the do-you-know-who-I-am card?”

She blushed. “I did, shamelessly. But there was no way they were keeping me out of that recovery room, no matter how scary that nurse was.”

He laughed, then winced as his chest erupted in pain.

Allie frowned. “Are you sure you don’t want me to call for meds?”

“Not yet. I’m not ready to go back to sleep. But water would be good. My throat feels like fire.”

“That’s from the intubation. They said it would feel better in a couple days.” Allie poured water into a plastic cup and held the bent straw to his lips.

“What about the rest of me?”

“A few weeks. And before you say another word, it will be spent resting.”

“With you as my nurse?”

“If you promise to behave.”

“Not a fucking chance.”

She grinned. “I was hoping you’d say that.”

“I love you.”

“I was hoping you’d say that even more.” Allie leaned down to kiss him again. “I love you, too.”

“How about you get up here with me?”

“Oh no.” Allie let out a throaty laugh. “Save it for when you’re all better.”

“I assure you we won’t be waiting that long, Mrs. Chase. But how about a honeymoon when I’m better?”

“Sounds perfect.”

Hudson’s hand stroked Allie’s hair. “Where would you like to go?”

She placed another kiss on his lips. “Anywhere but Paris.”

Allie peeked up through the canopy of the elliptical chaise. The month of April was said to be one of the most desirable times to visit the Maldives, and so far it had lived up to its reputation. In fact, after a solid week of blue skies and sunshine, she and Hudson were seriously considering moving their corporate headquarters to the remote island chain. At least for the winter months.

She popped her earbuds in and settled back against a cluster of white pillows. With its thick cushion, the dark wicker lounger was more of a pod-shaped daybed than a chaise per se, making it the perfect choice for two people on their honeymoon. Sunbathing side by side with their fingers entwined had become a daily ritual, as had stargazing at night. Although to be fair, that usually involved a lot more than holding hands.

With a swipe of her thumb, Allie pulled up the playlist she’d created especially for the trip. Ed Sheeran began to sing and she closed her eyes, picturing the dances she and Hudson had shared not only when they eloped in January, but at the small reception they’d had with family and friends the night before their trip. Originally they’d discussed having a big society event, something befitting the union of a billionaire tycoon and his heiress bride. But in the end that wasn’t the type of celebration either of them really wanted. So instead of a ballroom full of five hundred people they cared little to nothing about, Hudson and Allie renewed their wedding vows in an intimate ceremony attended by the people who mattered most to them.

The first song rolled into the second, and Sinatra crooned about summer winds. Allie pressed the center button on her phone and stole a glance at the lock screen photo. It was a picture of Hudson she’d taken when they first arrived on the island. They’d been sitting on the deck that ran the length of their over-water bungalow, enjoying a fruity cocktail, the kind served in a coconut shell with a tiny umbrella. The panoramic view was right out of a travel brochure, but it wasn’t the breathtaking views of the Indian Ocean or even the pod of curious dolphins that inspired Allie to take the first snapshot of the trip. It was Hudson, flashing a grin she’d come to know quite well over the three months they’d been married; the one that said “you’re about to be naked.” His eyes were the same blue as the turquoise lagoon, and the tropical breeze was playing in his hair, giving it that sexy, unruly look she found so irresistible. “Freshly fucked” was the style Hudson sported most days, whether in the boardroom or the bedroom, but recently, at least, it had lived up to the name. It seemed her new husband had spent the entire first week of their honeymoon buried deep inside her.

When the second week began she’d insisted they see something besides the inside of their bungalow. Hudson had finally agreed, but only to one day. He jammed it full of everything the resort’s concierge suggested. They’d spent the previous morning exploring the remote island hideaway and visited the Marine Discovery Center where Hudson made a generous donation to the sea turtle fund in his new bride’s name. After lunch they went snorkeling with manta rays and strolled hand in hand along the pristine white sand that stretched the length of the atoll. Allie even gave paddle boarding a try, but she drew the line at shark feeding, stating she’d had enough danger to last her a lifetime. When they finally made it back to the room, she was hardly through the door before Hudson tackled her to the oversize canopy bed. They’d fallen asleep sometime just before dawn and she’d barely dragged herself to the chaise by noon. Honestly, the man was insatiable.

Instinctively, her gaze shifted to the sex god himself. He was sitting on the edge of their private infinity pool, staring out across the lagoon wearing nothing but a pair of black swim trunks. Shielding her eyes from the sun, she took a moment to appreciate her husband, drinking in every detail, from the hard planes of his tanned chest to the rippling muscles of his abs to the super sexy V of his hips. The only imperfection on his otherwise flawless body was the small scar where a bullet had pierced his lung. The sight of it should have brought a pang of sorrow, triggering the memories of that horrible night. Instead it centered her and gave her a sense of calm. Because as much as she hated to be reminded of the night she almost lost her husband, that scar was also a reminder that he’d survived.

His emotional scars were healing as well. Hudson had been more open with her since the conversation on the couch the night before their wedding. He was still hesitant to talk about his past, but little by little he was sharing details of his childhood, both the happy and the sad. Nick had even been able to convince him to give a few sessions of therapy a try. Hudson grumbled about having his head shrunk, but Allie could already tell the burden he carried had lessened. Of course some of that had to do with how Nick was doing. Six months of sobriety had done wonders for him. Not only was he holding down his job at the coffee shop, but he was even being considered for a management position. Hudson had asked him numerous times to join him at Chase Industries, but Nick insisted he had to take responsibility for his own life. Allie imagined the two brothers would eventually end up in the same building, but she respected the fact that Nick wanted to do it on his own terms. When the time came, he would no doubt insist on starting at the bottom, and she would no doubt have to convince Hudson to go along with the idea, but in the end they would be just fine.

Allie wondered if Nick’s presence would be enough incentive to persuade Harper to join her at Ingram headquarters as well. While Allie continued to work closely with the foundation, she missed day-to-day contact with her best friend. Now that Allie was married and Harper was spending nearly every night with Nick, their girl time was far less frequent. Her best friend and her brother-in-law had become fairly serious over the past three months, and even though their relationship thrilled Allie to no end, she still missed their chats over cocktails at Tavern or a salad at her desk. These days Harper was a homebody, opting for a quiet night of Netflix with Nick and Harley over a night out with just about anyone else.

Allie closed her eyes again and a smile stretched across her face at the thought of her canine “niece.” Little Harley had not only been a welcome addition to the family, she’d taken quite a liking to her Uncle Hudson. Despite his best efforts to keep the Yorkie at arm’s length, Harley always managed to find her way onto Hudson’s lap. He would roll his eyes and pet her as though she were hazardous material, but deep down Allie knew Hudson not only liked the effect the tiny dog had on Nick, but that he’d grown fond of her as well. He might refer to her as a barking squirrel or curse about a chewed up shoe, but no amount of protesting could offset the secret stash of doggy treats she had discovered in his desk drawer.

A shadow crossed Allie’s face and water dripped onto her bare stomach. She opened her eyes to see Hudson looming over her, his body glistening in the late afternoon sun, and her smile widened.

He plucked the tiny headphones from her ears. “That’s quite a satisfied grin, Mrs. Chase.”

The thick cushion dipped as he climbed onto the daybed. He pressed his lips to her stomach, licking a bead of water that rolled across her skin, and then a heartbeat later sealed his mouth over hers, kissing her passionately. As if he had to. As if the fifteen minutes without touching her had been excruciating. And as if he hadn’t had her in every way possible the night before.

Allie moaned, and when her lips parted, his tongue thrust into her mouth, stroking hers with lush, velvety strokes. She craved her husband constantly, but when he was like this, his lust for her so raw and untamed, it made every cell in her body come alive.

“So what caused that look on your face?” he asked when he finally broke their kiss.

“Huh?” she asked, her senses momentarily stunned. “Oh, um, just thinking about Harley.”

His lips brushed across her cheek. The stubble on his jaw brought with it a reminder of how it felt between her thighs, and a jolt of pleasure shot through her core.

“Your nearly naked husband is kissing you and your mind is on a barking squirrel? I see.”

“Not now, before.” She giggled as his lips found her neck. “And more the way my nearly naked husband is with said squirrel. I see right through you, Chase. You enjoy having her around.”

He made a noise that was more grunt than agreement as his mouth moved across her collarbone. “She’s good for Nick, who I’m sure has let her have the run of the penthouse while we’re gone.”

Nick and Harper made good use of the third floor when she and Hudson were out of town. Despite their best efforts to train and clean up after Harley, there always seemed to be one puppy puddle left behind. One that Hudson would undoubtedly discover with his bare foot.

“Tell the redhead to hurry up and house-break the damn thing.” He chuckled against Allie’s skin. “And while you’re at it, tell her to do the same for Nick.”

Allie rolled her eyes, though she knew he couldn’t see. “Say what you want, but you’re very sweet with Harley.” Her voice grew serious. “You’ll make a great father.”

Hudson stilled. After a beat he lifted his head, and when his eyes met hers they conveyed a look that was a mixture of loving concern and sheer panic. “Are you . . .” He swallowed hard.

“Oh God, no,” she said, realizing she had inadvertently given him the impression she was pregnant.

Hudson rolled onto his back and exhaled. She hadn’t meant to scare him, and she could certainly understand his relief from a timing perspective. They hadn’t been together that long and most of that time had been spent dealing with situations far beyond those any normal couple would face. Wanting time to enjoy each other was understandable; desirable even.

But then again, they weren’t teenagers anymore. And they were married. Would it really have been so bad if she had been pregnant? The image of a little boy with Hudson’s blue eyes and dark wavy hair filled her mind, and a warm sensation washed over her before settling right in her belly. She hadn’t thought even for a moment that she might be pregnant, nor was she ready to be a mother just yet, but she couldn’t deny the twinge of disappointment she felt over not carrying Hudson’s baby. More than that, she couldn’t deny the concern she felt over the contrast in their reactions.

She gazed across the chaise at her husband, his arm resting across his eyes, and her heart sank. They hadn’t really discussed the topic of children before they got married. Hell, they hadn’t discussed
marriage
before they got married.

Allie shifted to her side and propped herself up on one elbow. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.”

He scrubbed his hand over his face. “Just took me by surprise. Hadn’t really considered the possibility.”

“Well, there’s always the possibility, even when you’re taking precautions.” She gave a small laugh. “And we do tend to practice quite often.” Her lame joke earned no reaction, causing her even greater concern. She took a deep breath, and when she spoke, her voice was small. “I know we married in a rush, Hudson. And not under the best circumstances.” Her throat tightened. “If you’re having second thoughts about . . .” She stopped talking, unwilling or unable to finish the sentence.

Hudson lifted his arm. In one swift move he rolled her beneath him. “Don’t ever say that again. Don’t even think it.” He bore his weight on his elbows so he could look into her eyes. The intensity she saw there was rivaled only by the emphatic tone of his voice. “You’re my fucking world, Allie. The air I breathe. You are the love of my life. You were ten years ago, you are now, and you always will be. Forever.”

“But you were so relieved—”

He shook his head. “You caught me off guard, that’s all. Of course I want children with you. Do you have any idea what it does to me to think of my child growing inside you?” He reached between them and his fingers brushed her stomach, sending goose bumps racing across her skin. “Christ Allie, I want that. But I’m a selfish bastard and I’m not ready to share you yet.”

“I was afraid maybe now that the dust had settled—” This time it was Hudson’s raised eyebrow that kept Allie from finishing her thought. His gaze was dark and playful all at once, and if it was any other topic she would have pushed the envelope a bit to see how the scenario played out. But their future wasn’t a joking matter. So even though her body was already responding to the thought of whatever delicious torture he might punish her with, she let the naughty fantasy go. “Fine,” she said, blushing under the heat of his stare. “I won’t say it.”

Hudson grinned down at her. “Progress.” He reached for her hand and brought their entwined fingers to his lips, pressing a kiss to her wedding band. “You’re stuck with me. I would have thought the vows, not to mention these rings, would have proven that point.” A crease formed briefly between his brows, then a knowing smile curved his lips. “Don’t move,” he said, dropping a quick kiss to her mouth before climbing out of the daybed.

Allie rolled onto her stomach and watched him through the glass walls of their villa. He was on the far side of the room, partially obscured by the gauzy white fabric that hung in billowy curtains around the bed. She couldn’t quite make out what he was looking for, but whatever it was had something to do with his suitcase. She flipped over when he turned back toward the glass, but not fast enough.
Busted.

“Do you ever do as you’re told?” he asked. His voice was meant to convey disappointment but amusement lit his eyes.

“What?” Allie asked in feigned innocence. “I didn’t move.” She grinned. “Much.”

Hudson smiled and shook his head. “I had these drawn up before we left.” In his hand he held a thick document, folded into thirds and tied with a white satin ribbon. Without opening it, she knew it was a legal document, but what she didn’t know was what kind. It wasn’t a prenup, that was for sure. They’d married not only once without one, but twice. Ben had urged her to allow him to draft something that would protect her family assets, but she’d assured him no such paperwork was necessary. She planned to be married to Hudson for the rest of her life. If their relationship ended, losing half of the assets she acquired during the course of their marriage would be the least of her concerns. Besides, with Hudson’s net worth topping into the billions, he was the party with more on the line. Which is why she’d asked him if he wanted
her
to sign a prenuptial agreement. That conversation had lasted approximately ten seconds. Just long enough for Hudson to say the words “No fucking way.”