Jagger’s out of the car and around to the back in seconds, as soon as he opens the door, he helps me get Mia out of the car. Gingerly holding her in his arms as I climb out. Hushed whispers get my attention, peering across the street, I see my men forming a line. They want to know what’s happened. They’ll have to wait. “Jag, fill them in on what’s happened. I’ll let them know how Mia is once I know myself.”
He nods handing me Mia, “I will do, Boss.” His eyes are on Mia’s fragile frame, she’s not once moved since I picked her up off that shitty mattress.
As soon as I enter the little house, Mia’s immediately taken from me by a couple of nurses and brought into one of the rooms. “Mr Brady, I’m Dr Erika Telemann. I’ll be looking after Mia. I’ll keep you informed when I know anything.” Erika gives me a small smile before following the nurses and Mia into another room.
I lean against the wall and bow my head as relief crashes through me, she’s in safe hands, I can finally breathe again.
“Son,” Dad’s low hesitant tone makes my head lift. His hands in his pockets but his eyes are focused on me. I’ve never seen my dad look so uncomfortable before. “How is she?”
I shrug. “I have no fucking idea, Dad. The doctor’s with her now. I don’t know where you managed to get her from, but I’m grateful.”
He waves it away as if it were nothing. “Is there anything I can do?”
“Right now, there’s nothing anyone can do. She’s unconscious and I won’t know what happened until she wakes up. God knows when that’ll be.” My voice is hoarse as I try and fight back the tears that are threatening to fall.
“What about Lacey? Can she tell us anything?”
Pain hits me and I rub my chest as if that’s going to help. “She’s dead, Dad. We got there too late. Mia was cradling Lacey’s body.”
His eyes widen. “Fuck,” he bites out.
I nod. “Where’s Tina?” I thought she’d be here.
He sighs. “She’s at home, I haven’t told her we’ve found her yet.”
I hide my shock. “And why is that?”
He looks away, almost if he’s ashamed. “I’ve made a lot of mistakes in my life, Hudson, most of them involve you and how I was. Since Tina met you, things between us have gone downhill. She’s not the woman I married,” he admits and I know how hard it is for him to say that he’s got anything wrong. “The way she’s acted since Mia was taken just hasn’t sat right with me.”
At least I’m not the only one. “When will you be getting the information?”
He raises his eyebrow but laughs. “Nothing can ever get past you. I had Galen look into her a bit more thoroughly than the last time. I’ve also had him look into all the men. Someone’s a rat and I want to find out who it is.”
“You don’t think it was Barney?” I question, I want to see if anyone else thinks the same as I do.
He shrugs. “I don’t know, what has he said?”
“He got the money for doing a job for Landon King and Landon’s been paying him sporadically. He met Tianna at his sister’s baby shower. Lisa married Dante Mancini.” Even as I say the words, it sounds far-fetched but why would he lie about something that is so easily confirmed?
“Wait… Dante married Barney’s sister?” Disbelief in his words.
“Apparently. Hell, I didn’t even know he got married.”
Dad laughs. “It was an arranged marriage, one that was meant to help bring two families together.”
“That makes no fucking sense, Dad. Barney wasn’t Mafia.” I know that for a fact, there’s no way, no how.
“No, Son, he wasn’t but Lisa has a different dad. Lisa’s mom ran off with Lisa when she found out the truth about her father. It took Orlando and his men almost fifteen years to find her, by that time Lisa’s mom had remarried and had another child… Barney. When Barney’s mom died before they reached eighteen, Orlando took Lisa in and has groomed her to marry.”
I shake my head, its political bullshit. I know what I need to know and that’s enough for me, the ins and outs of how the Mafia handle their family is something I want no part in. I do my business and if that leads me to come in contact with anyone, I’ll find shit out then. “So? It’s true? Lisa married Dante?”
He nods. “I didn’t know Lisa as Barney’s sister, I only knew her as Lisa Russo. The daughter of Orlando Russo.”
This shit gets weirder by the second. “If that’s the case, why didn’t Barney go and be a solider for Orlando?”
Dad gives me a smile. “Because of you, Son. You’re the reason he joined my ranks. He was in awe of you. You were what he aspired to be. He told me that if he could emulate even a fifth of you, he’d be a happy man. I think he was just sick of being a nobody, when his sister was a Principessa. He believed that joining me would help him. He made friends and became a man that was well respected.”
“He’s dead, Dad. He lied to me too many times,” I tell him matter-of-factly. I will not be made feel guilty for killing him. He lied time and time again to me. It was only a matter of time before those lies caught up to him.
Dad nods. “I know Son, you did the right thing. Everyone knows that.”
“I find it weird that there was no one in the basement when we found Mia. Not only that, the basement door was open and the shackles were off Mia but not Lacey. Mia could have ran, she had the chance.”
“Are you saying you think Mia stayed there by choice?” He looks disgusted at the thought.
“I know she did, Dad and it wasn’t anything like you’re thinking. She stayed with Lacey.” She stayed with her friend, the woman she considers her sister.
Dad frowns. “Okay, so what do you find weird then?”
I roll my eyes. “No one was there. It was like they knew we were coming.”
Realization hits him. “How many people knew you were going to be there?”
“Six of us. That’s all. Matt, Lucas, Tyler, Martin, Jagger, and myself.”
“You’ve narrowed it down. One of those five is the man that is betraying you,” Dad tells me something I already had figured out.
“And I’m going to find out who and when I do…”
The door behind me opens and I turn and see Dr Erika walking out, her face blank. I can’t decipher if she has good or bad news. “Mr Brady, may I have a word in private?” she asks softly and I fear the worse already.
“I’ll step outside,” Dad says, but I shake my head and he stays standing where he is.
“Its okay, Doc, this is my dad.”
She nods once and takes a deep breath. “Mr Brady, Mia has a lot of bruising, mainly to her face. She has a contusion on her head, we’re monitoring it, it’s no longer bleeding and has been stitched but the blow has broken her eye socket. She’s got a broken nose, but all those will heal in time. She doesn’t appear to have any serious injuries. Right now her body is healing, that’s why she’s unconscious. She’ll wake once she’s ready.”
“But?” I can hear it in her voice, something else is wrong.
She shifts from side to side, her eyes glancing from me to my father.
“Tell me,” I say through clenched teeth.
“Mr Brady, Mia has been sexually assaulted.”
“Who?”
She frowns. “Excuse me?”
“Who raped her?” I spit out, whoever did it is going to hurt. I’m going to ruin them. They’re going to wish they had never heard of Hudson Brady by the time I’m finished with them.
She splutters. “Mr Brady, I’m sorry but I have no way of knowing that. I’ve taken a rape kit….”
“Give it to me,” I demand, holding out my hand.
Her eyes widen. “Mr Brady, that kit has to go to the police. If you give it to them, they will find the person responsible for this.”
“Doc, I know that you think that’s the best thing to do. But let me tell you this. When I find out who did this, I’m going to make sure they never do it to anyone else. I’m going to make them hurt so bad, they’ll be b
egging for forgiveness. They’ll be begging for the end.”
She looks away, I can see the internal war that she’s having with herself.
“Doc, no one knows we’re here. So no one is going to know that you took that kit and gave it to me.”
She gives me a sharp nod and turns back and walks into Mia’s room.
“Son, what’s your plan of action now?” Dad asks when we’re alone.
“My gut is screaming that it’s one of those five we spoke about. One of them raped Mia and I’m going to find out who.”
Dad nods. “I’ll take the kit and have it ran by someone outside of your men.”
I agree. “I don’t know how deep this deception runs, who else they have helping them.” At least there are a few that I know aren’t involved in this shit, but are they helping them? That’s what I don’t know.
“I’ll get on it right away. I’ll tell them to put a rush on it.” His eyes flashing with rage.
“What about DNA?” I ball my fists up, I don’t want my dad seeing them shaking.
“That’s where you’re going to have to get creative. We’re going to need a sample from each of them.”
I smirk. “Once we do, I’m going to nail the bastard who orchestrated this.” I’ve never felt so much rage as I do now. God help the fucker, because when I’m finished with him, he’ll be unrecognizable.
“Are you going to tell anyone what’s happened to Mia?” Dad asks softly. It’s a vast change from the anger it held moments ago.
I shake my head. “No, until Mia is awake, no one is to know anything.”
“Okay son, I won’t say a word.” He promises as Dr Erika steps out of the room, a bag in her hand. “I’ll take that,” Dad tells her and she immediately hands it to him before going back into Mia’s room, not once talking. “Son, call me if she wakes.”
“I will do. Thanks Dad. I owe you.”
He shakes his head. “Nothing to owe. She’s yours which means she’s mine.” He places his hand on my shoulder and squeezes tightly.
I hear the door closing, and I know he’s just left. He’s going to find out who did this. I take a seat and wait until the good doctor says I can see Mia.
Ten
Mia
I wake up to hushed tones. Fear immediately grips me. I can’t open my eyes, I try but it’s to no avail. I don’t know who’s here. Is it him? Is he back? I inhale, but I don’t get the dirty waft that I had while I was in that room, instead, the scent of lavender and cleaning chemicals fill my nose. Where am I? Where’s Lacey? She’s not beside me anymore.
“How is she?” That soft dulcet tone makes me feel at ease. “Her face looks bad.” The southern drawl he has takes a hardness to it.
“The doc says she’s going to be okay.” Relief washes through me when I hear Hudson’s voice. “But fuck, she’s been through a lot. I don’t know if she ever will be.”
“She’s strong and she has you too,” Jagger tells him, it’s something that I love about Jagger, he always has something to say that’s uplifting.
“She left, remember? She found out who I was and she ran.” The disappointment in his voice makes me want to cry. Lacey was right, I should have spoken to him first instead of running. I just didn’t know how to deal with it. I try and move my fingers but I can’t, I’m so tired but I don’t want to fall asleep again. I want to listen to Hudson. Hearing his voice is making me feel safe. I want to listen to it forever. It means I’m not back in that place.
“You’ll never know unless you talk to her. Sarah keeps texting, wanting to know if she’s awake. She wants to come home but I’ve told her she’s staying put. I’m sending Ma to New York to spend time with her. At least until this fucking asshole is found. I can’t have her or Allie in this.”
“Sarah’s going to love that…” I can hear the smile in Hudson’s voice.
“I know, my ma’s going to make Sarah want me or she’s going to send her running for the hills. I’m not sure which yet. Look Hudson, I know something has happened. The way that your father is behaving, the secret phone calls. What is it?” Jagger sounds really worried. He’s usually so light hearted, what has happened.
A heavy sigh escapes him. “Jag, I have no idea who the hell I can trust.”
“You don’t think you can trust me?” The accusation is clear, the anger is there.
“I don’t know, Jag. I fucking don’t know.” Hudson tells him sounding resigned.
“You should know that you can trust me. How long have we been friends?”
“Jag, someone close to me kidnapped Mia. They fucking took her for over three fucking weeks. They knew where she was going to be and I need to find out how. There was only five people who knew that Jag, five. So no I don’t know who to trust right now.”
“You should fucking trust me! Christ, Hudson, do you really think I would have done this? She’s your woman, Hudson that means she’s family. She’s Sarah’s best friend, she’s made sure that my woman and my baby girl have been okay. I wouldn’t do anything to hurt her. Ever.” The anger that Jagger has is understandable, hell even I’m mad that Hudson thinks he can’t trust Jagger.
“He raped her, Jag, the man that took the woman I love. Raped her.”
My breath catches at his words. I never wanted him to find out, I never wanted anyone to find out. I truly believed that when Lacey died no one would ever know. But he does and I honestly don’t know how to react to that news.
“Fuck, Hudson.” It’s a guttural sound, one that reminds me of a wild animal that’s been cornered.
“So, while I appreciate the doc saying she’s going to be okay. I don’t think she will be. Someone close to me did this to her. They assaulted her in every way possible, they killed her best friend in front of her and kept her in a fucking basement like a damned animal.”
“I know that you’re going to do whatever it takes to make her safe. Whatever that may be. Trust me, Hudson, I’ve never betrayed you and I never would. You’re my brother and it fucking hurts that you even thought it could be me. I know that you’ve got your father working on this but I am too. I’m going to find out who did this to you, to Mia.”
I hear movement followed by a door closing. My lips part and I try and say his name, “Hudson.” It comes out hoarse, my eyes still can’t open, and as I try my entire body is protesting against it.
“Fuck.” His curse is followed by a chair scrapping against the floor. “Mia, fuck.”
I lick my lips. “Hudson. Where am I?”
Hands roam my face and I move from the touch, crying out in pain as I do.
His hands immediately leave my face. “Mia, it’s me. You’re safe.” Hurt in his voice.
“Where I am?” I ask again feeling awful for pulling away from him.
“You’re in a safe house, the doctor has been and she’s made sure you’re okay.”
“Why can’t I open my eyes?” I still can’t open them.
“Mia, you were hit in the face. It was a severe blow that you took. It’s broken your eye socket. Not only that, the fucker broke your nose. Your eyes are swollen.”
“How bad does it look?” I ask, imagining the worst. “What else happened?” I can’t remember much after crawling onto the mattress beside Lacey. My heart hurts thinking about her, it’s my fault that she’s dead. If I had just called Hudson when I found out who he really is, this wouldn’t have happened.
“You look gorgeous as always. Mia, Lacey died, you were…” He pauses, unable to continue.
“I know, I know,” I whisper, I can’t say the word either. “Hudson, who was it?” I know that whoever it is, they’re familiar to me but I just can’t put my finger on who it was.
“I don’t know, Princess. I’m going to find out.” He sounds broken. “I can’t trust anyone,” he whispers, “I don’t want to trust them.”
“It wasn’t Jagger. I promise you that.” I can’t have him thinking it was Jagger, he needs him now more than ever.
“How sure are you,
Princess?” So much relief in those few words.
“I’m certain. Jagger has such a distinctive accent. The man didn’t have an accent, Hudson.”
“I’m going to find out who it is. They’re not going to get away with this.” The way he talks, the anger in his voice it reminds me of what my mom told me. This is who he is.
“What are you going to do to him?” I shouldn’t have asked but I need to know.
He sighs. “Mia, this is who I am. I’m not going to change.”
I blindly reach out for him, my hands grazing against his hard calloused hand. “I never asked you to. I just wanted to know what you were going to do when you find him.”
He doesn’t even hesitate in answering me. “I’m going to kill him. He’s going to die the most painful death anyone can ever have and he’s going to know that he doesn’t touch what is mine.”
“Just be careful,” I beg, I’m so tired, and my body is sinking further into the bed. “Thank you.”
“Princess, why are you thanking me?”
“For saving me.” It comes out slurred but the way his hand tightens around mine tells me that he heard me.
“Always, Mia. I’ll always save you.” It’s the last thing I hear before I fall back to sleep.
I wake to a dry mouth, I need some water. My right eye opens and I’m surprised, I didn’t think I’d be able to open it. Hudson said they were swollen. Turning to look to my left, I see Hudson sitting on the chair, his eyes closed. His chest rising and falling slowly as he sleeps, I just watch him as he does, he looks so peaceful. I never got to see him this at ease before, I like it.
“I can feel you staring at me,” he says as his lips lift at the side.
I blush, embarrassed that I’ve been caught staring at him. “You look so peaceful. You’re always so serious, so tense. I haven’t seen you look so peaceful.”
His eyes open at my words. “I’m finally able to sleep. I hadn’t slept in over three weeks.” I know that he means he didn’t sleep while I was taken. “You’ve opened your eye. How does it feel?”
Dangerous Secrets (The Kingpin Book 2) Page 8
