Page 58 of Crash and Burn

The gas pedal in my car was working overtime the entire way there. I took backroads to get there faster with less traffic. Pulling up to Amelia’s, I was raging and worried. All my senses were notched up to an eleven.I swear if she’s hurt…

I put the car in park and looked at her windows to see if I could see anything, but I couldn’t. She always kept the curtains closed. I knocked, thinking if something was wrong, she would figure out a way to tell me.

I banged on the door.

“Amelia! It’s Hudson. Open up.”

I waited for her to answer and was getting more worried with every second that passed.

I banged again.

“Come on, Amelia! I know you’re home. Listen, I’m sorry. I have so much I want to tell you. Please open up and talk to me. I…I miss you, please.”

The door cracked, but the chain was still latched. She peeked at me through the gap in the door. This was the first time I had seen her in weeks, and she always opened the door when she knew it was me, even when I was an ass. She looked sad.

“Hey, listen, now isn’t a good time. I’m exhausted.”

“Amelia.” I said it in a low voice. “Talk to me. Let me in. I owe you the biggest apology and I want to tell you everything. I miss you. I’m sorry. Please let me in.” Her eyes were pleading but her words were the opposite.

“Listen, Hud. I don’t have anything to say to you. We are done, ok? We were just havin’ fun. You should go home.”

Nope. This is wrong. She never calls me Hud. Something’s wrong. “We were just havin’ fun, huh? Really? After everything?”

“Yeah. Look, I gotta go. Go home. Don’t come back, Hud.” She closed the door in my face.Hud.There it was again. Something was definitely wrong. I walked back to my car. If that fuckin’ asshole is watching, I want him to think I left. I got in and pulled around the block, then I sent Vinny a text.

911. Amelia’s in trouble. Cops called. I’m pretty sure it’s Kevin. I’m goin’ in.

Chapter 23

Amelia

“Is he gone, Amy?”

A piece of me died inside as I watched Hudson drive away. “Yeah, Kevin. He’s gone. Please stop calling me Amy.”

“That’s always been my nickname for you. Why are you acting weird about itnow? Let’s go back to the kitchen.”

I looked down at the floor as we went back. Kevin had a tight grip on my arm.This can’t be happening. All the work I put in to building a new life here and now I’m here in the same room with him and no way out.

BANG!I was startled by the loud slamming sound, so I screamed. I looked to see what it was andoh my god...Hudson!He came charging into Kevin from the back of the house, knocking him to the floor.I jumped back. I was so scared, but so relieved and thought,He hadn’t left after all.The two of them were fighting on the floor. I ran toward the front door to call for help and bumped right into Vinny. I pointed to the kitchen. “Vinny! Hudson’s in trouble.”

“Take my keys and get in my car. Lock the doors and don’t come out until you see the cops or us. Undastand?”

I nodded and ran for his car. Inside, I could hear Hudson cursing, then crashing sounds, then a blood-curdling scream from Kevin, and Vinny yelling, “YOU MUTHA-FUCKA!” It felt like I was waiting forever when the cops pulled up, even though it had only been a couple of minutes. I got out and ran to them. Then I saw Sheila, parked behind the police cars, and ran to her instead. The officers ran in the house to break up the fight.

“Sheila! You knew?”

“Oh baby, of course I knew. I called Hudson as soon as you ‘cancelled our plans’ to let him know something wasn’t right.”

“Oh my god, thank you so much!”

One of the officers came back from my apartment and asked me, “Ma’am, is this your place?”

I nodded. “Yes. Oh, Hudson and Vinny! How are they?”

“We need you to come back in the apartment and tell us what’s going on. We have all three men in cuffs.”

“No! It should just be one.” I rushed back into the apartment and saw Vinny and Hudson sitting next to each other with their wrists behind their backs. Hudson had a bloody lip and Vinny just looked pissed. Kevin was cuffed and curled up in the corner of the living room, next to the electric fireplace. I turned to the police officers and explained what happened. They uncuffed Vinny and Hudson and told them to stand in the kitchen while they hauled Kevin off to jail. Hudson looked at me and rushed toward me, then wrapped me in his arms. One of his hands caressed the back of my head, his fingers tangled in my hair. I had never missed something so much in my entire life. Vinny walked up and looked down at his fist. My eyes went wide, they were all bloodied.

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