Page 89 of Deathless
His eyes lifted to mine and I was stunned at the emotion in them, a stark contrast to the coldness in his words. “As soon as that thought entered my mind, I realized I couldn’t let it happen. After everything you did for me, for the gladiators, I couldn’t let you die. I didn’t—” He swallowed and struggled again to speak. “I didn’t want to live in a world without you in it.”
There was a long, tense silence until I broke it. “So you saved my life.”
He shook his head, refusing to look at me again. “When Val had to restart your heart, I almost lost my shit. I thought that one second of hesitation made me too late. I still can’t believe that thought entered my head.”
“Stop that. Come here.” I held my good hand out for him to take. When he just stared at it, I added, “As your president, I order you.”
That got a small smile out of him, like I’d hoped. His fingers were warm as they clasped around mine in a gentle squeeze.
“First of all, like those kids, you’re undoing some indoctrination too. You’ve felt nothing but hate for women for years, then got thrown into dealing withme, of all people. It’s okay if some of those old thoughts intrude, because they shaped your reality for so long.”
“It’s not okay, though,” he argued. “Not when it comes to life and death decisions.”
“I’m not done.” I gave a cheeky squeeze to his hand. “Second of all, you’re not perfect and nobody expects you to be. No one is policing your thoughts, and it’s your actions that matter anyway. You acted quickly enough to save my life. And third of all.” I released his hand and held my arm out in ata-damotion. “I’m alive and on some damn good painkillers. So don’t beat yourself up when it all worked out in the end.”
Hudson laughed, and it sounded like actual joy bubbled out of his chest for the first time in a while. “You make it hard to argue, President.”
He looked happy, genuinely so. It looked good on him, and I couldn’t stop smiling. “I’m glad you’re here, Hudson.”
“Me too, Rori.”
The next thing I knew, he was smoothing my hair back and placing a kiss on my forehead. Only then did I think about how shitty I must have looked, considering how many punches to the face I had received.
Hudson lingered with his lips on my forehead for a moment, long enough for me to wonder if he’d consider becoming more than just one of the men who followed me.
Would he ever join the ones who stood beside me?
Before I could venture any kind of questions in that direction, he straightened and backed away. “I’ll let the guys know you’re awake.”
Then he turned and left the room.
30
HUDSON
Two weeks after arriving in Four Corners, Rori and Devin waited with me in the doctor’s office. Rori paced around the room, seemingly unable to sit still despite the walking boot on her foot. When she did sit down on the doctor’s little rolling stool, her left knee bounced up and down.
“Will you stop?” Devin grumbled at her. “You’re makingmenervous.”
“Sorry.” She drummed her fingers on her knee, looking toward the door. Her right arm was no longer in a cast, though she still held it tucked close to her body. “I don’t know why I’m so worked up.”
“It’s okay.” I knocked my shoulder into Devin’s, who was sitting beside me on the exam table. “Watching her fidget keeps my mind off of whatever the news is gonna be.”
“See?” Rori held her hand out toward me. “I’m helping.”
A knock came to the door then, and it opened from the outside a few moments later.
“Hi, everyone,” came the friendly greeting from the doctor, an attractive woman in her late forties with olive skin and long, brown hair. “How are we doing?”
“Hi, Mom,” Rori answered. “They seem good, but I’m on pins and needles over here.”
Dr. Wilder chuckled as she planted a kiss on her daughter’s forehead, then playfully smacked her shoulder with the paper folder in her hand. “Move it, mija. You’re in my seat.”
With an exaggerated sigh and groan, Rori stood from the rolling stool and crossed the room to stand by Devin and me.
As her mother took her place on the stool and wheeled closer to us, I could see the resemblance more clearly. She and Rori had the same cheekbones, nose, and lips.
“So,” the doctor placed the folder on her lap, “are we ready to know? Do you have any questions for me first?”
