Fuck. I had no idea that Creed’s face was fucked up by his old man. I’d assumed a disgruntled buyer had done that.
“Which club?”
He gave me the details. Creed then told me that his father had messaged Molly from a burner phone pretending to be him. The message said that I was in danger and that he needed her to meet him. And she’d agreed. That angered me. So, she had been snatched from school.
The thought of how terrified she must have been was like a knife to the heart, and I wanted to smash something.
I was screwed and so far out of my depth.You fucked upwas like a continuous chant in the back of my head.
I need to get a grip. I’d lost my mother; I wouldn’t lose Molly.
Knowing where Chicago’s was, I agreed to return the drugs there, but only if they let me speak with Molly.
I listened as Xander rattled around. It sounded like he was walking. I heard him say something about me wanting to speak with her.
And then her sweet voice bled through the speaker of my cell. “Hudson?”
“Yes, baby. I’m here.” I touched the screen, wanting to reach for her, even though I knew that was impossible.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t say anything,” she cried, clearly distressed. I rammed my fist into the dashboard. I hated that she thought I would assume she’d grassed me up.
“I know, baby, it’s OK. It doesn’t matter. I’m coming to get you.”
“No, don’t come,” she cried. “They have your friend too. Thomas, he’s…” The phone was then ripped away, and I roared, the sound echoing around the cab, making a woman on the sidewalk stare in as she trotted past.
So, they also had Tommo. Another jet of guilt shot through me. I’d also dragged my friend into this shit.
Thoughts of how I would ever make amends for my fuck ups had to be shelved. I needed to get to my girl.
And,for once in my life. I had doubts about my ability to deal with shit on my own. I wouldn’t call the cops, but I needed to speak to someone I could trust, an adult.
This is your shit, Hudson. Clean it the fuck up!My mother’s voice haunted my thoughts.
I would more than clean it the fuck up. I would make it right if I had to die doing it; so be it.
After listening to the instructions from the guy who had taken the phone away from Molly, I catalogued everything in my head as he rang off.
I then pulled out into the traffic and made my way back towards Newport.
The entire journey, I thought about Molly and what she was going through. Tommo was also on my mind. They must have beaten him for the information, and badly, as he was no snitch. Fuck, I hoped he was alive. I couldn’t be dealing with another death on my conscience. He was only eighteen and had his entire life ahead of him. Shit, we all did. What a mess.
I couldn’t be thinking about my failings at that point, and I needed a plan, and fast. It took most of the drive to cement my ideas.
First stop. Backup.I just hoped he’d fucking listen.
When I got to my destination, there weren’t many people around, just cleaning staff and a few students here and there.
I walked purposefully towardshisoffice and opened the door without knocking.
He was at his desk, bent over some paperwork. His head shot up when I entered, surprise lining his features. He looked tired, and I needed him to wake the hell up.
The man then pushed to his feet. He was tall and broad and knew how to handle himself, so I’d been told. Considering my ask, Ifuckinghoped so.
“Hudson?”
I took a deep breath, stared him straight in the eye, and said, “Sir. I need your help. But you’re going to have to trust me.”
MOLLY
