Julian fanned his arms out in a challenge, blood dripping off his hand. “Isn’t this sweet, the knight riding in to save his whore,” he taunted. “That’s all she is, just someone to wet the tip of your dick.”

The guy had a serious death wish.

In a blaze of white rage, Hudson charged at Julian and the two men collided, force against force and fist to fist.

Allie fell back out of their way. “NO! Hudson, please . . .” she sobbed, unable to do anything to stop the fury breaking loose in front of her.

Taking a double shot, a nice one-two to the ribs, Hudson sucked in a huge breath and shut out the pain. He methodically returned the favor and nailed Julian with a stunner of an uppercut, his bare knuckles absorbing the blow. Bones cracked and blood gushed. Julian’s head snapped back up and Hudson rebounded with a strong left, splitting his brow wide open.

The determined fucker wasn’t going down easily.

Julian wiped the blood off his face with his forearm and came back at him in a wide swing. Hudson dodged to the side and Julian’s fist plowed into his kidneys, throwing him off-balance. Pain exploded up his spine and down his legs. His face screwed tight and his teeth clenched. Goddamn, that hurt.

Hudson’s rage jacked further. That’s the thing about pain—it either knocks you down or fires you up. Right now it was one hell of a motivator.

Before Hudson was fully aware of what he was doing, he surged forward, caught Julian by the throat, and flattened him out on the ground. Julian’s eyes widened and his pupils dilated as Hudson’s Ferragamo came down on his throat. Julain grabbed the shoe with both hands and tried to pry it off, but Hudson kept his foot pressed tightly to his neck.

“Did you know it only takes a small amount of pressure to crush your windpipe?”

Julian’s face turned red and his hands shook as he tried to push Hudson off.

“Ever come near her again and I’ll rip your fucking esophagus out and use it as a garden hose. Now nod.”

Julian nodded, his hands still white-knuckling Hudson’s loafer.

“Good boy.” He removed his foot from Julian’s neck and left him coughing on the floor.

Hudson turned toward Allie, and the blow of seeing the tears streaking down her bloodstained cheek was worse than any hit he’d taken from Julian. He took his jacket off and wrapped it around her shoulders. “Are you okay?”

She sagged against him, barely managing a nod.

“Let’s go.” He held her tight as he guided her out of the apartment, shielding her from the curious eyes of her neighbors.

Chapter Thirty-eight

Allie closed her eyes against the bright light and shivered.

“Are you cold?” Hudson knelt in front of her, gently wiping the blood off her face with a warm washcloth.

She shook her head and it made the room spin. “No, I just can’t stop shaking.”

He frowned and a deep furrow creased his brow. “It’s the adrenaline. Let me get this bandaged and then I’ll find you some warmer clothes.” Lowering the cloth, he quickly folded it in half, but not before she saw the blood. So much blood.

“How bad is it?” She was half afraid to ask. Her perch on the side of the tub faced away from the mirror, a position she was beginning to think wasn’t entirely coincidental.

“Looks like the bleeding finally stopped. But you’re going to have one hell of a shiner.” Hudson reached into the first-aid kit for a brown bottle. A moment later he held up a cotton ball soaked in antiseptic. “Close your eyes.”

Gently, he dabbed the cold liquid on the gash above her eye. Ouch! The sharp sting made her wince, and she heard Hudson suck in a sharp, sympathetic breath.

“God, Allie, I wanted to kill him.” His voice was menacingly calm.

Allie opened her eyes. Hudson was staring at her, his lips pressed together in a thin line as he cleaned her wounds. She held perfectly still, letting him tend to her, knowing he needed to do this for her as much as she needed it done. When he finished, he pitched the cotton in the trash and rummaged through the kit for a large bandage, which he coated with antibiotic ointment.

“I’ve never seen Julian like that,” she whispered. “It was like he was possessed or something. He just snapped.”

A muscle in Hudson’s jaw twitched but he kept his eyes focused on the business at hand. He brushed her hair off her forehead, then lightly pressed the bandage into place. “What set him off?”

“I told him it was over.”

He stilled. “You did?

Allie nodded. “What you said last night, about two weeks not being enough? I feel the same way.” She paused, trying to gauge his reaction, but he gave nothing away. Her heart raced as a thought she hadn’t considered rushed unbidden through her mind. What if he’d been pushed too far? A cold chill ran down her spine. There was nothing she could do but lay it all on the line and hope he still felt the same way. She drew a shaky breath and continued. “I can’t walk away from us, Hudson. Not this time. I need you in my life.”

His expression softened with an unexpected vulnerability and he gently cupped her face between his hands. “I need you, too,” he murmured.

Allie curled her fingers over his, wanting to hold tight to not only the moment, but the man before her on his knees. He leaned closer and his lips pressed against hers in a warm, lingering kiss. Her entire body shuddered in a rush of pure joy that was quickly followed by a wave of physical pain. It was too much, the intensity of her feelings for him and the sobering reality of what had almost happened in her apartment. Overcome with emotion, she began to sob.

“Don’t,” he whispered. His thumbs swept over her cheeks, catching her tears. “It shreds me to see you cry.”

“If you hadn’t gotten there when you did . . .”

“Hush, I’m here.” His strong arms wrapped around her and he carefully pulled her into his lap, cradling her as if she were the most delicate glass. “You’re safe with me, Allie. Always will be.” He held her close, soothing her with tender words and gentle touches, until her breath no longer came in trembling gasps. When she finally calmed, he lifted her to her feet. “Come, let me get you into bed.”

Hudson undressed her with the utmost of care, slowly unwrapping her bloodstained dress. As he slid it off her shoulders, his eyes flared. Allie followed his gaze to her ribs, where dark bruises had already begun to form.

“It looks worse than it feels,” she tried to reassure him.

He gave a tight nod and reached for a stack of neatly folded clothes that were piled on the end of the bed. “Can you raise your arms?” he asked. His tone was grim.

She complied and he slipped a T-shirt over her head, careful not to disrupt the bandage on her forehead. Allie inhaled deeply as the soft cotton brushed over her face. It smelled like fresh laundry and Hudson Chase. The combination made her feel warm and safe, and for the first time all night, her body began to relax.

“Lift your foot.” He crouched down in front of her with a pair of his boxer briefs in his hands. The sight of him blurred the fine line that often existed between emotions, and in spite of everything a small laugh escaped her lips. He looked up at her, confused. “Something funny?”

Allie smiled and ran her fingers through his unruly hair. “You, offering me your underwear.”

He smirked. “While I do prefer stripping them off, now is hardly the time. You need to rest.”

For once he’d get no argument. She did as he asked, placing her hand on his shoulder for balance as she stepped first with one foot and then the other.

“I have a pair of sweats here if you want them. We can roll the ends.”

“I’m fine like this.”

He pulled back the duvet and she climbed in. The cool, crisp sheets felt like heaven against her aching muscles. He arranged the blankets over her then bent and touched his lips to her forehead just above the bandage. When he turned to leave, she reached out and caught his hand.