Chapter 2 - Hudson

 

 

What the hell was she doing here?

I’ve always been drawn to women who are comfortable with themselves. She caught my eye from where I stood in the alley earlier, watching her surroundings with such intense focus. I couldn’t help but feel drawn to her confidence, not to mention her sleek and petite frame. It wasn’t until she turned directly toward me, after about 15 minutes of admiring her, that I finally realized who she was. Lexi Lowell.

No wonder she caught my eye. Some things never change.

Lexi was 15 when I met her and 17 when she let me take her innocence. I was a year older and didn’t always treat her as well as I could have, but for a teenage boy, I had really tried. There was something about Lexi that was different. I never wanted to hurt her.

But then again, I had never wanted to do a lot of things.

Like, live here. This area had been my home for the past five years and I didn’t see myself leaving anytime soon. There’s more than enough work for a guy with my special skill set. I use that term loosely because sometimes I tend to go overboard. This latest assignment was not for the faint of heart. A certain syndicate had certain important people worried. One of their competitors hired me to get all the information they would need for a possible gang war that would leave blood spilled on the streets.

Most people who come to the city of sin don’t leave the same way. It’s either total disillusionment or the burden of memories better off left in Vegas. But I’m comfortable in the dirt where nobody can see me. Half the time people turn a blind eye and step over me, not realizing they’re one bad day, one wrong deal or spin away from being in the same position. One wrong move would have those uncaring bastards panhandling and begging for scraps.

It took me almost a year to gain any credibility, but my reputation was solid. Word of mouth was commonplace for the type of work I did. Those who requested my services were always referred by someone I’d worked for in the past, and that work spoke for itself. Now the clientele came to me and not the other way around.

When I’m on the street, I make sure I don’t look like I usually do—not like I do when I’m in the office, for example. I let my hair grow out, rarely even trimmed my beard and my eyes were sunken from sleep deprivation. Not that that persona was far from the truth. Life had definitely knocked me down. I’d done my best to carry on without the woman that I loved. A woman I spent nearly ten years loving. Seeing her die in my arms was a heavy burden to carry and made it nearly impossible for me to move on.

Reaching for my now vibrating cell phone, I tried to shake her memory.

“Julian,” I said by way of greeting.

“I know you don’t wanna hear this, Hudson, but the police have information that leads them to believe you’re getting involved in something you shouldn’t be. I said you were out of town. Not that they believed me. Pretty sure the office is under surveillance considering they’re not being very subtle about it.” Julian was afraid of his own shadow, but he was a whiz with computers. He wasn’t even in the office, but checking in remotely.

Single in his early twenties, his love life consisted of paying for it. Women came to Julian one hour at a time. Though he seemed to enjoy his freedom, always spouting that he wasn’t ready to settle down yet, I suspected it was based out of fear. Fear of commitment. I couldn’t even get the guy to meet me in person. Not even once in our history of working together.

“Can’t say I’m surprised they’re getting involved,” I grunted. “But it makes me edgy. I’ve been down this road a few times and it never ends well. They always think that I don’t know, but I see the way they disservice everyone, including themselves, by playing fast and loose with the law. I may bend it slightly, but I never break it… unless absolutely necessary.”

“Just stay out of the office for a few more days, give my excuse a little weight. I’ve been doing some digging on this syndicate and you’re not gonna like it. The money trail leads straight to the Yakuza. Watch your six.”

I was listening to what he was saying, but then, unbidden, an image of Lexi formed at the forefront of my worry and reverie. Her blonde hair, the tinge of red dye that made her stand out from the crowd. She had no problem doing that with green eyes, though—they seemed to look right through me.

Her hair was cut perfectly to show off the slope of her neck. Did she remember that had always been my weak spot? When she pushed that twenty into my head with no hesitation, I couldn’t help but smile to myself. She was still the same caring girl I remembered. Her generosity briefly restored my faith in humanity. Briefly.

Those glasses gave her an intellectual look and had me fantasizing about what she was like now. The librarian type? Oh man, the memories. Even at 17, Lexi had known what she was doing. Although I knew I was her first, I often found myself pleasantly surprised. Like the first time she went down on me. Her parents were out of town, and we were in her bedroom. She devoured me. She knew what she was doing. How the hell did she know what she was doing? Afterward, she licked her lips like a pro and cheerfully popped up from between my legs.

“Where did you learn to do that?!” I gasped, still catching my breath.

“I don’t know”—she shrugged—“I’ve never done that before, but I really like it. Can’t wait to do it again.”

“Hello? Hudson?” Julian’s voice broke through the memory. “This is serious shit. Are you evening listening to me?”

“Yes,” I cleared my throat. “Sorry. Listen, if what you’re saying is true, things are going to get worse before they get better. I’ve been out here for five days. I’ve seen enough to know our clients know more than they’re willing to share. I’m gonna have to sit down with them, give them a progress report or something, and try to get more information.”

“Don’t say I didn’t warn you. But when the hell have you ever listened? It’s not always about the money, Hudson. I don’t know what they’re paying, but I have to imagine it’s quite a sum for you to take this kind of risk.”

“Julian, you know that you’re wise beyond your years. You also know that I rarely do what others think I’m going to do. I take on assignments that make me think. It’s not always about the money. But hey, can’t say that it doesn’t come in handy,” I say, smirking. I had a bit of a problem right now, truth be told. I wasn’t much for gambling at the tables, but sporting events were another matter altogether. I usually broke even or came ahead, but this last round of bad luck left me ten grand in the hole.

Julian sighs. “I’ll make sure to leave a paper trail for the authorities. That way your credit cards will indicate you rented a car in your own name. They’ll see transactions made at various truck stops and gas stations.”

I didn’t know how he did half the things he did for me, but I wasn’t about to go pulling at that thread. It was better to have plausible deniability.

I hadn’t paid taxes in five years and my digital footprint had been expunged. I was pretty much alone and off the grid. My love life consisted of whatever able-bodied woman was willing to take a chance on a hairy wildebeest like myself. I hated the beard and I wanted desperately to shave it, but that would give away my baby face good looks.

“You can’t fool me, you know?” He said suddenly. “I know all about the betting. You never listen and it always costs you. You say you value my counsel? Sometimes I wonder. There’s a reason you keep putting your life on the line. It’s almost like you have a death wish.”

He was getting too close to the truth and I didn’t like it.

After Danielle died, I lost my way and found myself holding onto the belief that I wanted to join her. I put myself at risk in the hope that some errant bullet would send me to her. She was the only one that mattered to me and she always gave me the space needed to work through my demons.

“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” I bite out. “Be careful about what battles you pick, Julian. You may find yourself getting in over your head. Let that be fair warning.”

“There’s no reason to get your feathers ruffled,” he...moaned? “I’ve always been a big believer that I should know who…who...I’m working for.”

I could tell from his voice that he was struggling to speak. I had the sinking feeling that he wasn’t alone. The long shallow breaths and the slight moan that he was trying to hide was a good indication that someone of questionable morals was there with him. Again. One of his hourly girlfriends, no doubt.

“You have got to be one of the nastiest men I’ve ever had the misfortune of being in business with,” I deadpanned into the phone. “The extent of your depravity is absolutely mind boggling. You’re conducting business and pleasure at the same time? I suppose, from your point of view, it would mean a streamlined approach to personal and professional. I’ll let you go. You have something, or should I say someone, more important to do.”

I heard the snicker on the other end of the line and knew that he was enjoying the play on words.

“Sorry, must’ve lost my train of thought for a moment. It could be this gorgeous brunette who just showed up. She gives new meaning to the words stress relief. Couldn’t wait for me to get off the phone, what can I say?” He moaned again, and I pulled the phone away from my ear.

If this was the only bit of joy he had in his life other than his computer, who was I to judge how he got his rocks off? Still, that didn’t mean I had to listen to it.

“I’ll reach out at the same time tomorrow. You can’t call me. I have a burner phone.” I ended the call abruptly, whirling in the alleyway at the same time I heard a commotion coming from farther up on the street.

I rounded the corner, an anxious feeling gnawing at my gut. And my gut never lied. There, just on the corner, were two determined young men dressed in black and wearing masks, accosting the very woman who had recently been kind enough to give me twenty dollars.

Lexi.