Chapter 135: Territorial

NANCY’S POV

I didn’t recognize the voice that called me, but it was still shocking either way, because the last thing I expected was for someone I knew to be at an event like this.

Thinking about it, it wasn't so far-fetched since it hadn’t explicitly been mentioned that the fundraiser was a cover for underground deals.

Of course, to cover what it actually was, there were other people from all walks of life present, who looked relatively normal to me.

Still, it was still a surprise.

I turned around slowly, unsure who I would see behind me.

My breath caught in my throat when I finally saw him.

Ethan.

It was immediate recognition on my part. How could I not recognize the boy who’d been my seat partner for the entirety of high school, except he was a man now, with a fresh buzz cut and a stubble of beard under his chin that only added to his charismatic look.

“Ethan,” I gasped, closing the distance between us quickly to grab his arm.

“Oh my goodness, it’s you…” For the first time in days, I actually felt a rush of feelings that wasn’t negative- nostalgia.

Memories came welling up immediately of the tall, lanky boy who’d show up during lunch breaks with a bag of sandwiches for me and the brightest smile on his face.

“You seemed busy, so I thought I’d get it for you,” he’d mutter with a small rub of his chin every time I told him he shouldn’t have.

Eventually, we’d grown even closer and had spent some time in the library, reading together, and had designated shared seats at the cafeteria.

“Nancy, it has been a while since I last saw you. How have you been? You look…amazing.”

“Thank you.” My lips curled into a smile that I couldn’t help, even though just about an hour or more ago, I’d been cursing my Mom and Hudson for putting these clothes on me.

“I was wondering where you went? No one’s heard from you in months; you just disappeared…”

I stiffened when he said this and instinctively withdrew my hands from his arm, taking a step back.

The smile on my face almost waned, but I forced it to remain, reinforcing it even to put on a facade of calm that I didn’t feel.

“Oh, I expected as much. No one’s heard from me because I haven’t been around. I…I just flew in.”

How ironic, because I’d indeed flown back into New Jersey, just against my will.

“That must have been hectic. It’s so nice to see you, though,” he smiled brightly, then, unexpectedly, leaned in to hug me.

At first, I stiffened, but gradually, I warmed into his hug and embraced him in return, relishing the smell of pinewood and citrus that circled him.

It was refreshing to be able to smell something other than cigar and bad breath.

“So, what are you doing here?” He started, pulling away from me as he spoke, but before he could fully step away from me, hands clamped on his shoulder and yanked him away from me.

I gasped, and so did Ethan, who spun back in surprise to see who it was.

Immediately, I knew it was Hudson, even without looking. His smell preceded him, and the heavy steps I’d heard before Ethan was pulled away were ones I knew too well.

The reason I had still gasped was because I didn't expect that he would pull Ethan away from me so forcefully.

“What are you…?” Before I could finish, he reached out, snagging his hands around my waist. I crashed into his shoulder just as his grip tightened.

“Who is this?”

He questioned sharply, glowering at Ethan, whose face morphed into a look of confusion.

His glance switched from Hudson to me, while I wrestled to get out of Hudson’s grip without being too obvious.

Besides being mad as hell at his approach and his territorial claim over me, I was embarrassed. Because now Ethan would know why I was here, and I dreaded seeing the look that would cross his face if Hudson said similar words like he’d told his friends earlier.

About how I was a budding flower he’d managed to pluck and how I was soon to be his wife.

I didn’t want Ethan to hear that, so even though I wanted to rage at him, I bit down on my lip and restrained myself.

“His name is Ethan. He’s a friend.”

Hudson didn't retract his gaze at my explanation. If anything, his look intensified.

“A friend, you say…” he drawled out with obvious intent.

I hated that I had to do this, but I still ground out, “he used to be my seat partner in school.”

That was supposed to settle it, or so I thought, but Hudson alternated his glance to me instead.

“Is that so?”

I shot him a glare, then swallowed once. “Yes.”

Ethan’s drawn brows finally relaxed, as though he figured us out.

He chuckled lightly, oblivious. “We used to sit together in class; she was terrible at maths.”

Hudson glanced sideways at me again, and one brow of his curved, “I didn’t know that.”

“She was really bad. I had to help her…”

I took a step to stop Ethan from revealing more of my life’s cherished memories to a man who only wanted to have me stripped naked in his bed, but Hudson was faster than I was.

He stepped into Ethan’s space, leaning in close to say something to him in a volume I couldn’t catch.

Ethan went rigid first, then his pupils enlarged. He let out a nervous chuckle. “Hey man, relax…I was just talking to…”

He didn’t finish.

Hudson nodded slightly, and just like that, two of his guards appeared out of nowhere and grabbed Ethan.

“What the…hey!” Ethan struggled, shooting me a quick glance. “What are you doing?”

Anxiety leaped into my heart as well, and I twisted quickly to glance at Hudson, repeating Ethan’s question.

“What are you doing?”

“Why are they grabbing him? Let him go!”

My voice was loud enough to attract the attention of people who weren’t already looking at us.

“What the…stop!” I snapped, trying to free myself again.

He didn’t let go; he didn’t even look at me. His gaze was fixated on Ethan, who was now trying to fight the men off.

“Are you crazy? Let me go!”

One of them punched him hard in the gut, and the sound made my stomach drop.

“What the fuck is wrong with you? He didn’t do anything!”

“Stop it!” I yelled. “Hudson, tell them to stop!”

Again, he ignored me, while his men kept hitting Ethan, who was now groaning with every blow he took.

His knee buckled, but the other man held him up. I saw red.

Blood.

It tinged Ethan’s mouth, and he looked like he was holding more from spurting out.

“Please!” I shouted, turning desperately to Hudson. “Make them stop!”

He didn’t react at first; then he turned to me slowly.

My eyes widened when I caught the look in his eyes.