Dangerous Rescue - Linzi Baxter Page 0,19
I sleep with Mia, or do you want to? I can take the couch.”
Hudson shook his head. “No, sleep with Mia, but we have more to talk about.”
“Don’t worry about me. In the morning, I’ll file a police report.”
He was frustrated. She didn’t understand how dangerous her ex might be. “Anyone who puts a hit out on someone is not going to worry about a police report being filed,” Hudson said.
“That is my only option.”
“No. It’s not. I’m here now… well, I can’t come up with a plan until I get back. I’m the only one from my team going. So, one of them can watch the house each night.”
Siena glanced at him as she pulled her long blonde hair back into a ponytail. One thing hadn’t changed—when she was upset or thinking, she would play with her hair.
He would do anything to protect her. It was what he’d tried to do years ago—leave her so she would never have to worry about him and wonder if he would come home. But ghosting her had been the wrong way to do it, and he understood that he would have to regain her trust. In six years, he’d grown up a lot. Raising Kaiden had been part of that.
“I’m not your responsibility,” Siena ground out. “And the only reason I’m here tonight is that you told Mia she was coming here. I never shied away from talking about you to her. She hoped for years you would come home. But if you even think about breaking that girl's heart like you did mine, I will kill you myself.”
He couldn’t help but smile as the mama bear came out. Her claws were deadly and ready to take him down.
“I promise not to leave this time. The idea of going away tomorrow is killing me, but I can’t get out of it. You being here makes me feel a little better. Someone from a different team lives next door. His wife has a large, intimidating dog. I know she would help watch Mia during the day.”
It wouldn’t be hard for the person who was after Siena to figure out where Mia went to daycare. And threatening their daughter would be the easiest way to get to Siena. He wasn’t going to take any chances with either of their safety, especially when he was going to be on the other side of the world.
“I’m not leaving my daughter with someone I don’t know,” she said.
“I would never expect you to. We can go talk with Sidney first thing in the morning. If you don’t like or trust her, we can come up with another plan.”
Of course, he didn’t mention that if she didn’t like Sidney, Mia would spend the week with his teammates. They had no clue how to take care of a little girl, but they would know how to protect her from the evils in the world.
“If I don’t like her, you won’t question me?” she asked, glancing back down the hall toward the master bedroom.
“I promise.”
“And Kaiden?”
“Kaiden understands what to do when I’m gone, and if he has any issues, he has a list of people to call. He’s an amazing kid, and I’m sure he would love to get to know Mia. He doesn’t have any other cousins or brothers and sisters. I also know he cares about you. You have your students wrapped around your finger.”
He was going to miss Kaiden’s game this weekend. Kaiden understood his job, but Hudson knew he felt hurt every time his uncle wasn’t in the stands.
“Me being here puts him in danger,” Siena said.
“It’s a risk I’m willing to take.”
“I’m not sure how the school will feel about me staying at a student’s house.”
“Mia’s my daughter. They will not have a choice,” he said.
Hudson wanted to tell her it didn’t matter. She didn’t need to work. He’d saved enough money up over the years. He also knew Siena had made millions when she was a model, and after seeing her small place, he could tell she still saved her money. But he also knew she wasn’t going to not work. And he was already three feet underground. He didn’t need to keep digging his own grave.
“This is a lot for you to take in. I’m still in shock about Angel. She’s so sweet and fragile.”
“And also the Grim Reaper. This would be easier if I didn’t have to leave tomorrow.”
“Well, we can’t all get what we want. I agreed to come here tonight,