Page 63 of Too Broken to Love

“That makes sense. Bidding has already started for components of that nature for Project V. Some of the contracts are sizable.”

“How do you know about Project V?”

“There have been rumors for years in my circles.”

Tessa nudged Hudson in the arm. “Is Project V the opportunity you’re considering?”

John winked. “It’s not just an opportunity. It’s going to be one hell of a ride.”

Hudson nodded as the grimy feeling in his gut turned iced over. If Project V was the reason behind the listening device, he was already at the top of the roller coaster with a faulty seatbelt and broken track waiting at the bottom.

Hudson smashed his fist on the desk in the hotel suite. His laptop jumped next to his half-eaten steak and a glass of bourbon. “Dammit, Pop said he didn’t like Nathaniel. I should have taken that more seriously and kept better tabs on things at home and⁠—”

“And what?” Malcolm pointed his scone at Hudson through the computer screen. “What could you have done? We only found one bug in Pop’s study. What makes you think you could have stopped Nathaniel, or anyone else from putting it there?”

“It’s Nathaniel. I’m sure of it.”

“Opportunity doesn’t mean he’s guilty.”

“But he has motive.” Hudson downed the rest of his bourbon and swallowed. The familiar burn lowered his heavy eyelids as he glanced at the bedroom.

Dammit, Tessa had gone in there almost an hour ago to talk to Lia. He should be behind that door with Tessa right now. Instead, they’d spent the night working with the General and Malcolm via video calls to research Nathaniel. Except for the lone bug in the house, they’d come up short.

Hudson pulled Pop’s sinker from his pocket and folded it into his palm. “Nathaniel stands to benefit from inside information about Project V. His company isn’t doing poorly, but he can’t be happy it’s not winning contract after contract. Considering how flashy he is, it’s got to be killing him that his competitors are making headlines and he’s not. And he had every reason to believe Pop’s death would lead to a payout. Now, we just need to figure out how those pieces fit into the other parts of this fucked-up puzzle.”

“Just because Nathaniel was annoyed that he couldn’t access Vivian’s inheritance doesn’t mean he’s a murderer. And we didn’t find any suspicious behavior in the mansion’s video feeds.”

“Stop talking like a lawyer.”

“I am a lawyer.” Malcolm thanked Josie for bringing him a beer. “Okay, let’s say that Nathaniel is responsible for the bug and the listening device. And let’s say he did his research and found out Tessa had the perfect father to set up for Pop’s murder. How does the smuggling ring fit into all of it?”

“Not sure, but it does.” Hudson yawned.

“Is Tessa still on the phone with her bestie?”

“Yeah, I hear her laughing. What’s going on with you and Lia anyway?”

“Sex in the pool house in about fifteen minutes.”

“That’s not what I asked.”

Malcolm laughed. “I know.”

Hudson’s jaw cracked around another yawn. Stretching, he set his curiosity aside for another day and let his eyes droop. “Let me know if Nathaniel turns up.”

“And you let me know if he shows up in D.C.”

“Will do.” Nobody, not even Vivian, had seen him since this morning. “And don’t forget, we keep this to ourselves until we know for sure what’s going on. If Nathaniel contacts Vivian, I don’t want to give him any reason to suspect we’re on to him.”

Hudson jolted awake. Sweat covered his body despite the cool air in the spacious hotel room. He’d hoped curling up next to Tessa would quell his nightmares.

No such luck.

“Hudson?” She sat up and shifted on her knees in front of him. “I heard you shouting in your sleep. Are you okay?”

Denial teetered on the tip of his tongue, but he nodded. She’d shared her demons with him. Time to man up and share his own. Sighing, he leaned against the headboard and scrubbed a hand over his face. “What was I saying?”

“I couldn’t understand much because I was half-asleep, but I heard you yell, ‘Chris.’”