Hudson Read online

  Published 2017

  Copyright Joanne Sexton 2017

  First Edition

  All rights reserved under the International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

  The unauthorised reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

  Cover designed by Southern Styles Design

  Prologue

  “Mum, Dad,” he called. Silence was the only response. The room was unusually dark.

  “Are you here? I’m sorry I’m late …”

  His feet were sticking to the floor. A dark gooey substance covered the soles of his shoes. Glancing down he saw it all over the floor.

  He took a step forward. It was eerily quiet. What was that on the floor?

  Two feet stuck out from behind a stack of boxes.

  Dad?

  1

  Tonight’s the Night

  Nerves and excitement surged through him; at least he thought these were the emotions. Stacy, his high school sweetheart, had decided tonight was the night. She’d finally said yes and he was going to lose his virginity. He combed his fingers through his hair and double checked his appearance. He’d chosen faded jeans and a green t-shirt that accentuated his sinewy build. At seventeen, he was taller than most his age. Lanky, lean and cute – or so he’d been told –he thought himself merely average and gangly.

  He’d been going with Stacy the entire year and they were graduating next week. After his subtle yet persistent urging, she’d finally decided to take their relationship to the next level. Stacy had everything he wanted in a girl, she was the one. Short, petite and brunette with dazzling blue eyes and a compact physique, she was everything that was beautiful to Lucas. Her sweet disposition was merely a bonus. He loved her, but the only thing on his mind tonight was sex. Her parents were out for the evening and she would be his, at last. He was excited at the prospect and nervous about the act. He took a deep breath and sought out his Mum, to let her know he was leaving.

  Mabel, tall with curly, auburn hair, was affectionate and comforting. As far as Lucas was concerned, she was all a mother should be, and more. His love and affection for her was boundless. He may have grown past needing her years before, but she was still the most important person in his life, aside from his irritating big sister, Carrie. His father, Thomas, was hard working and thoughtful. He was old school and rarely showed affection toward his offspring. Lucas loved and respected him but his mother was … Mum. Lucas was almost, in every way, like Tom with dark wavy hair and a tall lanky physique. His warm hazel eyes he’d inherited from his mother.

  He walked past Carrie’s room to find her on the phone, what a surprise. She was a younger version of Mabel, same auburn, curly locks and hazel eyes. At twenty, she was a heartbreaker. She waved to him as he walked past but being a cool teenager, he merely nodded his reply.

  He located Mabel in the kitchen preparing a ‘picnic’ dinner to take to their electronics store, where Tom already was, or still was more likely, preparing for end of month stocktake and bookkeeping.

  “Are you going to Jason’s to study tonight, honey?” his mother asked. He’d avoided telling her about going to Stacy’s. Her parents had a ‘no boys over’ rule when they were out.

  “Yeah,” he replied. He kept his eyes downcast, he hated lying to his mother.

  “You’re still coming to help your Dad afterwards? He has a lot on tonight.”

  “Yeah, Mum, I’ll be there about nine.”

  It was now six thirty, plenty of time for loving his girl.

  She came around the breakfast bar and dotingly cuddled her son. He knew, deep down, she probably knew where he was going.

  “Don’t be too late, honey.” Placing her hands on his face, she brought his head down to kiss his cheek and ruffle his hair. He scoffed a little, as he always did, he loved the attention but a teenager had to show his disdain for parental affection.

  “I won’t.”

  “I’ll see you there.” She kissed him again. Her perfume tickled his nose and he smiled.

  To enjoy the night air, he walked to Stacy’s. Its crispness assaulted his lungs as he tried to remain calm. Would he know what to do? He’s seen plenty of pictures and porn movies to know what was involved. He’d waited what felt like so long to do the deed, and now suddenly, he had cold feet. It would be alright, he loved Stacy. No matter how it went down, it was the first time and practice was only going to improve his form.

  As he strode up the path to her house, nervousness began to win the emotions race. He was ready but the build-up and anticipation was a killer. Stacy opened the door wearing little and Lucas’ anticipation turned to pure lust. Her dark curly hair was down, cascading down her shoulders, her pink t-shirt short and tight, exposing her slim waist. Her minuscule black skirt revealed her trim compact legs.

  “You look hot, Stacy.”

  “Wait till you see what’s underneath. I bought something just for you.”

  Rushing through the door, he captured her in his arms. He might be inexperienced but his passion made up for his inadequacies.

  His tongue circled hers while his hands explored her body. The feel of her tongue against his, and her skin beneath his hands, wasn’t new, for they’d taken it to the limit before, but tonight everything felt different. Everything became more urgent, and intense.

  She took his hand and guided him to her room. He eased her down onto her bed. They lay side by side, staring at each other with sudden shyness. This was new territory for them both.

  “I’m nervous, Lucas,” she whispered.

  “Me too.” He smiled to reassure her and was rewarded with her sexiest smile in return.

  Lucas kissed her again and slid off her t-shirt to reveal her naked breasts beneath. He was overwhelmed with pure desire once more. With one swift urgent pull, he removed her skirt, to find a tiny g-string. He could barely hold off rushing to the finish line.

  Having only ever felt her body with her clothes on, he explored her newfound nakedness, and wanted more. While massaging her pert, full breasts, he kissed her neck. Could he hold on and not rush towards the prize? He ran one hand down her back to cup her bare arse and this evoked a guttural groan deep in his throat.

  “Take your clothes off,” she urged. He didn’t argue.

  They lay pressed together, skin to skin, their kisses hot, their limbs entwined. He removed her delicate g-string and sought out the warmth between her legs with his fingers. As she moaned her assent, he intensified the rhythm until she cried out with pleasure. He slipped inside her warmth and it was better than anything his imagination could have conjured. They awkwardly found the tempo together and welcomed their newfound release.

  He stayed where he was, caressing her hair, their sweaty young bodies pressed firmly as one.

  “I love you,” he whispered.

  “I love you too.” She stared at him for a moment. “Wow, your eyes, they look so … different.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “They’re lighter than normal, almost golden.”

  “Really?”

  “Yeah, it’s nice. I wonder if I caused it.” She smiled seductively.

  “Shall we find out?”

  2

  Everything Changes

  “What time is it?” he asked her in the dark as he trailed his fingers across her back then front, not wanting the night to end.

  She peered over his shoulder at her ala
rm clock by the bed to check. “Nearly nine.”

  “Shit, I gotta go.” He didn’t move.

  “Can you come back later, after you’ve finished helping your Dad?”

  “Maybe. If I can, I will.” He kissed her but it was different now somehow. He kissed her like a man not a boy. “I want to love you again first.”

  She giggled and eased him onto his back. Her trailing kisses down his chest and stomach sent shivers of excitement to tickle his skin. When she took him in her mouth he groaned. Her small full lips felt like heaven. Stacy in control, from her lips enclosing him to sitting astride him as she brought them both pleasure, would be something he vowed never to forget.

  At the door, they said their goodbyes and he promised to come back, even if he had to sneak out to do it.

  It was a short walk to his parent’s store and he hummed as he strolled. What an incredible night. His nerves had been gratuitous as it had been everything and more. Stacy was it and would always be the one. Perhaps after they graduated, once he finished his engineering degree, they could get married. He shook his head, who would have thought he would be ready to settle at seventeen. There was no rush really. Stacy wasn’t going anywhere.

  Before he knew it, the shop came into sight. He wandered down the lane towards the rear entry, full of contentment. Stocktake would be a lot less mundane this evening. Reliving every moment he’d just spent with Stacy would lessen the chore.

  He entered to find everything eerily quiet. Where was the radio blasting out old tunes that he loved but never admitted to?

  “Mum? Dad?” He received no response. “Are you here? I’m sorry I’m late …”

  His feet were sticking to the floor. He glanced down to see a dark gooey substance covering the soles of his shoes. What was that?

  The unmistakable metallic aroma invaded his nostrils as he took a step forward. He noticed the sticky substance flowed towards the front of the shop. As his eyes followed the trail he noticed two feet sticking out from behind a stack of boxes.

  “Dad?”

  He ran forward, pushing the stack to the floor. He was never going to be prepared for what he saw. His father was covered in blood, his face, his crisp white shirt and his dark pants. Lucas dropped to his knees and touched his father’s chest. The slash to his father’s neck sent Lucas’ heart into his throat. Mum!

  Leaping to his feet, he raced to the front. At first glance all he saw was destruction. Every cabinet was smashed and debris scattered across the floor. The register was open and stripped of cash. His mother was nowhere in sight. With a tightened chest, he went around the front counter, and his heart stopped. He threw himself upon her blood-soaked form and clasped her hand to find it cold. Her hazel eyes stared lifeless at the ceiling, her lifeblood a pool around her head, soaking her clothes, clinging to her hair. His anguished cry went unheard as he scooped her up and held her close. He searched for a long-ceased heartbeat and signs of life in her blank stare. Her blood quickly soaked his t-shirt and dampened his skin beneath.

  Groping overhead for the phone, Lucas somehow, in a stupor, dialled emergency services. He continued to hold his mother while he waited for their arrival. In the distance he heard sirens as he clung to her limp body and touched her matted hair. This can’t be happening.

  There were voices in the distance urging him to let her go. He didn’t want to; doing that meant she would be gone. He didn’t want them to take his mother away.

  The voices became urgent now, insisting he let her go. They were so far away, why were they asking him to move? A hand on his shoulder startled him and he turned to see a kind, pretty face, a police woman, and he frowned in confusion. The voices had seemed so distant.

  “Come with me,” she said. Her voice was also kind.

  “No, I want to stay with her.” His voice sounded foreign to his ears, shaky and desperate.

  “I’m sorry but she’s gone.”

  He simply stared at her for a moment and then back to his mother’s empty eyes. With a brief kiss on her forehead, he placed her gently on the floor. Reluctantly, he stood and followed the police woman. With heavy feet, he trailed her lead through the front door and into the backseat of a squad car.

  “Can I get you anything?” she asked. He shook his head. “My name’s Olivia. What’s yours, honey?”

  She knelt at the curb as he studied his shaking hands. The blood dark and sticky looked unreal on his skin.

  “Lucas.”

  “Is there somewhere we can take you, a relative, a friend?”

  “Carrie.”

  “Is she your sister?” He nodded.

  The drive home was surreal, he was living a nightmare. It wasn’t real, just a dream he wanted to wake up from. He suddenly became conscience of his blood soaked clothes and his heart threatened to shatter. He wanted to keep it together, at least till he got home. How was he going to tell Carrie?

  “Would you like us to tell your sister?” Olivia asked as though reading his thoughts.

  “I don’t know yet.”

  “We’ll be right with you, if you need us, okay?”

  He nodded. Numb was all he felt. Wake up, please wake up.

  The lights from the street flashed and ebbed through the window changing the blood covering his shirt, hands and jeans from deep red to black. It was dry now and he began rubbing his hands together, wanting it gone. Who could have done this? Wake up now.

  The car stopped and he looked up to discover they were home. Home. It would never be the same again. Olivia opened the door for him and he sat rigid, he wasn’t ready for this. Carrie would take this badly. He was taking it badly.

  “Lucas,” she urged gently. “I’ll go with you. Come on, honey, it’s okay.”

  Unfolding his long frame from the car, Lucas took a deep shaky breath. Olivia walked beside him as he entered the house. The TV was on, a chick flick, and Carrie’s feet rested on the arm of the couch. His heart flew into his throat and tears stung his eyes.

  “About time you guys got ...” She said turning to them but stopped, and then sat up when she saw the blood. “Lucas, are you okay?”

  Leaping from the couch, she rushed over to him.

  “It’s not mine.” This was the first thing he thought to say?

  “What happened?” Her hands were on his shoulders as she peered into his face.

  “Dad, Mum …” His voice broke.

  “What is it? Where are they?” He shook his head. He couldn’t do this.

  Sensing he couldn’t go on, Olivia took over.

  “Carrie, is it?” She nodded her response. “There was a robbery at your parents shop this evening. I’m sorry, but the thieves murdered your parents. Lucas found them. He got there late, he was lucky.”

  Carrie merely stared at the young, pretty Olivia. “What? This can’t be happening.”

  Her voice cracked and she turned to Lucas, her hazel eyes full of disbelief and concern. “Lucas?” she asked in a trembling voice, seeking the answers from his face, his eyes. “Oh God!” She cried.

  Her legs buckled, Lucas caught her and then eased her to the floor with him. Her sobs racked her body. He remained silent as tears slid over his cheeks. He didn’t know how long they sat there, a crumpled heap on the floor, or when Olivia left.

  Life was never going to be the same again.

  3

  Guilt and Sorrow

  When Carrie touched a hand to his face he looked into eyes identical to his own, his anguish mirrored in hers. She said nothing for a moment as her eyes flicked over his clothes, his hands, and fresh tears welled in her eyes. Somehow Carrie managed to push them away.

  “Do you want to have a shower?” she finally asked him.

  “I … yeah, I guess.”

  The water was too cold but he didn’t care, the physical pain numbed his torment, albeit slightly. He washed his hair, three times, while the blood on his hands and arms didn’t seem to fade. Scrubbing his skin raw helped with the pain too. Guilt and misery overwhelmed him as the
icy water cascaded over his body. He stuck his face into the chilly spray, hoping to wash away the lifeless face of his mother. The gaping holes which were their throats and the blood, so much blood, which he now couldn’t wash off his skin.

  Carrie was in his room, sitting on his bed; waiting. She too had changed clothes. Her eyes remained fixed to the floor as he hastily dressed with whatever he could find on the floor and sat beside her. Her gazed lifted and she took one of his large hands in hers.

  “You’re freezing,” she whispered. He shrugged. “I’m so glad you’re alright. If you had been there too ...”

  “If I had been there, this might not have happened. I could have done something. Instead I was out getting laid.” He shook his head.

  “This isn’t your fault, and if you had been there ... I don’t want to think about it. This is bad enough, but if I’d lost you too ...”

  “I was late, Carrie, too busy taking care of my own needs.”

  “I’m glad you were.” They sat in silence for a moment. “So how was it?”

  “How do you think? The blood—”

  “Not that,” she cut him off. “I don’t want to hear it unless you need to talk that is. I meant with Stacy.”

  “You’re seriously asking me about this now?”

  “I would rather talk about something, anything else.”

  “Well, I guess it was everything I hoped it would be and more. Special, better than I could have imagined.” A crooked grin surfaced but it faded immediately. “I won’t ever be able to think of it again without remembering what was happening to ... them. The best and worst night of my life all rolled into one.”

  “It’s late, Lucky,” she told him, using his childhood endearment. “You should get some rest.”

  “Will you stay?” His voice cracked and tears stung his eyes.

  She nodded. They held each other through a restless night’s sleep.

  The doorbell woke Lucas and interrupted his dream. Carrie was still sleeping beside him, so he dashed off to answer it so it wouldn’t wake her. He ran his fingers through his hair as he rushed to the door. The bell rang again. Stacy stood on the other side. She looked fresh and beautiful as usual. Memories flashed through his mind. It seemed so long ago now everything had changed.