“You’ve given me so many reasons to smile, Hudson.”

“And I plan to keep it that way.”

The waiter appeared at the table with the check. After handing over his credit card, Hudson turned his attention back to Allie. “But for now, I believe it’s time for you to lower the boom.”

“Well, seeing as how you need to look somewhat upset over what I have to say, shall we discuss last night’s Bulls’ game?”

Hudson frowned. “The refs decided that game, not the players.”

Bingo. Within no time Hudson was leaning back in his chair, his arms crossed over his chest and his brow knit together. To prying eyes he looked like a man who’d just been given an ultimatum.

He stood in a rush when Allie rose from her chair. “My limo is outside,” he said, tossing his napkin down on the table.

Her eyes darted to the window. “Do you think that’s wise?”

“You supposedly just gave me the opportunity to win you back. I don’t believe a ride home would be out of the question.” He placed his hand on the small of her back and guided her out of the restaurant. Max was already standing on the sidewalk with the rear door held open. Allie slid inside, waiting while Hudson exchanged a few hushed words with his right-hand man before joining her on the leather bench. The door had no sooner closed when she crawled into his lap, taking full advantage of the privacy afforded by the dark tinted glass.

“Hold me?”

His arms were already encircling her. “You don’t ever have to ask.”

Allie rested her head on his shoulder. Normally his mere proximity had her melting against his chest, but even that wasn’t enough to ease the tension racking her frame. “Did Max have any news?”

Hudson exhaled. “Unfortunately, no. Although he did spot a supposed tourist taking photos of our table.”

“One of Julian’s men?”

He gave a tight nod. “Appears so.”

“He’s going to want an update. The board meeting next month is making him anxious.”

“Tell him I’ve agreed.”

Allie lifted her head. “To give me your shares of Ingram?” Her voice sounded several octaves too high. It was a ridiculous concession, one she would never take him up on. But still, to hear him agree, even in theory, took her aback.

“Yes, Julian knows how I feel about you. His entire plan hinges on his belief that I will do whatever it takes to win you back. He will be expecting nothing less. There’s no predicting his actions if it even appears as though I might not agree.” Allie opened her mouth but Hudson answered her unspoken question with his next breath. “It won’t accelerate his timetable. He knows how long it takes to have paperwork of that nature drawn up and processed. If anything, the false sense of progress might get him to ease up on you a bit.” His fingers stroked rhythmically down her back. “In the meantime, I’ve put every resource at Max’s disposal. If there’s proof to leverage against Julian, he will eventually find it.”

“That’s just it, Hudson—I’m starting to think there’s nothing to find. The shooter is dead and no one in Julian’s inner circle is going to risk ending up with the same fate. Your team has been working on this for weeks and we’re no further along than we were when this whole mess started.” She let out a stuttering breath. “He’s going to get away with it.”

Hudson reached for her hand. “He won’t. We’ll figure something out.”

Hot tears pricked her eyes as she pictured the smug expression on Julian’s face that afternoon at his chateau. “If you could have seen the way he gloated.” Her words shook with emotion. “He talked about planning their murder like it was one of those crime dramas he loves so much.” An idea hit her like a physical jolt and she sat up straight. “That’s it,” she said, her voice strong and clear for the first time all night. “I need to get him on tape bragging about it.”

“Absolutely not.”

“It’s the only chance I have to end this once and for all.”

“No fucking way.”

“Why not?”

Hudson stared at her as though she’d lost her mind. “Aside from the obvious?”

When she didn’t budge, he let out an aggravated breath and continued. “Even if this wasn’t out of the question, and even if you were successful, there’s no guarantee the courts would allow it. That type of evidence is evaluated on a case by case basis.”

She shook her head. “It doesn’t matter. I wasn’t planning to march into the police station with it or he might retaliate against you and Nick. I just need to hold it over his head. A trade of information.”

Beneath her, Hudson’s entire body tensed. “Goddammit, Allie,” he practically shouted as he shifted her off his lap. “You can’t be fucking serious.” His words came in an angry rush. “That asshole is a loaded gun waiting to go off. There’s no telling what he’ll do if he feels backed into a corner. If you think I’m letting you put yourself in that kind of danger, even for one minute . . .” A muscle in his jaw ticked, and she knew the image of Julian forcing her over the back of the sofa filled his mind the same as it did hers.

“Julian needs me. He can’t do anything to me or his whole plan goes up in smoke.” She cupped his face between her hands, forcing him to look at her. When his eyes met hers they burned with rage, but more than that, what she saw in them was fear. He was afraid for her, and that was an emotion she understood all too well. “He won’t hurt me,” she whispered.

His voice was hoarse when he spoke. “Last time he almost . . .”

“I know,” she said. “But he’s on his best behavior right now. He can’t risk blowing everything by being arrested for battery.”

“Fuck, Allie. Battery would only be the tip of the iceberg.”

She swallowed hard. “Hudson, I have to do this. It’s the only hope we have left.”

A few tense moments passed. Allie held perfectly still, letting him reach what was the only logical conclusion on his own. When he finally spoke, it was on a heavy exhale. “I don’t like this, Alessandra. Let me make that perfectly clear.”

“I’m not happy about it either, but it’s the only way.”

Hudson shoved a hand through his hair. “We do this on my terms. I don’t want anything left to chance.”

“Yes, of course,” she agreed without hesitation.

For the remainder of the ride Hudson laid out his conditions. The meeting would take place in public, Allie would wear a wire as well as a tracker, and Max would coordinate the entire operation. His team of trained professionals would not only coach her, they would have her under close surveillance at all times.

“I’ll begin making the necessary arrangements first thing tomorrow,” Hudson said as they rolled to a stop in front of her brownstone. He walked her to the door and said good-bye with a simple kiss to her cheek. “I fucking hate this,” he growled in her ear before turning and jogging down the steps. She didn’t know if he was referring to the plan or the chaste good night, but in all likelihood it was probably both.

She’d barely unlocked the front door when her phone began to ring.

“A kiss at the door? How sweet.” Julian’s words dripped with sarcasm. “I thought I made myself clear in regards to rutting with that mongrel.”

“It was a kiss on the cheek, Julian. He’s supposed to think I’m taking him back, remember? And it’s working. He’s agreed to have the papers drawn up.”

“Excellent. When will they be ready?”

“I don’t know. He said he would start the process tomorrow. I should know more soon.”

“See that you do,” he barked before hanging up.

“Well, good-bye to you, too. Asshole,” she muttered under her breath. She shed her coat and scarf before making her way to her bedroom. On the way she grabbed her laptop off the coffee table. There were likely a dozen or so e-mails requiring her attention before the work week began in the morning. With any luck they would distract her from the thoughts that robbed her from sleep most every night. It seemed the only restful nights she’d had since Europe were when she’d shared a bed, or couch, with Hudson at the lake.