Hudson’s gaze passed over her briefly.
No change in expression.
No acknowledgment.
But the moment she crossed his line of sight, her steps tightened almost imperceptibly—the kind of reaction that only came from realizing she had been seen.
She kept walking.
Didn’t stop.
Didn’t look back.
The real Damien Blackwood stepped forward and leaned slightly toward Hudson, murmuring something only the group behind them could hear.
Hudson’s gaze didn’t move from the woman.
“Stop right there.”
The command landed cleanly.
Immediate.
The woman froze.
Her body tensed as if she had been physically pulled in place. Slowly, she turned—just enough to acknowledge them—but her head remained slightly lowered, avoiding direct eye contact.
Hudson studied her for a moment.
“You don’t look familiar,”
