Page 29 of The Prey
Like they were old friends.Bastard.
Clarke looked right at Giavonna. “Hello, Gia. I was hoping I’d see you again soon. I’ve been looking forward to it.”
Hudson couldn’t help himself. He shifted again until she was almost completely behind him. “Careful, Clarke. We’re not playing games now.”
“Hudson…” she said from behind him.
“Keep your distance from her, understand? I’m only saying it once. Don’t get near Giavonna outside of a courtroom ever again.” Hudson wrapped his fingers around hers before he could stop himself. He wanted to pull her close—and put her behind him, so he could slaughter the threat too near her now.
“Hanan, something I need to know?” Walters asked from behind them.
Hudson had seen him slip into the courtroom a few hours earlier to observe. Hudson glanced at Walters briefly. There were questions in the older man’s eyes. Questions he’d no doubt be asking Hudson later.
“Just friendly advice for Clarke.” There was nothing friendly in his tone at all. No one pretended there was.
Clarke’s eyes shifted to Giavonna again. To her hand on Hudson’s good arm. “Noted. So I see. Things really have changed in Barratt County, haven’t they? You two are actually…getting along? Friends, even?”
No one missed what Clarke was implying. Hudson just stared him down and led her to his truck—when what he really wanted to do was slam his fist into the other man’s face. Gia knew what he was thinking—she wrapped her hand around his elbow and tugged. Just enough.
Hudson didn’t speak until he was at his truck.
“I have some things I want to go over with you if you can stay.” He waited. She nodded. They weren’t going to talk about Clarke. Not yet. “I’ll call Hala, have her keep Ryan after school. Then I’ll take you to dinner and drive you home myself.”
“I’m fine, Hudson. I promise. This…I knew I’d have to face him in the courtroom eventually. And I did. Thank you for being there.”
“I meant what I said. I’m never going to let him hurt you again.” And he’d spend the rest of his life searching for whatever elseevilClarke was involved in. Hudson wasn’t a fool—if he’d attacked one woman, there was a high likelihood he’d attacked another. Maybe even more. Leopards didn’t just change their spots.
And Hudson wasn’t going to stop until he found every sin Clarke had ever committed.
20
Jason was fumingwhen he made it back to his office. That asshole Walters was just a car length behind him—Jason had to get himself back together before Walters started asking questions. That bastard Hanan had involved Walters for a damned reason. Probably had called him there to begin with.
Everything was completely clear to him now.
Hanan was fucking her.
Probably had been from before Jason had ever met that bitch. That was probably why she’d refused to give him any two years ago. She and Hanan had been putting on a front. Probably since Hanan was her fucking boss.
They’d made a fool out of Jason. Back then. And they were thinking they could do the same now.
Jason had seen how Hanan had touched her. Just colleagues didn’t fucking hold handson the courthouse lawn where the entire damned town could see.
They were going to ruin everything for him. They were probably laughing about that right now, plotting how they were going to screw everything up for him. Just for shits and giggles,because they thought they were important people around this stupid town.
Walters caught him just inside the office. “What in the hell was that all about?”
Jason just smirked at his boss. “What? I think the case went well.”
“Imeantbetween you and Hanan. What was it? It was obviously personal.”
“Of course it was. Gia and I…well, she’s a very beautiful woman. And apparently Hanan has long known that. Just some ancient, unresolved history. So how long have they been involved?”
“They aren’t. Everyone knows that.” Walters just stared him down. “Take some advice, Jason. Keep personal business away from the law. Mixing the two never has the kind of results you’re looking for.”
“I’ll keep that in mind. But… a woman like that… hard to forget.”
“No kidding. I’ve met my fair few just like that…tell me, what did you think of Judge Collins?”
