Page 36 of The Prey
“You’re good at it. You should get married someday. Have kids. You’d be a good mom. You act just like Mom always did with us.”
“You should, too. You’ll be a good daddy. One of the best.”
“Will I? I don’t know. What if I mess up somehow?”
“Like Gene has? Like George? They’ll both tell you they have done things wrong with their kids. Of all the men I know, you are one of the ones at the top of the list for ‘good daddy’ potential. You should scoop up a nice woman and make me even more nieces and nephews.” She was…fishing. Gia could see the emotion in his eyes. This complicated brother of hers was hurting, too. Of course she wanted to fix it. “Maybe a kindergarten teacher? I can see you doing that.”
He just almost snarled. But she saw the hurt in his eyes. Gia hugged him. Grady—she’d always understood him better than he realized. He didn’t always feel like he was in step with the rest of them—especially their brothers. Well, she thought he was pretty damned special. “She’d be lucky to get you, you know.”
He grabbed the island in his strong hands. He looked so much like their father standing there now, that resolute look onhis beautiful face. “Would she? She deserves better than me. A man like…Gunn…or George…or Guthrie…”
“Or…a man like Grady. Talk to me. Tell me what’s wrong.” She’d seen his face the night before when Gunn had been talking, saying how time was too short to be afraid. “Hala…she’s incredibly special.”
“I know. Damn it, I know. And?—”
“You are afraid.” Gia got it—it was easier to see the fear in someone else’s face than know it was in your own. “I understand that. I definitely do.”
“Well, I don’t. IknowI shouldn’t even think about a woman like her that way…but then she’s there…and…hell…” Grady sank onto the bar stool in front of her. “I’m not sure what in the hell I am doing right now, honestly. I should just…go to the cabin for a few days. Get my head together. Find a way to make her see?—”
Her poor brother. He was in love. She didn’t know how she knew—but she just did. “See what? Therealyou? I think she already has. And she likes what she sees.”
Otherwise there was no way in hell Hala would have been kissing him in the barn like she had been. Gia knew Hala well enough to know that. To understand. What had happened to Hala was eerily similar to what Jason had done to her. That had brought them close together. Made them sisters in way no blood ties were required. “What has she said?”
He just shook his head. It was obvious he was lost in his thoughts again. Grady did that—he was the familybrooder,after all.
“I love you, you know.” Gia didn’t tell her brothers that enough. She’d realized that with what had happened to Gene and Chantal, and then Genny, and George and Ronnie and Greer, then Guthrie and Gunn.
Life…it was too short to be afraid. To letfeardrown out every other emotion out there. It…meant less of a whole life, didn’t it? To not experienceeverythinglife had to offer because of fear.
She’d done that. She’d letfearcaused by Jason to rob her of the last two years ofpeace.
She stood there as Grady grabbed a piece of toast and headed out to check on his beloved pony. That was what excuse he’d used since they were children when he needed to think and be alone for a while—he was checking on the pony. Gia could just imagine the things that old Welsh pony had heard from her brother through the years. Everyone always said Gunn was the most sensitive of the Hiller brothers—well, Gia had never fully believed that. Not really.
Grady just hid it from the world more deeply than his twin.
Her brother disappeared out the side door. Gia just watched him, hoping he and Hala would figure this out together. They would be good for each other. Hala would see the soft-hearted Grady for who he was. And he could make her feel protected. Safe.
Because to Hala that would matter. Just like it did toher.
Because…for two years and four months she hadn’t felt safe. No matter where she turned, what she did. Because of Jason Clarke.
He’d robbed her of that. Taken it from her.
Gia…wanted to get it back.
She just didn’t know how to do it.
26
Hudson was pissed.He wished he’d be the one to handle the case against the assholes who had targeted Gia’s brother Gunn and the woman Gunn loved. But that wouldn’t happen. Hudson would officially recuse himself, considering his personal connection to Gia and the Hillers.
He wanted the case to be one that there wasn’t any remote possibility of a mistrial or technicality making something go wrong. He wanted the charges to stick, and if he had his way he’d throw everything that could be thrown at the men.
He wanted those bastards to pay—they’d tried to kill a woman who couldn’t walk unassisted. Who was so damned kind and good-hearted she’d reminded Hudson that there really was good in the world sometimes just by how she had treated the people around her.
If he couldn’t protect people like Ayla, then why was he even doing this job in the first place?
He was contemplating that very question after he’d found a pizza in the freezer. Ryan was off with Hala tonight. She’d taken him out to the Hiller Ranch again—to see the puppies.
