Page 46 of The Prey
Judge Collins settled behind the bench, her glasses perched precisely on her nose. Not a hair out of place. Legal pads lined in perfect order on her desk. Not a book in sight. He had heard from Hendricks she had three daughters—he suspected she’d had them marching along like little soldiers, no one would dare disobey.
“Be seated.” The court obeyed.
It was time to get started.
Gia hadto give the closing argument. Hudson had offered—he’d insisted she stay off her feet as much as possible—but he had cuts on his feet, too. And she was just fine. Shelikedgiving closing arguments, and in her opinion, she was better at it than he was. She read juries better than Hudson did. He was very methodical and step-by-step, logical in the closings he’d delivered that she’d observed. She tended to go for emotional resonance. They were vastly different, in a lot of ways.
But maybe that was what made themworktogether?
She looked for him—he was standing in the lobby area between Courtrooms A and B, talking. He was good at talking. She recognized who he was talking to, too—her own brother George and Hudson’s good friend Mac Barratt. She’d make a point to talk to Mac today if she could. She wanted to know how his little sister was doing. She had plans to go see Powell for herself on Saturday. Powell had asked her about her dress size…something to do with planning an epic wedding, once her fiancéwas fully recovered from being shot, and another friend was out of the hospital. Gia was looking forward to it. And she had to make utterly certain Powell did not put her inyellow.
“Members of the jury, you’ve heard the testimony…” They had five women on the jury, something she and Hudson had agreed was a good thing. It was her job to paint them a picture now. “He waited. He watched. He followed. And when they were alone—he attacked.”
A sound came behind her. The chair, scraping across the old wooden floor. Gia turned. And saw the defendant rising. She took a half-step back—he had no business standing right now.
“You stupid bitch!”
His chair toppled behind him.
And he lunged. Straight at her. She went down, slidinginto the jury box. Her head bounced off the floor, her shoulder slammed into the wooden half-wall that separated her from the jurors’ feet. Intense pain unlike anything she’d ever felt had her crying out.
People screamed. There was a roar. Crashing. Yelling.
Gia just stayed where she was,fightingas hard as she could. As the defendant’s hands went around her neck and he started squeezing. Just like Jason had done to her before.
Then…a roar. And she could breathe again. She could breathe. People were still yelling, screaming. She looked up, into dark brown eyes. And reached forhim.
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Hudson fellto his knees next to her. “Stay still, sweetheart. Don’t move. I’m here.”
“Hudson…what happened…?”
She just blinked up at him. Her eyes were unfocused, squinting at his face. That bastard had knocked her a good ten feet. And choked her.
Hell, he’d choked her.
There were red marks all over her neck. And her right shoulder hung in a way that terrified him. “Don’t move. I’m right here. I’ve got you. I’ve got you, sweetheart.”
“Hurts…” Her eyes shut.
He slipped his arm behind her gently. Held her up off the floor—he wasn’t going to let her stay on the damned floor. Her head fell slightly. Rested against his shoulder. She whimpered, cutting his soul in half with the sound. “Where all do you hurt?”
People were there. Everywhere, as the judge called for order. The judge was barking out orders to the bailiff and others. Hudson checked once, to make certain that bastard who’d attacked Gia was restrained. He could see Fullman on the floor,but couldn’t see if he was moving. Hudson didn’t give a damn if he’d killed the bastard.
The defense table was on its side. Where the bastard had hit it. Hudson’s hand stung. He wished he could hit the guy again and again until he was a bloody pulp. And just not stop. “I’m sorry. I should have stopped him before he ever touched you.”
He just kept talking against her temple. Holding her as closely as he dared. Someone else was there, on the other side of her.
Her eldest brother. George was there—he’d had a case in Courtroom B. “George, she’s hurt. I don’t know how badly. I don’t want to move her until help?—”
“We were on a break, and were watching Gia’s closing. Mac’s already called for an ambulance.” George motioned for Hudson to just hand her over to him, to switch him places. To let her big brother have her.
No. Hudson shook his head, still cupping her head in his hand. Holding her as close as he dared. “I’m not going to move her until the ambulance gets here. I’m not ever letting her go.”
George stared at him for a long moment. Then her oldest brother nodded. Like heknewwhat Hudson was thinking. Feeling.
Fullman was on the ground, yelling. His attorney stood over him. Clarke was looking at Gia now, an almost evil smirk on his face. His eyes met Hudson’s.
