Page 47 of The Prey
Clarke was enjoying this.
Hudson practically snarled in response.
Hudson forced himself to look away, before he did something he’d regret. He kissed her temple gently. Her fingers twisted in the lapel of his jacket, and she clung to him. He just held her close, in spite of everyone in the damned courtroom watching his every action now. He didn’t give a damn who knew how he felt about her.
Someone touched his shoulder, said his name. He looked up into a familiar face. Mac was there. “The ambulance is here, Hudson. You’re going to have to let go of her now. Come on. We’ll take her to the hospital now. Get Gia taken care of. Come on.”
Moving out of the way so the paramedics could treat her was one of the hardest things he’d ever done. Just like it had been the night of the car accident when he’d stepped back so they could treat his son. All he wanted in the world was to protect the ones who mattered most.
35
Her head was killingher and her shoulder was on fire. It took far too long for Gia to get herself back together than she wanted to think about. George insisted on following the ambulance to the hospital. She didn’t really remember when her brother had shown up. But he was there, and so was Mac. She could see George and Mac when she opened her eyes a little. Protecting her.
Hudson was there. Somehow, he was there when they lowered her gurney out of the ambulance and wheeled her inside. The hospital where Genny and Guthrie worked.
Her sister was right there, waiting at the entrance. Genny wrapped her hand around Gia’s. “We heard there was something going on at the courthouse and we had injured incoming. I didn’t know it was you. What happened?”
“Gen…” Gia’s eyes closed. Someone else was on her other side. She looked up. Into bright blue eyes. Aubrey was there. Aubrey and Genny. Some of the panic lessened. People who cared about her. George and… and that was Guthrie up by her head now. And she could hear Hudson, too. He was there. She was okay. “Safe now…family…and Hudson’s here…too…”
Aubrey leaned over her, her hand wrapping around Gia’s. “You’re safe now, Gia. I promise.”
She let the darkness take her for a little while.
When she came back to the world, she was in an exam room. Genny was staying at her side. Genny and Aubrey were there.
Aubrey patted Gia’s free hand with her own free hand. Aubrey still wore a cast from when she had been attacked. “Hey, welcome back, Gia.”
“So what’s the damage?” She hurt, no denying that.
“Dislocated shoulder. That’s where most of the pain is coming from. Your throat is going to be bruised for a little while, too,” Aubrey said. “We’re going to wheel you up to radiology, get a few pretty pictures before we determine the best treatment.”
“Iam going to stay with you,” Guthrie said. “Since the love of my life is still on medical leave and everything, in spite of what she seems to believe.”
“Is Hudson’s hand okay? He hit the guy with his cast, I think I heard them say in the ambulance.”
“Chad has him a few rooms over. Hudson might have injured his wrist again. Hudson’s going for an x-ray after you are,” Guthrie said, patting her on the foot. “George said it was pretty impressive—he and Barratt saw the whole thing. Said Hudson punched the guy, then threw the asshole through the air and he crashed into a table?”
“I don’t really remember that part.” They’d given her something in the IV for the pain, she thought. She felt a little floaty now. But… “I remember Hudson being there, after.”
Holding her close. Promising she would be okay. That he’d make sure of it. “And George was there. I could hear them talking. I knew things would be okay—I could hear Hudson, and Mac, and George, and I knew…”
“You’ll be okay now, Gia. I’m not going anywhere,” Guthrie said.
She always feltsafewith her family.
But it was dark brown eyes she couldn’t get out of her head as she drifted into the darkness once again. She really wished Hudson was right there with her now.
36
They’d finally lether come home, late that night. Gia really wasn’t aware of much of what had happened after she’d been speaking with her brother and sister and Aubrey. Until someone was carrying her into the ranch. She looked up—into her brother’s beautiful eyes. Guthrie had her. She was safe.
Then her brother was carrying her right up to her own suite. Shecouldhave walked, but as floaty as she felt, she’d probably walk right off the balcony if she tried.
The sound of little feet and hushed voices had Guthrie pausing just outside her door. Gia turned her head slightly.
“Boys, what are you doing up this late?” Genny asked. Calvin reached for her—he and Genny were really close. She’d been living with him since he’d been two. And there was…Ryan. Big brown eyes just like his Daddy’s in the sweetest face she’d ever seen were staring at Gia now.
“Is she okays?” His lower lip trembled. Her heart melted. He looked so afraid. And with everything that had happened to his family since the accident, and now this.
