Page 19 of The Prey (The Hillers of Barratt County #6)

Courtroom A at the Barratt County Courthouse had always been Hudson’s favorite.

It was the largest courtroom, and the oldest in the old brick building where he spent most of his time.

He knew almost every floorboard’s creak.

And half the building’s nooks and crannies and secrets.

It smelled like wood and polish at the moment, and that stood out—usually there was a dusty undertone that was hard to miss.

There was a new order here now, though. Someone had apparently instructed the cleaning crew to clean off the grime that had started to accumulate on the windows.

The rugs had been cleaned. The handle to the old wooden doors had been repaired, for the first time in years.

Now, Texas sunlight filtered in through the windows.

Everything felt fresh. Like the new judge had brought some much-needed change.

He'd researched her—and liked what he’d seen.

He looked at his partner for this one. “You okay today? We have the new judge.”

“I’ve listened to her speak before. Lectures at FCU. She discusses things like violence against women, domestic violence, child abuse. The legal connotations. I’ve attended a lot of her lectures. She’s very passionate about women’s issues.”

“What’s your take on her position as a judge?” He’d done some research, and found nothing that stood out.

“Much better than Feltner. Definitely.” She shot him a small smile that settled around his gut. Damn, he wanted this woman. He’d had two days since kissing her to think about his next step to get her right where he wanted her.

“Actually, she’s much, much better,” she said. “From what I’ve heard and seen—she’s by the book. Follows procedure. I love judges who actually do that.”

He nodded. He didn’t know much about Judge Collins.

That always made him antsy. He hadn’t fully trusted a judge since the day Gia and her brother had been shot in George’s office ten years ago.

That was a day he would never forget. The bullet had passed through her arm.

If it had been a little higher it could have killed her.

He had never forgotten her face when he’d stepped into George’s office after it had happened.

She had been there—standing next to her bleeding brother and her future sister-in-law, so scared.

She’d been just a teenager then. Whenever he thought about that day, he thought about that moment.

Before Hudson could stop himself, he wrapped his fingers around her arm, just above the scar. She looked up at him.

She was taller than average—around five-nine, he thought. He liked that. At his height, yes, he liked Giavonna Hiller exactly the way she was.

The doors opened again. Clarke came in like he owned the damned place.

Hudson fought the urge to tense. To leap up and rip the man’s head off his shoulders for even daring to be in the same state as the woman next to him. Hudson would admit it to himself—this was a man he would have no qualms about ripping apart.

Yes, Hudson really was an animal inside. Especially when it came to her.

She subconsciously shifted closer to Hudson. He let his hand linger on her arm, when what he wanted was to pull her in closer.

The bailiff came out, took up his post near the front of the courtroom where the man had stood almost every trial Hudson had ever argued. Ed Hughes was a fixture in the Barratt County courthouse room A. The judge was about to enter.

Hudson took his place behind the prosecution’s table and waited.

The judge surprised him. Five-foot or so.

She was maybe ten years older than Hudson.

Possibly younger than that, though. She was one of those women who would age beautifully.

She was an attractive woman, and moved with confidence.

A bit different than Judge King who had been a bit slovenly and sloppy, in spite of a strong understanding of the law.

Thick glasses sat on a small nose. Her blonde hair was rigidly neat. She was meticulous. Orderly. The only thing that stood out of place was a coffee mug with cartoon eyeballs or something.

He looked at the jury. Seven men. Five women. He didn’t recognize any of them. Sometimes that was hard for him to manage, living in such a small area.

Then the judge looked at the defendant.

The kid was rough-looking. Dirty blond hair he hadn’t even washed for court. His eyes were blank. Hard. Just like the last time.

Hudson had gone up against this punk before.

Hudson had offered to Walters twice to plead these latest charges down—from a maximum of twenty-five years to fifteen. But the defense had decided to take their chances.

This was going to be a waste of everyone’s time. But due process—it mattered for everyone. He’d fight to defend that until he died if he had to. Even if it was his time that was being wasted.

“This is a serious case,” Judge Collins began.

Her voice was deeper than Hudson had expected.

For some reason, just looking at her, he’d almost assumed she’d be mousy and squeaky.

“Let me be perfectly clear to both sides: I expect professionalism. There will be no games in my courtroom. No tricks. We will follow procedure and we will follow the letter of the law. There will be no side antics. I do not tolerate theatrics. Remember that. Do you understand?”

Hudson said that he did. Very clearly. But she wasn’t looking at him or Giavonna—her attention was on the defense.

Clarke’s response came next. “Understood, Your Honor.”

Even the sound of the man’s voice pissed Hudson off.

It was a long day. Made ten times worse by Clarke’s mere presence. Clarke was trying to gaslight and sidestep, and it was obvious he was ill-prepared. And apathetic to the entire proceeding. Hudson had seen several looks of irritation on the judge’s face.

He understood.

Giavonna stayed quiet beside Hudson for the most part, assisting when needed. The judge finally adjourned. They were free to go. No one said much.

Hudson stood first, waiting for her to gather her files and slide them into her bag. He made sure to keep himself between her and the defense team as they moved toward the exit.

Then they were outside on the courthouse steps.

Clarke shifted right into their path.

Hudson held out a hand in front of her. Instinctively. He would protect. No matter what the threat.

“Hudson,” Clarke said. “How are you doing tonight?”

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 else evil Clarke 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.