Page 25 of The Prey (The Hillers of Barratt County #6)

Every thought she’d had about this strange thing between her and Hudson had been put on temporary hold.

Her family’s needs had to come first. Especially after what had happened in the week since the fundraiser.

Now, it was Gunn and Ayla who had faced darkness.

They’d barely survived. Gia was still shaking from the news.

She’d been at the office, almost ready to leave when word had come from Guthrie what had happened to Gunn.

She had dropped everything and driven home. To wait.

She’d just waited, for hours with her family, until Gunn and Ayla had finally made it home late the night before, bruised and battered.

Hudson had called. For her opinion on a file—or so he said.

But she was ninety-nine percent certain he’d just been checking on her after everything that had happened to her family.

She’d spent most of the day at home, watching over her brother and Ayla.

They were all taking turns making sure those two were doing okay now.

Ayla had had nightmares—Gia had heard her in the night. She’d sat by the younger woman’s bed, just reminding her that she wasn’t alone. She’d been in there until around three a.m. when Aubrey had come in to check on her sister, and had relieved Gia.

Gia hadn’t missed her paternal great-grandmother’s ring on Ayla’s finger. Apparently, Gunn wasn’t waiting.

Her maternal great-grandmother’s ring was on Ayla’s sister’s finger now. Guthrie was getting down to business, too. Her brothers—she loved them so much, and was so proud of who they were. And they had chosen women who were just as wonderful.

Gia was happy for her brothers—she just wished they and the women they loved hadn’t had to go through so much pain to get to where they were now.

She was still in the kitchen when Grady came in.

It was early now. Not even five yet. Her brothers tended to get up around six to run the ranch—except Guthrie who was up and down at all hours, considering.

Gia looked at this brother of hers. He was so beautiful—and had one of the kindest hearts of anyone she had ever met.

Just like his clone. “Good morning. I’ve made coffee. ”

After she and Aubrey had finished talking, Gia hadn’t been able to sleep at all.

“You good? It’s early for you.”

“I sat with Ayla for a while. She had nightmares. But she’s determined. Said she’s going to go swimming tomorrow. I suspect Gunn’s going to be figuring out how to put an indoor pool in somewhere by next weekend.” Her brother was so in love. It was sweet to see.

“Yeah. I’m sure we can figure something out. Plenty of buildings on the property. Do you figure they’ll keep living here after they…marry?”

“Maybe.” She’d like that. Gia loved having her family around now. “She didn’t say. I think he just gave her the ring before they fell asleep.”

“Gene didn’t move out.”

He hadn’t. Gene’s ex-wife had really just wanted to live at the ranch—Gia had never thought that woman truly loved her brother.

Not at all. They had only been married a short while before she had taken off, leaving Gene with the baby.

Chantal was going to be so much better for Gene and Calvin.

And Gia was thrilled that her closest friend on the planet was now going to be her sister-in-law.

“Chantal is going to move in here. Plenty of room for Ayla, too.”

“Even when they have kids. You think they will?”

“Probably. If they can. They’ll be beautiful babies.” Gia smiled at her brother. “I can’t wait. I’m going to be Auntie Gia and spoil them rotten. Just like I do George’s and Calvin.”

“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 on his 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. I know I 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? The real you? 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 family brooder, 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 let fear drown out every other emotion out there. It…meant less of a whole life, didn’t it? To not experience everything life had to offer because of fear.

She’d done that. She’d let fear caused by Jason to rob her of the last two years of peace.

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 to her.

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.