Page 8 of The Prey (The Hillers of Barratt County #6)

Ryan had to go to the restroom as soon as they were back at the prosecutor’s office, and he made that very known.

Gia held him by the hand—he didn’t want to let go of her—and took him on her way back to her desk.

His father had already headed for his own office, to get prepped to talk to the men from the public defenders’ office.

Hudson had had a strangely shaken expression on his face—and had been a bit distracted there as they’d been leaving the diner.

She probably could have scooped Ryan up and kept him forever, and Hudson would have just nodded at that moment. She hadn’t asked questions. She just escaped when she could. Escaped the dad, not the kid.

Her suit was covered in small-kid-sized handprint syrup stains.

It was a good thing she was staying in the office for the rest of the afternoon.

If she’d had court, she’d be running home getting a clean suit, for sure.

There was no hope for her hair—it took a while to put it up, since it was so long and thick.

And she suspected there was syrup in her hair, too.

Her silk blouse was modest enough for a day desk bound. Shayna and Jackie, the clerk, both wore similar all the time. She could pull her hair up with a rubber band, but those things pulled when she took them out.

She just…didn’t feel comfortable without her suit jacket and her hair pulled back like normal. Her battle armor mattered to her, probably more than it should.

Well, maybe it was time that changed.

She slipped her jacket off and tossed it next to her desk.

Ryan was ready to go—he had plans involving his play fort his daddy had built for him, she’d heard.

And he was trying to wheedle Hala into taking him out to Gia’s ranch to see the litter of puppies.

Ryan Hanan really wanted a puppy. He’d told Gia all about that desire.

Hala seemed reluctant to go anywhere near the ranch today. More reluctant than Gia had ever seen her. She suspected she knew why—Grady.

Something was going on with Hala and Grady.

They had probably argued; Grady had said a few stupid things last week.

He could be a bit of a clueless doofus occasionally, but she adored him.

He saw Hala as an extension of Greer, and had acted extremely overprotective of Greer since what had happened when she was nine.

Gia suspected some of that had transferred a little to Hala.

Maybe a lot to Hala, actually.

“Okay, we’ll swing by there and see if Mr. Gunn and Mr. Gene will show you the puppies. But I know the truth—you want to hang out with Calvin, don’t you?” Hala said.

Ryan shot Hala and Gia a grin that was his aunt through and through. “Yep. Goodbye, Miss Gia. Will you hug me one more time before I go?”

Of course she would. She scooped him close and twirled him just a little, to make him laugh. “Goodbye, Mr. Ryan. I’ll see you later. Count the puppies for me, okay? Make sure none have wandered off.”

He hooked his arms around her neck. “I love you, Miss Gia.”

“I love you, too, pal. Forever.” She whispered it right back. Hala was just watching them, a contemplative look in her eyes just like her brother would get sometimes. “You have fun with Calvin and the puppies, okay?”