Page 54 of The Prey
She wasn’t answeringher phone. Hudson looked at Mac and Hendricks. “She isn’t answering.”
“Let’s go find you a beautiful woman of your very own. We’ll dump Hendricks here off on Judge Collins. Make her day,” Mac said. Hudson looked at George. He saw his own worry reflected back at him. “Call her. Have your brothers call her, too. She’s in this building somewhere. I’d rather look like an idiot right now, than something be wrong.”
And something was. He couldn’t explain it, but he just felt it. She needed him right now.
George called to his brothers, his phone already at his ear. Hudson stuck around on the first floor just long enough for George to shake his head at him. Gia wasn’t answering her brother either.
He looked at Mac and Hendricks. “Spread out. She’s in this building somewhere.”
He looked at Ed, the bailiff. “Go into lockdownnow.No one gets in or out until Giavonna Hiller has been found.”
This old building was at least twelve thousand square feet, with far too many places for someone to hide. Or someone to drag off a woman against her will.
And a man like Clarke with nothing to lose…
There was no predicting what Clarke would do.
49
Her brothers were there.That was just reinforced when her phone rang again. First George’s ring tone, then Gunn’s. And Guthrie’s, and Gene’s and Grady’s. Right after Hudson’s. One right after the other, almost not stopping.
“What the hell?”
“Do you think people haven’t noticed I’m missing? After what happened to me in court the other day, after the fire at Hudson’s—do you honestly think people aren’t worried right now? People are going to be coming for me. Lots of people—big, strong angry men, mostly. Men you won’t be able to fight off, Jason. You just won’t. Hudson…and did you seethem? Did you see all ofthemtoday?”
“Who?” He was just pressing against her. No matter how much she fought, he kept pressing her against the window. Gia kicked at him. But nothing she did got him off of her. And he just kept touching her—her face, her neck. He had the weirdest expression in his eyes. It terrified her more than the feel of him against her. There was something just strange about the look in his eyes.
“My brothers. They’ll be coming for me. My brothers and Hudson. They willalwayscome for me when I need them. You’d better run. Think you can take Hudson andall fiveof them on and win? You’re going to lose, Jason. You’re going to lose.Let me go.”
Gia twisted as sharply as she could. Until she could get her good shoulder into position.
Just like those older brothers had taught her years ago—she rammed her entire body into his chest enough to shove him back.
Gia screamed.
And ran for the door.
50
Shit.This wasn’t what he’d wanted. Not at all. All she had to do was go to the cops, to the security guard in this courthouse and show him the marks where he’d touched her. Jason would be utterly screwed. He had to make her understand.
He just kept running after her.
This was stupid, him chasing her through the damned courthouse like a loser. He should just cut his losses. Head for Mexico or something. He could make some calls, call in a few favors. Get himself out of this somehow.
Before it was too late and he fucking ended up behind bars.
That drunkass whore in Wichita Falls was one thing—she’d told so many lies through the years no one would believe her. But Giavonna Hiller?
Hell, yes, people would believe her. None of Jason’s friends in Wichita Falls would be able to makethatgo away. Not as well connected as Giavonna was.
Jason followed her down the narrow back stairs. “Wait a minute.”
She just kept going.
He caught up to her. She was fast, but he had six inches on her and fifty or sixty pounds. And she was still in a sling on her dominant hand. She was trying to turn an antique knob on a door barely wide enough for a man his size to fit through. “I said to fuckingwait.We can make a deal. Work something out.”
“It’s not going to work that way.” She clawed at the door, and it swung open.
