Chapter 16 #3
“Absolutely. But as I’ve always said. Justice does prevail. Sometimes it needs a little kick from karma. Now, allow me to give you a piece of advice.” I’d been doing that a hell of a lot lately. So full of advice. Maybe I should take my own.
I leaned over my desk, clasping my hands together. “After the horrible things your foster father did to you, many of them sexual in nature, I can imagine you need help. I know it’s a cliché, but you don’t have to live the life you’ve chosen. This is your last chance to change. You have my word.”
His button had been pushed, although not with as much creativity as I’d hoped.
Still, the rage in his eyes and the way his body stiffened prepared me for his next action. Which was why I immediately unsnapped the holster, positioning my weapon on the top of my desk. In a non-threatening manner.
His eyes immediately fell to the gun, his chest rising and falling as he attempted to control his anger. All through the court proceedings, the monster had shown zero emotion. Cool and collected in his silent threats. The abuse was his Achilles heel.
“If you’d like,” I continued, “I’ll be happy to recommend a very good therapist who can help you through your bouts of rage. Who knows, Jacob. Perhaps you can eventually become a productive citizen instead of being used as a pawn in a very dangerous game. A game you won’t win.”
As soon as he stood, so did I. I was taller by several inches. I also had at least fifty pounds on him, all muscle from days spent in the gym. While I rarely used my size as an intimidation tactic, today I felt it necessary. He needed to know where he stood with me.
That if he dared fuck with me, he’d lose.
I knew the moment he regained control by the icy return of his glare, the wry smile that could catch some people off guard. He was the master of mental manipulation for unsuspecting innocents. He shoved his phone into his jacket pocket and stood staring at me, as if drawing some line in the sand.
At least within a minute he realized his methods wouldn’t work on me.
“I’d be very careful if I were you, Judge Armstrong.
You’re right in that this is a very dangerous city.
I would hate for you to be caught up in a wave of violence.
The same goes for the witness. Goddamn, she’s a beautiful woman.
Big doe eyes and a body meant for sin. Oh, yeah, and her pussy smells so sweet.
I could only imagine how delicious she tastes. ”
A slow smile spread across my face even though I was seething inside. The bastard was fishing as well as goading me. I refused to take the bait. “Is that a threat, Jacob?”
His shrug was followed by him walking to the door. He was also attempting to goad me into exposing my weakness. That wasn’t going to happen. I could eat men like him for breakfast. “Now, threatening you would be illegal. Wouldn’t it? I’m simply giving you a friendly piece of advice.”
“Duly noted. Now, I’m going to return the favor.
” I moved closer. I wanted him to feel the rage radiating from every pore within my body.
“If you as much as try and lay a finger on anyone involved with the case, the witness included, you’ll regret the day you were born.
And I would enjoy taking my time showing you exactly what it feels like to be carved up like a piece of meat.
” I kept my tone civil, the smile remaining on my face.
For a second he said nothing, darting his eyes back and forth. “Nice try, Judge. But here’s the thing. You took an oath to uphold the law. You wouldn’t dare cross the line. You’re far too… predictable. But I do admire your desire to toe the line.”
He gave me a solid onceover before opening the door. It was easy to see he wanted to push the issue further, but his intelligence kicked in enough to force him to walk out the door, closing it gently behind him.
I found it interesting that he bothered to issue a threat at all.
That allowed me to believe he and Delgado were worried about potential interference in more than just the case against him.
Perhaps James Worthington as well. Maybe the mole worked for the corrupt man and had overheard my conversation with Dan. At this point, anything was possible.
What poor misguided Jacob Jones didn’t know was that every human being alive had two sides. Push them hard and long enough and they had no issue heading into the darkest side where guilt and any concept of upholding the law was tossed aside.
What I did realize was that in him coming to my office, which in and of itself could be considered a felony, he’d issued a warning that I needed to heed.
He and his men would begin picking off the other jurors and potentially every single person on the side of law enforcement.
Perhaps I’d need to issue a warning myself if Dan and his staff had gone AWOL.
Right now, I needed to concentrate on my guest and making her more comfortable.
Plus, I was altering my course in life.
Raven Intel.
I was also eager to hear more from Chase and the others.
Fuck the paperwork. I’d expedite a few plans.
One thing that concerned me more than anything else was having Bella in the midst. She was the most vulnerable of all, but I knew Valentina would demand that she return to her house to collect a few things.
That meant I needed someone I could trust without question to babysit.
Someone who had the kind of qualifications that would help keep the child safe for a few hours.
Someone that wouldn’t alert Bella that there was any real issue.
Sighing, I sat down, leaning back and staring at the ceiling. The last thing I needed was to bring up old business, but I doubted Bella would do well with any burly older men who had no clue how to spend time with a child.
We were professionals. Right?
I made a quick call to the officer stationed at my house.
Thankfully, there’d been no sightings of strange men and no issues with my lovely guest avoiding my rules.
If I had to guess, I’d say she’d soon be going stir crazy.
While I’d prefer to stay away from her apartment given Jones’ visit, that would only increase tensions.
She was right. We both had to continue living our lives or the bastard would win. Unacceptable.
After drumming my fingers on my desk, I knew there were few options. So I dialed the number. Maybe I’d anticipated voicemail or maybe that’s what I’d hoped would happen. When she answered the phone, I stiffened.
Our last conversation had been one of anger.
After the courtroom drama.
After tears and shouts.
After our friendship had been terminated.
“Judge Armstrong. What can I do for you? Sir?” The contempt in her voice was overflowing.
“Camille. How have you been?”
Even her laugh was bitter. “The same. Long hours. Little sleep. Shitty food. Working with assholes. All in an attempt to catch the bad guys. But you wouldn’t know about that. Would you?”
Camille Morgan was one of the finest detectives in Miami.
Her arrest record was stellar. She held the respect of men and women in the field alike, although her take no bullshit attitude had often clashed with all those she served with.
Including her superiors. We went way back.
At first, we’d been friends. Then everything had changed.
“Let’s just say I’ve grown as frustrated as you. Perhaps more.”
“Ah, the great judge can’t slam the door on crime any longer. Oh, wait. You never could.”
I was already weary of the hatred shared between us. That wasn’t fair. I didn’t hate her. There’d been a time not only had I considered her my best friend, but also someone I’d wanted to get closer to.
One night. One tragic event had changed everything.
“We could do this all afternoon, Camille, but I need your help.”
I’d caught her off guard. “What does the great Hudson Armstrong need?”
“You heard about Jacob Jones being released?”
Her sigh shoved aside some sarcasm. “Yes, I heard. I also learned a juror was murdered. Of course they refuse to point any fingers in the right direction. Bastards.”
“Any chance of pinning it on him?”
The bitter laugh returned. “Not my case, but from what I heard, none. Whoever handled the slaughter was very careful.”
“That’s what I was afraid of. The lone witness came to me for help.”
“You’re kidding me.”
“No, I’m not. She’s on the Undertaker’s radar. She has a kid who’s three or four.” What I was asking her could bring back horrible memories even after all these years, but I truly believed I had no choice.
Camille sucked in her breath. “Fuck. You know what he’s going to do. You do remember what he did to my partner. Yes?”
“I remember. One reason I asked you to be there was because you know how he operates.” Her partner had been caught in the sting established to try to bring Jones in several years before.
The man’s body had been hacked to death, but our boy Jones had a solid alibi.
Plus, I had to wonder whether palms had been greased back then.
“He’s a fucking monster. How the hell did this case go to shit?”
“Let’s just say I think it was planned.”
“Fuck,” she whispered under her breath. “So the rumors are true.”
“If you’re talking about our illustrious attorney general, then I believe so. You didn’t hear that from me. At least not right now. Just so you’re aware, I even had a nice visit from Mr. Jones just moments ago. That’s why I need your help.”
“He’s laying grounds to ensure his case won’t be retried.”
“That’s why this witness is so important.”
As I explained what I needed, I sensed her pushback. Not that I could blame her. The favor was huge. She didn’t owe me a favor, but I was hoping she’d remembered we’d once been best of friends. There’d even been rumors we were romantically involved. People did so love to talk in this town.
Something else I’d need to remind myself of as Raven Intel moved forward.
Silence and anonymity were the keys.
“You’re asking a lot of me, Hudson. You know that.”
“And I’ll be eternally grateful if you do me this one favor.”
She took a moment to think about my request. “Does that mean I have access to your platinum credit card?”
At least she wasn’t flat out telling me no. “At your service. I’ll leave it with the clerk up front in an envelope.”
“Spending limit?”
“Whatever you feel is necessary. Valentina will need a few things. I don’t know exactly what I’m dealing with as of yet.”
“You’re worried about what you’ll find when you head to her place.”
I sighed. That was exactly what I was worried about. “Enough to keep me rightfully on edge. Plus, after what she’s been through, she deserves a break.”
“Ah, I get it. A date. The lone wolf is finally settling down.”
“Very funny. More like a reprieve from her stressful life.” I had no intention of telling Camille about Raven Intel. Not that she wasn’t qualified or wouldn’t be an excellent member. I feared what she would do to a targeted perpetrator.
Her sigh was heavy and exaggerated. I had a feeling she would have preferred drilling holes into my eyeballs, but she also knew I’d never asked her for anything. Plus, I’d found her soft spot. Maybe I should say I’d exploited it.
“Fine. You caught me at a good time. I’ll be there in a couple hours. And Hudson? Do us both a favor and don’t call me again. There’s too much baggage between us. You’re a good man, but I just… I can’t.”
“Understood.” The same ache hit me hard, enough so I closed my eyes, allowing the ugly memories to slide through the cracks. As soon as I ended the call, I tossed my phone across the desk and raked both hands through my hair. Why the hell were women so damn complicated? Why the hell did I bother?
As my thoughts drifted to Valentina once more, my cock twitched.
There was my answer loud and clear.