Chapter 20
Hudson
I hadn’t expected to hear laughter coming from the kitchen. If anything, I thought I’d heard words of anger. Asking Camille for this particular favor would likely add to the list of reasons why I’d end up in hell. But at this point, what other choice did I have?
Since Valentina hadn’t picked up the phone, she’d had no advance warning of Camille’s arrival.
I’d been beside myself when I hadn’t been able to get in touch with her, nearly screaming at my buddy Tim before bothering to listen to him when he’d mentioned Valentina had been safely tucked away inside the house.
Yeah, I was losing my cool very quickly.
A fucking hit list. I couldn’t care less about myself being on the infamous list, but I also had no doubt Valentina’s name was there was well.
The wheels were in motion. By now, Worthington had been made aware I had no intentions of backing down.
That would push both Delgado and Worthington further on the edge.
If only I could figure out the end game.
Was it controlling the drug market or something else altogether?
Valentina had no idea how close she’d come to having the house surrounded by ten cop cars.
Then I’d received her text.
I owned Tim a case of scotch as well as a hefty paycheck for doing me a favor.
Although I was going to give Valentina a piece of my mind. When I gave her orders, she was going to follow them or face the consequences. She just didn’t seem to understand this wasn’t a game to be played.
As soon as I stepped foot in the kitchen, I immediately launched into her without even thinking.
“What in God’s name did you think you were doing by not answering your phone. Do you have any clue how worried I was about you? Do you? Do you know that my doors and windows were almost blown out by officers of the law coming to rescue you?”
Valentina stood with her back toward me and when she slowly turned around, placing her finger over her lips while nodding toward sweet little Bella, I huffed.
Then I allowed my gaze to fall. For a few seconds, I was completely speechless.
Valentina was a beautiful woman whether she was in work clothes that gave me a hunger for barbeque or in nothing at all.
But seeing her in a dress with low heels had my blood pumping.
I’d given Camille little advice other than to pick up a few necessities including some toiletries.
In truth, I’d wanted to end the conversation as quickly as possible.
Dredging up old memories had been too painful.
But I couldn’t deny that Camille had excellent taste.
“Be careful, Judge Armstrong. We have little ears in the room.” Valentina’s voice was lightly chastising me, but I could tell by the look in her eyes she knew exactly what I was thinking.
That I wanted nothing more than to peel away her dress right here. Exhaling, I forced myself to look away, but not before I’d caught Camille’s smug look as well.
“Yes, I’m sorry. I was angry,” I managed. “You didn’t answer my calls.”
“I’m sorry. I won’t let that happen again.”
The moment was much more awkward than it should be. Clearing my throat, I tried to think of something to say. “How is the little princess doing?” I asked Bella, realizing that Camille was watching me intently.
In a shocking moment, Bella ran toward me, throwing her little arms around my legs. “Mama said we could go outside when you came home. Like before.”
I crouched down to her level, tweaking her nose until I realized what she’d said. “You went out before?”
Valentina’s sigh was heavy. “She escaped. Your officer helped me find her.”
Instead of feeling angry, it felt as if I was reliving the night Camille had lost her entire world all over again.
“Well, maybe tomorrow. If it’s okay with you. I’m going to steal your mommy for a little while.”
Bella looked up at Valentina in such a loving way that it affected Camille, who turned her face away.
“Don’t worry, baby girl. We’ll do something fun tomorrow. What are we doing?” Valentina asked, although she noticed Camille’s sudden change in demeanor.
“Okay, Mommy.” Bella’s disappointment was obvious.
“I thought we might grab a slice of pizza or something on the way to your apartment. If that’s alright with you.” I stood, taking a single step closer.
Valentina gave what appeared to be her new friend a knowing look. What in God’s name had Camille been telling her? “That’s fine. Bella already had her dinner. Let me grab my purse and keys. Unless of course, you’d prefer to break in just to show me how it’s done.”
“Very funny.”
She winked as she passed by me, but when she squeezed my arm, the shot of electricity was almost alarmingly strong. As soon as Valentina had left the room, Camille said something to Bella that I didn’t pay any attention to before walking closer. “You know. You really shouldn’t get involved.”
“Who said I’m involved?”
“Your body language. It’s easy to tell the way you two feel about each other. Don’t forget what happened the last time.”
“What happened the last time had nothing to do with trying to protect someone from a heinous killer.”
Her expression was smug. “Maybe not, but the end product could be the same. You just aren’t the type of man to allow anyone past your defenses.
It’s entirely possible Valentina will be confused by your incessant need to right the wrongs of the past with something more along the lines of you caring about her when we both know you’re incapable of doing so. ”
“Why don’t you cut through the bullshit, Camille. We both know why you obviously warned her about me. You know what happened with Jenny was out of my control.”
“Was it?” The hatred in her eyes returned, but only for a split second. She closed her eyes. “You’re right. I’m sorry, Hudson, but just don’t confuse your need to right to what happened with the way you’re feeling with Valentina. She’s a very nice woman.”
“Yes, she is.” I didn’t have a chance to retort or defend myself any further before Valentina returned. There was no doubt she’d caught part of the conversation. Fantastic. “I’ll take that under advisement. I’ll be ready when you are,” I told the beautiful woman who was staring at us quizzically.
“I’m ready. Bella, baby. Be good for Camille.” She kissed her daughter on the forehead and by that point, I was already heading to the kitchen door. Taking advice from Camille at this point wasn’t on my bucket list.
Even if she was right.
I sucked at anything but my job and right now, I was even beginning to question that.
Once I had Valentina safely inside the car, I took a few seconds before I slipped into the driver’s seat. Instantly, I felt a tension that hadn’t been there before.
I was out of the neighborhood and on the interstate before Valentina said anything.
“Camille is very…”
“Opinionated. Hardheaded. A know it all?”
Valentina laughed. “I was going to say very nice, but yes, to all three. Then again, so am I.”
While twisting my hand around the steering wheel, I nodded. “I must agree. She’s good at what she does. You don’t need to worry about Bella. She’ll be safe.”
“I’m not worried about her.”
“What happened with Bella escaping?”
“I forgot to arm the security system and no, it won’t happen again. She slipped out and headed to the beach. I don’t need you to tell me what I did was reckless.”
The tension between us was painful. “I wasn’t going to, Valentina. You’ve been through enough. Besides, I doubt Jacob Jones will rear his ugly head at least for a few days.” Not after the exchange we’d had. The hit list continued filtering through my mind.
“I’m also not worried about the Undertaker.”
“Then what are you worried about?”
I could feel the heat of her luminous eyes staring at me, the crawl of the explosive desire from before literally taking my breath away. Even the perfume she was wearing was dragging my mind into all the dark and filthy places that I shouldn’t allow it to go.
“You. I’m worried about you.”
Chuckling, without thinking I placed my hand on her leg and instantly, I heard a slight moan. While low in volume, it was distinct, and my cock shifted hard against my trousers.
“You don’t need to worry about me.”
“I think I do. I don’t know what you’re doing or how you’re trying to protect me because you don’t want me to know. That should tell you something, Hudson. You’re a man of the law. Don’t toss your scruples aside because of one man.”
“You mean one monster. He’s not the only one behind what happened. He was and is following orders.”
She shook her head and stared out the passenger window. “Men like him enjoy intimidating all those around them. He’ll grow bored and return to his bread and butter with his criminal life.”
I’d worked with victims and witnesses of heinous crimes for well over a decade.
I’d experienced what some psychological experts would call similar stages to what they’d been through.
The terror. The helplessness. The shock and disbelief.
The hope in the system. The anger. And finally, a sense of resolve that allowed them to block out the terrible experience.
Valentina was attempting to shove aside the tragic period of her life, to move on.
But what she didn’t understand was that not all criminal elements were alike.
Some went beyond their evil deed, even if planned for days or weeks.
Those were the men and women who truly had no souls and no fear of retribution or consequences.
Jacob Jones fit into that category. A person’s eyes never lied.
They highlighted darkness and the lack of any conscience.
They laid in wait like predators. The most successful serial killers were the ones who’d learned early on that patience was one of their greatest attributes, or what some might call a skill.