When I finally found him, I stood in the doorway still trying to figure out what to say to say or how to act. I was eternally grateful he’d taken me in with few questions asked, but I knew more were coming. I was no one to him, just a lost girl he’d shown kindness to months before. Even if there was something he could do to help me, why should he?
With my pulse racing, I took a deep breath and finally noticed the surroundings, able to embrace a slight smile.
The oversized room smelled like cigar smoke and the appearance was so very much like a man cave I was impressed. With a huge poker table on one side of the room, a pool table on the other, and a bar smack in the middle complete with a shelf full of liquor and comfy looking barstools, I could just see him with a bunch of buddies enjoying a game.
There was a dartboard and what looked like a Pac Man game attached to the wall. At the back was a glorious set of all glass doors that allowed for sweeping views of the Atlantic. He stood with his legs crossed, leaning against the doorjamb, as if completely relaxed.
Yet I could tell even from where I stood by the way he was staring at the water just how tense and angry he was.
Almost instantly, he sensed his privacy had been invaded. He took a deep breath, tilting his head over his shoulder as I walked in. His eyes were glassier than before, more focused and I had no doubt what he was thinking about.
The Undertaker’s threats.
However, when he turned all the way around, I sensed he had several things he wanted to say, but was having as much difficulty doing so as I was. We were from two different worlds, yet I felt as if I could trust him implicitly.
“I’m sorry.” My words sounded as weak as I felt physically.
Hudson took a sip of his drink. “Like I told you before, there’s nothing for you to be sorry about. You did nothing wrong.”
“It’s funny how the system supports making the victims and those trying to do the right thing feel that way.”
His scoff was full of disgust. That much I could read about the man. He shifted so his back was against the threshold. “Just like you, that’s what drives me crazy about the system. There are too many loopholes, and intelligent attorneys either ride the fine line between right and wrong or obliterate it altogether just to advance their careers. Or even worse. We need a total overhaul.”
“What could be worse?” I walked in further, running my fingers across one of the comfy chairs surrounding a poker table. There were still chips on the smooth felt, cards lying askew as if I’d interrupted a game.
He pressed his head against the doorjamb. “Selling your soul for money or power. Greed is a commanding deterrent to doing the right thing.”
“Then why do you do it, Judge Armstrong?”
The way he turned his head, locking eyes with mine was thrilling. Instead of being in awe of the man, which I’d been from the first time I’d met him, I was mesmerized by the complexity of who he was as well as the haunting look in his eyes. “I’ve begun to ask myself that very question, Valentina, and the answers are even more difficult to come by. If I were forced to give you an answer, I’d say because I still believe in right versus wrong. I still believe in the power of the people and that there is no place in our world for criminals or corruption. I took an oath to uphold the law and I intend on doing that until my dying breath.”
Every word out of his mouth had a way of making me shiver. They also allowed me to believe there was a greater good. Maybe I was naïve, but that’s the way I needed to live my life. “Admirable.”
With a laugh, he swirled his drink. “Maybe not so admirable. I could kill the motherfucker for putting you through this.”
There was utter conviction in his voice and I shuddered all over again, drawn to him in a way that I should still consider inappropriate. But here I was inside his house, taking refuge upon his insistence and all that I could think about was getting to know him better. How silly of me.
The memories lingered, aging like fine wine and I allowed myself to envision him as he’d been during our night together. Carved to perfection.
“Maybe justice will prevail.”
“Yeah,” he said, sighing and once again looking out over the water. “Maybe so.”
We’d had several awkward moments, but this one had an electric sizzle to it, as if there was an invisible tether between us.
“I’ll need to hear in detail everything that has occurred since Jacob’s release. That’s the only way I can try and legally protect you.”
Legally. Something about the way he offered the word seemed off. Maybe odd. “I know we do and I’ll give you all the details, but not tonight. Is that okay?”
With every sweeping look he gave me, every flare of his nostrils and the quirky smile as he shifted his gaze all the way down to my feet, quivers of heat exploded in my system. “Of course. You must be tired. Unfortunately, I don’t have any rocky road ice cream, but we can still watch Netflix. And I do have wine. At least I think I have Netflix in the hundreds of channels I have for the television I never watch.” He laughed again as if making fun of himself.
“You remembered.” My pussy clenched, the scent of my desire catching me off guard.
“Of course I remember, Valentina. I remember everything about you from the moment you walked into my courtroom. You were trying to be so strong, holding your head high while fighting thefear so deep within. Seeing you vulnerable yet maintaining a true reflection of the woman inside was inspiring.”
“Is that all you felt, Your Honor?” I don’t know why I allowed the words to drift from my mouth. They were leading, maybe hoping.
Hudson looked at me longingly, finally taking and holding a deep breath. When he exhaled, the sound was rattled. “I’m not as honorable as you think. In fact, some might say I’m not a very good man.”
