Judge

by Riley, Alexa

  Judge

  Alexa Riley

  Contents

  Judge

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Epilogue

  Epilogue

  Flight Risk

  Chapter 1

  Stalk the Author

  Judge

  by Alexa Riley

  Nora Vaughn is living on the streets and trying to keep under the radar. Luck is on her side one day when the hot stranger she’s been watching drops his keycard and she’s able to get into a safe place. What she doesn’t expect is for him to find her naked in the shower and demanding she repay what she’s stolen.

  Smith Prescott is a well-known judge who has worked his entire life to build a reputation. But one look at the young woman in front of him and he’s willing to throw it all away to have her. She’s forcing his hand and his iron will to do the things he’s sworn against. But what’s the point of having all this power if he can’t use it to have her?

  Warning: This is quick and dirty and dripping with filth. If you love our books Coach, Mechanic, Thief, and Kingpin, then this one will give you all the feels you’re after. Enjoy some quality time in the judge’s chambers.

  Copyright © 2018 by Author Alexa Riley LLC. All rights reserved.

  No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, email to riley_alexa@aol.com

  http://alexariley.com/

  Publisher’s Note: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination. Locales and public names are sometimes used for atmospheric purposes. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, or to businesses, companies, events, institutions, or locales is completely coincidental.

  Edited by Aquila Editing

  Cover Designer: Perfect Pear

  For women who are judged by the books they read…

  There’s none of that fucking shit here.

  Prologue

  Nora

  I sit at the dining room table staring at the plate of breakfast Sasha threw down in front of me. It’s been five minutes and I still have my hands folded in my lap.

  “Are you going to eat?” she snaps at me, and I look up from the scrambled eggs and bacon to her.

  She stares at me with that same sour face she’s had from the moment she met me. The woman can’t stand me and I have no idea why. I’ve tried being nice, but it never works. Now I do my best to not engage with her. She puts me on edge, but everything about being here puts me on edge. From the moment I crossed the threshold into this home it’s been that way.

  Her hands rest on her trim waist as her bright blue eyes stare hard at me. You would think I’ve done something to her, but I’ve barely said a handful of words to the woman, and those were only in attempt to be nice. I try and stay out of her way, but I swear she seeks me out only to poke at me. There’s no winning with her. I don’t understand how she can be so pretty on the outside but mean on the inside. Sasha’s got long legs she’s always showing off in short skirts and her hair and makeup are flawless. Someone might mistake her for a model and not my uncle’s assistant. Though from the sounds I’ve heard when the two of them are alone, I don’t think she’s just his assistant. He keeps that behind closed doors so that no one knows she’s his dirty secret. I don’t understand any of it.

  “I’m supposed to wait,” I remind her, but she already knows it.

  I have to wait for my uncle to come to the table, but like always he’s late. This isn't surprising. He’s my father’s brother after all, and they’re more alike than I thought they would be. I would swear they were twins if I didn't know better. They’re both the same except my father never made me feel uneasy around him. The same could not be said about my Uncle Harry.

  I never saw my uncle before my father died because they didn't much care for each other. Both were competitive—so much so that my Uncle Harry moved across the country so that he and my father would never come face to face in a courtroom.

  Sasha makes an annoyed sound at my response. “He doesn't have time to have breakfast with you every morning. He’s a busy man,” she snaps at me again.

  I don’t want to have breakfast with him, but he makes me, along with dinner, too. On rare lucky occasions I get out of dinners, but I think it’s because he has a date or is working late. I don’t know why he’s so set on eating together. My father barely shared meals with me, so I was used to eating alone. I used to hate that but now I wish I could go back to it.

  I don’t respond to her and go back to staring at my plate. When I hear her heels click across the floor I let out a happy sigh that she’s gone. I’m also thankful that was all she had to say this morning. She can be extra nasty when my uncle isn't around. Though if I had to choose, I’d rather her be here when he is. He’s not as handsy when she’s nearby.

  I’m sure she’ll be back soon enough. I swear that woman can pop out of nowhere at any time. I wish he’d get here already so we can eat and get this over with. It’s not like I have anything to get to, but I know he’ll leave and I’ll have the place to myself. Except for the random people who come and go to do things around the house, I’m left alone. I’m trapped in a home I’m not allowed to leave unless my uncle calls for me or comes to get me himself. I only go where ever it is he wants me to. I’d rather stare at paint drying then spend another night out with him at one of his events. Especially after the last one. I touch my arm where I can still feel the bruise.

  I quickly drop my hand when I hear his familiar footsteps coming down the long hallway. I sit up straighter and my whole body stills when he reaches me. He comes over and leans down next to me as his mouth presses against my cheek. It lingers there too long and my stomach tightens.

  “Morning, Nora,” he says against my ear. His hot breath crawls against my skin as his hand comes down on my shoulder in a hard hold. It feels like a reminder that I belong to him and he holds all the power in my life.

  It takes everything in me not to jerk back from his touch. He won’t like it and I won’t like whatever his response might be. Sometimes he can be nice, but other times his temper has no control. The fine line of his moods always keeps my anxiety high.

  “Morning, Uncle Harry,” I respond. The hand on my shoulder slides over to my neck where he rubs small circles.

  “Your skin is so soft. I’ve never felt anything like it before.”

  “Thank you,” I force myself to say. I never know how to respond to the things that feel too intimate for an uncle to say to his niece.

  “I wonder if you’re like that everywhere,” he says, sounding a little out of breath. It’s so low I’m sure he’s talking to himself and not me.

  I clench my hands that are resting in my lap, knowing his behavior and words are wrong. I swallow the bile that wants to rise in my throat and wonder how I’m going to eat my food.

  “It’s your birthday,” he says as he takes a seat at the end of the table.

  I nod in disappointment because I’d hoped he forgotten. I look at the man I’ve been living with for the past year. He’s isolated me from the world as much as possible since my father died and I had to move from New York to California.

  He reaches out, resting his hand on the table palm up and I know he wants me to take it.
I reluctantly release my clenched fingers in my lap to do what he wants. He closes his hand around mine in a tight hold and I try to mask my cringe.

  “Things are going to change. It’s time for you to step into your role.”

  “What do you mean?” I ask as I try to voice what I’d like to do now that I’m eighteen. “I’d still like to go to college after I’m finished with my last year.”

  I was forced to homeschool for a few weeks when I got to California, but the state told my uncle that couldn’t continue. They said I had to be put back into high school since my father had specifically said so in his will and I only had a few classes left in order to finish. There was no need to homeschool at this point, but my uncle kept protesting it. He didn’t have as much power as he thought he did and money didn’t buy it.

  At the end of the day, a judge had the final say.

  I’m happy with the decision to be in school but not with starting a new school halfway through my senior year. At least I get out of this house for a couple days a week since I’m only part time.

  “We've talked about this, Nora. If you want to continue your education after you graduate, then you can do it online.” He takes a bite of his breakfast. “When you’re not busy working for me.” He glances over at me and I’m pretty sure my face is completely blank. “I think it’s time you earn your keep around here.” His eyes roam over me and I’m instantly creeped out again.

  As if he actually needs me to earn my keep. When my father died I was almost seventeen. He left me everything, but it was decided by my uncle that I would get monthly checks from my inheritance. The trust is set that way until I’m twenty-three or married. I have no idea what my father would have wanted for me. Maybe he would have wanted me to be some trophy wife like so many of the other women I saw with him over the years. But he could have wanted me to go to college and get an education like he did. Our relationship was never deep and he was beyond a workaholic. I guess he’d want me to go to college because of how he put me in private school and made that stipulation in his will.

  If it was up to me, I would be out of here, leaving all this behind. I want to start a new life of my own away from here. The isolation of the last year has left me without knowing where to begin. Anyone I knew before lives across the country and hasn’t spoken to me since I left. My uncle cut off my phone and took my laptop. He told me it would be good for me to start fresh. I’m in a penthouse prison and could be easily forgotten after I’m done with school.

  “You’ll be my assistant.”

  “But you have Sasha,” I remind him. I try and stay as far away as I can from both of them. The idea of working with him makes me think I would be forever imprisoned.

  “Trust me. I’ll have a use for you, too.” The air in my lungs freezes for a moment. “Hurry up and eat. I’ll take you with me to the office today.”

  I do as I’m told because what choice do I have? It’s Monday and I go to school on Tuesdays and Thursdays since I only have two classes left. The time I’m at school isn’t much help in making friends. Everyone is already in their cliques and I’m not sure anyone notices me. At least I’ll get out of the house today. Maybe I can start to think of a plan to get away from my uncle, too. More than anything I’d like to get a look at my father’s will. I was never allowed to read over it, so maybe it will give me some kind of information on my mother.

  After I choke down a few bites of my breakfast I stand up to go change. Harry reaches out quickly and grabs my wrist.

  “Wear something pretty. I’m going to take you out to dinner tonight after work.” l nod and after a moment he releases his tight hold on me. “And Nora.” I stop but don’t turn around to look at him. “Remember if anyone asks, you’re not my niece.”

  He repeats the same thing he’s been saying to me since I’ve come to stay with him. I nod silently again and go to my bedroom to get ready.

  When I’m all set I go to the entryway to wait for Harry so that we can go to his office. At least I think that’s where we’ll go. It bounces around in my head how he always pretends in public that I’m not his niece. The only person I think actually knows is Sasha.

  I hear her moan from the other room and I know they’re having sex. She’s always so loud. I wonder if she does it on purpose or if that’s how women sound when they’re having sex. The thought of Harry and sex makes me want to gag. Apparently it doesn’t for Sasha because it’s easy to tell she wants him. I don’t understand why. He’s always rude and dismissive of her. I don’t think she’d be happy if she knew about the other women that come in late at night. My uncle doesn’t hide them from me. I’m pretty sure he was getting it on with the tutor he hired for me for those first few weeks.

  I find it hard to wrap my mind around having so many lovers. The act of sex to me seems intimate and close, or maybe I only feel that way because no one has ever looked at me with lust in their eyes except him and that makes me feel gross.

  My father never had women like that around. They all seemed to be people he worked with for the most part, but what do I know? Sometimes when I think back on losing him, I wonder if not being close was a blessing. It made losing him not so painful. It still hurt, but I know it could’ve been worse. I knew he loved me. I just don’t think he ever planned on children. I don’t know who my mother is, and for all I know she could be dead, too. I brought up the subject once to my uncle thinking it might be easier for him to tell me about her, but he shut me down as fast as my father.

  Finally the moaning stops and a few minutes later Sasha comes out with a smirk that is directed at me. She walks past me with a smug look and I don’t understand why she’s threatened by my presence. I’m his niece, for god's sake.

  “He’ll always be mine,” she says slowly.

  I stare at her in confusion. Why would I care if they are together? In all honesty, I feel sorry for her. Why would she want to be with a man like him? He uses her and tosses her away until he needs her again. That’s something I’d never want, but maybe that’s how relationships work and I’m living in a fairy tale. l read too many romance novels, but I’ll take that over her reality any day of the week.

  I stand up when I hear my uncle’s footsteps. I don’t want to test his easily wavering temperament.

  When he took me out to dinner a few nights ago he chose what I was going to wear. I thought it was a little too showy for my taste, but he demanded I wear it and I wasn’t willing to have a fight with him about it. It wasn’t long into the dinner when he’d flipped and pulled me from my chair by my arm accusing me of being a whore and flirting with his client. The only thing I said to his client was that it was nice to meet him. My uncle was livid the whole way back home before he locked me in my bedroom.

  I thought I dreamed it when I woke up the next morning, but the bruise was there on my arm as evidence. That hadn’t been the worst of it. I could have sworn I heard him with another woman that night having sex, but he was calling her by my name. I keep telling myself maybe she just had the same name as me, but my gut is telling me otherwise.

  “Time to go,” Harry tells me as he comes around the corner. His eyes rake over me slowly and I feel a fear stirring in my gut.

  He’s right. It is time to go.

  Chapter One

  Nora

  A few weeks later…

  I let the warm water run down my body as I try to get the chill that’s settled into my bones to go away. Even with the cold weather, this has been the best I’ve felt in days. It’s a moment of safety where I know I’m alone and can let my guard down. I know I need to get going or I’ll get caught and lose my favorite part of the day. Okay, my second-favorite part of the day.

  The first is seeing the mystery man who comes in here not long after I leave. I’ve taken up residence across the street on the bench wondering the same thing for the last two weeks. What the hell am I going to do? Freedom isn’t as wonderful as I thought it was going to be.

  I knew I lived a sheltered life and have had
everything handed to me. At least the basic things like food, a place to rest my head at night, clothes to wear, and a place to shower. You never notice the small things around you that you rely on until they’re gone. But even now it’s worth the price I’ve paid.

  A shiver runs down my spine when I think about the night I finally made a run for it. I can still feel his hands grabbing me, trying to press his mouth against mine as I’d fought him off. I’d gotten lucky because I was no match for his strength. He’s a small man, but I’m even smaller. The only reason I got away is because his phone went off. It was the one he used for his exclusive clients. He was at their beck and call night and day. He told me he’d be back and that I needed to get it together. That I had to accept what was to come and I should make it easier on myself.

  I knew that I would never give in to what he wanted and I packed a bag and ran. I’m still running, though I’m not sure I can call it running if I’m not going anywhere. I’m still in the same city because I have no place to go. I reached out to the one person I thought was supposed to help and that didn’t work. I still can’t believe Harry told the man who oversees the stipulations of my father’s will that I’d been acting out. He said I’d been stealing and then throwing myself at him a few times to try and cause a scandal. He claimed I attacked him when he denied my advances and showed him the marks.

  Those were the marks I’d left on him when I was trying to fight him off. My uncle even went as far as making a report of the attack to the police and listed items he claimed I’d taken from him. Not only is he looking for me, but the police are, too. I’ve been advised that if I go home Harry will drop the charges and he’ll get me the “help I need.” I hung up the phone.