[06] Slade

by Teresa Gabelman

  “I hope so.” She opened the folder and the first thing she saw was that little bitch half-breed, Jill, with Adam, Steve and another breed who Alice thought looked familiar, but wasn’t sure. There were different pictures of them with the Warriors. One caught her eye. “Why were they at a paintball arena?”

  “Well, it seems that they are getting ready to be initiated into the VC Council.” The man sounded proud of his find.

  “Shit! I didn’t know they were doing that now. I thought it was next year.” Alice shuffled through the pictures faster. When she was a part of the Warriors as a donor, she knew everything that was going on. Since leaving, she was left in the dark. God, she hated them, every single one of them and their bitch mates. “We can’t let that happen. The little bitch will be protected for life.”

  “The little bitch?” Jim grinned. “Is this a personal vendetta, Mrs. Mayor?”

  Alice laughed. “Yes, against that little bitch, it is personal.”

  “So what’s the plan, boss?” Jim leaned back, waiting for his orders as his eyes feasted on her full breasts and long legs.

  Liking the hold she had over this man, Alice thrust her breasts out with a sigh. Men always liked to think they were in charge. Most didn’t like taking orders from a woman, even though they were paid well in both money and favors. “I’m not sure, Jim.” Alice put her finger near her mouth, running it back and forth across her full lips. “I do know one thing I want done, and that’s for the Warriors to be shaken up a bit.”

  “Consider it done.” Jim’s eyes slid back and forth with her finger. “I’ve got enough man power to fuck with them.”

  “Well, I don’t care what you do or who you kill, but…” She held up Jill’s picture, “she stays alive. There will be a big bonus for her.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” Jim nodded, taking the pictures before tossing them to the other seat across from them. “Any other orders?”

  “Yeah, there’s a new Warrior; he’s American Indian,” Alice sneered, remembering the bastard in Tom’s office. She hated him almost as much as she hated that little breed bitch. “If he happens to get a silver bullet between the eyes, there will be another bonus.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” Jim’s grin turned menacing. “Will definitely be on the lookout for him.”

  “You do that.” Alice gave him a flirty smile. Pulling out an envelope, she handed it to him. “You can count it.”

  Tossing the money onto the pictures, Jim shook his head. “I trust you.” His eyes went to her breasts.

  Alice could hear his desire in his heartbeat. Slowly, she slipped the dress down her shoulders; baring her breasts, and then pulled her dress up, exposing the fact she was not wearing underwear. “Your bonus for the pictures.”

  Jim reached out, grabbing one of her breasts with one hand, then pulling her closer with the other one. “Honey, I can’t wait to see what my bonus is when I bring the Warriors to their knees.”

  Looking out the window as Jim nipped down her neck, Alice’s eyes turned black as night. “You do that, Detective, and you may become my head of security with daily bonuses.”

  Moaning, Jim made quick work of dropping his pants and plunging into her. Alice bared her fangs, sinking her teeth deep into his neck, sucking until he was spent inside her. She didn’t know what excited her most; his cock deep inside her or the fact that the Warriors were about to get their due.

  ******

  Caroline walked up to Jax as everyone got ready to leave the bar. She had really enjoyed helping Jill who, thank God, knew how to dance. The poor girl was a mess of nerves, but did really well.

  “So, teach, why didn’t you dance?” Jax smiled, but his eyes were intense.

  Self-consciously, she brushed her hair toward her bruised cheek. “No one wants to see me dance,” she laughed, rolling her eyes.

  “I wouldn’t have minded seeing you dance. Was actually looking forward to it.” Jax winked. He reached out, gently brushing her hair back. “And don’t hide your face.”

  “It’s gross.” Caroline blushed with a frown. Realizing she used one of her kids’ words, she smiled. “Like totally,” she added with a laugh.

  Jax grinned, cocking his eyebrow. “Hanging around kids too much?”

  “You don’t even know,” Caroline snorted, shaking her head. Looking at the clock on the wall, she wondered if she should ask. Ah, what the hell, she thought. “So you want to do that dinner? It seems you’ve been holding up to your side of the bargain.” She glanced back at Jill who was talking with Jared.

  “I have Jill with me.” He frowned. “I helped her with her driving and parking today. She takes her test Monday for her license. I promised her she could drive back to the compound.”

  “Oh, well, that’s okay.” Caroline looked away a little embarrassed, but did grin. “You really are holding up to your end of the bargain. Even going above and beyond just being nice.”

  “Yeah, well, who knows how long it will last.” Jax rolled his shoulders, looking uncomfortable. “It’s totally against my nature.”

  “So how do you think Jill did with her dance?” Caroline took pity on him and changed the subject of how nice he was being, since it obviously made him uncomfortable.

  “Don’t know.” Jax stood, towering over Caroline. “Didn’t watch her.”

  “But why not?” Her eyes widened. “She did really well.”

  “Watching Jill use a stripper pole would be like watching my…” Jax caught what he was about to say and cursed.

  “Your sister. I knew that’s why you were treating her like you have been.” Caroline finished for him, putting her hand on his arm when she saw the hurt those words caused him. “Jax…”

  Jax jerked his arm away without even looking down at her. “Jill, let’s go,” he yelled out, heading toward the door.

  “Jax.” Caroline followed him outside. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said—”

  “You’re damn right, you shouldn’t have.” Jax turned so fast he startled Caroline, making her stumble back. “I told you not to mention her to me again!” His control snapped, making him bellow at her.

  They stood staring at each other for a second until Jax growled, turned and walked off. Caroline watched him walk away. “I know,” she whispered to no one, at least no one anyone else could see. “Dammit, I’m going.”

  Caroline marched across the parking lot. “You have got to deal with this.” Caroline stopped right behind Jax. “It’s eating you alive and you have to deal with it. Talk to your sister.”

  His head fell back as if trying to control himself; it didn’t work. “She is fucking DEAD!” He turned on her. “What the fuck do you not understand about that? You and your so-called gift is a bunch of bullshit. You are a fake! She is dead!”

  “I am not a fake, you stubborn son of a bitch,” Caroline yelled back. “Just because you are too closed-minded to listen to me and your sister, who yes, is dead, but right here talking to me and now looking like a nervous mess because you are acting like a lunatic, doesn’t make it not true.”

  “Get the fuck out of my face now, before I do something I’ll regret!” His fists closed tightly as he stared down at her.

  Caroline’s eyes shot to his hands, and then back to his face. “What are you going to do, hit me?” Caroline snorted. “You are the one who is a liar and a fake. Feeling all sorry for me was a lie.”

  “No, but now I understand why he might have—”

  She not only smacked him once across the face, but twice, without saying a single word. She turned, storming off, a knife twisting in her gut. He sure as hell was not who she thought he was. She sure sucked when it came to reading living people, not that he was actually living, but he wasn’t a damn ghost either. Caroline made it to her car before the tears started to fall.

  ******

  Shaking, Jax stood staring at the ground, trying to regain control. Looking up, Jill walked right up to him.

  “I know you didn’t mean what you just said to her.” Jil
l frowned, glancing back at Caroline, who ran, jumping into her car.

  “Yeah, I did.” Jax also glanced in that direction, his voice not sounding very convincing.

  “Then why do you look crushed?” Jill tossed him the keys. “I’ll find my own way home, but I think you better go after her. That was a pretty dick move, even for you.”

  Caroline peeled out of the parking lot, spraying gravel everywhere. “Dammit!” Jax cursed as he quickly sat in the driver’s seat before slamming it into reverse.

  She was a few cars in front of him, but he was catching up. “Fuck!” He cringed when she flew through a red light, a car barely missing her. Racing up beside her after maneuvering around cars, he blared the horn. She actually looked, before flipping him off. Rolling down his window, she rolled hers up. “Pull over, now!” Her response was to flip him off again and sped up.

  “Piece-of-shit Nissan,” Jax cursed, slamming his hands on the steering wheel as if that would make it go faster. This would not be an issue if he was in his GT. Jax had the pedal to the floor, yet he was losing her. Seeing the light turn yellow, he glanced to see if she was preparing to stop. She did hit the brake a few times, slowing down enough that he was able to catch back up to her. Slamming the pedal, he maneuvered slightly in front of her, wedging her toward the curb. He was shocked when she actually went up on the median and kept going. “Are you fucking kidding me?”

  Okay, she wanted to play. Jax jerked onto the median, stopped the car and jumped out. With a step, he was off and running, catching up to her faster than any car could. Running up beside the passenger’s door, he tried to open it, but she locked it, looking at him as if he’d lost his mind. “Open the door!” he yelled, but she shook her head and told him to go to hell. “If you don’t open this fucking door, right now, I’m going to tear if off.”

  He watched Caroline’s hand hover over the lock button before she finally hit it, unlocking the door and slowing down, but he didn’t wait. He opened the door and swung himself in, slamming the door shut…hard. “Pull the goddamn car over.”

  “Get out of my goddamn car,” Caroline shouted, swiping tears away. “Or I’m going to call the police.”

  “I am the police…more or less, and I’m pulling you over for about ten driving violations.” Jax growled, and grabbed the steering wheel as he kicked his leg over, moving hers out of the way to control the gas and brake.

  Caroline smacked at his arm. “What are you doing?” She smacked again, her eyes frantically looking for danger of being hit. “You’re going to kill us.”

  “Oh, that’s classic.” Jax pulled into an empty parking lot, slammed the car in park and took the keys. “You almost got t-boned back there running a red light. Jesus, Caroline, you could have been seriously hurt.”

  “Like you would give a shit. Now, give me my keys.” Caroline snatched at them, but he pulled them away. “Fine.” She got out of the car and started walking.

  Jax got out, jumping in front of her. “Listen, I’m sorry and yes, I would give a shit if you got hurt.”

  “You’re sorry?” Caroline snorted, swiping at a tear. “Well, I don’t accept. And honestly, I don’t even know why I care what you think about me so much. I must have brain damage from Rod, which I probably deserved, in your demented mind.” She threw that at him, flipping him off again.

  “Will you stop flipping me off and listen,” Jax sighed, grabbing her arm to stop her. “I didn’t mean what I said. I was wrong to say that, Caroline. I would never lift a hand toward you in anger and I absolutely don’t think it was right that he did. I even made damn sure he would never do it again.”

  Her body was still turned away from him, listening, but his last sentence made her turn around. “What did you do?” she whispered, but still eyed him with distrust.

  He shook his head. “I didn’t kill him if that’s what you’re thinking. I wanted to, but just believe me when I say after Sid and I were finished with him, he won’t ever bother you again.”

  Looking away from him, she nodded. “Thank you.” Holding her hand out toward him, she sighed, “Now, can I have my keys back so I can leave?”

  His phone rang as he answered her, “No.”

  Caroline dropped her hand, gave him an evil glare, her face red with anger as she passed him to lean against her car.

  “What?” Jax growled into his phone. “Yeah. No, she’s fine. Just take the Nissan back to the compound for me, okay, Sid. Yeah, that’s it on the median. Dammit, I said she’s fine.” He hung up.

  “Why can’t I have my keys, Jax?” Caroline gave him a sideways glance.

  “Because I want to talk to you…” Jax swallowed, looking away, “about my sister.”

  Chapter 15

  “Oh, shit’s gonna hit the fan.” Jared glanced at Slade with a grimace as Jill and Dillon walked into Sloan’s office, laughing.

  Leaning against the wall, Slade glanced up then away.

  “You get his feet and I’ll take his arms.” Sid acted like he was ready to pounce.

  Slade closed his eyes briefly, keeping control; he had to keep control. Sid and Jared weren’t making it easy, the fuckers.

  “Do you have a fucking phone?” Sloan’s voice boomed, making Jill jump.

  “Ah, who me?” When Sloan just stared at her and Dillon, Jill nodded. “But I was driving and didn’t get the group message until we were almost here.”

  “I sent the message an hour ago.” Sloan still stared between the two.

  “Well, I was driving and, ah…” Jill’s eyes went to Dillon for help.

  “And we stopped for some pizza,” he added, nodding toward Jill.

  “Pizza?” Steve frowned. “Well, thanks a lot for asking, assholes. I want pizza.”

  Sloan rubbed his forehead as if trying to scrub his frustration away.

  “Just makes you want to scream, don’t it?” Sid leaned toward Sloan, but was shaking his head at Jill and Dillon.

  “I’m going to remove my hand, and when I do, you better be away from me, Sid,” Sloan warned.

  “Done.” Sid nodded, straightened up and moved a step away.

  Sloan did remove his hand, but his eyes zeroed in on Jill. “You stripper ready?”

  “Ah, that’s an odd way to…” Jill stopped, nodded and cleared her throat when he sneered at her. “Yes, I think so.”

  “What the fuck do you mean, ‘you think so’? Either you’re ready or you’re not.” Sloan looked at Slade. “Is she ready?”

  “Yes, she’s ready.” Slade did his best to keep the growl out of his voice and sneer off his face.

  “Well, she better be. Tomorrow night is the night.” Sloan rummaged around his desk. Finally finding what he was looking for, he handed Slade a picture. “This is the mark. His name is George Groper.”

  Sid opened his mouth, shook his head and looked at Sloan. “Seriously?” Sid ignored Sloan’s glare. “I’m sorry, but how classic is that. I mean, we are doing a sting in a strip club and the mark’s name is George Groper. Nobody could write this shit.”

  “You done?” Sloan looked up at Sid, his eyes narrowed.

  “Yes.” Sid thought for a moment and nodded. “Yes, I am.”

  Slade grabbed the picture out of Sloan’s hand, and then passed it around. “What if he doesn’t show?”

  “Then we go back until he does,” Sloan responded. “Me, Slade and Duncan will be in the surveillance van.”

  “Why am I in the van?” Slade’s head snapped up.

  “Because I said so,” Sloan replied with his ‘no budging on this’ tone. “Jax and Damon will be inside, so you two make sure you have your suits. This is a high-class club. Sid and Jared will be stationed outside the building, ready for assistance if needed.”

  “What about us?” Steve frowned, looking around. “What do we do?”

  “Take the night off.” Sloan didn’t even look Steve’s way. Reaching in his desk drawer, he pulled out a box. “Jill, you will wear this at all times. It has a small camera and microphone.
We will be able to see what you see and hear what you hear.”

  Jill took the box and opened it, pulling out a beautiful studded choker with a pendent. “Okay.” Jill nodded, putting the choker back in the box, then lifted something else out. “What’s this?”

  “It will go with the outfit the women picked out for you, and that is your earpiece so we can tell you what to do. It’s small enough that it won’t be detected by anyone, no matter how close they get.” Sloan looked up at her. “You won’t be alone in this, Jill.”

  “I know.” Jill smiled, putting on a brave front.

  Slade watched Jill and knew she was nervous, even as hard as she was trying to hide it. His protective instincts kicked in and he wanted to assure her she would be fine. He wouldn’t let anything happen to her, but that was going to be damn hard when he was in the fucking van. Yeah, he and Sloan would have a talk about that after everyone left.

  “Any questions?” Sloan looked around, then frowned. “Where the hell is Jax?”

  “He had car trouble,” Sid answered with no more information. “We’ll fill him in,” he told Slade.

  “I have a question.” Jill’s voice shook. “How am I supposed to get there? I don’t test for my license until Monday.”

  “Shit.” Sloan frowned, tossing down his pen.

  “I can take her.” Dillon stepped up.

  “No, she can drive. Jax said she did fine, and as long as she’s careful, there will be no problems,” Slade answered, glaring at Dillon.

  “Yeah, but—” Dillon started again.

  “And I said no, she can drive.” Slade’s eyes darkened. “You have a fucking hearing problem?”

  “No,” Dillon snapped back, glaring at Slade. “I’m just trying to help.”

  “Yeah, well don’t,” Slade warned. When Dillon started to open his mouth again, Slade took a step forward, his eyes deadly. “I said…don’t.” The deepening of Slade’s voice warned everyone in the room that shit was about to get real.

  Sloan’s head was going back and forth between Slade and Dillon. “They seriously don’t pay me enough for this shit,” he sighed. “Next on the agenda is initiation. Wednesday is the start of your initiation. We will have a short meeting beforehand, which no one better be late for or I’m going to beat the hell out of you, so be on fucking time. I hope to hell you guys are ready for this.”