[06] Slade

by Teresa Gabelman

  Before she could answer, someone pounded on the door. Fear of what happened the last time shadowed her face.

  “I’m not going anywhere,” he promised, kissing her on the forehead. “But I’m seriously considering getting us an apartment.”

  “Jill, is Slade in there?” Sid pounded again.

  Slade jumped up, pulling on his jeans. “Cover up,” he warned her before walking over to open the door, enough to shield Jill from being seen. “This better be good and not you trying to be a fucking hero,” Slade sneered at Sid.

  “Someone took a shot at Jax.” There was no humor in his voice. Sid was in full Warrior mode. “We need you and Jill downstairs, now. Bring your sketch pad, Jill,” Sid called out before heading down the hall.

  Jill was already up and getting dressed. Slade pulled his shirt over his head. Grabbing her sketchpad, Jill followed Slade out of the room, practically running to keep up. He reached back and grabbed her hand. One thing she knew, having a Warrior shot at was serious business for the VC Council. Dread and a tinge of fear crawled up her spine as she held tightly to Slade’s hand.

  Chapter 16

  Jill’s hand in his felt right. Even when they walked into Sloan’s office, he didn’t let go. Everyone stood, looking tense.

  “Were you hit?” Slade looked Jax over as well as Caroline, who sat, looking pale.

  “No,” Jax responded as Caroline shook her head.

  “What the hell happened?” Slade asked, ignoring everyone staring at their hands. He held her tighter. He knew Jill kept shooting Sloan nervous glances.

  “We stopped to grab something to eat and took it to a park,” Jax responded, his voice hard with anger. “We had just sat down and started to eat when Caroline flew across the picnic table tackling me to the ground. In the next second, I heard a gunshot, so I rolled over onto Caroline to protect her when the tree behind me exploded with splinters, right where my head had been.”

  “His sister screamed in my head,” Caroline answered the unasked question. “I just reacted, not really knowing what was going on.”

  “Guess you’re a believer now.” Sid’s eyes opened wide with a ‘holy shit’ look.

  “I can describe the shooter.” Caroline looked toward Jill. “Can you draw him?”

  “Yeah,” Jill replied, opening her sketchpad as Slade fetched her a chair.

  “You saw the shooter?” Jared’s eyes narrowed, ready to go after the bastard now.

  “No, I didn’t, but Jax’s sister did.” Caroline looked at Jax, then down to the floor.

  “You didn’t go after him?” Steve asked Jax with a frown.

  Jax looked his way. “I was not leaving Caroline unprotected,” he replied as if Steve should have known the answer to that.

  Caroline looked at Lana. “Can you see her?” she asked Lana. “I’m still pretty shaken up and don’t want to miss anything.”

  Lana nodded, walking up closer. “You sure you feel up to this right now?”

  “Yeah, I’m fine,” Caroline answered, looking toward Jill, who nodded that she was ready to go.

  Slade watched Jill work as Caroline and Lana threw descriptions at her. To many, this would seem strange, but to him and the other Warriors in the room, it was the norm. They had seen so many fucked-up things; that two women talking to a dead woman and a half-breed vampire sketching a profile pic for them to go on was pretty much the norm.

  “Was his moustache bushy or thin and did he have a beard with it?” Jill looked up from her sketch.

  Caroline looked at Lana. “Like a porn ‘stash?”

  Lana nodded and looked at Jill. “No beard.”

  “Porn ‘stash?” Steve snorted. “You even know what a porn ‘stash is, Jill?”

  Jill focused on her sketch a few more minutes before looking up at Steve. “Yeah.” She pointed at him with her pencil, moving it back and forth. “Kind of like what you’re trying to grow there.”

  Steve’s hand flew to his mouth, covering his puny moustache. “That was cruel. This is not a porn ‘stash.”

  Jared looked closer when Steve dropped his hand. “I had an aunt who had a fuller moustache than that.”

  “Where is all the ‘stash hate coming from?” Steve frowned, using his finger to smooth it down while looking at Jared. “You’re just jealous you can’t grow one.”

  Slade grinned at their back-and-forth bullshit. It actually broke the tension and had Caroline smiling, which seemed to put Jax more at ease. Everyone waited patiently for Jill to finish. Jill stood, walking toward Caroline and Lana.

  “Is that him or at least a good resemblance?” Jill stood back, crossing her arms, waiting.

  Caroline and Lana looked at each other. “Alisha said it’s identical to who she saw. She also said…you are very talented.”

  Jill’s eyebrows rose. “Oh, well, tell her…”

  Lana laughed. “We know it’s weird, but it is what it is.”

  “Tell her thank you.” Jill smiled back.

  Jax took the sketch from Caroline and examined it, memorizing it before passing it to Sid, who also looked and passed it around. After everyone had studied the sketch, Jill took it back and tore the page out, handing it back to Sloan.

  “Could I have a minute with the Warriors, ladies?” Sloan asked, giving them a weak smile. “Thank you for your help.”

  “Wait for me,” Jax warned Caroline as she stood. Nodding, she followed Lana out.

  Jill started to go, but Slade stopped her, shook his head and leaned down. “He didn’t mean you.”

  He chuckled when her eyes popped open and her mouth formed a complete circle. “Oh.” She rolled her eyes.

  Once they were gone and the door shut, Jax picked the picture up again. “I want this son of a bitch caught.” Jax’s calm front disappeared as soon as Caroline left. “She could have been shot.”

  “Have you ever seen that guy before?” Damon nodded toward the sketch.

  “No.” Jax frowned. “I don’t even know anyone here except for you guys.”

  “So no one you’ve pissed off here or maybe in the past that could have followed you. Someone with a score to settle?” This came from Slade.

  Jax eyes snapped to Slade’s. “I’ve pissed off thousands of people, some on a daily basis.”

  “Or this might not be personal,” Sloan added.

  “You mean somebody might be gunning for the Warriors?” Adam finally spoke up, looking around the room. “Wouldn’t that be suicide?”

  The room was silent, everyone deep in thought.

  “I think it’s personal,” Jill spoke up, glancing up at Slade, then to Jax. “No one really knows you’re here, yet you were at a place that none of the Warriors go with Caroline, which means you were followed.”

  “But we were all at the bar.” Jax motioned around at everyone.

  “Yes, a public place even though it was closed.” Jill shrugged. “Maybe I’m wrong, but if it was a Warrior thing, and maybe it is, why did they follow you and not a Warrior from this area?”

  “That actually makes sense.” Duncan stepped up. “We would have more enemies than Jax, so why wasn’t one of us followed.”

  “Who have you pissed off since you’ve been here?” Jared frowned, looking at Jax, and then turned to wink at Jill. “Good thinking by the way.”

  “Other than you guys, nobody.” Jax glanced down at the picture again.

  “Didn’t you pay a visit to the Mayor’s office?” Slade’s gaze went to Jax.

  Jax’s eyes went black. “That fucking bitch!”

  “I think the Mayor’s a dude,” Steve added.

  “No, you dumbass. His whore,” Jax spat.

  “Alice.” The name echoed in the room.

  “Fuck!” Jax slammed his hand down on Sloan’s desk.

  “I take it the meeting with the Mayor and Alice didn’t go well,” Sid snorted with an angry glint to his eyes.

  “I thought it went really well,” Jax sneered. “Guess they didn’t think so. I walked in on her
sucking his dick and didn’t back out of the room with a ‘sorry’. I also believe I called her a whore a few times.”

  “Well, if Alice is involved, then we all need to watch our asses,” Sloan warned, and then looked toward Steve, Adam and Dillon. “Looks like you guys are on tomorrow night.”

  “Yes!” Steve hissed, pumping his arm up and down. He then stopped. “What are we doing?”

  “I don’t want anyone without back-up.” Sloan looked the room. “Dillon, I want you to stay here and keep an eye on things. I don’t think there will be a problem, but I’m not going to take any chances, and Lana will be here, also.”

  “No problem,” Dillon nodded.

  “Adam, I want you and Steve to follow Jill to the Club. Once she pulls in, you guys keep going and then head back here. We will all be in place by that time.”

  “Done,” Adam replied, glancing at Jill then back to Sloan.

  “Jax, I’m going to switch you and Duncan.” Sloan shook his head even before Slade could say a word. “You are not going into the club, Slade, so save your breath. Jax will be in the van with us. Damon and Duncan can handle the inside, while Sid and Jared are posted outside the club.”

  Slade wanted to argue, but kept his mouth shut for now.

  “Are you good with this, Jill?” Sloan asked, putting all his focus on her. “Are you ready?”

  “Yes, sir.” Jill nodded, looking him directly in the eye. “I’ll do my best for you guys.”

  “We know you will.” Sid stared down at her before sighing dramatically, glancing at Slade’s hand on her shoulder. “Okay, if no one else is going to say anything, then I guess I’ll whip my balls out and say it.”

  “Jesus!” Sloan slammed back in his chair, closing his eyes as if praying for patience.

  “I’m sure he’d be interested, too.” Sid glanced at Sloan before turning his attention back to Slade and Jill. “So, is this official now?” He pointed back and forth at Jill and Slade.

  Slade rolled his eyes while squeezing Jill’s shoulder. Sid was such an asshole. “Yeah, you got a problem with it?”

  “No, other than…” Sid held both hands up with his palms out, “pay up, bitches!”

  Slade watched as everyone dug deep into their pockets. “You fuckers bet on us?” Not that it really surprised him. Even when shit was going down, no matter how bad it got, the Warriors took it in stride, did their jobs and had fun in-between. So yeah, this was also very normal.

  “Oh, yeah, did they ever. But I tried to tell them…shit, who am I kidding.” Sid snorted with a grin. “I bet these losers that you’d be an item before Jill got her Warrior status. And well, as you see, they decided to bet against the king of gambling.”

  Slade watched, surprised, as Sloan slammed money into Sid’s palm. “Even you?”

  “I did every fucking thing in my power to make sure I won this bet.” Sloan frowned at Slade. “Just four more days, that’s all you had to wait, dammit.”

  “I’ll be damned,” Slade cursed, looking down at Jill to see how she was taking it. She seemed nervous as hell as she watched Sid.

  Even after everyone paid up, Sid still held his hand out. “Feels a little light.” He raised and lowered each hand as if weighing the money. Jill dug into her pocket, slamming down twenty bucks.

  “You bet?” Slade’s eyes narrowed. “Are you fucking kidding me?”

  The laughter in the room was deafening as Slade stared at Jill. An unbelievable grin then spread across his face.

  “What?” Jill frowned at him.

  “I can’t believe you bet against us.” Slade shook his head, trying to look pissed, but his grin continued growing.

  “I thought it was a sure bet and needed some cash. I actually bet it wouldn’t happen at all, so I was for sure I’d win. You were pretty adamant that there would never be anything between us.” Jill shrugged. Turning, she glared at Sid with the evilest glare she’d ever given.

  Sid just smiled at her. “If you can’t take the heat, then don’t place your bet with the king.”

  ******

  Jax followed Slade and Jill out of the office. Still shaken, his eyes searched for Caroline. He still couldn’t believe she threw herself at him. When he found the motherfucker who took that shot, he would kill him in the most painful way he was taught in the ways of his tribe.

  Caroline stood from where she and Lana were sitting on the steps, giving him a weak smile, but then saw Jill and headed her way. “Jill,” Caroline called out. “I’m going to stay here tonight since it’s so late. You want to start getting ready around noon?”

  “Yeah, that would be great.” Jill smiled and proceeded to roll her eyes when Sid walked out with a big grin, counting his money.

  “What is that?” Lana frowned, trying to swipe it from his hands.

  “Oh, no, woman.” Sid pulled it away. “As a matter of fact, pay up.”

  “For what?” Lana put her hands on her hips.

  Sid nodded toward Slade and Jill. “It’s official.”

  “Dammit,” Lana hissed, digging into her pockets, glaring at Jill and Slade. “Couldn’t you have waited just four more days?”

  Slade crossed his arms, looking disgusted. “Did everyone in the damn compound bet?”

  “No.” Sid thought for a moment. “Little Daniel didn’t have the cash.”

  “I don’t have any money on me.” Lana spread her arms out.

  “That’s okay. I’ll collect interest on you.” Sid winked and then took Caroline’s money. “Thank you.”

  “You guys are so wrong.” Slade frowned, grabbing Jill’s hand, leading her up the stairs.

  “But it feels so right,” Sid laughed as he and Lana followed them.

  Jax shook his head, watching Sid. “He’s an idiot.”

  “But he’s good to my sister.” Caroline smiled, watching Sid chase her up the stairs.

  An awkward silence filled the entryway. Jax was not comfortable in these situations at all. Give him someone who needed an ass kicking and he was on it, but this, yeah, so not his thing.

  “Well, I guess I’ll go up.” Caroline turned to go.

  “Wait a minute.” He grabbed her arm, turning her around. “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome,” Caroline responded and laughed. “Wow, that was really hard for you, wasn’t it?”

  Jax gave her a crooked grin. “Yeah, it was. I’m not used to thanking people.”

  Caroline gave him an understanding nod. “Maybe after things calm down, we can have that dinner and talk.”

  “Sure, sounds good,” Jax replied, his mind going a mile a minute before his eyes drilled into hers. “I’m going to find who put you in danger, Caroline. And without sounding too much like an asshole, don’t ever put yourself in danger for me again. You could have been killed.”

  “As you could have been. I’m sure those were silver bullets,” Caroline replied, searching his eyes. “I have a feeling not too many people have done things for you, Jax Wheeler, but know this. If I had to do it all over again, I would in a heartbeat.” She tiptoed up, kissing his cheek and gave him a smile before turning away.

  Jax watched her go. She was right. No one had ever done anything like that for him. She had literally saved his life and that was something he would never forget.

  Chapter 17

  Jill fidgeted as Caroline fixed her wig, Nicole painted her toenails and Pam applied her press-on nails. It was crowded in Jared and Tessa’s room, but it was nice being with the women.

  “Stop moving, Jill,” Nicole sighed, looking up at her.

  “I’m sorry.” Jill frowned. “I fidget when I’m nervous.”

  Trying to take her mind off what she was getting ready to do, Jill thought about the previous night. Once she and Slade got back to her room, he actually laid her across his lap and smacked her ass good for betting against them, which lead to other things. A grin slipped across her face at the thought. But the best part was afterwards, when he took her in his arms and held her the rest of the n
ight. Hardly any words were spoken, which was fine with her. She savored that moment because for the first time in a long time, she didn’t feel alone.

  “Okay.” Caroline walked in front of Jill, reached over Nicole to fluff Jill’s bangs and smiled. “Perfect. And that wig is going nowhere, so if you and Slade want to do a little role-playing afterwards, you’ll be good to go.” Caroline gave her a wink.

  “Wow, you look amazing with long hair.” Nicole looked up at her.

  Jill wrinkled her nose. “I like my short hair. It doesn’t get in the way and is a breeze to fix.”

  “Okay, toes done.” Nicole stood, stretching. “Let them dry for a few minutes.”

  Pam affixed the last nail. “Where’s Tessa with the choker?”

  “Here I am.” Tessa came running in. “Had to get Slade ‘cause I couldn’t find it. And doesn’t he seem like a happy man this morning.”

  Jill blushed, not saying a word, and then noticed them all looking at each other. “What?”

  “Okay, we’re dying to know.” Tessa walked over after grabbing a covered clothes hanger with Jill’s outfit. “Is he, you know…”

  Jill laughed. She quickly realized they were all serious; even Angelina was on edge waiting for her to answer. “I’m not going to talk about Slade like that.”

  “Ah, you suck,” Nicole grumbled. “You know he’s just too good-looking. I bet he isn’t all that in bed and he probably has a little…”

  “I can hardly walk this morning, so if he’s little, I’d hate to see a big one,” Jill jumped to Slade’s defense. “And he makes damn sure I’m taken care of.”

  “Ha! I knew it.” Nicole pointed at her.

  “Is he demanding?” Tessa grinned.

  “Very.” Jill nodded, grabbing the hanger from Tessa. “And that’s all I’m saying.”

  “Damon’s the same.” Nicole’s smile was that of a satisfied woman.

  “So is Jared.” Tessa added with a sigh, “Drives me crazy sometimes, but I love it.”

  “All these Warriors are alpha, girls.” Pam sat down, pulling her feet up under her, glancing over at Daniel who was fast asleep on the bed. “And we got the best of the best.”