Sloan (The Protectors Series) Book #9

by Teresa Gabelman

  “Will do.” Slade closed the door behind him.

  Becky wasn’t sure what to do since Sloan still had his back to her. It said so much. Finding her voice, Becky attempted an even tone. “Well, I guess I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  When he didn’t say anything, her stomach dipped in hurt. She shrugged aside the sensation and headed for the door. A strong arm stopped her and turned her.

  “I don’t do relationships.” Sloan glared down.

  Confusion dipped Becky’s brows. His anger was palpable, but at what, at who? Wow, she was sounding like Dr. Seuss.

  “Ah, okay. Good to know,” she replied, not knowing how to reply to that statement. “Though the last time I checked, but then again I’ve been out of the game for a while, a kiss doesn’t constitute a relationship.”

  Once again Sloan did that silent stare thing. It was actually a real turn-on because a sexy man deep in thought as he stared at her got her imagination flowing.

  “Good to know,” he finally decided to say. A second later, he pulled her to him and kissed her hard, but she gave as good as she received. Just as abruptly he let her go.

  She stumbled back, but he steadied her before going to the door. “I’ll have someone take you and Katrina home,” Sloan said before disappearing out the door.

  Becky stood staring at the closing door, her hand on her mouth. “What the fuck just happened?” she asked the empty room. Unfortunately, the room didn’t answer and she left more confused than she’d ever been in her life.

  Chapter 21

  Sloan had to get the fuck out of that room and fast. Never had his emotions been so involved with a woman, and he had only kissed her, that was it. Nothing else. Just a fucking kiss that blew his mind. Dammit, he needed to hit something.

  Seeing his Warriors waiting for him, he went straight to them, ready for any news that could lead him toward the sons of bitches who’d fucked his day up. When he searched their eyes, he knew they were just as ready.

  “What did we find out?” Sloan stopped, waiting for the answer.

  “Not much,” Duncan replied, not looking happy about the fact. “Everything that was in that car was destroyed, and we went through it more than once.”

  “Did you question the carpenters?” Sloan questioned, his mind still on Becky.

  “They said the car was there when they arrived this morning, but they didn’t pay much attention to it,” Jared answered, his eyes narrowed in anger and frustration.

  Sloan felt the same. They had shit to go on. Nothing. “Anyone from the other chapters find anything? Any clue as to who, once again, is after us?”

  “Not yet,” Duncan replied. “Steve and Adam are camping out at the warehouse to see if anyone shows up to see their handiwork.”

  “Let’s head back there and recheck to see if we missed something.” Sloan turned just as Becky headed straight toward him. “I need someone to take Becky and Katrina to Becky’s.”

  Dammit, he was hoping to get the fuck out before he had to face her again. He wasn’t a pussy, but he needed to get his head on straight and figure this shit out.

  “I can drop them off then meet you guys at the warehouse.” Sid stepped in. “I drove the van.”

  “Okay, good.” Sloan turned away, looking for a way out, but passing Becky was the only option. She had that look on her face, one he wasn’t used to. When he had sex with women, he’d always leave immediately. No ties, no talk, just in and out, literally. Her look was asking for something more, and he wasn’t sure he even knew how to do more.

  “Hey.” Becky walked up to Sloan, her eyes searching. “I forg—”

  “Listen, we are really in a hurry.” Sloan barely looked at her. “Sid is going to drive you guys to your place.”

  “Ah, okay.” Becky frowned up at him. “But I—”

  “I said we’re in a hurry.” This time Sloan’s tone was rude and dismissive. It was his way, the only way he knew.

  “Am I off the clock?” Becky said just as rudely.

  “What?” Sloan’s head snapped back in confusion.

  “Am I off the clock?” she repeated, looking at him like he was an idiot.

  “Yes,” he replied, not really understanding what she was asking.

  “Good! I wasn’t coming out here to slobber all over you, and fuck you for thinking I was, asshole,” she snapped, poking him in the chest. “The day we came back from the warehouse, there was a dark blue sedan that kept pace with us on the way back to the compound. It slowed at the drive when we pulled in, then took off. It had a dented driver door and dark tinted windows. I didn’t think much of it until just a few minutes ago. After the blast today, I saw it again after we hit the ground. Whoever was in that car may have something to do with what happened today, but then again, I’m just a secretary and don’t know shit. So take it however you want.”

  Everyone was silent and looking anywhere but at him, except for Becky who stared at him with no fear, no expectation. No, her stare was filled with distrust and it actually made him, Sloan Murphy, feel like a piece of shit.

  “I didn’t mea—” Sloan whispered to her as he reached out, but she stepped back.

  “Katrina, are you ready?” She turned away from him and, with Katrina at her side, she walked away.

  “Ah, guess that’s my cue.” Sid sidestepped Sloan as he followed the women.

  Actually, everyone sidestepped Sloan as they headed out. Duncan passed, tossing him his bike keys. “We had your bike brought over,” was all he said as he also walked away.

  Alone, Sloan stood in the front of the waiting area. Hearing something, he turned to see an old man who was making his way toward him, his cane clicking on the tile floor.

  “Son, that’s no way to talk to a pretty lady.” He tsked, shaking his head as he passed. “Especially a beauty like that.”

  Sloan watched as the old man made his way into a room. Running his hand down his face, he cursed. His day had gone to hell, but what surprised him was he’d single-handedly opened hell’s door, because just five minutes earlier, he’d been in heaven, he had no doubt.

  Shaking his head at those thoughts, he walked through the hallway and happened to look into the room the old man had disappeared into. There he stood, next to the bed, holding the hand of an old woman, his face full of love as he stared down at her still form. Suddenly, the man’s face rose toward Sloan. Unshed tears made the old man’s eyes bright. Then he dismissed Sloan to look back down at the woman, who was saying something that made the old man smile.

  Making his feet move, Sloan continued down the hallway and knew the wise old man was right. He should have never treated Becky that way and he regretted it. She was better off without him. He was not mate material. She would be better off without him. The repeated thought banged around in his brain, making him wonder who he was trying to convince.

  ******

  Becky, with Katrina at her side, followed Sid. No one said a word, but her mind was busy talking and it wouldn’t shut up. She was so mad, hurt, and, well, mad. Did Sloan think she was that hard up that she would come running up to him in front of everyone like a lost dog looking for a pat on the head and scraps of his affection? Did he think she was that desperate for him, or any man for that matter?

  “Hey, where you going?” Sid called out.

  Stopping, Becky realized she’d passed Sid and Katrina. They both stood next to a black van. Silently, she turned, headed back, and climbed into the back of the van. Once Sid and Katrina were buckled up, Sid glanced at her in the rearview mirror before starting the van.

  “Where to?” Sid asked before pulling out.

  Becky rattled off the address, then leaned back in the seat and closed her eyes, wishing… hell, wishing for what? That she had never met Sloan? That he’d never kissed her? That she found him disgusting like any sane person would find their boss? Seriously, what the hell was wrong with her that she wanted to bang her boss? That wasn’t normal, was it?

  “You seriously need to block,�
� Sid said from the front seat.

  “What?” Becky said absently, then her eyes widened. “What? Are you reading me?”

  “Kind of hard not to when your thoughts are so loud.” Sid frowned at her in the mirror. “Sloan’s an asshole, but a good guy.”

  Becky shrugged. “Stop reading me or whatever it is you vampires do. It’s rude. Or is rude just part of the vampire culture? Because there’s a lot of rudeness going on tonight,” she rambled. Sighing, she leaned her head back against the seat again, but not before she threw Sid a warning glare.

  After a few minutes of silence, the sound of Sid’s voice made her open her eyes. “What?”

  “Did you say the sedan had a dented driver-side door?” Sid asked, his tone not light and airy, but all business.

  “Yes, why?” Becky sat a little straighter, looking into the front where Sid and Katrina sat.

  Sid turned the van in the middle of the road but kept his slow speed. “Is that it?”

  Becky peered through the windows and then she spotted it. “That’s it!” Becky put her face closer to the window to watch the car pass.

  Sid was on the phone. “We got the car.”

  “Where are you going?” Becky watched as they passed the sedan. “That’s it. Stop!”

  Sid rattled off the address before hanging up. He then parked up the street facing the blue sedan. “Katrina, get in the back.”

  Katrina quickly relocated and sat next to Becky.

  “I’m going to check it out. I want you both to stay put.” Sid started to open his door, but turned to look at them. “I mean it. Stay put. If you see anything, text me, but do not get out of this van. No one can see you in here.”

  “But—” Becky frowned.

  “Stay in the van.” His growled order cut her off.

  Both Becky and Katrina remained in the back of the van unseen, but leaned far enough to watch Sid disappear into the darkness. Scanning the area, Becky realized that a lot of the buildings were vacant. She hoped to hell Sid found whoever owned that car, but she prayed the rest of the Warriors arrived before he did.

  “Look.” Katrina tugged on her sleeve.

  A man stepped out of a building across the street from the car and from where Sid had disappeared. “Dammit,” Becky hissed, looking around for Sid. “Text Sid.”

  “I don’t have my phone anymore,” Katrina whispered, sounding worried and a little nervous.

  Becky pulled out her phone, found Sid’s number, hit New Message and typed, MAN HEADING TO CAR, and then, BE CAREFUL! Before she could hit Send, the dreaded sound filled the car. Her phone had died.

  “Noooooo!” Becky stared at it as if willing it to come back to life. “Piece-of-shit battery-sucking phone!”

  “He’s getting in the car,” Katrina whispered, once again tugging at her.

  Staring out the window, Becky didn’t see Sid anywhere. He was probably searching inside the empty buildings on the side of the road the car was parked. Her eyes fell on the keys still in the ignition, then back to the guy. Her eyes went from the man, who was now in the car, to the keys. She couldn’t let him get away.

  “Put your seat belt on,” Becky said as she climbed into the front.

  “What are you doing?” Katrina asked, but did as she was told.

  Becky turned the key, and the engine purred to life. “Either saving the day or something very stupid.” She reached up to the gear shift and put it in drive. “We’ll find out in a minute. Hold on.”

  She inched her way forward, leaving the headlights off. As soon as the car’s headlights came on, she knew this was it—now or never. Slamming on the gas, she headed straight for the car’s driver-side door.

  “Hold on!” Becky screamed before ramming the blue sedan into the telephone pole, blocking the passenger doors. Even knowing she was going to make impact and because she had forgotten to put on her own seat belt, her head banged against the steering wheel. “Are you okay?”

  When Katrina didn’t answer, she looked in the back to see Katrina staring out the van window. Her gaze followed to see six men rushing toward them with guns drawn.

  “I’m thinking we didn’t save the day,” Katrina finally said, her eyes going to Becky.

  Surely Sid had heard the crash, but where in the hell was he? Looking around frantically, she did the only thing that might save their asses. She pressed her hand on the horn.

  Both Katrina and Becky screamed when the back window of the van shattered. Holy shit, they were shooting at them. Thoughts of Frankie flashed through her mind and she realized how much of an idiot she had been to take a chance like this. A little adventure was fine, but this had been a huge mistake. She wasn’t a Warrior and she definitely wasn’t a vampire. She could fucking die. Didn’t she just go through this a few hours ago with the explosion?

  “Get on the floor.” Katrina pushed her down while lowering herself.

  “Oh my God.” Becky panicked, her brain closing down as bullets ripped into the van. “My son! I can’t die. I’m so sorry.”

  Katrina grabbed her arm, jerking her. “You are not going to die.” She then tilted her head toward the top of the van and closed her eyes.

  A swooshing noise circled the van, everything became pitch-black, and the shooting stopped. Slowly, Becky lifted her head to peer out the window. Hundreds of bats swarmed the van. She could hear male screams in the distance.

  It seemed like forever that the bats flew around the van, protecting them. In the midst of the noise, they heard men shouting their names. Katrina once again closed her eyes and the bats as one flew into the air and disappeared. The driver-side door was pulled off; not opened, but torn off the hinges, and strong arms pulled Becky from her spot under the dashboard.

  “Son of a bitch.” Sloan’s voice sounded worried and on edge. “Are you hit?”

  She actually had to think about that one because she honestly didn’t know, but she didn’t think she was because she didn’t hurt anywhere. Or maybe she was just too numb with fear.

  Sloan’s hands were all over her, turning her as he looked her over. She saw Blaze helping Katrina out of the van and then she saw it, the van. It was riddled with bullet holes, the windows shot out. Her hand went to her mouth as she realized how close she had come to death for a second time.

  “Katrina?” Becky whispered toward Katrina, vomit stuck in her throat.

  “Is fine.” Sloan turned her toward him and searched her face, which was crumpling in the realization of what could have happened. “But are you?”

  Becky looked up at him, and everything hit at once. Her hands went to her face as sobs racked her body. She heard Sloan curse, which caused more uncontrollable sobs. She couldn’t stop. Her emotions and body were in control and they were a mess. When she was pulled into a hard body, she wrapped her arms around Sloan’s neck, climbing up his body until her legs were around his waist. Safe. She prayed as she sobbed that he wouldn’t reject her, and he didn’t. His strong arms enveloped her and she felt herself being carried away. To where, she didn’t care, as long as it was him taking her.

  Chapter 22

  Sloan carried her a short distance away so he could get her under control, get himself under control. When his team had pulled up and he’d seen the van surrounded by fucking bats—that were also attacking six men with guns—he totally lost it. Sloan never lost it, but he knew that she was in the van and his only thought was getting to her.

  When Sid had jumped from the roof and run toward the van, his face a mask of worry and rage, Sloan had laid his bike down and taken off. Becky and Katrina were alone in that van. Damon, Duncan, Jared, Adam, Jill, and Steve all surrounded the men being attacked as he, Sid, and Blaze headed toward the vehicle screaming Becky’s and Katrina’s names, hoping to be heard above the noise of the bats.

  Suddenly, as one, the bats slowed, then rose in the air and disappeared into the night. Once he saw the van riddled with bullet holes, he roared out her name. The first door he went to was the driver side, which he ri
pped from the van only to see her curled up on the floor under the dashboard. Never in his life had he been more frightened of anything than the thought of losing her; it was a moment in his long life that he would never forget, and for some unknown reason, a flash of memory of the old man standing next to the old woman’s bed slammed into him.

  Stopping far enough away from the scene, but close enough if he was needed, Sloan continued to hold Becky. Her sobs of terror were just hiccups and sniffs of fear, but her body shook against him.

  “You’re safe now,” he said into her hair, trying to keep any anger out of his voice. “Becky, you’re safe.” His neck was wet from her tears.

  Sid came running up, his expression worried. “Please tell me she’s okay?”

  “You are a lucky son of a bitch, Sinclair,” Sloan growled, rage burning deep inside him. “What in the fuck were you thinking, leaving them alone?”

  “No!” Becky pulled her head out of Sloan’s neck. “We were safe. He made sure of it. It’s my fault, not his.”

  Sloan made a noise in his throat at her words, but kept quiet. He would deal with Sid later.

  “Please, I’m sorry.” Becky tried to make it right. “We saw the guy heading toward the car. Katrina didn’t have her phone to warn Sid and mine died before I could send the message, so I made a stupid decision to help you.”

  Sloan agreed silently that it was a stupid decision, one that almost got her killed. She unwrapped her legs from around him and slid to the ground with his help. Wiping her eyes, then her nose, she looked up at Sid, then him.

  “I wanted to help and I knew that car had something to do with today, so I rammed the guy until Sid could get there.” Becky cleared the tears out of her throat. “I didn’t realize there would be more. I was just trying to help so you could find out who was behind the bombing today, so no one else would get hurt. And I didn’t want him to get the upper hand on you.”

  The anger left Sid’s face as he ran his hand through his hair. “What you did was brave, Becky,” Sid acknowledged, but then frowned. “But fucking stupid. You could have gotten killed, and on my watch. That is something that I can’t even imagine. No one, and I mean no one, gets killed on my watch.”