A Warrior Wedding (The Protectors #7)(29)

“Honey, I don’t know.” Jared frowned down at her. “Something went wrong and—”

“And what?” Jill’s voice filled with panic.

“And Slade is going to take care of her.” Steve walked over, wrapping his arm around Jill and answering for Jared who for once seemed to be at a loss for words.

Caroline and Lana shared a look as the door opened. Duncan walked out, his face ravaged with pain and despair as he carried Pam’s lifeless body in his arms. They were both covered in blood. He stared straight ahead, daring anyone to stop him. Nicole followed close behind him, her face streaked with tears. She stopped in front of Caroline. “He wants you and Lana.”

Putting her hand to her mouth, Caroline nodded as her eyes filled up with tears. She jerked when someone touched her arm.

“I told you to go in Sloan’s office.” Jax’s voice was low and deep.

Again Caroline nodded, which was all she could do, afraid if she opened her mouth, a scream of horror would escape. As she looked up at Jax, her tears escaped, rolling down her cheeks in waves. Jax cursed, taking her into his arms, holding her tightly.

******

Jill’s body quaked from heartbreak as she watched Duncan carrying Pam. She stumbled out of his way as he passed, his eyes straight ahead not once flicking toward her or anyone for that matter. She watched until he disappeared and then hurried toward Slade’s office. Not paying attention, she slipped on the blood-soaked floor, but Blaze, who had followed her, caught her before she hit the ground.

“Don’t turn him in until we know...” Sid stopped talking as soon as he spotted her.

“Turn him in?” Jill frowned, her eyes searching for answers to what was going on. The examination table, the floor, the walls, Sloan, Sid and Slade were all splattered with blood.

“Jill, you shouldn’t be here,” Slade replied, not looking at her. “Take her out,” he ordered Blaze, but Jill jerked her arm away.

“You can’t turn him in. Duncan turned her, didn’t he?” Jill wasn’t leaving until she was ready. No one said a word. No one would look at her. She walked straight up to Sloan. “You can’t turn him in.”

“He doesn’t have a choice.” Sid’s voice rose, truly indicating how upset he really was.

“Yes, he does.” Jill’s voice rose right back. “Don’t turn him in. It’s as easy as that.”

“You know nothing.” Sid growled as he walked past her and out the door.

Jill ignored Sid as he brushed past, but continued to stare at Sloan, who had finally looked at her. “Daniel needs him,” she pleaded. “No one has to know what happened. No one here will say anything, you know that.”

Sloan didn’t say anything. He walked past her and out the door, slamming it hard behind him. Jill turned to see Slade, his eyes vacant, as he stared at her.

“What happened?” She couldn’t decide if she should walk up to him or not. He seemed unapproachable and that scared her. Hell, everything at this point scared her and she didn’t like it. When he didn’t answer, she edged closer to him. “Slade?” she whispered.

His whispered name seemed to pull him out of wherever his mind had gone. With no warning whatsoever, he pulled her to him, holding her tightly. “I screwed up.” He held her tighter, almost breaking her in half. His voice was ragged with emotion. “I shouldn’t have...”

Not really knowing what happened, Jill didn’t know what to say. Pulling back to look up into his eyes, she saw defeat. That was the kicker. Any defeat in this man’s eyes was their downfall and it couldn’t happen.

“Look at me.” Jill grabbed his face, forcing his eyes to hers. “I love you.”

His eyes hardening at her words wasn’t the effect she was going for.

“I don’t know what happened here, but I know you tried your best.” Jill wouldn’t let him look away. “You can’t give up, Slade. I need you.”

She knew she was putting more pressure on him, but she didn’t know what else to say, what else to do. The glazed look in his eyes cleared and she knew it was working.

“I need you,” Jill repeated, placing a kiss on his firm lips. “I will always need you, but now more than ever.”

Slade’s eyes left hers, scanning his blood-covered office. “I warned them. I told them the risks.” His eyes came back to hers. “But in the end, it was me they were looking to for guidance. I was told the transfusions worked for some for a short period, but not others. She wasn’t strong enough and her body went into shock. Fuck! I should have known she was too weak.”

“But he changed her.” Jill fought for him. “That is what would have had to happen eventually, right?”

“It may have been too late. I promised my brother I would let him know when it was time and I failed. He may have been too late.” Slade cursed again, walking away from her. “I need to go check on her.”

She watched as he collected a few items, throwing them in a bag. He stopped at the door turning his head, but he didn’t look at her over his shoulder. “I love you.”

Before Jill could respond, he rushed out the door. Tears flowed down her cheeks. She wasn’t afraid for herself; she was afraid for him. If Pam didn’t make it, losing her would ruin Slade. Wiping her face, she looked around the office and knew what needed to be done. He didn’t need to come back to his office and see this as a reminder of what happened.