Adam (The Protectors #5)(18)

Jill’s head turned slowly toward him, her eyes gleaming in anger. “One-Twenty-Two Fuck You Avenue…*.” And with that, she jumped out of the car, slammed the car door and headed back to the compound.

Chapter 7

Adam tapped his thumb against the steering wheel, his eyes staring unblinkingly at the two-story house. Silently cursing Jill for putting doubts in his head, he wished he had the strength to leave. But her doubts reflected his own, even though they had been buried deep where he pushed them. Jill, with her annoying habit of getting into his business, drew those doubts out. He didn’t need this shit. He had read Angelina. He knew what he had seen in her thoughts. So he couldn’t help but wonder why he was here sitting on a darkening street like a stalker. “Shit,” he hissed, knowing he was just wasting his time.

“What are you doing here?”

“Shit!” Adam yelled, jumping away from his window. His eyes found Lana leaning down and looking at him. “You scared the f*ck out of me! What are you doing here?”

“I was on my way home when a call came over the scanner. A jogger heard someone screaming from one of the houses. I was close and told them I’d take the call. I’m just waiting for back-up.” Lana eyed him for a second, and then looked down the street. “Seriously, what are you doing here, Adam? Do you know someone on this street?”

Adam had a bad feeling, a really bad feeling. Pushing open his door, he got out looking down at Lana. “Which house?” He started down the street, heading away from his car.

“Where are you going?” Lana caught up to him. “I’m waiting for back-up.”

“Is it that house?” Adam pointed to the house where he had last seen Angelina. When Lana didn’t respond but just stared at him, he knew that was the house. “Fuck back-up.”

“Dammit!” Lana ran after him, but by the time she reached the house, he was already banging on the door.

“What in the hell is going on?” She grabbed Adam’s arm before he could continue.

“Angelina is here.” He pulled his arm away. “In this house.”

Understanding lit her face. Lana stepped between the door and Adam. “Listen to me. You need to calm your ass down and let me do my job.” Lana lowered her voice, “If you interfere whatsoever, I will arrest you. If she is in there and in danger, I will take care of it.”

When Adam didn’t say a word, just glared over her head at the door, she cursed, grabbing her radio out of her back pocket. “I’m one second from calling in a distress,” she warned Adam. “If I do that, cops will be all over this place and your ass.”

That brought Adam’s eyes down to hers, but the intensity of his stare hadn’t diminished.

“You need to check yourself and do it now before that door opens.” Lana didn’t back down from his heated glare. “I’m not playing, Adam.”

Finally he nodded. “I’m your back-up and what you say goes.” His eyes shot up to the door when it opened. When Lana didn’t turn around right away and continued to warn him with her eyes, he turned her with a squeeze to her shoulders.

“Can I help you?” The man Adam wanted to put six-feet under asked. When their eyes met, surprise was evident on the man’s face; fear also shadowed the man’s eyes, something that Adam did not miss.

Lana pulled her badge, opening it for him to see. “I’m Officer Fitzpatrick.” Lana pulled her badge back. “We received a 911 call from a passerby reporting screaming coming from this residence.”

“There must be some mistake.” His smile was forced, his voice shaky.

“Do you mind if we come in Mr.—” Lana’s tone was flat.

“Waters.” His fake smile slipped as his eyes shifted nervously. “Robert Waters.”

“Mr. Waters, is there anyone else inside the residence?” Lana put her badge back into her front pocket.

“No, my wife…” His eyes shot to Adam, “went to the grocery store. I’m the only one here. That’s why I think there has been some kind of mistake.”

Adam knew the guy was lying. Something wasn’t right. Adam wondered if Lana was picking up on this *’s attempt to play it cool.

“Excuse me, but can I ask why you’re here?” Robert looked over Lana’s head to Adam.

“I’m her back-up.” Adam couldn’t help but smirk. He didn’t like the guy, plain and simple. He didn’t like him the first time he’d met him and he liked him less now, because he was going to have to go back and tell Jill she had been right.

“Mr. Waters.” Lana took a step toward the door. “I’m going to have to have you step aside and let us in.”

Adam watched him closely as the man’s face flushed, his jaw visibly tightening. He wasn’t a tall man, but he was very muscular. His hair was shaved in a military cut and he looked like he had a spray tan going on.

His attitude took a sudden turn. “I’m sorry. This isn’t a good time, Officer.”

“I’m not asking.” Lana put her foot against the door when he began to close it.

“You’ll have to come back with a warrant.” He tried again to shut the door more forcibly, but Adam leaned past Lana and put his hand on the door, stopping it from closing