Adam (The Protectors #5)(2)
Adam didn’t flinch at Jared’s words; he expected it. He knew Jared still hadn’t forgiven him for what he did to Tessa. Hell, he hadn’t forgiven himself.
“Well, I honestly think he needs to have his ass kicked before we let him back in,” Sid suggested, his golden eyes flashing his eagerness to do just that; his grin slowly spread across his lips with evil intent. “Oh, wait a minute…Jill just did that, but then again, I think us Warriors need to give him a royal ass…”
“What’s your f*cking answer, Sid?” Sloan growled, his impatience growing thinner by the minute. “Yes or no?”
“No, I have no problem with it,” Sid answered with his usual smart-ass smirk.
“What about you, Slade?” Sloan, who looked like he wanted to kill something, ignored Sid’s never ending smug grin.
“No problem, but I do think he needs to learn his own strength when dealing with humans,” Slade replied. “He could have killed his sister.”
Jared growled at that, his fangs snapping.
Sloan nodded, and then looked to Jill and Steve, who were standing to the side, but paying close attention to the fate of their friend. “Steve, what do you think?”
Steve’s eyes widened as they shot from Adam to Sloan. “Me?” He pointed to himself.
“Is your f*cking name Steve?” Sloan growled. His clenched fist indicated he was trying to keep his control; though his darkening eyes warned everyone present he was about to let loose on someone’s ass.
“Ah, yeah,” Steve replied nervously, not used to having the attention of every Warrior on him. “I don’t see a problem. I mean, I don’t have a problem with him coming back.”
Sloan looked like he wanted to say more, but simply shook his head, looking away from Steve to Jill. “What about you, Jill? Do you have a problem with Adam being back in the program?”
Focused on Steve, along with everyone else, Jill pulled her gaze away when Sloan spoke her name. Glancing at Adam, who was staring at her intently, she frowned. “No,” she responded after a small hesitation. “No problem.”
“You sure about that?” Adam’s eyebrow cocked in question. He wanted no doubts from anyone, even Jill. If there was a problem with him coming back, he wanted to know now.
“Don’t push it, bud.” Jill pointed at him before crossing her arms as if daring him to push. “Just don’t ask me to go along with any more of your undercover missions.”
“Well, guess that decides it.” Sloan’s attention was back on Adam. “Don’t make me regret this.”
“I won’t, sir.” Adam nodded, and then looked each Warrior in the eye. “I won’t let any of you down again.”
“If he does, then can we kick his ass?” Sid uncrossed his arms. “I mean really. If I was him, I’d be getting my ass kicked all over this room.”
“You’re not him and you are about to get your ass kicked all over this room,” Sloan snarled. “Now get to work. I need active Warriors, and if they’re going to be ready for their initiation, they had better be prepared. I will not have my group look like a bunch of pussies. Got it?”
“Initiation?” Steve’s eyes popped open in confusion. “No one said anything about initiation. I just thought after the program, we were Warriors.”
The deep laughter that filled the room didn’t sound promising and had Adam, Steve and Jill wondering what the hell they had gotten themselves into.
Chapter 2
Lana let herself into her parents’ home with the key she never gave up. She was relieved to see neither of her parents’ cars in the driveway. She needed someone to talk to, someone who would understand, and her sister was the only one she could go to.
“Caroline?” Lana called out, tossing her bag and jacket onto the chair that sat in the entryway.
“In the kitchen,” Caroline called out, sounding stronger than she had days before. She had snapped back from her ordeal stronger than ever. She also seemed changed, but in a good way. “You’re just in time. I’ve made your favorite, fried peanut butter and banana sandwich.”
Hugging her sister, Lana glanced at the sandwich. “I’m not really hungry, but thanks.”
“You not wanting to eat?” Caroline slapped her hand on Lana’s forehead with a mock frown. “This can’t be.”
Rolling her eyes, Lana pushed her sister’s hand away before sitting on a stool at the kitchen counter. “I’m not sick.”
“Then you need to eat. I can tell you’ve lost weight and those circles under your eyes tell me you haven’t been sleeping.” Caroline placed a sandwich in front of Lana. “What’s going on, Lana?”
Lana poked at the sandwich deep in thought before looking up at her sister. “Do you feel them?”
Caroline nodded, looking over her sister’s head before their eyes met. “Yeah, I do. As soon as you walked in the door. Who are they?”
“I’m not exactly sure.” Lana rubbed her eyes with a long sigh. “But a few are very persistent with messages.”
“Then deliver the messages.” Caroline grabbed Lana’s hand.
“I can’t.” Lana’s tired eyes finally found her sister’s.
“Why not, Lana?” Caroline frowned, worry creasing her forehead. “It’s the only way they will leave you alone.”