Adam (The Protectors #5)(20)
“I’m stronger than I look, in both body and mind,” Caroline replied, firmness in her voice. “I made a lot of mistakes in the past—where my gift is concerned— but believe me, I know what I’m doing.”
Slade simply stared at her for a few more seconds. “It’s against our nature to put a woman in harm’s way, especially when we can’t see the threat.” His frown slowly formed into a lopsided smile. “And I have no doubt you are strong in both body and mind.”
Caroline almost melted from her chair to the floor. If what Lana said was true and Jill held this Warrior’s heart, she was a very lucky girl. “It would be worse not to deliver the message,” Caroline informed him, trying to keep her tone even. “I’ll be fine, but he is getting more agitated.”
“Where is she?” Sid walked up, his face pinched in aggravation.
“Didn’t we have this conversation already?” Caroline sighed, not wanting to feel sorry for the big Warrior, but she did regardless; damn her soft heart.
Sid pinched the bridge of his nose with a sigh of his own. “Have you at least heard from her?”
“Yes,” Caroline’s reply was short.
“And?” Sid frowned down at her.
“And what?” Caroline glared at him, not backing down.
“Is she coming back?” Sid slid an uncomfortable glance at Slade.
“Why would she do that when you told her to leave?” Caroline snorted, shaking her head. Men. They just didn’t get it and never would.
“I meant the room, not the f*cking compound,” Sid growled, growing more frustrated.
“Don’t you growl at me, Sid Sinclair.” She stood, pointing her finger at him. Okay, she wasn’t feeling sorry for the ass anymore.
“I’m not growling.” Sid lowered his voice and curbed his tone. “I just don’t—”
“Have a clue.” Caroline finished his sentence. “You have a lot of kissing up to do; I’ll tell you that. Have you pissed my sister off yet?”
“Sid pisses everyone off.” Slade laughed and then walked away.
Sid glared at Slade’s back before turning his attention back to Caroline. “No, not really. I mean, I’m sure I’ve made her a little upset, but…” Sid frowned when Caroline continued to stare at him with a disbelieving stare. “Okay, I’ve pissed her off more than once, but Sid knows how to make up.” He wagged his eyebrows at her.
Caroline rolled her eyes with a snort. “Well, this time, you really pissed her off and I’ve seen my sister pissed, but she is really pissed. So you better be ready to step up your game.”
“Where is she, Caroline?” Sid’s tone indicated he was done with the game. “As soon as we are done here, I’m going to her. I didn’t mean to react like I did, but this has taken us all by surprise and it’s something no one should know about. We don’t even talk about it; we have taken an oath.”
After a few minutes of staring, Caroline clicked her phone open to double check the message she had gotten from Lana. “She just texted me a little while ago. She’s responding to a 911 call and then going home.”
Sid was instantly alert. “A 911 call?”
“Ah, yes.” Caroline put her hand on her hip, her tone irritated. “She is a cop. It’s what she does.”
“Tell her to answer my texts,” Sid ordered, but instead of it being an arrogant order, it was a concerned plea and she knew it by the look in his eyes, which were shadowed with worry. These men were proud Warriors, who were not used to asking for anything. Caroline knew without a doubt Sid cared for her sister. If she didn’t believe that, she would have left with her sister. These men cared for many and she would do anything in her power to help them.
“She won’t even answer me now, Sid.” Caroline glanced behind her when the door opened. “She turns her sound off on her phone when she’s on the job. She only has her police radio active.”
“Fuck!” Sid ran his hand through his hair. “Let me know as soon as you hear from her.”
Caroline nodded, but her attention turned to Sloan who was talking to Slade. She could tell by the look on his face he was angry about something. He really was a handsome man, a little older than the rest. Just his presence alone held an air of authority. Not only did she feel it, but also she noticed how the Warriors reacted to him. Where they were on edge before he had arrived, now they seemed to be alert, as if awaiting orders. When his eyes lifted to meet hers, her stomach clinched as a flush from her neck to her face heated her skin. His golden eyes seemed to see straight through her, but just as quickly, he dismissed her.
“What the hell is going on?” Sloan demanded, walking away from Slade, and then slamming a newspaper on his desk. His golden eyes took in each Warrior. “I’m gone for a few hours and my phone starts going crazy, but no one tells me what the hell is going on, except to get here ASAP.”
Duncan glanced her way quickly and then back at Sloan. “We seem to have a problem.”
“Well, the fifty texts I got from all of you clearly makes that obvious,” Sloan replied and waited. “Though I’m still in the dark as to what the f*cking problem is.”
Caroline cleared her throat and walked from the back of the room, squeezed past Damon and Jared to stand in front of Sloan. “I have a message for you. For all of you.”