Adam (The Protectors #5)(28)

Biting her lip, Anne nodded her head, holding her stomach. “And my head feels real foggy, like I’m in a dream.”

“This is going to last for a couple of days.” Jill touched her arm in comfort. “I know exactly what you’re going through, and I promise you, after it’s over, you are going to feel like a million bucks.”

“Really?” The young woman’s face brightened, but then saddened. “I’ve got a six-year-old son. Am I going to be able to go near him again?”

Feeling a presence at her back, she knew by the woman’s fearful expression, Slade had walked up to listen to their conversation. “Of course you are going to be able to go near your son.” Jill prayed she was telling this woman the right thing, but if it were her, nothing would keep her away from her child.

“You may have to wait for a few weeks until you get your hunger under control.” Slade’s voice cut into the conversation. “But, yes, you will be with your son again.”

“So I’m really going to have to drink blood?” Anne’s face cringed the words. “I really don’t think I’m going to be able to do that.”

Jill smiled. “I thought the same.” That was until she latched her lips on a sexy Warrior, but she decided to keep that tidbit of info to herself. “Totally gross, right? But it’s like eating or drinking something you don’t like. You have to do it so you get used to it because your body is going to crave it. And if you don’t drink when you need to, then you become a danger to those around you.”

“I don’t think I’m going to be able to do this.” The woman cried silent tears. “My husband isn’t going to want me near him or Brandon.”

“Has anyone contacted your husband yet?” Jill asked, still kneeling in front of Anne and Angelina. When she nodded, Jill stood and walked toward a window that was covered with paper. Ripping a small portion away, she peered out the window and spotted what she was looking for. “Is your son a cute little redhead?” She watched the man holding the child, both staring up at the house.

“Yes,” the woman cried as she tried to get up. Slade helped her up and half-carried her to the window. Peering out, the woman put her hand against the window and cried.

“I don’t think you have to worry about them not wanting you, because to me, that sure looks like two handsome men waiting for their loved one.” Jill took the woman in her arms and hugged her. “As soon as we finish, I will take you down to them so you can see them, but I think you are going to have to wait to be near them for just a little while longer.”

The woman squeezed Jill tightly. “Thank you.”

Jill held on, and then whispered to the woman, “If I could do it, you can. You have something to fight for down there.” She pulled slightly away from the woman. “You hear me, Anne? You fight for that down there. Family is everything.”

Slade helped the woman sit back down. Jill pulled him away. “I don’t know if her husband knows what is going on, but please go down there and warn him,” Jill whispered her plea. “Because if he denies her in front of me, I may kill him.”

Nodding, Slade smiled down at her. “I had planned on it.” He turned to leave, but stopped. “You are something else, Jillian.”

For a moment, she was speechless, but then snorted. “That’s what they say. And no one calls me Jillian unless I’m in trouble.”

“I’ll remember that.” He winked, then turned and left.

She wanted to throw something at the back of his damn head. He was hot one minute, then cold and then hot again. Damn it, he was going to cause her to lose her mind changing back and forth like that. Rolling her eyes, she turned back to the women, glancing over to see Steve talking to another woman who had been turned. Only Anne, Angelina and the other woman Steve was talking to were left.

Angelina was staring at her, sadness fresh in her eyes. “So are you really married to that man?” Jill asked, not being able to hold it in any longer.

“No, I’m not,” Angelina replied, a hint of anger edging her voice.

“Yeah, I didn’t think so.” Jill nodded. Taking the paper and pen, she started asking questions they had been taught to ask during investigations. Even though her dyslexia hampered her spelling, she had a system that she understood. Later that night, she would take her time to write it out legibly for anyone else to read it. So far, it had been working for her.

“Have you caught all the men?” Anne’s voice was weak with fatigue, fear still evident in her face.

“Three that I know of,” Jill replied, looking between the two women. “How many were there?”

“We believe five.” Angelina glanced at Anne. “That’s all I’ve seen, but I’ve heard different voices so I don’t know.”

“I need to tell you something,” Anne whispered, looking around nervously. “But they said if I told anyone they would kill my family. Only the ones turned know.”

Anger, hot and strong hit Jill, but she curbed it. “Know what, Anne?” Jill scooted closer, hoping to put the woman at ease; any information could only help them. When the woman still looked around in fear, Jill put herself in her line of vision. “Anne, the Warriors will not let anything happen to you. You’re safe.”

Anne’s head snapped to Jill, searching her eyes for the truth. She looked up at the ceiling seeming to have found what she was looking for. Slowly, Jill’s eyes followed suit. “What’s up there Anne?”