Adam (The Protectors #5)(42)
“Whoa.” Adam stuck his head in her line of vision. “Angel, it’s me. You’re safe in my room.”
Angelina’s eyes cleared instantly, but the fear on her face took longer to disappear.
“Ah, shit, man. I’m so sorry, I didn’t know.” Steve back peddled out of the room. “I’ll just wait out here for you, Adam. I’m sorry, Angelina.” He quickly closed the door.
Letting out a long breath, Angelina shook her head. “I’m sorry.” She combed her long hair back from her face. “Guess I’m a little jumpy.”
Doing his best to look normal took a lot, because at that moment, he wanted to go to the holding cells and beat the shit out of the bastard who put this fear in her. “Hey, it’s okay.” Adam brushed a strand of hair still framing her face. “I’m going to beat the shit out of Steve as soon as I leave this room. Does that make you feel better?”
“No,” Angelina replied, and then laughed. “Maybe a little.”
Adam knew it was going to be up to him to take this fear away from her and he was more than up to the challenge. That bastard wouldn’t even be a memory. He heard the doorknob rattle. “If you open that door one more time, it will be the last door you ever open.” Adam’s tone was deep with warning, but his head never turned from Angelina.
“If we’re late, I won’t be opening anything anyway because Slade will kill us,” Steve replied from behind the closed door. “So it’s a no-win situation for me.”
Adam rolled his eyes making Angelina laugh. “Go on. I’m fine.” Angelina nodded. “I was in such a deep sleep; something I haven’t done in a long while and it just startled me.”
“Try to go back to sleep.” He stared at the dark circles under her eyes. “I’ll be back as soon as I can. It’s safe on this floor, but don’t go up or down the stairs. The kitchen is just down this hall on the right.”
“I’ll be fine.” Angelina stopped him. “Now go. I don’t want Steve to die.”
Adam laughed. “I wrote my number down. It’s on the table there.” Adam pointed. “Call if you need anything at all.”
“Thank you, Adam.” She leaned up, kissing him softly on the lips. “For everything.”
Not really knowing what to do, other than letting her set the pace, he kissed her back, being careful not to push. “I’ll see you in a little while.”
Grabbing a clean shirt, he tossed it on, opened the door and walked out. He knew if he looked back, he would crawl right back into bed with her, where he truly wanted to be.
Steve and Jill both stood just outside his door leaning against the wall with goofy-ass grins on their faces. Just as Jill was opening her mouth, Adam stabbed his finger at her, shutting her up. He then grabbed Steve by the back of the neck and led them away from his door. Once in the entryway, he pushed Steve away and stared at them both with narrowed eyes.
“I so told you so!” Jill’s eyes were shining with laughter. “Damn, I love it when I’m right.”
“And how many times am I going to hear that?” Adam frowned, but inside he smiled. Jill had been absolutely right, but he’d be damned if he let her have more gloating power over him.
“Oh, buddy.” She eyed him with her biggest grin, showing all teeth and fang. “For a loooong time.”
“Yeah, you’re screwed, my man.” Steve broke in. “When women get something right, they never let you forget it.”
“What in the hell do you know about women?” Jill snorted. “Women are always right.”
“Pfft.” Steve threw her a ‘bullshit’ glare.
Before Jill could respond and it turned into a battle of the sexes free-for-all, Adam stepped between them, pointing first at Jill and then Steve. “The next person who enters my room without knocking will get knocked out.” The warning was given with a serious tone. “I’m not kidding.”
“Okay. I’m sorry and I’ll apologize to Angelina; I didn’t mean to scare her, but I really didn’t know she was in there.” Steve nodded as they headed out of the compound to his car. They had about fifteen minutes before they had to be at the warehouse. “But hey, does that warning go for everybody? I mean, what if Damon or one of the other Warriors burst into your room? You gonna knock them out or is it just us?”
“Steve, does your brain ever stop thinking up stupid shit?” Adam asked, but then laughed, shaking his head.
“No, I guess it doesn’t.” Steve joined in with the laughter, but his laugh was cut short.
Adam turned to see what was going on. He got a small glance of someone tossing a bag or something over Steve’s head. Before he could register what was going on, someone was doing the same to him. He fought with everything he had, but there were hands all over him, pushing toward an unknown destination.
“Fighting is just going to make it worse.” The voice was deep and hard, unforgiving.
Hearing Jill cursing threats, Adam tried to calm down enough to assess their situation. There were cameras all over the compound so what the f*ck was going on? Where were the Warriors and why weren’t they saving their asses. Hearing what he figured was the sound of a van door opening, a new burst of energy hit Adam. If they got in that van, they were doomed. With one last effort, he swung his head back hitting nothing but air.