Adam (The Protectors #5)(46)
“Want to plaster me to the wall again?” he challenged.
“Definitely.” Jill’s response made every Warrior smile, but Slade.
“Are you two done?” Slade glared at them both. “Because I got shit to do and would like to get the hell out of here sometime today.”
Jill looked at Slade in surprise. “Hey, don’t glare at me. He asked and I answered.”
“I like you.” Jax nodded at her; his eyes assessed her critically. “You’ve got what it takes.”
Jill didn’t know what to say to that so she decided to keep her mouth shut, but deep inside she felt pleased by his words.
“Adam, we had special bindings to bind you with. It’s what we use for half-breeds since silver doesn’t work.” Jax’s attention was back on Adam. “That is impressive since we put it on Jared and he couldn’t break out of them.”
“But don’t get a big head,” Jared warned Adam. “I can still kick your ass. I was just having an off day.”
“You are going to be put into many different situations. This morning is just an example of what could happen. We wanted to see what we needed to work on right away and I think we know your powers need to be perfected to the point you don’t even have to think about using them.” Jax turned to look at each Warrior. “Does anyone have anything to add?”
When they all declined, Steve cleared his throat. “So what are we supposed to do if something like that really happens?” He nodded down toward Jill.
“Not sure I follow you.” Jax looked at Jill then back to Steve.
“You know.” Steve shifted uncomfortable. “What if that happens, and unless we give up information, someone threatens to rape her. I really don’t think I can stay quiet.”
“If you cave and give confidential information, then she becomes a liability and will be let go,” Jax responded without blinking an eye.
“What?” Jill’s head snapped back. “Why would I be let go if he can’t take it?” She pointed to Steve.
“Because there aren’t many women Warriors,” Jax answered without blinking.
“And that means nothing to me and is a pretty crappy answer.” Jill’s response was spoken with conviction. It was a crappy answer and she wasn’t afraid to say it. “So let me get this straight. Just because I don’t have something hanging between my legs and rape is threatened on me, but he can’t take it, I get let go because he might blab important information?”
“I’m sorry, Jill, but I don’t think I can handle that,” Steve replied, not meeting her glare.
“Well, Steve, I don’t care if you can handle it or not. Then that’s your problem, not mine.” Jill stood, knocking her chair back. “Rape is the last thing I want to happen to me, but I know it’s a possibility, just like it is if I walk down a city street. But because you can’t handle it, I’m the liability.”
“Were you going to sit here and let her get raped?” Steve asked Adam who had been quiet.
“She knows the risk, Steve,” Adam replied, his tone hard. “And she’s right. It’s not her fault and shouldn’t be kicked out because you can’t stomach what could happen. Instead, we need to make sure what happened tonight doesn’t happen to us again. We need to keep her and us out of this type of situation.”
“So your answer is yes. You would have let her get raped by a room full of men.” Steve looked at Adam in shocked disgust. “What if that was Angelina.”
Adam growled. “This is Jill, not Angelina. This is Jill who signed up for this. Angelina did not. This is Jill who has worked harder than either of us for this position, and I will not be the one to make her a liability. You understand me?” Adam turned, looking at Steve with a hardness that surprised Jill and obviously Steve who leaned back. “I would do everything in my power to stop it from happening, just like she would stop anything from happening to us if she can. She knows it’s a possibility and is willing to take the risks. You need to respect her wishes and shut the f*ck up.”
“Then can I refuse to work with him so he isn’t put into that situation with me?” Jill felt sick to her stomach. Every time she thought she had it all figured out, something was thrown in her path that could stop her from what she wanted most. This was more than important to her. This was all she had, and Steve, who she knew cared for her, was about to throw it away for her.
Jax shook his head. “It doesn’t work that way. Plus he probably isn’t going to be the only male who feels this way. Warriors are very protective and hold women in high regard.” Jax stared her down. “Unfortunately, every Warrior in this room would be hard-pressed not to tell everything in order to keep you safe, me included. As I said, we have not had much practice with this sort of situation because not many women become Warriors.”
Bile made it from her stomach to the back of her throat as she looked each Warrior in the eye and saw the truth. “So pretty much I’m not being considered seriously.”
“I didn’t say that,” Jax sighed. “I’m saying that this could be a problem in the future that will have to be dealt with.”
And she knew what that meant. Letting her go. Feeling dejected and foolish, Jill nodded her head. Part of her wanted to run for the door, but her stubborn part made her want to prove she belonged here even if she was dickless. Feeling pissed, she looked down at Steve. “Steve, I appreciate you wanting to protect me, but if the day comes, and it could, that some big hairy-ass man threatens to drill you if I don’t give information, I could stomach it and keep my mouth shut, because I know you’ve made a decision to take that risk. Though I would do everything in my power to make sure it didn’t happen.”