Damon (The Protectors #1)(47)
“Well, that pretty much says it all.” Nicole moved quickly before he could see the pain she was trying so hard to hide. “Goodbye Damon.” The sound of the door snapping closed and the lock clicking, echoing through the room hit her hard. Slapping a hand over her mouth knowing Damon's keen hearing she rushed to her bedroom closing the door quickly before grabbing a pillow to cover her face. Never had she felt this type of devastation. Not once had her love being turned down felt this way. Curling up she laid down and cried into her pillow praying she was strong enough to survive the pain this time, truly terrified she wasn't.
Chapter 14
Pam flipped through the papers Nicole has finished. “Bored much?”
“You don't even know.” Nicole snorted. “There is only so much I can do around here. My apartment has never been this clean....ever. Please tell me you talked them into letting me come back.”
“Mitch is working on it.” Tossing the paperwork on her briefcase, Pam sat at the kitchen bar. “At least they are letting you do paperwork here.”
“Nothing has happened.” Nicole flipped her hands up in frustration. “Seriously Pam, I think this whole thing was a bunch of crap. I mean, I don't even need around the clock bodyguards anymore.”
“I believe that is because you refused their services so they could use their talents looking for the ones responsible for all of this so you could get back to your job.” Pam replied in one breath flipping her fingers up doing air quotations.
Rolling her eyes Nicole took a bite out of the sandwich Pam brought her. “Well, it’s true. The children are suffering, not me. The more warriors they have working on this the better.”
“And....there she is again....Mother Teresa in the flesh.” Plopping a chip into her mouth Pam grinned. “You never cease to amaze me.”
“Whatever Pam. You take your job as serious as I do.”
“They think Chad's missing.” Pam laid that bombshell out.
“What?” Nicole sputtered, water dribbling out the corner of her mouth.
“He never came in to pick up his last paycheck or clean out his desk. Mitch just thought he was pissed, but then the police came by saying the neighbor's had called because his mail was overflowing the mailbox and newspapers were all over his driveway. No one has seen him since the night at the hospital.” Pam twirled her phone around on the counter, deep in thought. “They think it's all connected. The attempts on your life, Mitch's and now Chad.”
“So that means I am still out of work.” Nicole grimaced at how shallow that sounded. She and Chad had issues, but that didn't mean she wanted to see anything terrible happen to him.
“It doesn't look promising.”
“That is so unfair. I mean all of you are taking a chance so what makes me so special?” Nicole hissed, slamming her hand on the table.
“Honestly.” Pam cocked an eyebrow. “We, as in all of us, are not sleeping with one of the highly acclaimed warriors.”
Totally taken back, Nicole was speechless for a minute. “Excuse me?”
“Oh, yeah.” Pam nodded. “I got the scoop from Mitch.”
“Spill it friend. What scoop?” Nicole knew for a fact she was not going to like this one bit.
“That Damon told Mitch if you weren't pulled off the job he would have the Council pull all the warriors out.” Pam shook her head. “I just found this out today when I talked to Mitch about you coming back to work.”
“That son of a bitch.” Nicole yelled, stomping around the kitchen looking for something to throw. Picking up a glass she threw it into the sink. She had never felt more betrayed in her life. He knew how much her job meant to her and to have it taken away because of him.
“Ahhh...Nicole you're bleeding.” Pam got up to get a wet paper towel.
Swiping her cheek with her shaking hand she saw the blood which ticked her off more because memories from a month ago when Damon had refused her blood came back slamming into her mind. “Where is he?”
“Who Mitch?” Pam handed her the towel.
“No, that no good, blood suckin vamp.” Nicole grabbed her purse heading for the door. “You coming?”
“Are you freakin kidding? I wouldn't miss this for the world.” Pam grabbed her stuff and hurried out the door.
Nicole, with Pam following closely, slammed into the warehouse looking around.
“What the hell happened to your face Callahan?” Mitch bellowed stomping her way.
Okay, that was definitely a case of deja vu taking her back a step. Out of the corner of her eye she could see Pam shaking her head at Mitch in warning. “Not now Mitch. I'll get to you later.”
Jared walked up to them at that moment. “Everything okay?” His eyes went to each of them before landing on Nicole.
“No, everything is not okay.” Nicole frowned. “Where is he?”
“Who?” Jared crossed his arms, his stance spread wide.
She went to go past him to find Damon herself, done with the games, but he blocked her path. “I'll tell him you're here and if he wants to see you then he will.” Jared glared down at her.
“Did you know?” Nicole felt her chin quiver and bit her lip hoping to stop it.
Jared just stared at her for a minute then nodded. She knew her mind was so wide open he could probably read what she had for lunch a week ago. “Yeah, I did know, we all agreed that it was the best for you.”