Duncan (The Protectors #3)(3)

The three Warriors laughed and snorted at Sid’s expense. “What the hell are you laughing at?” Sid punched Jared in the shoulder. “You owe me two hundred dollars. Duncan had his ass.”

“Bullshit.” Jared followed Sid out. “Damon was all over him.”

“Pay up, bitch,” Sid snarled.

“Not happening,” Jared laughed. “Come on. I think there’s a Martha Stewart marathon on today.”

“Fuck you.” Sid slammed out of the room with Jared’s loud laughter following him.

Duncan cursed as he picked himself off the ground once they were alone. Reaching down, he held his hand out to Damon, helping him to his feet. “I love her, brother.” Duncan’s eyes didn’t waver.

“I know you do.” Damon gave him a nod. “I just wanted to make sure we were both on the same page. Just don’t let her go this time.”

“I made a lot of mistakes where Pam was concerned.” Duncan admitted, taking responsibility for his inactions. “Mistakes I won’t be making again. She is mine.”

Damon nodded, understanding completely. “We’ll find her, brother.” He grabbed Duncan’s shoulder in comfort. “We are going to find her.”

Chapter 2

Jared found Tessa and Nicole in the kitchen, their heads together, which meant impending trouble for him and Damon.

Walking up to Tessa, Jared grabbed her from behind, kissing her soft cheek. “What trouble are you two brewing up?” He frowned when they both jumped, looking guilty. Glancing closely at them both, he cocked an eyebrow. “Seriously, what trouble are you two getting into now?”

“Nothing.” Nicole cocked an eyebrow back at him. “Are you boys done beating the crap out of each other?”

Jared eyed them a second longer before pulling Tessa against him tighter, wrapping his thick arms around her waist. “You need to get used to that, Nicole. We Warriors get a little…” he grinned as he searched for a word, “heated sometimes, but it’s always good in the end.”

Rolling her eyes, Nicole started out of the room. “Heated, my butt,” she snorted, glancing at Tessa. “I’ll see you in half an hour.”

Tessa nodded as Jared turned her in his arms. “What’s going on in half an hour?” Jared tilted her chin up when she continued to watch Nicole walk out of the room.

Hesitating for a second before answering, Tessa tiptoed to kiss his chin, avoiding any eye-contact. “Just girl stuff.”

“What kind of girl stuff?” Jared wasn’t falling for it. He knew Tessa well and knew when she was lying.

Grasping the back of his head, she moved to his mouth. Jared let her have her moment, because in all honesty, he loved her mouth on his and anywhere else her mouth found on his body. He never knew he could love so deeply, but damn, this woman had him wrapped around her little finger. Before long, his body had hers pressed against the wall, his hand working eagerly up under her shirt.

“My God, would you two give it a break!” Sid groaned as he walked in. “I can’t walk anywhere in this damn place without you two slobbering over each other. It’s downright disgusting.”

Pulling his hand out of her shirt, Jared snarled, “Get out of here, Sid.”

“No, you get the hell out of here,” Sid snarled back. “This is my domain, and from here on out, anything but eating in this kitchen is against kitchen law.”

“Kitchen law?” Jared tilted Tessa’s chin for one more kiss before turning to face Sid.

“Yeah, Sid’s Kitchen Law will be posted by the end of the damn day. Now, get the hell out of my kitchen and find a private room.” Sid slammed a few pots around. “But before you do that, Duncan wants to see you. He wants you to take his classes tonight.”

“Shit.” Jared frowned. “We had plans.”

“It’s okay.” Tessa fixed her clothing, her cheeks flushed from Jared’s heated kiss and embarrassment at being caught once again by Sid. “We can do dinner and a movie another night. I’m going to check on Gramps. I’ll talk to you later tonight.” She touched his cheek before hurrying out of the room.

Sid and Jared both watched her closely as she left. “She didn’t seem too broken-hearted,” Sid snorted.

Jared frowned. “I found her and Nicole in here with their heads together, which usually means trouble.”

“You poor bastards,” Sid chuckled, adding oil to a skillet.

“Sid.” Jared glared. “Shut the f*ck up.”

“Just sayin’.” Sid grinned, chopping onions. “Women are nothing but trouble.” His comment was made to an empty room since Jared had already slammed out the door.

*****

Nicole pulled into Pam’s old apartment building, parking in the back. Clicking off the lights, she shut off the car with a long sigh. “You ready?”

Tessa flipped the hood of her black hoodie up. “Lead the way.”

Glancing around as they made their way across the parking lot, Nicole walked to the sliding glass door knowing it would be locked, but tried it anyway. Next, she tried a window, and sure enough, it opened, as Pam said it would.

“Hope my ass fits through that,” Tessa whispered, eyeing the window.

“You and your ass will fit.” Nicole laced her fingers together. “Come on, before someone sees us.”