Duncan (The Protectors #3)(49)

Jeff looked around nervously at all the attention, his eyes landing on Slade then Jill. “I know.” He shifted nervously. “I had a lot of thinking to do.”

“Still man, you got to check in.” Adam frowned. “Duncan is going to chew you out big time on this one.”

“Yeah.” Jeff looked away clearing his throat. “I know.”

Adam tapped his shoulder hard. “What’s wrong with you?”

“Nothing’s wrong,” Jeff growled noticing everyone going their separate ways, his eyes watched Jill head off with Jared, Tessa and the * who made him look like a fool. “Where’s Duncan and Pam?”

“Why?” Adam asked with suspicion.

Jeff’s eyes darkened when they shot back to Adam. “Because I need to see if I can come back,” he spat out. “Why the hell else would I want to know where he was?”

“He and Pam are staying at his place.” Adam glanced at his phone. Angel had driven separately because she came straight from work. She was supposed let him know when she got home.

“Guess I’ll talk to him tomorrow.” Jeff glanced once more down the hall where Jill and the others disappeared.

Adam’s phone rang. “Yeah, make sure you do.” He walked away answering his phone. “Hey babe.”

Jeff glared at Adam’s back. He had always hated him; even in high school he had hated him. Pulling out his phone, he dialed, putting it to his ear, looking around. “Yeah, it’s me,” he whispered walking in the opposite direction of Adam.

*****

Tessa and the rest stopped at the door of Slade’s office as he unlocked it. She tensed when Jared put his hand on her shoulder. “Jared you don’t have to be here for this.”

“You don’t want me here?” Jared asked, his eyes darkening.

Not able to look into his eyes, she looked away. “No, not really.”

Jared stared at her, his eyes narrowed. He stopped her from following Jill and Slade through the doorway. “This has gone far enough.”

“I agree.” She shrugged her arm out of his hold.

He watched as she disappeared into the room, shutting him out. He knew this had to be about the way her ex, Sheriff Bowman had treated her, and it pissed him the hell off. Even dead, that * was causing problems with his relationship with Tessa, and to be put in the category of a cheater with the dead *, pissed him the f*ck off.

Knowing what he had to do, he turned and started down the hallway with determined steps. With any other woman, he would have said f*ck it, but not Tessa. Never with Tessa. He would fight the devil to keep her.

Tessa closed her eyes as soon as she heard Jared’s heavy footsteps fade down the hall. God she felt horrible. Her hand hurt, but her heart hurt more. She wondered suddenly if she was doing the right thing.

“You okay?” Jill whispered as Slade prepared to stitch Tessa’s fingers.

“No, not really.” Tessa walked over to sit in a chair, feeling weak and shaky.

Slade rolled a low stool over and started unwrapping her hand, but blood had dried some of the towel to her hand. “Jill, can you get me a large bowl of water?”

“Are you going to be his assistant?” Tessa watched as Jill did what he asked quickly and efficiently.

Jill set the water down in front of Tessa. “Sloan wants me to help out until I can start training again.” When Slade pulled out a shot with a long needle, Jill grimaced. “I really don’t think this is my thing.”

“Not big on needles, huh?” Slade tossed her a teasing grin.

“Not in the least.” Jill turned and busied herself with anything except watching that needle go into her skin.

“Okay, this is going to sting a little.” Slade swabbed her hand with cold alcohol.

“Don’t listen to him,” Jill said over her shoulder. “And if he says he’s going to count to three, he’s lying. It’s two.”

The first smile all night appeared on Tessa’s face. “Sounds like you have experience with his bedside manner.”

“Oh, yeah.” Jill frowned.

“Needles don’t bother me.” Tessa glanced up at Slade who waited. “Give it your best shot…pun intended.” Tessa welcomed the pain in her finger as the needle found its mark. At least it made her forgot about the pain deep in her soul.

“I’ll give it a few minutes to get good and numb, and then we’ll get these cuts cleaned and stitched up.” Slade stood to dispose of the needle.

Tessa nodded staring down at her hand. “Sounds good.”

“Where did Jared go?” Slade asked after a few minutes of waiting for the numbness to set in., sitting back down in front of her using a long Q-tip dipped in a dark liquid to clean her wounds. When she didn’t answer, he looked up at her. “Sorry. None of my business.”

Tessa didn’t even acknowledge she’d heard him. She just sat watching each stitch he made. Growing up and taking care of Adam, she had seen her fair share of blood and gore; it didn’t bother her. Never did. She probably would have made a great veterinarian, even a nurse. Instead, she worked in a rundown bar serving drinks. Shaking those thoughts away, she frowned, knowing feeling sorry for herself wasn’t going to do anything. She had gotten over Otis; she would get over Jared. Deep down, she knew without a doubt she was lying to herself.