Duncan (The Protectors #3)(5)

“Dammit!” Jared rubbed his hand up and down his face.

“Dammit is right.” Pete frowned. “Ferguson is an * and will do anything to close a case. Rumor has it, he plans on running for mayor, so the more bad guys he puts away, the more votes go in his pocket.”

“So in other words, he’d make a deal with the devil.” Jared knew the type all too well.

“If he hasn’t already.” Pete opened the door and headed down the hall to another room where two men sat watching a monitor.

Jared and Damon both looked at the screen, seeing Nicole and Tessa seated at a small table that was attached to the wall. A tall balding man in a suit stood in the middle of the room, his hands clasped behind his back.

Damon noticed Nicole wincing. The man moved, and he saw why. Her hands were in front of her on her lap, handcuffed. “Those better not be silver handcuffs.”

One of the men sitting at the monitor snorted. “She’s a f*cking vampire, of course it’s silver.” His laugh died a quick death when he turned and met the black eyes of Damon DeMasters.

Jared stepped in front of Damon. “Well, since she is a vampire, as dumbass over there has pointed out, we have authority.” He nodded toward Pete and the door. “Lead the way, Pete.”

Damon growled, flashing his large fangs at the man who was visibly trembling in fear. His partner quickly pushed his own chair out of harm’s way, clearly stating his partner was on his own.

“Come on, bro.” Jared pushed Damon toward the door. “You can decapitate the * later. Let’s try to get the women out of trouble.”

Two doors down, Pete gave a one-knuckle knock before opening the door. The older officer headed toward Nicole and unlocked her handcuffs. Damon and Jared followed, filling the tiny room.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Detective Ferguson stepped in front of Pete before he could unlock Tessa’s handcuffs.

“The VC Warriors are here, so there is no need to handcuff these women.” Pete stood his ground with a half grin on a weathered face that had seen too much. “I’m sure they’ll protect you.”

“I wouldn’t bet on it,” Jared mumbled, his eyes leaving Tessa’s handcuffed hands to shoot a nasty glare at the detective.

“You have no right coming in here, Officer Rosen.” Detective Ferguson looked quickly away from Jared’s intense glare, putting his focus back on Officer Pete. “I could have your badge for this.”

“The Sargent is in his office.” Pete nodded toward the door. “Be my guest.”

With one last hard glare at everyone in the room, Detective Ferguson stormed out, slamming the door behind him.

“You have ten minutes tops before he’s back.” Pete headed toward the door.

“Thanks, my man.” Jared slapped him on the shoulder.

“Yeah, well, you owe me one.” Pete grinned closing the door behind him.

Once the four of them were alone, Jared turned toward Tessa and Nicole. “So who’s going to start?”

“Don’t need an audience.” Damon nodded up toward where the camera was hidden behind a fake smoke detector.

Walking over, Jared gave a hard glare into the smoke detector that held the camera before taking the face-front off. With a twist of a wire, the red recording light went dark. “Secure.” Jared turned back around.

Both women sat staring at the Warriors. “What?” Nicole broke the silent staring contest they were having.

“You know exactly what,” Damon growled, looming over his mate.

Nicole stood quickly. “Don’t you growl at me, Damon DeMasters,” she hissed standing toe-to-toe with him.

“What were you two doing in Pam’s apartment?” Jared glared at Tessa, giving Damon and Nicole some cooling off time.

“We were getting some clothes for-” Nicole answered, still having a stare down with her mate.

“Bullshit.” Jared didn’t let her finish.

“I will call Adam if I have to.” Damon pulled out his phone. Adam was Tessa’s brother who had been turned into a half-breed. He had the power to read people with just a touch, no matter how hard they tried to block him.

Nicole wrinkled her nose at him before plopping back down in her chair. “We were looking for a vial.”

“Why?” Damon’s tone hadn’t changed. He was pissed, and it showed in his voice, body language and scowl that slashed across his handsome face.

“I’m not sure,” Nicole replied then frowned when they both continued to glare at her. “I don’t know.”

Damon rubbed his hand down his face, clearly irritated. “Why didn’t you come to me with this? Duncan has been looking everywhere for her, and here you are talking to her.” Damon shook his head, disappointment radiating off him in waves.

Nicole looked away for a second, but her eyes quickly found his again. “She is my friend and asked me not to say anything.”

“Where is she?” Damon’s tone deepened, his eyes narrowed.

“I have this under control,” Nicole replied, standing her ground. “She’s fine.”

“I demand you tell me where she is.” Damon’s voice rose with each word.

“Okay, why don’t we just calm down.” Jared tried to smooth the situation over, but Nicole stood again, this time knocking her chair over.