Duncan (The Protectors #3)(68)



Slade didn’t say a word; he just slammed the car in gear and took off. His jaw clenched, causing the muscle to bunch. Jill turned to look out the window, and then closed her eyes, wondering if she would make it by the time he got back. Catching her breath was becoming harder.

*****

Jill heard her name being called, but opening her eyes took way too much effort, so she just grunted.

“Jill, dammit.” Slade’s voice was becoming clearer. “Don’t you f*cking die on me.”

“Die?” Jill finally opened her eyes to see Slade standing over her, staring down at her. He looked blurry. She blinked repeatedly trying to bring him in focus. Panic seized her, quickly followed by fear; she tried to sit up. “What’s wrong with me? Why can’t I see?”

Slade held her down. “Stop before you rip out your stitches.”

“Stitches?” Jill blinked again, her vision finally clearing. “Did you knock me out and take the bullet out?”

“No, you crazy little….” He actually laughed cutting himself off. “You passed out in the car. You failed to tell me you were having a hard time breathing. Instead, you talked me into putting you to the side to help someone else. The bullet nicked your lung.”

“It did?” She still looked confused, her brain trying to catch up.

“Yes,” he hissed, staring down at her. “Why didn’t you tell me you couldn’t breathe?”

Jill felt so tired. She closed her eyes just wanting to go to sleep. “Because more people would be affected if something happens to Tessa,” she mumbled. “You need to help her. She has people who love her.”

Slade frowned at her words as he watched her fade. Knowing that she was going to be okay, tempered the building rage that had been forming since he had discovered her with a bullet hole. Touching her cheek, he told himself he was just making sure there wasn’t any temperature, but he knew that was a lie. The beautiful, brave little Warrior unconscious before him, had somehow weaved herself into his every thought.

“Dr. Buchanan.” A nurse walked up with papers. “I need someone to fill the paperwork out.”

“Has anyone called her family?” Slade asked, looking up from Jill’s pale face.

“Yes, we have.” The nurse looked down at Jill and frowned.

“Then they can fill them out when they get here.”

“They won’t be coming, doctor.” The nurse handed him the papers. “We can wait until she is able to do it herself if there isn’t anyone else.”

“Why won’t they be coming?” His eyes narrowed, realizing he really didn’t know anything about her at all.

The nurse hesitated for a second. “One of the nurses in the ER went to school with Jill’s sister. She gave me the contact information and…” The nurse looked down at Jill frowning. “They said they do not have a daughter by that name.”

“Are you sure you had the right number?” Slade felt his anger return, building, but he kept calm. Surely, parents would never disown their own child, especially someone as remarkable as Jill.

“Yes, sir.” The nurse nodded. “We were warned that we would probably get the response we got. It seems after she was turned, her parents and family disowned her. We had to try as they are her-”

“Thank you.” Slade had heard enough. He grabbed the paperwork taking a pen off the small table next to the hospital bed. The first line was her name. He didn’t even know her last f*cking name. Now he knew what her comment meant when she fell to sleep. He’d bet his last dollar none of the others knew her last name either.

“I’m sorry.” The nurse turned to leave.

“What is her last name?” It was more of a growl than a question.

“Her legal name is Jillian Robin Nichols.” The nurse watched him write it down before she turned, leaving him alone.

Slade wrote the name then looked over at her. “Jillian.” He smiled. She looked like a Jillian.

Chapter 27

Pam drove slow enough so that her shaking hands could control the steering wheel. As the men had made their plans - that didn’t include her - Pam had left the kitchen saying she had to go to the bathroom; instead, she had grabbed a set of keys on her way upstairs and jumped from the window. She knew Kenny better than any of them, and if he even thought the Warriors were close, he would kill Tessa with no hesitation and certainly no remorse.

Clicking her blinker on, she stared down a road she swore she would never step foot on again. She sat on Kellogg Ave., her blinker lighting up green in the dark car. No cars were coming, but still she sat. Turning her head, she looked at the street sign, River Row Road. Looking at her hand on the steering wheel, she spotted the ring, warmth and sadness spreading through her. Quickly, she pulled it off, shoving it deep in her pocket. No need to stir Kenny up more than necessary.

A horn blared behind her making her jump. “Shit! Okay!” she shouted. “Okay,” she repeated more calmly. God, she had to get a grip.

“Time to put your big girl panties on and end this.” Her voice was resolute as she spoke to herself in the darkness, and turned into the road. “One way or another, this ends tonight. Just please, God, let me see my baby and Duncan again.”

Pulling up to the house at the end of the road, she flipped off her lights and stared. This use to be one of her favorite places in the world to come, but that all changed. It was filled with nightmares that she’d rather forget. This was Kenny’s house of horrors, a place he used for his sickness.

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