Jared (The Protectors #2)(17)

“Do you have a death wish?” Jared frowned down at her. “They’re vampires and can rip your throat out in the blink of an eye.”

Tessa crinkled her nose, flipping her hair behind her shoulder. “I’m pretty scrappy.”

A blinding smile lit Jared’s face as intense heat blazed in his eyes. “Yeah, you are definitely….scrappy.”

Pulling her eyes from his, she looked at her brother. “Does he seriously need to….ah….feed…” Tessa made a gagging sound. “from the hoe-bags back there?”

“Where do you come up with your insults?” Jared chuckled. Damn he was really starting to like this spunky red head.

“I work in a bar.” She glanced back at Jared as if that explained everything. “So does he…you know…have to feed?” She asked as Adam walked up to them eyeing the women in the back, a goofy grin spreading across his lips.

“If you don’t want him turning into a mindless blood sucking killer….then, yeah, he does.” Jared chuckled as he looked at the other half-breeds who were looking at the women like the sex starved teenagers they were.

“They for us?” Adam asked his golden eyes turning slightly darker, his grin goofier.

“Oh my God.” Tessa spat out, rolling her eyes. “You want my advice?”

Adam frowned pulling his eyes from the women who were batting their eyelashes at him and the others to look at his sister. “Ah, hell no.” Adam shook his head.

Tessa ignored him giving him her sister knows best look. “Use a straw.”

“Use a what?” Adam eyes widened.

“A straw….because I wouldn’t advise putting your mouth on any of them.” Tessa glanced back at the women then back up at her brother. “Also if you get any ideas about….well you know….I’d protect….” She waved her hand around his lower area.

“Are you freakin kidding me?” Adam shuffled his feet looking away embarrassed.

“No I’m not.” Tessa snorted. “So don’t come cryin to me if it turns green and…and rots off.”

Opened mouthed, Jared and Adam watched Tessa march out the door. “She did not just go there.” Adam moaned, smacking his palm against his face.

“Yeah, she did.” Jared burst out laughing, slapping Adam on the back.

Adam looked back at the women. “Do you think they heard?”

Jared knew they had, but shook his head. “Nah, don’t sweat it. She’s just looking out for you.” Jared did his best to hold his laughter in. That was the funniest damn conversation he’d heard in a long time. Oh yeah, this was definitely getting interesting.

Chapter 7

Tessa walked to her car, heading straight at a pissed off Damon and wished she would have taken a wider path around the large vampire especially when he blocked her way.

“Thank you.” His deep voice rumbled in the dark parking lot.

“Ah, you’re welcome?” Tessa eyed him and noticed he looked more upset than pissed as she first thought. “For what?”

“For sticking up for Nicole. I know she appreciated it and didn’t get a chance to tell you.” He rumbled looking uncomfortable with the whole conservation.

“It was nothing.” Tessa shrugged her shoulder looking around. “Where is she?”

“I sent her home.” He replied, glancing over his shoulder as if Nicole may appear.

“Bet she isn’t too happy about that.” Tessa cringed in sympathy at his pained expression.

“You could say that. I don’t know why she’s angry with me.” Damon grunted glancing at his phone.

“Do you text?” Tessa took a few steps to her car and put her bag on the hood.

“What?” He actually followed her.

“What is it with you guys?” Tessa held out her hand for his phone. “Okay let me put it this way. Say a guy came up to Nicole saying things like that skank said to you.”

“I would kill him.” Damon growled his eyes glowing black actually making her take a step back.

“Exactly. And say she made you leave while that guy was still here. Hum? Bet you’d be pretty ticked off too now wouldn’t you?” Tessa grabbed his phone when he ignored her outstretched hand.

“She would be here with the dead body of the guy because I…..”

“Would kill him….yeah I know.” Tessa rolled her eyes. “But do you see what I’m saying?”

He nodded once. “Why do you need my phone?”

“Because I’m going to help you.” Tessa didn’t really have a shy bone in her body and had no problem taking control of situations such as this. “Okay, what do you usually text to Nicole?”

It was a sight to see a huge vampire warrior shrug in uncomfortable embarrassment.

“Never mind. I’ll wing it.” Tessa found a recent text from Nicole and hit reply. Her fingers flew as she texted a message. When she was finished she held it up to Damon for him to read. “Sound good?” When he nodded she hit send.

A few minutes later his phone pinged indicating a message. Tessa opened it not caring it wasn’t her phone. She had a service to provide. She did it at the bar all the time. “It says….. I’m sorry too babe. It’s not that I don’t trust you, but you know how I feel about her. Do what you need to do and hurry home. I'll be waiting nak…..” Tessa shoved the phone at Damon. “Whoa, think you need to finish that yourself.”