Jared (The Protectors #2)(41)

“What did you take from them?” He raised his eyebrows at her waiting for an answer.

At first she was confused, but then her eyes widened when it dawned on her. “I was going to give it to…..”

“Bullshit!” He backed up, rubbing his hand down his face. “We are going right now to get it. Do you understand?”

“Yeah, I understand.” Her voice raised a little, her attitude starting to match his. It wasn’t like she actually hid it from him. Well at first she did, but then things just got crazy and well, she might as well save her breath because he wasn’t going to believe her.

“I really don’t think you do understand.” Jared turned and started walking away expecting her to follow. “We could have possibly helped your brother and the others sooner if we would have had that vial of stuff they are shooting them up with. You had no right to keep that from me….from us.”

“I’m sorry I shouldn’t have….” Tessa started to apologize, but he cut her off.

“Damn right you shouldn’t have.” He didn’t even turn back around, just kept on walking.

She kept quiet after that. It didn’t matter what she said at this point. He wasn’t going to believe her in the foul mood he was in and she was trying to keep up with his pace without falling down, but she was slipping more behind his fast pace. The ordeal of the night was starting to catch up with her and she was freezing. Crossing her arms, she rubbed her hands up and down trying to take the chill out of her bones. Her dozen of scratches were burning and her bare feet were on fire. The adrenaline was wearing off and the pain was setting in.

Jared stomped through the woods more pissed than he’d been in a long time. After finding Tessa in one piece his worry became anger in the blink of an eye. Why her trusting him meant so much to him he didn’t know, but it did. Glancing back to make sure she was still behind him he stopped. She stumbled, but righted herself. Pain flashed in her eyes as they made contact with his, but she looked quickly away trying to hurry her steps. Looking down at her feet he saw she wore no shoes.

“Where in the hell are your shoes?” His hissed question echoed through the trees.

Shooting him a dirty look Tessa continued toward him. “Probably at the bottom of the Ferris Wheel. I threw them trying to slow them down when they were climbing toward us. Obviously that was as effective as the log.”

Grabbing her arm as she went to pass him he frowned. “You’re bleeding.” He pulled her arm away from her body looking at the scratches.

“Really? You don’t say.” Sarcasm dripped off that one word. Pulling away roughly she hobbled past him. “Just get me home Jared. I’ll give you the vial and then you can be on your way.”

This time when he grabbed her he swooped her up only to set her right back down on a fallen tree. When she started to move he grabbed her thighs holding her still. “Stop!” Jared’s tone was more concerned than angry.

Trying to peel his hands off her thighs she kicked out almost hitting the sweet spot between his legs. “I’m fine. I just want to go home.” Her teeth chattered, clearly indicating that she was far from fine.

Cursing under his breath Jared ripped his shirt off and pulled it over her head. Grabbing her foot again he started to peel the sock off, but her hiss of pain stopped him. Blood wept through the cotton. Some of the sock was embedded in a few of the cuts. “Why didn’t you tell me dammit?”

“When….between accusing me of things or yelling at me?” Tessa snorted keeping her arms inside his shirt trying to shake the chill off. Jared stood scooping her up. “Put me down. I can walk.”

“Shut up Red.” His words were spoken with affection more than anger as he carried her out of the woods into the clearing.

“You shut up….” She whispered, feeling exhausted and not in the mood to fight anymore.

Jared grinned over her head. It was almost impossible to stay mad at her. No other woman ever stood up to him like this woman and he liked it…a lot.

Chapter 18

Adam started to go to his grandfather, but Sid stopped him.

“We need to get these people off the Ferris Wheel.” Sid headed that way. “They can’t get it started.”

“We’re good.” Jill, who stood guard with his grandfather, called out giving Adam a thumbs up.

Following Sid up the rails Adam started taking people who were stuck down. The older ones he took down easy, while the younger ones he gave them a thrill and jumped either holding them or with them clinging to his back.

Adam headed back up to the last basket toward the top. Climbing to the rail next to the basket he stopped cold. Sitting in the basket was his Angel with some *.

“Angelina.” Adam nodded, his eyes never leaving hers, not trusting himself to look over at the guy sitting next to her.

“Can you get us down?” Her voice shook as did her hand when she raised it to brush her blowing hair from pale face.

“It’s about f*cking time.” The guy sitting next to his Angel whined. “We’ve been stuck up here for a damn hour.”

Adam’s gaze pulled away from her to the guy sitting too close to who he considered was his girl. “Watch your mouth.” Adam growled.

The guy snorted looking over at Angelina. “You know this freak?”