Jared (The Protectors #2)(58)

As if in a dream she brought the hair, still in the pony tail, in front of her in one hand and the scissors in the other. The first thought that flashed through her mind was Nicole and how pissed she was going to be when she saw her long hair gone before the wedding. A small smile tipped Pam’s lips, laughter escaped her trembling lips. Before she knew what was happening sobs racked her body so hard her legs gave out. Her knees hit the tile, but she didn’t feel the pain as her body folded into itself…..her pony tail still clasp tightly in her hand.

Chapter 24

Duncan and Jared walked into the warehouse stopping at the same time. “Do you smell that?” Jared frowned.

Pulling out his gun, Duncan nodded. “Check outside around the building. I got the inside.”

Duncan waited until Jared had left before letting his senses go. He felt nothing, but the smell of blood filled his senses. It wasn’t a lot, but it was there. Making his way slowly across the workout floor he headed toward the showers and the closer he got the tangy smell of blood grew stronger.

Opening the door to the showers, he quickly assessed and knew whoever had been there was gone. A familiar smell mingled with the blood making his muscles tighten with dread. The shower had been used and as he made his way toward it his boot hit the garbage can that usually sat against the wall. Picking it up he started dumping it in the sink. A low growl rumbled in his chest as he pulled out hair that was still wrapped in a rubber band. Next to the hair was a pair of pale pink panties smeared with blood. Holding Pam’s hair in one hand and her bloody panties in the other, his golden eyes flashed black as his head fell back and a roar of rage rattled every tile in the showers.

Jared burst into the room with Damon behind him in time to see Duncan winging the garbage can into the wall so hard it cracked the tile into a thousand pieces. His next target was the sink.

“Hey!” Jared went to grab Duncan’s arm, but stopped when Duncan turned on him, his eyes only seeing rage, not a friend.

Duncan lost all control, throwing Jared across the room where he slammed into the wall the garbage can had hit. Damon tackled Duncan, but ended up on the bottom doing his best to dodge the flurry of fists raining down on him.

“Duncan!” Jared rushed up pulling with everything he had, trying to break through the fury that had enveloped Duncan. An elbow slashed back hitting Jared in the face. “Son of a bitch!” Finally getting a grip on Duncan he pulled him off Damon pinning him to the wall.

“Get. The. Fuck. Off. Me.” Duncan was a man possessed. When he started fighting again, it took both Jared and Damon to hold him down.

Something kept slapping Jared in the face, but he couldn’t figure out what in the hell it was. Finally grabbing Duncan’s hand he pinned it against the wall he saw long raven black hair in his grasp. His eyes shot to Duncan’s and what he saw in his friend’s face would haunt him for a long time. Pale pink cloth caught his eye. A pair of women’s panties smeared with blood lay by Duncan’s leg. “Jesus.”

The fight slowly drained out of Duncan as he stared at Jared. “He hurt her.” Those words made him start struggling again. “The son of a bitch hurt her.” His roar, filled with so much rage and despair, filled the room.

********

Pam took a deep breath before rushing into the bridal shop. Flipping her hand to her hair she smoothed it down, blocked her mind and opened the door.

“Hey, bitches!” Pam went into Pam mode to hide her pain and fear. It wasn’t time to let everyone know what they needed to know. She needed a little more time. Her heart screamed for her to run to Nicole and beg for forgiveness, but her head reminded her that in order to put a monster away she had to be patient.

“I didn’t think you were coming.” Nicole frowned, staring at her hair.

“Just running late, but I’m here so let’s see these God awful bridesmaid dresses you picked out for us.” Pam winked at Tessa as she hugged Nicole then turned to hug Tessa.

“You cut your hair.” Nicole was still frowning.

“Ah, yeah.” Pam rolled her eyes. “I was getting tired of messing with it every day. Actually that’s why I’m late.”

“I like it.” Tessa broke the uncomfortable silence.

“It’s short.” Nicole walked around Pam looking. “And choppy.”

“It’s usually short after a haircut.” Pam sighed rolling her eyes. “I guess this is your way of saying it looks like shit.”

“No, I like it.” Nicole faced her again.

“But…” Pam raised her eyebrows waiting for her answer.

“I just know how much you loved your hair.” A small smile played on Nicole’s lips, but didn’t quite reach her eyes.

“Well I needed something different and working with the kids so much it just gets in the way.” Pam lied and was so relieved when the sales lady came out with the dresses. Her knees wobbled when Nicole and Tessa looked away from her.

Tessa had watched the little scene between Nicole and Pam unfold and knew Pam was lying. She also knew Nicole was not believing any of it.

“Who wants to go first?” She held up two beautiful black dresses.

“Black?” Pam grinned at Nicole, happy to have her mind on something other than the shit storm her life had become.

“Figured I couldn’t go wrong with black.” Nicole shrugged, smiling back. “Hurry up you guys. I can’t wait to see them on you.”