Slade (The Protectors #6)(14)

“Oh, that doesn’t matter now.” Nicole winked up at him. “Now that you are home, I’m not in the mood to watch a movie.”

Jill watched Nicole flirt with Damon in awe. It actually looked like it was working. His attention had turned fully to her. Damn, she was good. Tessa, Lana and Pam all stood, heading toward their men in hopes of turning their attention away. It seemed to work until Steve and Adam walked into the room.

“Gladiators!” Steve grinned with a nod. “That’s a kickass movie.”

“Steve!” Every woman except Jill yelled, making Steve jump.

“What?” He actually looked nervous under their angry glares.

“Gladiators?” Sid frowned at the frozen television screen, then turned to Lana. “Are you kidding me? What the hell are you watching that for?”

Jared grasped Tessa’s hand, taking the remote she still had in her death grip. Re-clicking the pause button, the movie began to play. A lot of grumbling came from the Warriors as they watched the gladiators in the arena.

“Look how he’s holding that sword,” Duncan snorted, shaking his head, his arms tight around Pam as she stood in front of him.

“Those guys would be pissing themselves if they ever found themselves in a real arena.” Jared’s voice was full of disgust, but his golden eyes stayed on the screen watching the scene unfold.

Jill glanced around at each Warrior who somehow had their hands on their mates. Even Adam had Angelina wrapped up in his embrace. She and Steve were the only ones without any physical contact. Steve wasn’t a bad guy, goofy, but not a bad guy. He was nice looking, in a ‘boy next door’ kind of way. Frowning, Jill wondered where in the hell those thoughts came from. Loneliness? Yeah, definitely loneliness because Steve was so not her type. It was pretty bad if she was even looking toward Steve as a…mate. Holy shit, she was losing it. She had to get the hell out of there before she grabbed Steve like the lonely loser she was.

Turning quickly, she took one step, running into a brick wall named Slade. Her face actually smashed against his chest. “Ouch!” Looking up at him, she lifted her hand to her nose. “Sorry, didn’t know you were there.”

“I know.” His deep gravelly voice did that thing to her where she felt hot all over, like a fire from the inside out heating her skin. His golden eyes searched hers before looking over her head then back to her with his eyebrow cocked. “Gladiators?”

“Hey, for once I’m innocent,” Jill grinned, hearing the Warriors moan and groan at the acting in the movie. “I just got here. They did this all on their own.”

“Got the popcorn!” Caroline walked into the room with a large bowl, then frowned. “Hey! You started the movie without me.”

“Not a huge loss.” Sid rolled his eyes at the television, and then grabbed toward the popcorn, but Caroline pulled it away.

“Go make your own,” Caroline growled at him. “This is for my girls.”

Jared grabbed from the other side of the bowl getting a handful. “Yeah, Sid, go make your own.”

Jill watched the play between the Warriors and the women, the loneliness seeping more deeply into her gut. Her eyes caught Jax who leaned against the wall, his eyes were on Caroline, doing the elevator routine, moving up and down her body, and by the look on his face, he really liked what he saw. Slowly, his eyes moved toward her as they narrowed and his lip turned up in a sneer. That look would scare most people and should scare the shit out of her, but she had just witnessed a more human side to Jax when he watched Caroline and was in awe. A small grin played on her lips, her eyes meeting his in a knowing stare.

Chapter 5

“Please tell me my Warriors are not watching what I think you’re watching,” Sloan’s voice boomed over the talk and loud television set. He walked closer and the closer he got, the more disbelief came over his face. “What in the f*ck is wrong with you?” His eyes glared at each of them.

“You want an individual list or will just one generalized…” When Sloan’s eyes shot to Sid, Sid nodded. “Shutting the f*ck up.”

“Shush!” Caroline turned toward the television with a frown.

“Did that woman just shush me?” Sloan’s eyes turned black.

“What’s up, boss?” Damon as well as the other Warriors blocked Sloan’s view of the television and the women.

Jill glanced over at the women, happy to see they were involved in the movie once again. Talk about balls… Caroline shushing Sloan demonstrated either a large set or just plain stupidity. After looking at each Warrior with his pissed-off glare, his eyes focused on her and she had a feeling things were about to get real.

“One of our informants contacted me last night.” Sloan glanced around to make sure the women were still occupied with the movie. “We may have just hit the jackpot on gaining valuable information from the Mayor’s right-hand man.”

“Let’s go.” Sid rubbed his hands together. “The quicker we stop the roundup of half-breeds, the quicker Duncan can relax.”

“I’m relaxed,” Duncan replied. “No one will touch her.” He looked toward Pam and the power of possessiveness in his stare let everyone know he meant exactly what he said. No one would touch Pam or their child.

“This is where it gets tricky.” Sloan’s eyes found Jill again. “This is going to fall on you, Jill. Are you up to it?”