Slade (The Protectors #6)(27)
“Then prove it and stay.” Jill’s eyes begged him, but her body language said she didn’t give a shit whether he stayed or went.
With a sigh, Slade picked up his boots and put them on. “I have to take care of some things.”
“Yeah, you do that, Warrior,” Jill called out as he left the room, trying to sound tough, but Slade heard every hurt she’d ever suffered in each word.
With each step, he moved faster. Seeing Sid standing at the end of the hallway with a nasty expression aimed his way, Slade found his outlet. Passing Lana, the Slade Train tackled Sid with force, sending them down a flight of steps.
Slade knew his control was gone, but he didn’t care. Sid was right to be concerned about Jill, but he also knew Sid could take his anger, and honestly, he was afraid not to unleash it. Jax was the first to get to Sid and Slade, passing Lana down the steps. Sloan met him, grabbing Sid as Jax grabbed Slade.
“What in the hell is going on now?” Sloan bellowed, pushing Sid back when he went toward Slade again. “Sid, I swear if you don’t calm the f*ck down I’m going to knock you out.”
Slade snapped out of Jax’s hold, swiping his hair out of his face. “Nothing is going on.” Slade glared at Sid, giving him a warning look. He knew if Jill’s name was brought up then it would be bad for her. Relief rushed over him when Sid caught on.
“Yeah, nothing.” Sid wiped the blood from his mouth, his gaze never leaving Slade. “Just a misunderstanding.”
Sloan looked at each of them. “This is it!” he demanded. “I don’t want any more of this shit happening between my Warriors. Is that understood?”
“Yeah, understood.” Slade nodded, turning to walk away.
“Got it,” Sid replied when Sloan looked at him with his ‘you better give the right answer’ look.
“Hold up, Buchanan,” Sloan yelled out, and then looked at Jax. “I got the paintball arena to agree to let you guys go in during business hours today. Be there by eleven this morning and make damn sure no citizen gets hurt or it’s your ass.”
Slade looked down at his watch and cursed. That was only two hours away. “Shit.”
“Is that a problem?” Sloan asked, his tone clearly indicating he didn’t give a shit if it was.
“Yeah, is that a problem?” Sid growled, being a total *.
“No problem.” Slade walked out of the room without turning around. If he had, he would have killed Sid, and no one would be able to stop him.
Chapter 9
Jill rode in the back of Adam’s car, her mood at a dangerous level. She was hurt, pissed and tired. Not a great combination for her at all. Someone had called a contractor and a new door was in the process of being put up in her room. Damn Sid, she could kill him, but then again, what happened with her and Slade afterwards may have happened anyway. Sid just gave Slade an excuse.
“What the hell is going on?” Adam slowed down.
Not having paid much attention, Jill looked out the window, anger churning her stomach to the point she felt nauseous. The building where they were holding half-breeds loomed ahead, the tall wrought iron fence making the place look more menacing. Cop cars with their blues flashing lined the street. People were outside the fence holding signs and screaming toward the building in protest.
“Sunglasses on!” Adam slipped his on as Steve and Jill followed. “Son of a bitch.”
Jill watched as everyday people stood outside the fence yelling for their loved ones. Police patrolled with a nervous hand on their guns. Adam stopped at a red light and all three of them stared, watching the chaos outside their car. Her eyes searched beyond the fence looking for the bitch, Alice, and the Mayor, but all she saw were guards or what she thought were guards looking alert.
The light turned green and Adam started to pull away. Jill’s eyes caught on an older lady falling to her knees in front of a police officer, her hands together as if she was begging for something. The cop just shook his head and walked away. The woman’s head dropped in defeat, her shoulders shaking.
“Somebody needs to get inside.” Jill looked away from the woman, back to the building. It was a large block building. She noticed something new…a sign had been added since they had been there last. Vomit thick and sour rose to the back of her throat as she read. ‘Eastern Halfway House’. “Halfway house? That’s not a halfway house, it’s a freaking prison where they do God knows what to half-breeds,” Jill spat, disgusted.
“Just keep those sunglasses on.” Adam pressed on the gas pedal and he took off, slowly, passing police who were looking into cars.
“You think they’ll catch on since it’s cloudy as hell and we all have sunglasses on?” Steve snorted, but his voice had a nervous edge.
Once they passed, each of them sighed in relief, but Jill turned, staring at the building as it faded from view. “Halfway house my ass,” she muttered.
The rest of the ride was silent until they pulled into the Battlefield Paintball Compound parking lot. Jill followed Adam and Steve out of the car, and looked around. She spotted the Warriors’ bikes, but Slade’s was missing. Relief washed over her as did irritation. Relief that she didn’t have to face him after their mind blowing sex and irritation that he was a * for not facing her.
“Uh, I don’t think we are going to be the only ones here.” Steve looked around as they headed through the parking lot. “I thought they’d shut it down for us.”