Slade (The Protectors #6)(51)

“You done?” Sloan looked up at Sid, his eyes narrowed.

“Yes.” Sid thought for a moment and nodded. “Yes, I am.”

Slade grabbed the picture out of Sloan’s hand, and then passed it around. “What if he doesn’t show?”

“Then we go back until he does,” Sloan responded. “Me, Slade and Duncan will be in the surveillance van.”

“Why am I in the van?” Slade’s head snapped up.

“Because I said so,” Sloan replied with his ‘no budging on this’ tone. “Jax and Damon will be inside, so you two make sure you have your suits. This is a high-class club. Sid and Jared will be stationed outside the building, ready for assistance if needed.”

“What about us?” Steve frowned, looking around. “What do we do?”

“Take the night off.” Sloan didn’t even look Steve’s way. Reaching in his desk drawer, he pulled out a box. “Jill, you will wear this at all times. It has a small camera and microphone. We will be able to see what you see and hear what you hear.”

Jill took the box and opened it, pulling out a beautiful studded choker with a pendent. “Okay.” Jill nodded, putting the choker back in the box, then lifted something else out. “What’s this?”

“It will go with the outfit the women picked out for you, and that is your earpiece so we can tell you what to do. It’s small enough that it won’t be detected by anyone, no matter how close they get.” Sloan looked up at her. “You won’t be alone in this, Jill.”

“I know.” Jill smiled, putting on a brave front.

Slade watched Jill and knew she was nervous, even as hard as she was trying to hide it. His protective instincts kicked in and he wanted to assure her she would be fine. He wouldn’t let anything happen to her, but that was going to be damn hard when he was in the f*cking van. Yeah, he and Sloan would have a talk about that after everyone left.

“Any questions?” Sloan looked around, then frowned. “Where the hell is Jax?”

“He had car trouble,” Sid answered with no more information. “We’ll fill him in,” he told Slade.

“I have a question.” Jill’s voice shook. “How am I supposed to get there? I don’t test for my license until Monday.”

“Shit.” Sloan frowned, tossing down his pen.

“I can take her.” Dillon stepped up.

“No, she can drive. Jax said she did fine, and as long as she’s careful, there will be no problems,” Slade answered, glaring at Dillon.

“Yeah, but—” Dillon started again.

“And I said no, she can drive.” Slade’s eyes darkened. “You have a f*cking hearing problem?”

“No,” Dillon snapped back, glaring at Slade. “I’m just trying to help.”

“Yeah, well don’t,” Slade warned. When Dillon started to open his mouth again, Slade took a step forward, his eyes deadly. “I said…don’t.” The deepening of Slade’s voice warned everyone in the room that shit was about to get real.

Sloan’s head was going back and forth between Slade and Dillon. “They seriously don’t pay me enough for this shit,” he sighed. “Next on the agenda is initiation. Wednesday is the start of your initiation. We will have a short meeting beforehand, which no one better be late for or I’m going to beat the hell out of you, so be on f*cking time. I hope to hell you guys are ready for this.”

Steve, Adam, Jill and Dillon all voiced their readiness and each looked nervous as hell.

Sloan stood looking at Jill. “Have you fed?”

“Not in a while,” Jill answered honestly.

“You need to feed so make sure you do that before tomorrow night,” Sloan warned her. “I suggest you all feed before initiation.”

“Are there any donors…?” Jill looked embarrassed. “I still don’t have a donor.”

“I thought I told you to take care of that?” Sloan frowned down at her.

“You can feed from me,” Dillon replied with the innocence of a total idiot.

“Oh, hey…” Sid and Jared both stepped up next to Slade. Sid actually hooked his arm on Slade’s shoulder until Slade shrugged it off. “You’re on your own, kid.” Sid gave Dillon a sad look.

“No, she can’t f*cking feed from you.” Slade’s eyes flashed black with a darkening red rim. “Neither can she have pizza with you, and you sure as hell cannot drive her anywhere.”

“What is wrong with you?” Jill frowned at Slade, then glanced at Sloan who was watching the scene closely.

Slade couldn’t help it; his control snapped and f*ck it. He was done hiding his feelings and was ready to let any male within ten miles know that Jill was his before he killed someone.

“Everyone out!” Sloan yelled, and then leaned against his desk with his arms folded. “Except you three.” He indicated toward Slade, Jill and Dillon.

Once everyone was gone, Dillon spread his arms wide. “What did I do?”

“First off, I spent ten minutes sitting next to you in the bar listening to your remarks about Jill as she danced,” Slade growled, trying to get a grip on his raging anger. “And they are things I will not repeat.”