Slade (The Protectors #6)(56)
“Could I have a minute with the Warriors, ladies?” Sloan asked, giving them a weak smile. “Thank you for your help.”
“Wait for me,” Jax warned Caroline as she stood. Nodding, she followed Lana out.
Jill started to go, but Slade stopped her, shook his head and leaned down. “He didn’t mean you.”
He chuckled when her eyes popped open and her mouth formed a complete circle. “Oh.” She rolled her eyes.
Once they were gone and the door shut, Jax picked the picture up again. “I want this son of a bitch caught.” Jax’s calm front disappeared as soon as Caroline left. “She could have been shot.”
“Have you ever seen that guy before?” Damon nodded toward the sketch.
“No.” Jax frowned. “I don’t even know anyone here except for you guys.”
“So no one you’ve pissed off here or maybe in the past that could have followed you. Someone with a score to settle?” This came from Slade.
Jax eyes snapped to Slade’s. “I’ve pissed off thousands of people, some on a daily basis.”
“Or this might not be personal,” Sloan added.
“You mean somebody might be gunning for the Warriors?” Adam finally spoke up, looking around the room. “Wouldn’t that be suicide?”
The room was silent, everyone deep in thought.
“I think it’s personal,” Jill spoke up, glancing up at Slade, then to Jax. “No one really knows you’re here, yet you were at a place that none of the Warriors go with Caroline, which means you were followed.”
“But we were all at the bar.” Jax motioned around at everyone.
“Yes, a public place even though it was closed.” Jill shrugged. “Maybe I’m wrong, but if it was a Warrior thing, and maybe it is, why did they follow you and not a Warrior from this area?”
“That actually makes sense.” Duncan stepped up. “We would have more enemies than Jax, so why wasn’t one of us followed.”
“Who have you pissed off since you’ve been here?” Jared frowned, looking at Jax, and then turned to wink at Jill. “Good thinking by the way.”
“Other than you guys, nobody.” Jax glanced down at the picture again.
“Didn’t you pay a visit to the Mayor’s office?” Slade’s gaze went to Jax.
Jax’s eyes went black. “That f*cking bitch!”
“I think the Mayor’s a dude,” Steve added.
“No, you dumbass. His whore,” Jax spat.
“Alice.” The name echoed in the room.
“Fuck!” Jax slammed his hand down on Sloan’s desk.
“I take it the meeting with the Mayor and Alice didn’t go well,” Sid snorted with an angry glint to his eyes.
“I thought it went really well,” Jax sneered. “Guess they didn’t think so. I walked in on her sucking his dick and didn’t back out of the room with a ‘sorry’. I also believe I called her a whore a few times.”
“Well, if Alice is involved, then we all need to watch our asses,” Sloan warned, and then looked toward Steve, Adam and Dillon. “Looks like you guys are on tomorrow night.”
“Yes!” Steve hissed, pumping his arm up and down. He then stopped. “What are we doing?”
“I don’t want anyone without back-up.” Sloan looked the room. “Dillon, I want you to stay here and keep an eye on things. I don’t think there will be a problem, but I’m not going to take any chances, and Lana will be here, also.”
“No problem,” Dillon nodded.
“Adam, I want you and Steve to follow Jill to the Club. Once she pulls in, you guys keep going and then head back here. We will all be in place by that time.”
“Done,” Adam replied, glancing at Jill then back to Sloan.
“Jax, I’m going to switch you and Duncan.” Sloan shook his head even before Slade could say a word. “You are not going into the club, Slade, so save your breath. Jax will be in the van with us. Damon and Duncan can handle the inside, while Sid and Jared are posted outside the club.”
Slade wanted to argue, but kept his mouth shut for now.
“Are you good with this, Jill?” Sloan asked, putting all his focus on her. “Are you ready?”
“Yes, sir.” Jill nodded, looking him directly in the eye. “I’ll do my best for you guys.”
“We know you will.” Sid stared down at her before sighing dramatically, glancing at Slade’s hand on her shoulder. “Okay, if no one else is going to say anything, then I guess I’ll whip my balls out and say it.”
“Jesus!” Sloan slammed back in his chair, closing his eyes as if praying for patience.
“I’m sure he’d be interested, too.” Sid glanced at Sloan before turning his attention back to Slade and Jill. “So, is this official now?” He pointed back and forth at Jill and Slade.
Slade rolled his eyes while squeezing Jill’s shoulder. Sid was such an *. “Yeah, you got a problem with it?”
“No, other than…” Sid held both hands up with his palms out, “pay up, bitches!”
Slade watched as everyone dug deep into their pockets. “You f*ckers bet on us?” Not that it really surprised him. Even when shit was going down, no matter how bad it got, the Warriors took it in stride, did their jobs and had fun in-between. So yeah, this was also very normal.