Slade (The Protectors #6)(57)

“Oh, yeah, did they ever. But I tried to tell them…shit, who am I kidding.” Sid snorted with a grin. “I bet these losers that you’d be an item before Jill got her Warrior status. And well, as you see, they decided to bet against the king of gambling.”

Slade watched, surprised, as Sloan slammed money into Sid’s palm. “Even you?”

“I did every f*cking thing in my power to make sure I won this bet.” Sloan frowned at Slade. “Just four more days, that’s all you had to wait, dammit.”

“I’ll be damned,” Slade cursed, looking down at Jill to see how she was taking it. She seemed nervous as hell as she watched Sid.

Even after everyone paid up, Sid still held his hand out. “Feels a little light.” He raised and lowered each hand as if weighing the money. Jill dug into her pocket, slamming down twenty bucks.

“You bet?” Slade’s eyes narrowed. “Are you f*cking kidding me?”

The laughter in the room was deafening as Slade stared at Jill. An unbelievable grin then spread across his face.

“What?” Jill frowned at him.

“I can’t believe you bet against us.” Slade shook his head, trying to look pissed, but his grin continued growing.

“I thought it was a sure bet and needed some cash. I actually bet it wouldn’t happen at all, so I was for sure I’d win. You were pretty adamant that there would never be anything between us.” Jill shrugged. Turning, she glared at Sid with the evilest glare she’d ever given.

Sid just smiled at her. “If you can’t take the heat, then don’t place your bet with the king.”

******

Jax followed Slade and Jill out of the office. Still shaken, his eyes searched for Caroline. He still couldn’t believe she threw herself at him. When he found the motherf*cker who took that shot, he would kill him in the most painful way he was taught in the ways of his tribe.

Caroline stood from where she and Lana were sitting on the steps, giving him a weak smile, but then saw Jill and headed her way. “Jill,” Caroline called out. “I’m going to stay here tonight since it’s so late. You want to start getting ready around noon?”

“Yeah, that would be great.” Jill smiled and proceeded to roll her eyes when Sid walked out with a big grin, counting his money.

“What is that?” Lana frowned, trying to swipe it from his hands.

“Oh, no, woman.” Sid pulled it away. “As a matter of fact, pay up.”

“For what?” Lana put her hands on her hips.

Sid nodded toward Slade and Jill. “It’s official.”

“Dammit,” Lana hissed, digging into her pockets, glaring at Jill and Slade. “Couldn’t you have waited just four more days?”

Slade crossed his arms, looking disgusted. “Did everyone in the damn compound bet?”

“No.” Sid thought for a moment. “Little Daniel didn’t have the cash.”

“I don’t have any money on me.” Lana spread her arms out.

“That’s okay. I’ll collect interest on you.” Sid winked and then took Caroline’s money. “Thank you.”

“You guys are so wrong.” Slade frowned, grabbing Jill’s hand, leading her up the stairs.

“But it feels so right,” Sid laughed as he and Lana followed them.

Jax shook his head, watching Sid. “He’s an idiot.”

“But he’s good to my sister.” Caroline smiled, watching Sid chase her up the stairs.

An awkward silence filled the entryway. Jax was not comfortable in these situations at all. Give him someone who needed an ass kicking and he was on it, but this, yeah, so not his thing.

“Well, I guess I’ll go up.” Caroline turned to go.

“Wait a minute.” He grabbed her arm, turning her around. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” Caroline responded and laughed. “Wow, that was really hard for you, wasn’t it?”

Jax gave her a crooked grin. “Yeah, it was. I’m not used to thanking people.”

Caroline gave him an understanding nod. “Maybe after things calm down, we can have that dinner and talk.”

“Sure, sounds good,” Jax replied, his mind going a mile a minute before his eyes drilled into hers. “I’m going to find who put you in danger, Caroline. And without sounding too much like an *, don’t ever put yourself in danger for me again. You could have been killed.”

“As you could have been. I’m sure those were silver bullets,” Caroline replied, searching his eyes. “I have a feeling not too many people have done things for you, Jax Wheeler, but know this. If I had to do it all over again, I would in a heartbeat.” She tiptoed up, kissing his cheek and gave him a smile before turning away.

Jax watched her go. She was right. No one had ever done anything like that for him. She had literally saved his life and that was something he would never forget.

Chapter 17

Jill fidgeted as Caroline fixed her wig, Nicole painted her toenails and Pam applied her press-on nails. It was crowded in Jared and Tessa’s room, but it was nice being with the women.

“Stop moving, Jill,” Nicole sighed, looking up at her.

“I’m sorry.” Jill frowned. “I fidget when I’m nervous.”