Slade (The Protectors #6)(71)

He snorted, but looked a little nervous. “I didn’t say anything.”

“Really? I could have sworn…”

“You play dirty.” He glared at her.

“Yes, I do, but so do you.” She smiled at him before turning back to Sloan. “You ready for me to make that call?”

Sloan nodded, pulling out a phone from his desk and handing it to her. “This number can’t be traced.” He then handed her the card. “Do you know what to say?”

“Yes.” Jill’s hands shook a little as she dialed the number, then put it on speaker.

“Hello, George Groper here,” he answered after three rings.

“Mr. Groper. It’s Lola. How are you doing, sir?”

There was a slight pause before he responded. Everyone became tense in the room. “I’m doing great, Lola. How are you?”

Jill saw Sid roll his eyes. “Been very busy, but finally have a window to meet with you about a few designs I have for your house. Would you be available to meet me soon?”

There was an audible click on the line, one that no human ear could pick up, but everyone in Sloan’s office heard it.

“Actually, I was getting ready to call you.” They heard his lie. “I really want to get this started and have a few ideas I can bring with me. How about this afternoon around five?”

Jill looked to Sloan who nodded. “That would be perfect and I know I can help you achieve what you want in your home.”

After he gave Jill the address, which Sloan wrote down, she hung up the phone.

“His line is definitely being monitored,” Jared frowned.

“Okay, let’s get ready to do this. It sounds like he has some stuff for us or at least I hope so.” Sloan glanced at Jill. “I want everyone ready for anything; this could be a set up.”

“Will I have enough time to test?” Jill asked, looking at Sloan.

“Plenty of time, but I want every Warrior staked out around that house an hour prior. It’s going to be tricky because it’s still daylight, but I know you can do it.” Sloan read off the address as each one of them entered it into their phone.

Jill stood, taking the paper with the address from Sloan. “Thanks.”

“Good luck.” He nodded his dismissal.

Slade took her hand as they walked out, handing her a set of keys. “You taking me?”

“Yes.” He smiled down at her.

“But you’re busy,” she frowned. “I can get Adam to take me or somebody. I don’t want to be a pain in your ass.”

Slade smacked her ass making her yelp. “You could never be a pain in my ass.”

She gave him a ‘you want to make a bet’ look. “Really?”

“Okay, you can be a pain in my ass, but not this. I want to be there.” He opened the car door for her.

Slade’s eyes looked tired as she sat in the driver’s seat and she felt a sudden wave of selfishness swarm her mind; she had been preoccupied with her own worries. The stress created, trying to figure out what was given to humans to turn them into half-breeds, was evident on Slade’s handsome face. Each investigation led to a dead end. Once he was in the passenger seat, she glanced over at him. “Thank you for everything, Slade.” She leaned over and kissed him. “I wish I could help you in some way.”

“I have the best working on it.” Slade touched her cheek. “And we will figure it out, but for now, just concentrate on what you have to do.”

Jill smiled with a nod, starting the car. Glancing over at Slade, she asked, “You’ve never ridden with me, have you?” A playful grin on the cusp of sadistic appeared before Jill revved the engine.

Slade turned from looking out the window to look at her. “Ah, shit.” He grabbed the dashboard as she turned and flew in reverse out of the parking spot, and slammed on the brakes.

“Just kidding.” She laughed at his look of horror as she carefully drove out of the parking lot and onto the street.

******

Slade paced back and forth in front of the DMV. The cop testing Jill didn’t look too happy being called out on a Sunday, but once he saw her excitement, he warmed up to her.

“Son, you’re making me a nervous wreck.” Jill’s dad sat on a bench, watching him.

“Sorry.” Slade walked over and sat down.

“Thank you for calling me and letting me know.” Chuck Nichols watched the cars passing on the street below. “I haven’t been a very good father to Jill.”

“Well, it’s never too late to start.” Slade frowned. “Jill loves you very much, sir.”

Giving Jill’s father some privacy after seeing him swipe at his eye, Slade stood back up, glancing at his watch. “Shouldn’t they be back by now?”

Composed, her father stood next to him, both watching for the car.

“There she is.” Slade stuck his hands in his back pockets as her dad stepped behind the large pillar.

“I don’t want to make her nervous.” He laughed when Slade looked at him.

Slade nodded, turning to watch as Jill stopped near the cones. The officer got out of the car with his clipboard, walking to the front of the cones. Jill glanced over at him and he gave her a reassuring nod. “She’s getting ready to parallel park,” he told her dad.