Slade (The Protectors #6)(78)

“Follow us and keep aware,” one instructed as the hunters surrounded them, real guns drawn.

“What the hell is going on?” Adam asked, but as they made their way into another clearing, there was no need for an answer.

Warriors and trainees lay scattered through the field. Warriors surrounded them with guns drawn toward the woods. It looked like a war zone. Cars and motorcycles were flying into the parking area a few yards away. Other Warriors and trainees were making their way toward the wooded area in full-combat mode.

Jill’s eyes searched for Slade. Dropping her paintball gun, she rushed through the field. Warriors lay dead, silver slowly killing them, but not one cried out. In their final moments, they lay dying, with another Warrior at their side, giving what comfort they could.

Frantic as the field became more crowded, relief swept through her when she spotted him. He was close to the parking area working on someone. Jill pushed her way through the mass of Warriors, losing sight of him for a second. She knew Adam and Dillon were behind her. Her eyes glanced at the small stone building Slade was next to, using it as a pinpoint to relocate him if she needed to. It took a second for the sign above the door to register.

“No!” Jill pushed her way through, knocking Warriors out of her way as she headed toward the restroom. Slade was bent over Steve, blood was everywhere. “No!” she screamed, trying to get to him, but Duncan grabbed her.

Jill fought with everything she had. Slade glanced toward her quickly; the look on his face told her everything she needed to know.

******

Slade had already made his way to the safety zone. Searching through the trainees already arrived, he looked for Jill. Sloan stood with arms crossed, leaning against a tree.

“No sign of them?” Slade asked, heading toward him.

“Steve is the only one.” Sloan nodded toward the crude block building. “He’s taking a piss.”

“Damn.” Slade frowned, hating one of theirs failed the initiation. He continued searching the clearing, hoping to spot Jill soon. Just as he opened his mouth to speak, the sudden sound of gunshots rang out.

Immediately, all Warriors took cover, their training kicking in. Some knocked confused trainees out of the line of fire. As if in slow motion, Slade watched Steve walk out of the building. Turning, Steve looked at Sloan and Slade lying on the ground. His mouth opened to say something as his body jerked hard; he fell to his knees. His shocked eyes found Slade before he fell face first to the ground.

“Fuck!” Slade army-crawled toward Steve. Grabbing Steve by the back of his jacket, he pulled him beside the building, rolling him over. Steve’s eyes were opened slightly. “Steve, hold on buddy.” Slade ripped his jacket and shirt completely off, seeing the exit wound right above his heart. Rolling him over, he checked the wound on his back.

Jared slid to a stop next to Slade. Seeing Steve, he cursed. “Shit! Is he dead?” Jared looked around, his eyes scanning for danger.

“Not yet, but if I don’t get him to a hospital, he will be.” Slade pressed his fingers to his neck feeling a pulse, weak, but there. “I can’t tell if this hit his heart, but all this blood isn’t a good f*cking sign.”

Suddenly, the gunshots stopped. “Let me get a car.” Jared stood, still hunched over. “Keep your f*cking head down, Doc. Those are silver bullets.”

“Give me your shirt,” Slade ordered before Jared left. Tearing Steve’s ripped shirt, he pressed his own to the back wound, Steve’s to the front, and Jared’s he wrapped around Steve’s body to hold them in place. Steve’s blood pumped out faster than he could control it. The shirt was soaked already. “Dammit!” Slade pressed harder, applying more pressure.

Hearing her voice, Slade looked to see Duncan stop Jill. Her eyes went from him to Steve. The anguish in her face was more than he could take, forcing him to look away. Thank God, she was unhurt. His need to find her almost overrode his job, which was to save as many lives as possible, but since he knew she was safe, he could focus. He had been afraid to look over the field of fallen Warriors for fear of seeing her among them.

Sloan ran over, a look of worry on his face. “I got the van.” Sloan helped Slade pick up Steve, and Jared ran over to help.

Slade looked up at Jared. “Keep her safe.”

Jared nodded. “You just worry about Steve. I got her.”

Once Steve was loaded in the van, Sloan slammed the door and ran to the driver’s side. “You’re in charge of our group. Keep me updated.”

“I will.” Jared smacked the van as it drove by.

Steve moaned when the van went over bumps, Slade tried to keep him still. “Hang in there.”

“Wasn’t ready to go yet.” Steve’s voice was weak and faint.

“You aren’t going anywhere but to the hospital.” Slade checked Steve’s pulse again, not liking his coloring. “You just fight, you hear me?”

Hissing at the pain, Steve jerked. “Damn, it hurts.”

“As soon as we get somewhere safe, I’ll give you something for the pain,” Slade replied. After a few minutes of silence, Slade figured Steve had passed out since he still had a faint pulse. They hadn’t lost him yet. He was startled when Steve grabbed his wrist.

“Please don’t let me die as the guy who got shot coming out of the pisser.” Steve laughed weakly, then coughed.