CHAPTER 8
Sloan slammed his phone down, picked it back up and slammed it again. “Stupid bastards.” He hissed, rubbing his face. He was tired, so tired of everything. He once loved his position, but lately, he just wanted to walk. Being one of the few leaders who was against coming out to the human race, that phone call just proved why he had strongly felt that way. The fear and prejudice of most, especially the ones in power positions, pissed him off to the point if rogue vampires invaded their closed-minded space, he would look the other way. “Fuck!”
Picking up his phone again, he stared at it, feeling as if the walls were closing in on him. This news deserved to be told face-to-face instead of a text or a phone call. Standing, he stretched his tense muscles before heading out of his office. He stopped, looked around and stalled. He knew what this was going to lead to. Laughter came from the kitchen as he passed, but he didn’t slow down. Silently, Sloan wondered when the last time was that he really laughed.
A grim frown slipped across his lips. He didn’t have time to laugh. Hell, he didn’t have time for anything, let alone laughing or enjoying even a second of anything.
“Jesus, I’m finally losing my fucking mind.” Sloan shook his head in disgust. Knocking once on Slade’s office door, he walked in.
Slade looked up from his desk. “Fuck!” Slade snarled, seeing Sloan’s grim face.
“Yeah, fuck.” Sloan closed the door behind him. “Just got off the phone with Dan Bentley, who is a spineless piece-of-shit and unfortunately, our representative with the human government.”
“He human?” Slade asked, tossing his pen on the desk, rubbing his hand through his hair.
Sloan nodded. “It seems that there’s an onslaught of requests coming in to change half-breeds.” To follow was the information he dreaded. “All requests are being denied. The human government is afraid of vampires outnumbering humans.”
“So they’re playing God and deciding who lives and who doesn’t.” The truth of the statement sat heavily in the room. Palpable fury radiated off Slade. “I don’t give a fuck what they deny. If it is a choice between her living or dying, I will change her and they can stick their denial up their asses.”
“I figured you’d feel that way.” Sloan sighed, not blaming Slade. “I’m sure Duncan will do the same thing, but know the risk you are taking.”
“The only risk I see is losing Jill and that is not a risk I’m willing to take.” Slade’s eyes burned as he stared at Sloan, an unspoken message that was loud and clear passed between them.
“You know the consequences of changing someone without consent. We got away with it with Steve, but that was a whole different situation. It looks like what is happening with Pam and Jill is happening everywhere.” Sloan wanted to make damn sure Slade knew exactly what was out of his control to stop from happening. “Not only will you be jailed, stripped of your VC Warrior status, but you will never be able to practice medicine, human nor vampire again.”
“I know the fucking risks, Sloan.” Slade growled, his voice raspy with emotion. “I have a wedding coming up in less than three weeks and if I don’t fix this, I won’t have a bride.”
“Weddings get cancelled all the time.” Sloan played the devil’s advocate. He wanted to make damn sure he knew where Slade’s head was because if he was going to fight for his Warriors, he needed to know with no doubt whatsoever in his own mind. The silence was deafening and he actually waited for Slade to attack, because he knew how much he loved Jill, but a calm façade shadowed Slade’s features.
“Not mine.” Slade’s voice was deep with conviction.
******
Jill quietly backed away from Slade’s door before turning around and walking quickly away. The hallway swam before her eyes as she stumbled away. The silence after Sloan said to cancel the wedding was enough for her to hear, but even if Slade had doubts, she would never allow him to put himself in a position to lose everything he had worked for, not for her.
Seeing Nicole and Tessa before they saw her, she ducked down another hallway and waited until they were gone. She didn’t want to talk to anyone. No, that was a lie. Pulling her phone out, she shot off a text and waited. Relief settled over her as her phone dinged. Reading the text, she walked out of her hiding spot and headed out the front door, but not before she turned off her phone.
Walking toward one of the cars, she frowned checking her pockets, but she knew she didn’t have the keys. “Crap.” Spotting Adam’s car, she grinned. “Ah, what the hell.”