A Warrior Wedding (The Protectors #7)

“I didn’t give it to anyone.” Lana shot back with a knowing grin. “I gave it to Jax. It’s a dump, isn’t it?” she said to Jax, ignoring Caroline’s glare.

“You’ve just been officially uninvited to my first dinner party,” Caroline snapped.

“How about uninviting me to help you paint?” Lana grinned. “That would really devastate me.”

Jax opened his mouth to say something, but a roar of rage took them all by surprise. Blaze was the first to take off toward the noise with Jax close on his heels. “Get in Sloan’s office and lock yourself in,” he shouted to Lana and Caroline as he disappeared.

“Hell with that.” Lana grabbed Caroline as she ran after Jax and Blaze. “Stay behind me.”

Caroline kept up with Lana who was in much better shape, but the closer they got, the more she wished they would have listened to Jax and locked themselves in Sloan’s office. It was total chaos. Jared was rushing past with Tessa, who was crying uncontrollably. Screams and shouts were coming out of a room right before them. Jax and Blaze disappeared into the room, but Blaze returned, carrying a kicking and screaming Jill away.

Her mind screamed for her to stop, but her feet kept following Lana until the door slammed, shutting them out.

Blaze had finally gotten Jill calmed down and Jared was coming back with Tessa held close to his side. Steve, Adam and Angelina followed.

“What happened?” Lana’s voice shook as she looked at Jared. “Please tell me it’s not Sid.”

Jared grabbed her with his free arm, holding her close. “No, it’s not Sid.” Jared stared at the door. “Slade was giving Pam a blood transfusion using Duncan’s blood.”

Jill pulled away from Blaze. “Why was he doing that?” Jill looked up at Jared. “Did she get worse?”

“Honey, I don’t know.” Jared frowned down at her. “Something went wrong and—”

“And what?” Jill’s voice filled with panic.

“And Slade is going to take care of her.” Steve walked over, wrapping his arm around Jill and answering for Jared who for once seemed to be at a loss for words.

Caroline and Lana shared a look as the door opened. Duncan walked out, his face ravaged with pain and despair as he carried Pam’s lifeless body in his arms. They were both covered in blood. He stared straight ahead, daring anyone to stop him. Nicole followed close behind him, her face streaked with tears. She stopped in front of Caroline. “He wants you and Lana.”

Putting her hand to her mouth, Caroline nodded as her eyes filled up with tears. She jerked when someone touched her arm.

“I told you to go in Sloan’s office.” Jax’s voice was low and deep.

Again Caroline nodded, which was all she could do, afraid if she opened her mouth, a scream of horror would escape. As she looked up at Jax, her tears escaped, rolling down her cheeks in waves. Jax cursed, taking her into his arms, holding her tightly.

******

Jill’s body quaked from heartbreak as she watched Duncan carrying Pam. She stumbled out of his way as he passed, his eyes straight ahead not once flicking toward her or anyone for that matter. She watched until he disappeared and then hurried toward Slade’s office. Not paying attention, she slipped on the blood-soaked floor, but Blaze, who had followed her, caught her before she hit the ground.

“Don’t turn him in until we know...” Sid stopped talking as soon as he spotted her.

“Turn him in?” Jill frowned, her eyes searching for answers to what was going on. The examination table, the floor, the walls, Sloan, Sid and Slade were all splattered with blood.

“Jill, you shouldn’t be here,” Slade replied, not looking at her. “Take her out,” he ordered Blaze, but Jill jerked her arm away.

“You can’t turn him in. Duncan turned her, didn’t he?” Jill wasn’t leaving until she was ready. No one said a word. No one would look at her. She walked straight up to Sloan. “You can’t turn him in.”

“He doesn’t have a choice.” Sid’s voice rose, truly indicating how upset he really was.

“Yes, he does.” Jill’s voice rose right back. “Don’t turn him in. It’s as easy as that.”

“You know nothing.” Sid growled as he walked past her and out the door.

Jill ignored Sid as he brushed past, but continued to stare at Sloan, who had finally looked at her. “Daniel needs him,” she pleaded. “No one has to know what happened. No one here will say anything, you know that.”

Sloan didn’t say anything. He walked past her and out the door, slamming it hard behind him. Jill turned to see Slade, his eyes vacant, as he stared at her.

“What happened?” She couldn’t decide if she should walk up to him or not. He seemed unapproachable and that scared her. Hell, everything at this point scared her and she didn’t like it. When he didn’t answer, she edged closer to him. “Slade?” she whispered.