“Ah, well...” Everyone in the room knew Steve was hiding something. He knew they knew which made him a nervous mess. “Because...I mean instead of you changing her, someone else can.”
“No one will touch her.” Slade’s growl rattled the room, his body stiffened as if ready to attack.
“Let’s keep calm, Slade.” Jared placed himself between Steve and Slade. “Steve’s just talking out his ass again.”
“Yeah.” Steve’s voice was full of relief as he peeked around Jared to Slade. “I do that a lot...talking out my ass. I’m an ass talker for sure. I even—”
“Steve.” Sid coughed, shaking his head and mimicking a cutting motion across his neck indicating to Steve he needed to shut the fuck up.
Slade’s glare went back to Sloan, then to Adam. “I’ll change Adam also.”
Adam, who was sitting slumped in a chair, looked up. “I’m good, man.” His voice was weak.
Nothing about Adam was good; they all knew it. He was deteriorating fast.
“I’ll change Adam,” Duncan said from his place against the pool table.
“Yeah, and have two counts against you.” Sloan shook his head. “No. How much time do we have, Slade?”
Slade stared at Sloan before looking at Adam then at nothing but empty space. “Not long.”
“We’re not losing anyone,” Sloan said, anger lacing every word. “Let’s get this wedding shit over with and set a plan into action. If anyone needs to be turned before then, they will be turned and we’ll deal with the consequences later.”
“I wouldn’t let Jill hear you call the wedding...wedding shit,” Steve added, not knowing when to shut the hell up. “Just sayin’.”
“The kid’s got a point.” Sid laughed. “Now let’s get this over with. Caroline’s going to meet us and take tuxes to Jill’s parents' house.”
Slade watched each of his brothers leave the room until just he and Sloan remained. “I’ve been talking to my colleagues in California,” Slade said, his eyes darkening. “They’ve tried to get the law changed there and it’s been shut down. They’ve lost over fifty half-breeds and that’s only in their area. We have no idea how many have died across the country. They are keeping this quiet, just a few leaks from the media. The government is doing everything in their power to make sure the human race does not get outnumbered by vampires.”
Sloan cursed. “Have they been given the same serum as Pam, Jill and Adam?”
“There’s no way to tell.” Slade’s voice deepened in anger. “We need to find out who’s making this shit and put a stop to it.”
“Well, if I lose my Warriors that isn’t going to happen,” Sloan replied, then slapped Slade on the back. “But I understand what you need to do because if it were me, I wouldn’t hesitate to change my mate if it needed to be done.”
Surprised, Slade looked at Sloan as they headed out the door.
“And if you tell any one of those sons of bitches out there I said that I will kill you.” Sloan gave him a warning glance before walking out of the room. “I don’t need fucking Sid or Jared matchmaking.”
Slade followed him out, shaking his head with a small smile that didn’t reach his eyes. There was no happiness in his soul until Jill was safe.
CHAPTER 19
The day had finally arrived and Caroline was about to have a full blown panic attack. Trying to pull off a wedding in one week with six brides and grooms was just crazy, but there she was right smack in the middle of it. The few guest who had been invited were mingling in the woods with the tux-clad Warriors, and that alone was a heart-stopping moment for any hot-blooded woman. Poor Trevor and Steve had been hiding cars for an hour. Everyone invited knew what was going on and were more than happy to be a part of the surprise.
“Breathe,” Jax said from behind her. “Everything is perfect. You’ve done an amazing job.”
Caroline frowned as she continued to look around. “Are you sure? I feel like I’m missing something.” The clearing was set up with chairs decorated with green vines and flowers. White lights were strung through the trees and the archway that Jax, Hunter, and Blaze made for the occasion was gorgeous.
“It’s fine.” Jax smiled down at her nervous frown.
“I just don’t want Jill to be disappointed.” She worried her bottom lip with her teeth.
Jax groaned before tugging her arm. “Come on. You need to get up to the house before the women show up or they’re going to catch you coming out of the woods.”
Caroline let Jax lead her, but kept turning around looking at the clearing until they turned the bend and she couldn’t see the beautiful wedding setup anymore. They stayed to the side of the white runner the brides would walk on along the trail.
Trevor and Steve met them, keeping clear of the white runner since Caroline threatened bodily harm if they stepped foot on it.
“Cars are hidden.” Steve gave her a thumbs up.