Adam (The Protectors #5)

Jill glanced at Slade who was glaring at her again. “Yeah, but I found some things up here and forgot to tell you so I thought I’d better show you.” She walked over to the file cabinets, ignoring all the glaring. The files she had taken were scattered somewhere after she was tackled. “These three cabinets are filled with personal information on who has been sold as well as the buyers, but the buyers’ info is blacked out.” She handed out some files so they could see.

“What’s in that one?” Duncan asked, nodded at it, but still looking at the file in his hand.

Frowning, Jill pulled out files and opened one to see the smiling face of a very pretty woman. “These are potential targets.” She handed the file to Sloan. “These women have no idea they’re being watched.”

The silence was deafening. Even the Mayor was quiet and not saying a word, but staring in horror at the pictures pinned to the wall.

Glancing at Slade, he was staring at her without the glare, and if she wasn’t mistaken, there was a little respect in his gaze. “That’s not all.” Jill broke eye contact and headed toward the curtained off area. Opening it wider, she exposed the metal slab. “In that cabinet, which I didn’t touch, are vials that I believe were used in turning these people.”

“Son of a bitch.” Jared’s eyes left the cabinet to look at her. “Good job, rookie.”

“No big deal.” Jill felt weird now she was being praised; she didn’t like it. “Had a hunch and just followed up on it.” She did her best to keep Anne’s name out of it.

“Without back-up,” Slade added, but nodded as he passed her, heading toward the cabinets.

“Good work, Jill.” Sloan also passed her, but went in a different direction. “Damon and Duncan, help Slade secure this area. I want everything and I mean everything boxed up and sent to the compound and in my office. I’ll send Sid and Lana up to help.”

The Mayor remained still, looking at the pictures. “Have all of these people been turned?”

“It looks that way,” Jared replied, his eyes narrowing as he also glanced at the pictures.

“What in the hell are you going to do about this?” The Mayor demanded, turning to Sloan.

Purposefully ignoring the Mayor, Sloan jumped toward the ceiling door, landing perfectly on a beam, and then headed downstairs. Jared followed suit, and then turned to look at the large hole.

“You know you probably could have used your power to stop yourself from hitting the floor.” Jared looked up at Jill.

Jill shrugged, wondering if she could have actually done that. “I really wasn’t thinking clearly with a two-hundred pound man on my ass,” Jill replied, a grin forming on her lips when Jared chuckled at her. Once he disappeared, she jumped, passing the Mayor again as he tried to make his way to the door not paying any attention to them at all.

Sloan and Jared stood at the bottom talking, until she headed toward them. “Finish up with them,” Sloan ordered her as she passed. They all ignored Alice, who remained at the bottom of the steps; the expression on her face clearly indicated she was pissed and didn’t like being ignored.

“Where are they going to go?” Jill asked. “They can’t go home yet. Anne has a young son. It would be too dangerous until she is sure she’s under control with feeding.”

“We got room at the compound,” Jared supplied, raising his eyebrows at Sloan. “Other Warrior groups have taken the others.”

“Shit!” Sloan cursed running his hand through his hair. “Okay, but you guys are responsible.”

Everyone jumped out of the way as a loud noise sounded above them. Looking up, they watched as the Mayor’s shiny black dress shoe came through the floor. “Alice!” he yelled from above.

Jill laughed loudly along with Jared and even Sloan let out a deep laugh. They all walked away; no one saw Alice whose fangs had grown as she watched Jill follow the Warriors.

Chapter 13

Walking out on the porch, Adam glanced at his watch. It was almost midnight, and according to Slade, they were still starting their training in the morning. Even though he was half-vampire, his other half needed sleep. His feelings about Angelina were still mixed. He loved her; that he had no doubt, yet there was something keeping him from her. Guilt maybe that he had left her, just turned and walked away when she was in danger.

Slade came out on the porch and stopped next to him. “Good job tonight.”

“This should have happened when I first came here,” Adam replied, his eyes finding Angelina as she stood next to Jill and Anne, who was hugging her husband. Sid also stood close by, making sure things went smoothly before they ushered the women to the compound to help with their transition. “I just walked away.”

“You said you read her.” Slade leaned against the porch railing, also looking out over the yard toward the scene below.

“Yeah, I did and I read her as happily married,” Adam shook his head in confusion. “I can always read people, even when they try to hide something from me.”

Slade sighed, rubbing his eyes. He then ran his hand through his hair. “You can’t always depend on your powers, Adam,” Slade warned. “Many things can affect the outcome.”

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