“I’ll be here,” she replied when his lips left hers. “Be careful.”
Duncan looked like he wanted to say more, but nodded before he turned running after Sloan and Damon. Stopping, he looked at Adam. “Lock this door. No one comes in.”
“Got it.” Adam followed locking the door behind him.
Pam watched Duncan jump in the van, which took off before he even had the door closed.
“Come on.” Nicole put her arm around her. “You get used to them running off like that. Let’s go find a movie or something. You hungry?”
“No, I’m good,” Pam sighed. “Just want to sit down for a while.”
“Hey, Adam,” Nicole shouted. “Get some popcorn flowing.”
“On it.” Adam grinned. “Come on, Tess. Help me with some drinks.” Tessa and Adam headed toward the kitchen.
“You guys don’t have to babysit me.” Pam rolled her eyes. “I’m a big girl.”
“Honey, we aren’t babysitting you. This is an every night occurrence when our men go out on the job. We stick together until they come home safe.” Nicole ushered her into the game room. “Welcome to the life of being in love with a VC Warrior.”
*****
Slade parked outside the exit door by his new office. Jared had him take the car since Damon, Sloan and Duncan were bringing the van. Walking around, he opened the passenger side door.
“I can walk,” Jill grumbled when he opened the door to pull her out. Slade’s face was stone cold as he reached in plucking her from the car.
Once at the door, he held her with one arm while getting his key card out of his pocket. Sliding it, the door clicked. Holding the door open with his leg, he put the key card back in his pocket then headed inside to his office.
Jill held on to his neck trying not to look at him. She hated when people were mad at her. It had always been that way. It drove her crazy. With her family, they weren’t mad at her for being a half-breed; they were scared of her and didn’t want to be anywhere near her, but Slade was mad. He set her gently on the table, but his touch left her abruptly.
“Listen, I’m sorry.” Jill scooted further back on the table wincing when pain radiated up her leg. “I shouldn’t have run off like that.”
Slade didn’t say a word, not even a grunt as he pulled off his leather jacket tossing it on a chair.
Knowing without a doubt that he wasn’t going to take her apology, she frowned getting ready to hop off the table and leave. She had caused him enough problems since she met him; she was done causing him anymore. Just like her family. They didn’t want her around, so she disappeared. She would do the same with him.
“If you get off that table, I’m going to blister your ass.” Slade’s back was still to her, but his voice stopped her cold.
“Excuse me?”
“You heard me.” Slade finally turned around, his face still set in stone, beautiful carved stone. “Move off that table and your leg will be the least of your worries.”
“You wouldn’t,” Jill replied, but the look in his eyes said he would.
“Don’t test me, Jill.” Slade reached out to touch her shoulder. “Did you damage your shoulder?”
“No.” Jill jumped when he hit a sore spot proving she was a liar.
His eyes narrowed. “What about your leg?” He ran his hand down her leg with pressure and frowned when she jerked. “I guess that’s fine also.” His tone was sarcastic.
“You know what?” Jill pushed him away before sliding off the table. “The good thing about being a half-breed, actually the only good thing about it is I heal fast.”
“Not if you don’t feed.” Slade shot back blocking her way to the door. “You’re strength is compromised by your choice to not feed when you need to.”
“You know that’s none of your business.” Jill side stepped, but he side stepped with her.
“None of my business?” Slade’s eyes darkened slightly making Jill step back. Slade pressed forward. “You almost killed an innocent. When confronted about why you haven’t been feeding, you put everyone, including yourself, in danger by jumping out of a moving vehicle, and if that’s not bad enough, you find yourself in the middle of God knows what, where I have to kill two men. So yeah, this is my fucking business.”
“I said I was sorry.” Jill knew without a doubt her time with the Warriors was over. “I’ll go pack and be out of here.”
“What the hell are you talking about?” Slade yelled finally losing his cool.
“I screwed up, okay,” Jill yelled back. “I put everyone in danger, you said so yourself. I can’t be trusted, so I’m taking myself out of the program before I’m put out.”