Duncan (The Protectors #3)

Duncan nodded deep in thought.

“We can’t get involved, Duncan,” Damon warned. “We need to do this right, or Pam may suffer for it.”

“Yeah, I know,” Duncan cursed, opening the door to get the car seat. “I just have a bad feeling about it.”

“Just keep her near until he’s caught and charged,” Damon grunted. “We both know the restraining order isn’t going to mean shit to the bastard.”

“Yeah, just like the restraining order he has on us means nothing.” Duncan carried the car seat up the steps to the front door. “If he even breathes in her direction, he’s a dead man. Next time, he doesn’t walk away, and I have a feeling he’s not going down in a courtroom.”

“I got that same feeling.” Damon smacked him on the back as they headed up to the house.

*****

Jill walked out on the back porch after Adam left. Tessa was kneeling on the floor looking at her phone. Rushing over, Jill helped her up.

“I want so badly to text him.” Tessa looked up from the phone. “I have it all typed out, but can’t hit the send button.”

“Hit the button, Tessa,” Jill urged. “You’re miserable and I know he is.”

“Was I stupid to feel this way?” Tessa looked at her searching for answers, but before Jill could answer, Tessa kept going. “It just hurt so badly, to see him with her like that, but…” Tears fell down her cheeks.

“But what?” Jill felt so badly for her, but didn’t know what to do. She had limited knowledge of relationships. Jill knew that Pam or Nicole should be the ones here talking to her, but unfortunately, they weren’t. It was just her, the chick who couldn’t get a date if she paid a guy.

“I can’t give him what he needs.” Tessa’s voice turned hopeless. “He will always have to feed from someone else, and I can’t keep putting us through this every time.”

“Did it bother you that he fed from Vicky before the picture?” Jill asked, trying to understand.

“Yeah, it did because it wasn’t me.” Tessa flipped her uninjured hand in the air. “Even though Jared made sure I was always present when he fed, I still hated it. How selfish is that?”

“I don’t think it’s selfish at all. I mean if you love someone, I would think you’d want to be the one giving your partner everything they needed.” Jill shrugged. “I think it’s totally normal to feel the way you feel.”

“You do?” Tessa looked at her with hope. “I don’t sound like a selfish bitch?”

Jill laughed. “No. You sound like you want to give your man everything he needs and there isn’t anything wrong with that, actually that’s the way it should be.”

“Are you happy being a half-breed?” Tessa asked, then cringed. “I’m sorry I shouldn’t have asked that.”

“No, it’s okay.” Jill was quiet for a few moments deep in thought. “It’s kind of cool, but lonely. My family pretty much wrote me off as you already know. All I have is you guys and the Warriors; to everyone else I’m a freak of nature.”

“No,  you’re not.” Tessa hugged her. “You’re a good friend, Jill. Thank you.”

“Why did you ask me that, Tessa?” Jill hugged her back before leaning away looking at her.

“I want to be the one he comes to so I can give him what he needs to survive. Isn’t that what how it’s supposed to be?” Tessa looked away, her shoulders slumping in defeat.

“Then today is your lucky day.” A male voice came out of the doorway.

Jill and Tessa turned toward the voice. “What are you doing here?” Jill asked surprised. Knowing something wasn’t right, she stood slowly.

“Answering her prayers.” He raised a gun, aiming it at Jill. “And teaching you a lesson.”

The sound of a gunshot echoed through the small house, along with a woman’s scream.

Chapter 24

Pam stood over the crib watching Daniel sleep. With a belly full of formula and a dry diaper, she knew he would be sleeping peacefully for a couple of hours. She frowned as she thought of the formula milk. She couldn’t breastfeed. She had wanted to, had been desperate to, but her milk never came in. Slade hadn’t known why; the likelihood was it was because of her half-breed make-up. She pushed her frown away. While she had been saddened by not being able to breastfeed, she knew that his tummy was still full. That was all that really mattered. Leaning down with a smile on her face, she kissed Daniel on the cheek.

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