Slade (The Protectors #6)

Sid’s head snapped back, a comical look of shock crossed his face. “No, I didn’t.”


“Yes, you did.” Caroline nodded along with all the other women, including Lana.

“You kind of did, bro,” Steve spoke up then jumped behind Sloan when Sid snapped at him with his large fangs. “But I don’t know shit so just don’t listen to me.”

“There is nothing wrong with strippers or stripper poles.” Caroline ignored Steve, turning her attention to Jared, then the rest of the Warriors.

“We didn’t say there was.” Jared’s face grew even angrier with frustration. “But if it’s my woman up there on a stripper pole, then I have a big fucking problem with it.”

“Even if she had to support herself,” Caroline kept going, liking the fact she could shake these Warriors up a little. “Most of these women are hardworking and just trying to get by.”

“She doesn’t have to support herself.” Jared pulled Tessa next to him, his arms wrapping around her. “At least not in that way because I will kill any son of a bitch who was dumb enough to even watch her.”

“Jared, I’m not a stripper.” Tessa laid her hand on his chest looking up at him. “And I haven’t used the stripper pole since you. It’s just a way the bar brings in money with contests and stuff. No one strips. Everyone has their clothes on.”

Caroline’s grin grew as she looked at Jill. “So, Jill, I think you have plenty of us here willing to help you on this mission.”

Jill never wanted to hug anyone more in her life than she did these women who were all grinning at her. Glancing at Sloan, who was still on edge but looking at her and not the Warriors, she knew this mission would either prove to them how serious she was about becoming a Warrior, or be the biggest fail in her life to this point. “When do we do this?”

“Three days.” Sloan nodded at her. “I will have everything in place by then.”

“Won’t she need to drive there?” Jax asked, staring at Jill, yet asking Sloan the question.

Jill looked up at Slade in horror. How did Jax know? Her gaze narrowed as she pinned first Adam then Steve with an ‘I will kill you’ look.

“Ah, yeah,” Sloan replied, frustration blazing from his eyes. “I guess there’s a reason behind your question, Jax.”

“Well, yes, sir, there is.” Jax looked away from Jill to Sloan. “She doesn’t have a driver’s license.”

Sloan stared at Jax for a few seconds before running his hand down his face. “Did you know this, Buchanan?”

“Yes, I did and it’s being taken care of,” Slade replied in his deep voice, which sounded confident as if it was already taken care of.

“It fucking better be,” Sloan growled, pointing at Jill then Slade.

Jax’s sly grin spread across his face when he looked at Jill, pissing her off. He was trying to get her in trouble as well as Slade, and she wanted to know why. “What is your problem?” She took two steps toward him before Slade stopped her.

“Just stating facts,” Jax replied, still grinning.

“Yeah, well, with all due respect, screw you and your facts.” Jill pointed at him. “I’m going to make it whether you like it or not, and the more you push me, the more I’m going to sacrifice to make it.”

Something flashed across Jax’s face, but then it was gone. “Yeah, good luck with that.”

“She’s not your sister,” Caroline, who had been watching closely, replied.

Jax’s whole body stiffened, his eyes turned dark as if a shutter slammed across them. “What did you just say?”

“You heard me.” Caroline didn’t back down when he took a step closer to her. “And I’m not afraid of you because your sister said you’d never hurt me.”

Jill witnessed for the first time since meeting the Warrior, who hated her for whatever reason, look unsure of himself. Slade positioned himself closer to Jax.

“Get out of my head,” he hissed at Caroline, his eyes narrowed.

“I’m not in your head,” Caroline countered. “She’s in mine. Well, actually, she’s not in my head, but standing right there.” She nodded to a place between them.

Jill almost felt sorry for Jax as pain and uncertainty flashed across his face when he looked at the spot Caroline indicated, but it was gone just as quickly as it came, anger replacing it. “You are a liar!” He pointed in Caroline’s face.

“Caroline,” Sloan warned her with a shake of his head. “That’s enough.”

Jill wondered if Caroline would continue and wasn’t surprised when she did.