“Can he breathe?” Chuck asked, looking up at Slade.
“He’s fine,” Slade replied, pressing down a little harder. “Just learning a hard lesson.”
“Daddy!” Janie cried out. “Make him stop.”
“Shut up, Janie!” Jill snapped, giving her sister a hard glare.
“I’m going to let you up, but if you make one wrong move, you are going to end up worse than this,” Slade warned, but didn’t move his foot. “Do you understand?”
“She’s a half-breed.” The man wheezed, his bulging, watery eyes looked from Slade to Jill. “It’s our duty to protect our family against them. There’s a standing order to have them turned over.”
Jill snorted and crossed her arms. “This is my family, not yours.” Her eyes roamed to the porch where her mom stood, shielding Seth behind her. Her eyes wandered to her dad whose face was lined with worry and stress. It hit her hard. She was causing this. She may not have been holding the gun, but in the end, her being there caused this to happen. Touching Slade’s arm, she tugged. “Let him up.”
Slowly, Slade lifted his foot, but stood over the man who had to roll away before standing.
“Janie, go call the police,” he ordered, brushing himself off, but kept his eyes on Slade. “Tell them we have a half-breed here who needs to be taken in.”
Watching her sister, Jill was surprised Janie hesitated. “But, she’s leaving. Isn’t that right, Jill?” Janie’s voice shook in confusion and fear.
“Yeah, Janie,” Jill nodded, knowing that was her only option at this point. If she stayed, it would only cause more stress for her dad and that was something she couldn’t live with. “I’m leaving.”
“What’s your name?” Slade demanded of the man, his eyes as hard as his voice.
“What does my name have to do with anything?” the man stuttered. “She’s the nasty half-breed. I’m just a good citizen doing my duty.”
Slade took a threatening step toward the man. “You have threatened not one, but two VC Warriors, and that, my good citizen, is against the law.” He pulled out his phone. “Now, while I’m calling my superior, I suggest you apologize to Ms. Nichols.”
“But…” The man’s tone changed quickly.
“Now!” Slade’s shout was a deadly demand that even made Jill jump.
“I’m, ah, sorry. I didn’t know. I just thought she was a nas—” At Slade’s growl, Janie’s fiancé looked ready to faint. He was a large man with light blond hair and ruddy cheeks against pale skin. He looked tough, but next to Slade, he looked like a scared teenager who needed a change of underwear.
“Jill?” Her father grasped her arm. “Is it true?”
Glancing from Slade, she turned to her dad. “Yeah, it is,” she replied, then lifted her head proudly. “I’m in training now, but yes, I will be a VC Warrior.”
“How can a half-breed be a VC Warrior?” Janie’s fiancé’s voice was filled with disdain.
“She is my daughter and her name is Jill, not half-breed,” her father shouted, then went deathly pale, staggering sideways.
“Chuck!” her mother cried out, running from the porch to her husband’s side.
Slade was there at his side steadying him. “You need to calm down, Mr. Nichols.”
“Get off him,” Jill’s mom tried to push Slade’s hands away.
“He’s a doctor.” Jill stepped between her mom and Slade. “Is he okay?” Her eyes searched Slade’s concerned face.
“He needs to sit down, calm down and have some water,” Slade ordered.
“I’m fine,” her father repeated.
“No, you’re not.” Slade led him toward the lawn furniture near the house. “And if you don’t listen to me, I will call an ambulance and your cardiologist.”
“You wouldn’t.” Chuck Nichols, who Jill knew hated being sick, period, looked panicked.
“I would,” Slade countered. “You have just had major heart surgery. Even though it’s good you are active, cutting wood and getting overly excited is not what your doctor would be happy with. So if you don’t want to find yourself back in the hospital, I suggest you do as I say.”
Before anyone could say anything else, a beat-up Mustang came flying up the gravel drive. A tall, well-built male version of Jill hopped out of the car and took off toward Jill in a dead run, but stopped when Slade stepped in front of her, blocking his path.
“You her brother?” Slade’s deep voice echoed across the yard.
“Yeah, who the hell are you?” Trevor looked up at the large vampire.
Slade stepped aside letting him pass. Trevor gave Slade one last long look before picking up Jill in a tight hug. “Where the hell have you been?” He set her back down looking her over, then pulled her blue tipped hair. “I’ve looked everywhere for you.”