“You guys are sick.” Jill made a beeline past Jared, giving him her dirtiest look. Grabbing a glass, she poured some orange juice. When the smell hit her nose, it didn’t make her nauseous so she drank.
Sloan walked in and spotted her from across the room. He crooked his finger at her, indicating for her to come to his office…again. With a groan, she finished off her juice, putting the empty glass in the sink.
“Damn, girl, I think you’ve broken my record for getting called into Sloan’s office.” Sid nodded his acknowledgement at her.
“Dude, she isn’t even close to that record yet.” Jared waved the bottle of Jack at Jill as she passed.
“You’re cruel and I hate you,” she spat at him, but couldn’t hide her grin when she flipped him off.
Sid thought for a minute, then chuckled, “Yeah, who am I kidding? No one is going to break that record.”
Jill headed toward Sloan’s office, her head pounding with every step she took. She was half-vampire. Shouldn’t that make her exempt from having a hangover? The door was open so she walked in.
“Shut the door,” Sloan ordered, leaning up against his desk, arms crossed, looking at her.
Jill did, walking further into the room. “Listen, I’m−”
Sloan interrupted her. “I just got off the phone with a close friend of mine, who is one of the highest council leaders.” Sloan’s voice was deep and deadly serious. “After last night, I called about a possible breech in our ranks. We’ve had meeting after meeting trying to figure out how laws regarding our kind are being made without our knowledge and consent. It’s been confirmed, without a doubt, we do have a traitor. After talking last night, he called a high ranking senate member who confirmed and faxed forged documents of approval for the building of Halfway Houses across the country. Each document was signed by six of our high ranking council members, myself included. The signature was definitely mine, but I did not sign that document.”
Jill’s mouth dropped open. “But how could that even happen?”
“That’s what we’re working on now, but as soon as the initiation is over, we’re heading to Washington to have the laws overturned, which we were told shouldn’t be a problem as long as all six of us have a strong front,” Sloan replied, his eyes intense.
“So you mean they’ll have to shut down those places and stop rounding up half-breeds?” Jill asked excitedly.
“That’s our plan, but I need to get as much information on the Mayor and Alice as I can.” Sloan looked away briefly and rolled his eyes. “So I need you to call George and see if your plan worked.”
“Give me the number.” Jill held out her hand, ready. Hot damn, this was great news.
“Hold on a minute.” He actually laughed.
He had been doing that so much more lately, and she liked it. It made him more approachable. Suddenly, she felt bad. “I’m sorry I called you an asshole,” popped out of her mouth.
“Jill, I’ve been called worse.” Sloan shook his head with a grin as he walked around to his desk. “And I know for absolute certain that won’t be the last time you call me an asshole or worse. Now, where’s Slade?”
“He said he had work to do in his office.” Jill frowned. “He told me that the half-breed who was being held with Angelina died. He’s trying to figure out why and also said he had some calls to make to California.”
Sloan nodded as he texted something, then sat his phone down. “I called the DMV. You are going to test at noon today instead of Monday. The Council decided to move the initiation up two days since we are heading to Washington.”
“Yes, sir.” Jill nodded, but holy shit, that was soon. Excitement and nerves rumbled in her stomach.
“You okay? You went a little pale.” Sloan watched her closely.
“I’m good,” Jill smiled. “Just ready to get all this over with.”
“I don’t say this often, but I’m proud of you, Jill.” Sloan cleared his throat, looking uncomfortable. “Now, where in the fuck is everyone?” He glared at the door.
“Thank you,” Jill replied, mirroring his discomfort.
They both sighed in relief when Damon, Jared, Sid, Jax, and Duncan, along with Steve, Dillon and Adam walked into the room.
“Can I get me a special chair since I’m in here a lot?” Sid looked around as if trying to find a place he would put it before he pointed to a spot next to Sloan. “It actually would go great right there. Right by where all the magic happens.”
“Sid, I will jail your ass if one chair delivery reaches this compound,” Sloan warned with a sneer. “I mean it.”
Slade hurried in, closing the door behind him. Glancing at Jill, he winked at her.
“Awe, isn’t that sweet.” Sid sighed, fluttering his eyelashes. “Warrior love is so hard to find.”
“Why do you always have to run your mouth?” Slade took a step toward Sid. “I swear, one of these days, I’m going to finish that ass whipping I was handing you.”
“In your dreams, Doc,” Sid chuckled with no remorse.