Slade (The Protectors #6)

As soon as she reached her car, but before she could open the door, Alice opened her fucking mouth.

“Hey, you.” She leaned toward the door looking at Jill. “Girl.”

“Hey, dumb bitch,” the man snapped at her. “The lady is talking to you.”

Cursing and growls filled Jill’s ear.

Jill looked at the man before turning her attention on Alice. “I’m sorry. I was excited to meet the Mayor, never met one before.” Jill tried to sound like an airhead crushing on meeting a well-known political figure.

“Jim, that was rude,” Alice cooed. “Apologize to the lady.”

“Sorry.” He frowned at her, then looked away. Jill wanted to smack the arrogant dick with her portfolio.

“Did I hear you are a decorator?” Alice looked at her fingernails then back to Jill.

“Yes, ma’am.” Jill nodded, wishing she could have just one second to redecorate the bitch’s face. “Are you in need of one?”

Alice and the muscle head laughed together as if sharing a secret. “Not yet.” Jill watched the evilness she had seen in Alice before appear on her face. “But I’ll make sure I get your number from George.”

“I appreciate the business.” Jill nodded, opening her car door. “You all have a nice evening.”

Jill got behind the wheel, putting her portfolio on the front seat. Her eyes slowly rose only to see Alice still staring at her. Starting the car, she glanced to see the Mayor and George walk out with George wearing a nice black suit. Putting the car in reverse, Jill backed up onto the street. Taking one last look, her eyes met George’s as he got into the limo. “Please let me take the bitch out,” Jill hissed, a deep rage building inside her.

“Jill, you need to put the car in drive and fucking go,” Slade’s voice echoed in her ear.

Jill did just that and took off, her eyes watching in the rearview mirror as the limo pulled out, going in the opposite direction. As Jill turned onto the main road, the van with Slade and Sloan pulled up behind her, Jax at the wheel.

Within twenty minutes, they were pulling into the compound. Jill parked, grabbed the portfolio and got out. Slade was there, opening her door. “You did awesome.” He smiled at her.

Jill snorted. “I wanted to beat her ass.”

“That’s what we were afraid of,” Slade chuckled, but then turned serious. “We took a photo off the camera to compare that man to see if it matches your sketch.”

“I know it was him.” Jill handed him the portfolio.

“Why are you giving me this?” Slade pushed it back at her. “This is your doing. You hand over the evidence.”

Jill smiled, feeling excited that she was actually being treated like a true Warrior. It was a good feeling, a feeling of belonging. She may have found something she was actually good at. “Thanks.”

“But please, take off that wig.” He glared at it with distaste. “Where in the hell does Lana and Nicole come up with these disguises?”

Jill reached up, pulling off the wig. “I don’t know, but they’re pretty good at it.”

They walked into Sloan’s office, but he was nowhere to be found. Jax sat texting. “Where’s Sloan?”

“Guess he’s still outside. He got a call on his cell.” Jax glanced up at Jill. “You sure that was the guy from Caroline’s description?”

Jill noticed he didn’t say his sister’s description, so she let it pass. “Yeah, I know it was.”

A hardness settled across Jax’s face. “Should have taken the bastard out,” he growled.

“You want to see my license?” Jill changed the subject; she knew how badly Jax wanted to kill the guy and knew why Sloan had probably stopped him from doing it.

“Of course.” Jax reached out, taking it. “How did the parallel parking go?”

“Not too bad. I didn’t hit the cones.” Jill took her license back examining it. “Does everyone’s license picture look as goofy as mine?”

Sid snatched it out of her hands when he entered the room. “Not mine.”

“Now, why doesn’t that surprise me?” Jill rolled her eyes. Opening the portfolio, Jill pulled out the envelope, laying it on Sloan’s desk. Sid handed her license back.

“Good job today.” Sid nodded, his tone serious. “That could have been a bad situation, but you handled it like a Warrior should.”

Jill beamed at the compliment. “Thank you.”

Sloan arrived, heading straight for his desk. He eyed the envelope, but stuck a memory card into the computer then hit a couple of buttons. The printer buzzed in the quiet room. Grabbing Jill’s sketch, he laid it on his desk. He pulled the finished picture off the printer, laying them side by side.

“Son of a bitch.” Jax, who had stood, slammed his hand on the desk after comparing the two pictures. “The bastard was right there!”

“And there wasn’t a damn thing we could do without putting Jill in danger,” Sloan added, looking at the picture and sketch. “But we got the fucker now.”