Chapter 11
Duncan stormed out into the night, his vision clear other than a red haze of fury. Seeing Pam at her car he was at her side in a flash. “Why didn’t you tell anyone?” His eyes narrowed. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
Startled Pam dropped her keys. “Leave it go Duncan.” Pam bent to grab them without turning around. “There’s nothing to tell. She startled me…that’s all.”
Touching her gently he turned her around to face him. “Bullshit.” He leaned down in her line of vision. “Why are you with this loser?”
Pam started to say something, but her phone dinged indicating a text. Clicking her phone she read the text. “I have to go.” Her purse slid off her arm pulling the neck of her shirt down with it. A dark black and purple bruise stood out against her pale skin.
“I’m going to kill the son of a bitch.” Duncan reached out to touch the mark, but Pam backed away.
“No, you won’t.” Pam frowned pulling her shirt back up. “It’s none of your business Duncan. Just let it go.”
“Never.” Duncan growled.
The saddest eyes he had ever seen looked up at him. “Please Duncan.” Reaching up she kissed his cheek. “Thanks for everything, but you have to let this go. I’m fine.”
Watching her get in the car and drive off to go back to that bastard was one of the hardest things Duncan had ever done. He wanted to protect her…needed to protect her. “F*ck!”
“Why’d you let her go?” Jared walked up beside Duncan.
“I have no claim on her.” Duncan’s reply was a deep growl of frustration. “She may not be my mate. She’s good at blocking.”
“But you love her.” Jared felt for his friend.
Duncan looked Jared square in the eyes. “Like no other.”
Jared slapped him on the back. “The mate shit is way overrated if you ask me.”
“Can you read Tessa?” Duncan asked again looking toward where Pam’s car disappeared.
Jared looked surprised, but grinned. “Don’t know. Her brother has her blocked from everyone.” Jared turned to head back into the warehouse. “But I will tell you this…I don’t really care if I can or can’t. If I loved a woman who wasn’t my mate nothing would stop me from being with her.”
“Yeah, right, Romeo.” Duncan grumbled.
“You know I really don’t care if you believe me or not.” Jared sighed looking in the door seeing Tessa talking with Nicole. “I’m tired of nameless one night stands and I’m not afraid to make a commitment unlike you and Damon. At the time I would have given anything to have been in Damon’s shoes with Nicole. You’re blind if you don’t see that Pam has feelings for you and she is in desperate need of help. Step up before someone else does or she ends up dead.”
“What….are you gonna step up?” Duncan growled behind.
“Might, if you don’t stop being a p-ssy.” Jared swung the door open. “Fight for her Duncan, she’s worth it.”
********
Everyone was quiet as they filed into the house. Dillon, Matt and Jeff decided to stay behind with Sid and Duncan. Jill felt uncomfortable staying with all guys and wanted to come back with Tessa which was fine with her. Tessa missed having another female around, even one that didn’t say much.
Jared placed the two containers of chicken on the table while Tessa grabbed plates. “Hope you guys are hungry.” Tessa smiled trying to lighten the gloomy mood. “We have enough chicken to feed an army.”
No one said a word, the only response was a grunt from Adam. Jared kept checking his phone and Jill doodled on her notepad. Grabbing a piece of chicken Tessa sat quietly with everyone else.
“I’m heading into town for a while.” Adam pushed his plate away before standing to stretch.
“No…you’re not.” Jared frowned.
Adam stopped mid stretch. “Who says?”
“I do.” Jared’s tone held no compromise.
“I’ll be back in an hour or so.” Adam walked toward the door, but stopped when Jared stepped in front of him.
“I said you’re not going.” Jared’s cold stare warned not to push him on the matter, but Adam being a typical teenager didn’t heed the warning.
“Looks like we may have a problem then cause I’m going out.” Adam went to side step, but again was blocked.
“If the Council finds out you’re running around without an escort you will get locked up.” Jared crossed his arms not budging. “Is that what you want?”
“If you think you’re going to be following me around 24/7 you can forget it.” When Jared didn’t respond Adam laughed. “You aren’t worried about me, you’re worried about me turning rogue.”
“It’s my job to watch out for innocents.” Jared stated without blinking an eye. “Don’t want to hurt your feelings, but until we know which way you’re going to go you’ve got a buddy with you.”
“I’m not even close to going rogue.” Adam replied his one golden eye turning dark. “But I am about to rage on you if you don’t get out of my way.”
“Give it your best shot kid.” Jared taunted, his eyes burning a little darker. Some deep dark place wanted to see what this half-breed had. He knew Adam hadn’t come into his full power yet, but he was curious to what this kid could do when pushed.
Tessa pointed a chicken leg at them both. “If you even think about fighting in my kitchen, well let’s just say you haven’t seen anyone rage like a red head.”
Jared felt a grin tip his lips and noticed Adam was having a hard time keeping a straight face. “What? You think you can take on two vampires sis?”
“If I have to…yes.” She answered honestly, dropping the chicken leg. “I don’t want you guys fighting.”
They both backed down eyeing each other, but Adam spoke first. “Then please tell this guy that I have yet to kill a single soul in this town. Even the a*shole sheriff can vouch for that.”
“It’s true.” Tessa replied, then grinned trying again to lighten the mood. “Not one death. Oh, well, we still don’t know what happened to Ms. Shoemaker’s cat, Bitsy.”
“Okay. Okay.” Adam threw his hands up in the air. “I got a little hungry and went on a rage killing Bitsy in the back alley of Pop’s Barbershop.”
Jill slapped her hand over her mouth covering her giggle.
Tessa looked up at Jared. “Let him go. It’s just right down the hill.” She smiled, her green eyes pleading.
The smile did him in…dammit. How in the hell could he say no to that smile. “What’s your cell phone number?” Adam rattled it off as Jared called it. Adam programmed Jared’s number in his cell. “You have a half an hour before I come looking for you.”
“I swear I’ll call if I get any urges to kill anything bigger than a cat.” Adam ruffled the top of Tessa’s hair like he was the older of the two then headed out the door before Jared could change his mind.
“He’s a good kid.” Tessa turned to look at Jared.
“He’s a smartass.” Jared grumbled. Hell, he was really starting to like the damn kid and that always made killing someone so much harder.
Nodding, Tessa grabbed the dirty plates from the table. “Definitely a smartass.”
“I heard that.” Adam called from the front porch.
Jared watched as she stared after Adam with a sad smile, but fear was clearly evident on her face. “Hey, you okay?”
“What are the chances of him going….you know?” Tessa looked at Jared a silent plea in her eyes. “Rogue or raging or whatever you call it.”
Jared stared down at the beautiful woman hating the fear in her eyes, but hating more the fact that he may be the one who had to put her brother down. “I seriously don’t know.” Jared didn’t blink. “It differs from one to the other. He hasn’t reached his maximum potential as a half-breed yet, but should soon. Then we will know.”
“And if he does, you have to kill him? There is nothing he can do or take to make it not happen.” She knew she was grasping at anything, but she had to try. When he just shook his head not answering her she asked the question she really didn’t want the answer to, but had to ask. “Will he turn on me?”
“If he goes rogue….yes.” Jared frowned hoping that wasn’t the case. He really didn’t want to see this woman suffer in any capacity. “I’m sorry.”
A sob drew their attention. “Oh honey.” Tessa hurried over to Jill, whose one golden eye leaked a red tear, grabbing her in a tight hug. “It’s going to be okay. Jared and the others are going to take care of you.”
“I don’t want to die.” Jill’s muffled voice tore through the room. Her eyes met Jared’s over Tessa’s shoulder. “Please help us.”
Her repeated plea sent rage surging through Jared, he was about to explode with it. When he caught the son of a bitch responsible for this tragedy he was going make him pay dearly.