Chapter 28
Standing in a crowded club was the last thing Adam wanted to be doing. Clicking his phone closed, he sighed. Tessa was going to be pissed that he told Jared where she was. He hated to invade her mind, but if she was going to pull dumb stuff like running off without telling anyone where she was going she deserved it.
“Everything okay?” Steve yelled over the crowd, stepping out of the way of passing waitresses.
“Yeah.” Suddenly Adam’s senses were on alert. She was here, his Angel was here. His eyes focused on the crowd, scanning back and forth. Their eyes met. He watched as she moved away from the group of people she was with, making her way toward him. When she stopped in front of him he couldn’t help the happy grin that played across his lips. “Angel.”
“Never call me that again.” Her words penetrated his love fogged brain as did the hand that smacked the happy grin right off his face. “I at least deserved a phone call….you bastard!” She hissed before tears welled up in her eyes. Turning away, she stomped to the women’s restroom, head held high.
When the door closed behind her, Adam looked at Steve who wore a pained expression on his face, as if he’d been smacked. “Damn man.” Steve winced. “Little thing packs a punch.”
Adam rubbed his face feeling a touch of pride that she about put him on his ass. “Yeah, she does.”
“Guess you deserved that?” Steve glanced around at the crowd staring at them.
“I definitely deserved that and more.” Adam turned to stalk away. He needed a minute to regroup. He didn’t know what he had expected when he saw her again, getting slapped sure wasn’t it. She was right. He should have talked to her instead of disappearing from her life for a week. He had thought he was doing her a favor. Finding a corner, he propped himself against a banister over the dance floor his eyes going straight to the bathroom she had disappeared into.
Finally, after what seemed like an hour, she walked out followed by a girl he had never seen. Two guys met them and they returned to where he had first spotted her. The taller of the two guys handed her a drink before laying his arm across her shoulders.
A low growl rumbled from his lips sending the few people close to him scurrying away, but he didn’t care. The only thing he had ever really cared about stood across the crowded room with some douchebag he wanted to smash.
“Here.” Steve shoved a beer at him.
“Don’t drink.” Adam didn’t even look his way. “How in the hell did you get a beer anyway. You’re not twenty-one.”
“Ah..fake ID…duh.” Steve frowned. “Come on. If anyone needs a drink in here it’s you.” He persisted pushing the beer at him.
“I don’t want the f*cking beer Steve.” Adam looked back to the crowd finding her instantly. She and douchebag had moved out to the dance floor, slowly moving together, and way too close for his liking. He also didn’t like where the a*sholes hands had made camp and by the way Angelina kept trying to move them she didn’t either.
“Ah, dude...” Steve looked at Adam’s golden eye swirling to black. “Are we going to have a problem?”
“Probably.” He answered Steve’s question while leaping over the railing onto the dance floor. Adam didn’t remember his walk across the dance floor, didn’t remember people jumping out of his way and definitely didn’t remember Steve calling after him trying to talk him out of killing someone. No, all he was focused on was his Angel in the arms of another guy and yeah, he didn’t f*cking like it even if it was his own damn fault she was with someone else.
Angelina spotted him first. “Go away.” She turned her head into the guy’s chest, which really pissed Adam off.
“You heard her a*shole, get lost.” The guy turned and Adam found himself staring into the eyes of a half-breed.
“Hey, he was at the fairgrounds the other night.” Steve’s eyes narrowed, looking around. Five more half-breeds circled around them.
“Is there a problem?” Dillon walked up next to Steve with Matt and Jill close behind.
“Angelina.” Adam’s voice was calm, but firm. “Come here.”
She looked up at the half-breed frowning. “Were you one of them at the fairgrounds?” She asked, trying to pull away.
An arrogant grin tipped his lips. “So what if I was?” He held her tighter when she struggled.
Adam didn’t even warn the half-breed before he punched him in the side of the head with one hand and grabbed Angelina with the other to pull her out of harm’s way.
The half-breed recovered quickly, his lips curled in anger baring his fangs at Adam. Humans quickly made their way to safety, the girl who had been with Angelina pulled her out of the way as Adam stood ready.
“He’s with the Warriors Brad.” One of the half-breeds warned. “Let’s get out of here.”
“I’d take your buddies’ advice.” Adam kept his eyes on his threat, the half-breeds hissing not backing him down. Steve, Dillon, Matt and even Jill took a step closer to Adam.
“I say let’s not give him an option.” Dillon cracked his knuckles shifting his head from side to side loosening up.
A wicked grin spread across Matt’s face. “Jill, I say you take the p-ssy with the flowered shirt.” Matt chuckled when the smaller half-breed stared at Jill wide eyed. “Just don’t hurt him too bad. The Warriors probably want him alive.”
Jill looked him up and down with casual eyes. “No problem.” She stood poised, picking at her fingernail as if bored out of her mind.
Their confidence was making the others nervous. “Dude, I didn’t sign up for this shit.” The half-breed with the flowered shirt mumbled. “I don’t want no problems with the Warriors.”
Brad glanced over at him in disgust. “Then get the f*ck out of here Dave.” His gaze returned to Adam. “Maybe if you kept your girl happy she wouldn’t come looking for more.”
Not taking the bait Adam kept a steel hold over his control. “I’m going to tell you this once.” Adam replied looking at them all one at a time. “The Warriors are hunting you down and I suggest you turn yourselves over. They just want to question you.”
Shaking his head, Brad laughed then looked at Angelina. “Honey, now I know why you came looking for something more because this poor boy ain’t got no balls.” He smirked, leaning closer to Adam. “As soon as I kick your ass I’m going to f*ck that fine piece of ass and show her what a real man feels like.”
Adam also leaned closer. “Well, that outta be a miracle because I’ve never seen a dead man f*ck anything.” The breed’s eyes widened at Adam’s words.
“Ah, shit.” Steve sighed just before Adam and the other breed went full force at each other.
********
Tessa did her closing routine which included calling a cab for old man Farley, who had his very own bar stool. Going through her tips she pulled out money, then went around the bar when she heard the cab beeping outside. “Come on Bob.” She took his skinny elbow. “Your ride awaits.”
“Did I ever tell you the time when me and your grandpa went hunting?” Bob wobbled on his feet almost taking Tessa down with him, but Jared was there holding them both up.
“I’ve got him.” Jared helped the old man toward the door.
Her eyes shot up to Jared’s in appreciation. “You mean the time you shot Will Jackson’s prized bull?” Tessa chuckled. She remembered her Gramps coming in that night all red faced, huffing about never drinking and hunting again.
The old man cackled. “Will Jackson’s a grizzly old asshat.” Bob snorted, throwing his hand up in the air almost smacking Jared in the side of the head.
Jared grinned at Tessa, finally realizing where she got her colorful vocabulary.
“Well I guess I’d be an asshat too if you shot my prized bull.” Tessa chuckled, shaking her head.
“I swear it had antlers.” He stopped and crossed his heart on the wrong side of his chest.
“Gramps use to talk about that all the time.” Tessa smiled at the old man who stopped to stare at her.
“You look just like her…you know that don’t ya?” Suddenly Bob Farley didn’t seem so drunk, his eyes looked clear as he stood picturing the past. With Jared’s help he took the three steps needed to stand in front of Tessa. “Your momma was a good woman. She took care of me just like you do.”
Tessa’s eyes blurred as she leaned up and kissed his wrinkled cheek. “That’s the best compliment anyone has ever given me.”
He patted her cheek. “You’re a good girl. I’m glad you’re back. That new bartender didn’t know his ass from a hole in the ground.” The cab blared its horn again making Bob snap his head toward the door with a frown. “That driver is gonna be farting that horn after I shove it up his fat ass.”
Tessa slapped her hand across her mouth, her eyes crinkled with laughter. Getting herself under control quickly, she grabbed his other arm, helping Jared lead him out the door. “I already called Martha.” Tessa told him as she put money in the older man’s hand for cab fare. “She’s waiting for you.”
Jared pushed the money back at her. “I’ve got it.”
Watching the cab pull away, she waved at Bob as he waved from the back window. It was the same routine every night Tessa worked. Walking back into the bar Tessa smiled up at Jared. “Thanks.”
“You’re an angel.” Jared pulled her into his arms holding her close, swaying to the country song playing on the old jukebox in the corner. “I’ve been wanting to do this all night.” Jared whispered in her ear.
Wrapping her arms around his neck she pushed closer to his body. “I’m finished except for locking up.” She tilted her head back to stare up into his eyes.
“After this dance.” His hands ran up and down her back. He leaned down taking her lips in a slow sensual dance of their own.
“Jesus…get a room.” Sid grunted as he walked past them toward the door.
“Shut up Sid.” Jared and Tessa hissed against each other’s lips.
The door to the bar burst open sending everyone into fight mode. Jared pushed Tessa behind him ready for anything.
Otis hurried into the bar in full uniform. Spotting Tessa behind Jared he thumbed behind him. “Seen your car so I knew you were still here.” Then he frowned. “Do you ever check your damn phone?”
“What do you want?” Jared demanded, reaching behind him lacing his fingers with Tessa’s.
“Adam was arrested along with ten other half-breeds.” Otis sighed. “I just heard it over the radio.”
“Arrested?” Tessa took a step around Jared. “For what?”
“Fighting.” Disapproval colored his words.
Jared looked at Nicole. “Help her lock up.”
Nicole nodded, but Tessa grabbed his arm. “I’m going with you.”
“Ah, I don’t think that’s a very good idea.” Otis said in his best Sheriff tone.
“I’ve got to bail him out.” Tessa replied already heading to the back to lock up. “He’s my brother.”
“He’s one of us now.” Damon kissed Nicole quickly before heading toward the door. “We got it.”
Jared caught Tessa tilting her chin up. “Go with Nicole.” He leaned down and kissed her hard. “I’ll get your brother.”