[06] Slade (13 page)

He pointed toward where she had hid. “That way.”

“We didn’t even see her before it was too late.” The other one frowned. “Ain’t gonna live this one down with the guys. Fucking pink.” He was still trying to wipe it off.

Jill slapped her hand over her mouth with a grin, even knowing she was going to be in big trouble. Sid and Jared headed her way. Slowly and quietly she moved out of sight, holding her breath and trying to slow her heartbeat. She watched with nervous anticipation as they walked right under her tree. Slowly, she aimed her gun.

“You and Slade good?” Jared asked as they looked around on alert.

“No, not really,” Sid replied, stopping also looking around for any targets running around, but then his eyes flashed to Jared’s. “His ass better watch it with Jill. She’s like a sister to me. I swear I’ll kill him if he hurts her.”

“She’s a grown woman, Sid.” Jared actually leaned up against the tree Jill was hiding in.

Jill’s finger twitched on the trigger, but she calmed herself. She could only hit one and then the other would be on her before she could do anything. It wasn’t worth it. Shooting Slade in the ass was worth it; this wasn’t worth it.

“I figured it was bound to happen between them. Hell I even bet it would, but not like that,” Sid growled.

“He just likes it rough,” Jared shrugged. “Tessa likes it when I get a little rough.”

“Too much info, bro.” Sid glared at him. “So shut the fuck up.”

“Ah, come on,” Jared laughed. “You can’t tell me you haven’t given it to Lana, pushed the limits. Some women get off on it and it’s our job to give our women what they want.”

“Okay, first off, don’t ever talk about Lana and sex,” Sid warned him. “Secondly, I don’t think it was Jill who wanted it rough or whatever it was I walked in on.”

“Oh, and you know that because you were there,” Jared snorted as they walked away. “Sid, stay out of it and let those two work it out. I’d be the first in line to kill the doc if I thought he had hurt her in any way, but honestly, this is none of our business.”

After a few minutes of silence, Sid glanced at Jared. “So Tessa really likes it rough, huh?”

The smile that plastered on Jared’s face was full of male pride. “She’s a fucking hellcat, my brother.”

Sid’s grin widened. “We are lucky bastards.”

“That we are,” Jared laughed as they headed deeper into the woods.

Jill let out her breath and waited for a second before slipping out of the tree. Looking around, she felt confident that she was alone. Making her way behind Jared and Sid probably wasn’t the smartest move she could make, but she did it anyway. Feeling a sting in her shoulder then hearing the pop of a gun, she took off running haphazardly, making her a harder target. “Shit.” She ran hard and suddenly her feet hit nothing but air. Seconds later, her body hit hard ground as she rolled down a steep hill until she came to a stop against a tree, knocking the wind out of her. Scrambling, she rolled into some brush and lay still.

“She’s gone.” Jax’s voice came from her left. “She must have gone across the creek.”

She barely turned her head to watch Jax and Duncan a few yards away from her. Once they were gone far enough away, she sat up, looking around. The sound of more guns popping in the distance had her standing. The Warriors had found someone. With no more thought of herself, she took off toward the sound. In a clearing, sat a building surrounded by Warriors, except she didn’t see Slade. Not knowing what to do, she glanced around frantically. Seeing another large tree, she snuck that way and climbed, finding a good area to shoot from. If they figured out where she was, she’d be screwed.

Aiming, she looked around the area with the scope and spotted Dillon on the other side of the woods hidden and waiting with his gun aimed. The Warriors dodged in and out of the woods getting closer and closer to the building. Seeing green splatter on Damon’s leg, she knew Steve was in the building. Where in the hell were Adam and Slade? Jax was the first she had a clear shot of and her hands began to shake. She had him and could make the kill shot, but did she have the balls. Her father’s words came back to her as if he was with her teaching her how to shoot. “It’s you or them, Jilly.” Her father’s words repeated over and over again in her mind.

Moving her shoulder, she wiped the sweat from her temple. Taking aim again, she pulled the trigger. Pink exploded on the back of Jax’s head. Jill’s stomach heaved as she pulled back behind the trunk of the tree. Damn, that was going to suck for her. Now Jax would hate her even more and she actually didn’t feel the satisfaction that she thought she’d feel.

“Where the fuck did that come from?” She heard Damon yell above Jax’s cursing.

Jill peeked around the other side of the tree, praying Steve made a run for it out the back of the building. Seeing him take off toward the woods, she turned to aim to give him cover and freaked when every Warrior other than Jax had their guns pointed toward her tree. “Ah, shit!” She took cover again, squeezing her eyes shut as black paint splattered all around her. Keeping against the tree she climbed higher, then stopped and took aim hitting Damon and Sid, but not in the head. Another volley of paintballs rained around her, one getting her in the leg, the other in the side. “Dammit, that hurts,” she hissed. God, she hated pain and those damn paintballs pinging against her body was almost unbearable. Yeah, she and pain did not mix.

Dillon started shooting from his spot, drawing their attention his way. Jill took that opportunity, climbing and jumping down, but soon the paintballs were flying hitting her everywhere, except the head. She just tucked her head and ran…smack into Slade. Falling onto her ass, her gun bouncing out of her grip, she rolled to try to grab it, but he kicked it away.

“Stand up.” He aimed his gun at her, no emotion on his face.

Slowly, she stood, her brain working overtime. If he shot her in the head now, it was going to hurt like hell this close. Not liking her back exposed, she sidestepped so the tree was behind her.

He cocked his eyebrow. “Nice move.”

“Thanks,” she replied, and then shot her hand up quickly trying to knock the gun out of his hand, but it didn’t budge. She frowned and tried again.

“Not happening.” Slade shook his head at her like she was a naughty child.

“Then go ahead and shoot.” Jill even plunged her head forward. “Get the kill shot.”

Without moving her eyes, she could see Adam sneaking up on Slade; she didn’t want to give her teammate away. Just as Adam aimed, Slade turned, shooting Adam right between the eyes, knocking him on his back before swinging the gun toward Jill whose eyes were wide with shock. “Holy hell.” She looked around Slade to see Adam picking himself up, holding his head.

“Fuck, that hurt.” Adam stumbled sideways before sitting down on the ground.

“You still want me to take that kill shot?” Slade asked, watching her closely, a grin playing at the corner of his mouth.

Jill gulped, deciding if acting like a badass was worth it. Looking at Adam again holding his head, she decided that no, it wasn’t. She hated pain; pain sucked and getting shot in the head close range was going to hurt like hell. Suddenly, the horn echoed throughout the area ending their practice, giving new meaning to ‘saved by the bell’.

Walking over, she picked up her gun. Dillon and Steve headed over, followed by the Warriors. Dillon had been hit by a kill shot, black paint splattered his face. Sloan looked Jill over.

“No kill shot?” Sloan looked at Slade.

“No,” Slade replied, his eyes leaving Jill to land on Sloan. “Close range.”

“Didn’t seem to stop you with Adam.” Sloan frowned as Adam still weaved a little.

“It was me or him, and I picked me.” Slade’s tone didn’t change.

“She’s not going to learn anything by being treated differently.” Sloan frowned. “You had a shot and didn’t take it, why?”

Jill watched from a distance where she picked up her gun. Slade didn’t even look her way.

“She was apprehended. No threat.” Slade’s tone did change this time.

“And that wasn’t the exercise.” Sloan sighed and shook his head, then looked at Jill. He raised his gun.

Jill was looking at Slade when she heard the pop of a gun, next everything went pitch black as pain exploded in her head.

Slade watched Jill go down. Every instinct he possessed urged him to go to her, but Sloan was watching his every move. His decision at that moment decided Jill’s fate in the program. Sloan warned them both to keep it professional, and well, he sure as hell fucked that up, and just a few short hours ago.

“Jesus, Sloan.” Sid ran over to Jill who was just now moving. “What the fuck?”

“What happened?” Jill’s voice was faint and confused.

“You got shot,” Sid answered her.

“But the horn blew,” Jill griped. “Who the hell shot me?”

Slade heard it all, but didn’t take his eyes off Sloan. “Are you done testing me?” Slade growled, wanting to rip Sloan’s head off. “Can I check these guys out to make sure they’re okay?”

Sloan nodded, but Slade could tell he was still being watched closely. Turning, his eyes scanned Jill quickly and he was relieved to see her sitting up. Adam was sitting down being quiet, but he was also looking at Jill.

“Hurts like a bitch, don’t it,” Adam called over to Jill.

“Can you stand up?” Slade asked, trying his best to keep his eyes off Jill and focus on Adam. If he went to Jill first, then Sloan would open his mouth and shit would get bad, real bad.

“Nice shot,” Adam grinned, standing. “How the hell did you know I was behind you?”

“Just a feeling,” Slade responded, prying Adam’s human eye open. “You have a headache?”

Adam nodded. “A little.”

Slade looked him over noticing the black paint all over him. He pushed on the red lump on Adam’s forehead where he had shot him. Adam winched, but didn’t move his head. “You’ll live.” Slade clapped him on the shoulder. “Good job today.”

“I died.” Adam looked confused and disgusted. “I failed.”

“But you stayed alive until the end.” Slade turned away. “And you gave up your life for a teammate. You get points for that.”

Heading toward Jill, who was standing up but had her eyes closed and arms crossed, he stopped in front of her. “You okay?”

Jill slit her eyes open to squint up at him. She went to nod but stopped with a hiss. “Yeah. I’m good.”

Slade snorted when she closed her eyes again. “You dizzy?” He reached up touching the large bump on her forehead.

“No.” She stated her lie as she jumped at his touch, almost losing her balance. “A little.”

“Headache?” Slade moved her head back and forth, working her neck.

“Yes.” She kept her eyes closed. “But I’m fine. Just need a minute.”

“Sit down and stay put.” Slade helped her sit before turning toward Dillon, but Jax with his pink splattered hair was in his line of vision. “You good?” he asked Jax, trying to keep the grin off his face. That had been a proud moment when he saw the back of Jax’s head explode in bright pink. That was a hell of a shot.

“I’m fine.” Jax gave him a sideways glance. “Go doctor one of these other pussies.”

Slade did grin then as he passed him and went toward Dillon who waved him away.

“I didn’t get hit close up. It barely stung,” Dillon told him as he felt his head, “and I don’t really have a bump.”

Looking toward Steve, who had the biggest grin on his face, Slade shook his head. Out of any of the half-breeds, Steve was the last one he’d pick to survive this test, though he would have never told Steve that. “Good job, Steve,” Slade nodded.

The rest of the Warriors followed suit, congratulating Steve.

Steve soaked it in for a few minutes looking proud of himself, but then he looked to his teammates. “Honestly, I wouldn’t have done it without my dudes and dudette.” Steve smiled at each of them. “I was about to piss myself when you all had me cornered, but with their help, I was able to get out and then the horn sounded.”

“We didn’t do much, Steve.” Jill’s voice sounded tired, but happy for her friend. “You earned it.”

“No, it all turned in my favor when you shot Jax in the head. Great fucking shot by the way,” Steve grinned, heading toward Jill to give her a high five when he spotted the look Jax was giving him. His hand dropped to his side real quick. “Ah, I mean…well anyway, thanks, guys.”

Even with Slade’s dangerous mood, he couldn’t help but grin at Steve. This poor kid just didn’t know when to shut the fuck up.

“You guys did pretty good,” Sloan said, looking at each of them. “You lasted longer than we thought you would. Jax and Slade will go over everything with you tomorrow. Go get cleaned up and get some rest.”

Slade held back as everyone left the area to head out. His gaze watched Jill, making sure she was steady on her feet. He started to go to her when she stumbled, but Dillon was at her side giving her a hand, a hand Slade wanted to snap off and shove up his ass. Feeling Sloan staring at the side of his head, Slade sneered his way, “You got something to say to me?”