[06] Slade (28 page)

“Those are the worst kind.” Jared frowned at Jill as if she had three heads.

“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.

“Sid, you want me to tell Lana what you said about those women at the club?” Jill glanced over at Sid, her eyebrow cocked.

He snorted, but looked a little nervous. “I didn’t say anything.”

“Really? I could have sworn…”

“You play dirty.” He glared at her.

“Yes, I do, but so do you.” She smiled at him before turning back to Sloan. “You ready for me to make that call?”

Sloan nodded, pulling out a phone from his desk and handing it to her. “This number can’t be traced.” He then handed her the card. “Do you know what to say?”

“Yes.” Jill’s hands shook a little as she dialed the number, then put it on speaker.

“Hello, George Groper here,” he answered after three rings.

“Mr. Groper. It’s Lola. How are you doing, sir?”

There was a slight pause before he responded. Everyone became tense in the room. “I’m doing great, Lola. How are you?”

Jill saw Sid roll his eyes. “Been very busy, but finally have a window to meet with you about a few designs I have for your house. Would you be available to meet me soon?”

There was an audible click on the line, one that no human ear could pick up, but everyone in Sloan’s office heard it.

“Actually, I was getting ready to call you.” They heard his lie. “I really want to get this started and have a few ideas I can bring with me. How about this afternoon around five?”

Jill looked to Sloan who nodded. “That would be perfect and I know I can help you achieve what you want in your home.”

After he gave Jill the address, which Sloan wrote down, she hung up the phone.

“His line is definitely being monitored,” Jared frowned.

“Okay, let’s get ready to do this. It sounds like he has some stuff for us or at least I hope so.” Sloan glanced at Jill. “I want everyone ready for anything; this could be a set up.”

“Will I have enough time to test?” Jill asked, looking at Sloan.

“Plenty of time, but I want every Warrior staked out around that house an hour prior. It’s going to be tricky because it’s still daylight, but I know you can do it.” Sloan read off the address as each one of them entered it into their phone.

Jill stood, taking the paper with the address from Sloan. “Thanks.”

“Good luck.” He nodded his dismissal.

Slade took her hand as they walked out, handing her a set of keys. “You taking me?”

“Yes.” He smiled down at her.

“But you’re busy,” she frowned. “I can get Adam to take me or somebody. I don’t want to be a pain in your ass.”

Slade smacked her ass making her yelp. “You could never be a pain in my ass.”

She gave him a ‘you want to make a bet’ look. “Really?”

“Okay, you can be a pain in my ass, but not this. I want to be there.” He opened the car door for her.

Slade’s eyes looked tired as she sat in the driver’s seat and she felt a sudden wave of selfishness swarm her mind; she had been preoccupied with her own worries. The stress created, trying to figure out what was given to humans to turn them into half-breeds, was evident on Slade’s handsome face. Each investigation led to a dead end. Once he was in the passenger seat, she glanced over at him. “Thank you for everything, Slade.” She leaned over and kissed him. “I wish I could help you in some way.”

“I have the best working on it.” Slade touched her cheek. “And we will figure it out, but for now, just concentrate on what you have to do.”

Jill smiled with a nod, starting the car. Glancing over at Slade, she asked, “You’ve never ridden with me, have you?” A playful grin on the cusp of sadistic appeared before Jill revved the engine.

Slade turned from looking out the window to look at her. “Ah, shit.” He grabbed the dashboard as she turned and flew in reverse out of the parking spot, and slammed on the brakes.

“Just kidding.” She laughed at his look of horror as she carefully drove out of the parking lot and onto the street.

******

Slade paced back and forth in front of the DMV. The cop testing Jill didn’t look too happy being called out on a Sunday, but once he saw her excitement, he warmed up to her.

“Son, you’re making me a nervous wreck.” Jill’s dad sat on a bench, watching him.

“Sorry.” Slade walked over and sat down.

“Thank you for calling me and letting me know.” Chuck Nichols watched the cars passing on the street below. “I haven’t been a very good father to Jill.”

“Well, it’s never too late to start.” Slade frowned. “Jill loves you very much, sir.”

Giving Jill’s father some privacy after seeing him swipe at his eye, Slade stood back up, glancing at his watch. “Shouldn’t they be back by now?”

Composed, her father stood next to him, both watching for the car.

“There she is.” Slade stuck his hands in his back pockets as her dad stepped behind the large pillar.

“I don’t want to make her nervous.” He laughed when Slade looked at him.

Slade nodded, turning to watch as Jill stopped near the cones. The officer got out of the car with his clipboard, walking to the front of the cones. Jill glanced over at him and he gave her a reassuring nod. “She’s getting ready to parallel park,” he told her dad.

Chuck walked from behind the pillar to peek around the corner.

“Come on, baby. You can do this,” Slade mumbled. He watched as she did her maneuvers. Once she stopped the car, coming inches from the front cone, Slade felt such a relief he felt a little weak. It wasn’t perfect, but she fucking did it, and he couldn’t be more proud.

Jill jumped out of the car and held her crossed fingers up at him as she walked up to the officer. With a smile, the officer handed her a piece of paper. Jill jumped up and took off running toward Slade. He caught her and swung her around.

“I passed.” She held him tightly, tears in her voice. “I really did it.”

“As I knew you would.” Slade pulled her back, kissing her hard, but quick. “Someone else came to congratulate you.”

Jill turned her head to see her father standing there with tears in his eyes. “Congratulations, Jelly Bean.”

Slade put Jill on her feet and smiled down at her when she looked at him surprised, her chin trembling as tears flowed freely. “Go on,” he nudged her toward him.

Jill walked over, taking her father in her arms for a hug. “Thanks, Dad,” she cried, then laughed. “I know it’s just a stupid license, but I never thought I would ever get it.”

“I always told you that you could do anything you put your mind to, even with the battles you had and you’ve proved that.” He smiled sadly. “I’m sorry I didn’t help you more.”

“I love you, Dad.” Jill kissed his cheek. “And you loved me back. That’s enough.”

“You ready to get that license?” The officer smiled at Jill, holding the door open. “My shift starts in fifteen minutes.”

Jill nodded, following the officer inside, but not before turning back toward Slade mouthing ‘thank you’. He smiled with a wink.

“I don’t know how to ever thank you for what you’ve helped my daughter with.” Chuck looked embarrassed, but his appreciation was in earnest.

“You don’t have to ever thank me for anything I do for Jill, sir,” Slade responded. “But I do have something to ask you.”

“Son, you can ask me anything.” Her father gave a nod.

Slade looked toward the door Jill had disappeared through, then to her father. This was easier than he thought.

Jill drove to the address George gave her, feeling happy and content. After getting her license, Slade had taken her and her father out for a quick bite to eat. Her father was nervous, but excited and proud about her initiation into the VC Warriors. Jill asked about everyone, even her mom, but mostly they talked about what Jill had been going through with her training and her father’s health. Her dad also liked telling embarrassing stories about her to Slade.

Slowing down on the street, she looked at house numbers. She had her earpiece in, which Sloan threatened dire consequences if she took it out. She wore a professional dress suit that Nicole gave her and a different choker with a small camera.

“It’s the house with the fountain,” Jared’s voice echoed in her ear. “Black shutters.”

Jill nodded, forgetting that they couldn’t actually see her. “Okay, I see it.”

Pulling into the driveway, she parked behind a gorgeous blue Lexus. “Damn, no wonder George could afford to give me a two-hundred-dollar tip for his lap dance,” Jill whistled. “He’s loaded.”

“He gave you what?” Slade growled in her ear.

Cringing, Jill ignored him and reached for the portfolio case Sloan gave her to make her look more professional. Getting out, she straightened her suit. This time, Caroline had set her up with a short black bob wig. They wanted to make sure if Alice was involved, Jill wouldn’t be discovered. Her dark sunglasses also hid her mismatched eyes.

Walking up the marble sidewalk, Jill whistled again. “Nice set up.” Juggling the portfolio, Jill rang the doorbell. Within seconds, the door opened. “Hey…”

George shook his head, nodding backward mouthing ‘house may be wired’. “Right on time. Come on in.”

“Thanks.” Jill nodded back, letting him know she understood. “This shouldn’t take too long. I know how busy you are.”