[06] Slade (32 page)

“She left.” Adam looked like he’d been through hell and back.

“What the hell do you mean ‘she left’?” Slade shook him.

“I saw her leave with Jax.” Dillon, who still looked spooked, glanced at Jax, then Slade.

Slade walked up, grabbing Jax’s shoulder. “Where’s Jill?”

“That’s what I’m trying to find out.” Jax shrugged out of Slade’s hold.

“Is Alisha here?” Jax looked down at Caroline.

“What the fuck do you mean you’re ‘trying to find out’?” Slade growled, panic and a rare fear trickled through his system. “Dillon said she left with you, so where is she?”

“Will you give me a fucking minute?” Jax yelled, his face twisted in anger.

Slade went for Jax, but Damon and Duncan held him back. “Hold on, bro.” Jared stepped in front of Slade, putting his hand on his chest. “Something funky is going on.”

“Somebody better tell me where the fuck she is now before I tear this place apart,” Slade roared, making Caroline jump.

Jax cursed, turning on Slade. “She’s in grave danger, so shut the fuck up so I can find out what the hell is going on.”

“Have you ever heard of a vampire shifter before?” Sid glanced over at Slade.

“There isn’t any such thing!” Slade growled, ready to kill something or someone.

“That’s what I thought.” Sid turned as they all watched Jax closely.

Jax turned back to Caroline. “I need Alisha, Caroline.”

Caroline frowned. “She’s really upset.”

“Why? Why is she upset?” Jax urged, his fist flexing. “Is it our brother?”

“Yes.” Caroline grabbed her chest right before she went limp. Jax caught her.

“Caroline!” Lana bent down brushing the hair from her eyes.

Slade shrugged out of Damon and Duncan’s hold. “Let me go so I can help her.” They did, but before Slade could reach her, Caroline pulled herself up.

“I’m fine.” Caroline put a hand to her head and looked at Lana. “Did you see that?”

“Yes, I did.” Lana looked at Jax. “What are you?”

That’s all Slade heard before he grabbed Jax by the throat. “What did you do to Jill?”

“Stop it,” Lana screamed, grabbing Slade. “He didn’t do anything.”

Warriors pulled Slade off Jax, holding them away from each other. “Does she know where he took her?” Jax yelled over the chaos.

“She’s at the Halfway House. Your brother, who looks just like you, took her to the Halfway House.” Caroline’s shocked eyes burned into Jax’s before turning to Slade. “She says you need to hurry.”

Jill drove right through the gates of the Halfway House as if they were guests, Jax’s gun still pointed at her head. Something definitely wasn’t right with Jax. His hand shook uncontrollably to the point he had to use his other hand to steady it.

“If you’re shaking from fear, you’re a smart man,” Jill hissed at him as she parked where he instructed. “Slade is going to kill you.”

“If he can find me,” he laughed, jamming the gun harder in her temple. “Now, you are going to get out of the car like a good girl. If you make one wrong move, I am going to kill you and say ‘fuck the bonus’.”

“You’re doing this for a bonus?” Jill looked at him in shocked rage. “Money made you a traitor? You’re pathetic. I hope you burn in hell, traitor.”

He smacked her in the side of the head. “Just get the fuck out of the car and remember what I said. Even if I somehow miss, we have sharpshooters up on the roof who will take you out.”

Getting out of the car, Jill searched her surroundings. She actually didn’t want to run, as stupid as that sounded. She had planned on heading to the Halfway House first to find that bitch Alice. Jax grabbed her arm, leading her toward the side entrance. Pulling out his phone, he hit a number. “Yeah, open the door. I’m at the side entrance.”

“Not important enough to have a key?” Jill smirked at him. In horror, she tried to jerk away when his face completely changed in front of her eyes. “What the hell is wrong with your face?”

The door opened and he pushed her inside. “Just get in there.”

Jill continued trying to look at him, but he wouldn’t allow it. She knew his face had…she didn’t even know how to explain it. Maybe she was losing it? Maybe the initiation, hell …?” Hell, the past week had just been too much.

He led her past rooms with steel doors that had small openings for what looked like trays. “Stop casing the place.” He pushed her faster, the gun still out. “The only way you’ll be coming back out is in a body bag.”

“Oh, is that so?” Jill egged him on. “You’re nothing but a pussy traitor. Having to use a gun on a half-breed girl. Afraid to go one-on-one, Jax? Afraid real Warriors showed me how to kick your ass.”

“After I get my bonus, then me and you can have a go around and see who has the biggest dick.” He led her to a large two-door room with a camera positioned above it. Before they reached the door, it opened. Jax pushed her into the room causing her to fall to her knees and slide across the floor. Even before she stopped, Jill jumped to her feet, ready.

The first thing she saw was George, sitting in a chair, with the large man from the limo standing behind him.

“Welcome to my party,
breed
.”

The most hated voice filled the room making Jill sneer. Slowly, Jill turned her head, seeing Alice through a rage that formed over her eyes. Alice sat comfortably on a plush sofa. “Thank you. I appreciate the invite,” Jill said slowly. “Saves me the time of hunting you down.”

“Oh, is that right?” Alice laughed, standing; she walked toward her spreading her arms wide. “Well, here I am.”

“Yeah, there you are, bitch,” Jill hissed, her eyes shooting to George.

“Oh, I’m sorry. Where are my manners?” Alice walked toward George. “This is George. Dear George, who wants my sweet Tom thrown out of office so he can take over. Seems he’s a traitor and was giving information to people he shouldn’t have.” She patted his cheek, clicking her tongue at him.

“You are crazy!” George glared at her. “Tom should never have gotten involved with you, whore.”

Alice lifted her hand and Jill knew one blow would be the end of George.

“You still need a decorator, bitch?” Jill laughed loudly, thankful her question stopped Alice’s hand from hitting George.

“What did you just say?” Alice turned, her face a mask of rage.

“You heard me. And I do believe you need one for that ugly-ass face of yours. Come closer and I’ll decorate that old, wrinkled up mess for you,” Jill taunted.

Alice pointed at her, not yet taking the bait. “That was you?”

“Oh, yeah, and we have enough information to…” Jill paused when Alice rushed toward her. They were nose-to-nose. “…take you down.” Jill tilted her head as she finished her sentence, a smile playing on her lips.

“I don’t believe you.” Alice glared, stepping back. She indicated behind her at George. “He doesn’t have the balls to do something like that.”

“But I do and I can pretty much talk anyone into anything.” Jill was practically begging for her to take a swing. “So even if you kill us both, you’re still going down. Everything has been given to the Council and very soon, you will be hunted by every Warrior, but not just because of that. The men you hired to kill Warriors talked…a lot.”

Alice looked over at the man standing behind George, giving him a glare that proved right there, she was behind it all.

Jill saw a hint of fear in Alice’s eyes, just a hint, but it was there and that was all Jill needed. “Your name was mentioned quite a few times and hundreds of Warriors heard it all.” Jill smiled, hatred flickering across her features. “You know what happens to people who kill Warriors, especially vampires?”

“Shut up,” Alice hissed, baring her fangs at Jill, who stood strong without flinching. “I’m going to enjoy killing you.”

“And I’m going to enjoy having you try, you nasty whore,” Jill hissed back.

“Before this catfight starts, can I please have my bonus and I’ll be on my way, dear Alice,” Jax interrupted, looking bored.

“You better take the bonus and run far, you bastard,” Jill spat at him.

“You know, I’m getting sick of your mouth.” Jax was in her face in a split second. “How about a scare? Hmmm? Maybe that will get you to shut the fuck up.”

Jill prepared herself for what was to come, steadying her breathing and body, waiting for the blow she was sure was coming. But as she watched Jax change into another person right in front of her eyes, she stumbled back. What the hell? A man stood before her. He was the same size as Jax, and actually looked similar to Jax, with American Indian heritage, but there was evilness behind his eyes, a hatred directed not just at her, but everything. “Who are you?” Jill asked, staring at him, trying to believe what she just saw. “
What
are you?”

“Well, for starters, I’m not my asshole brother, Jax.” He glared at her and smiled without humor. “At least, not right now.” The man laughed as he went to touch George, turning into George’s twin, and as if showing off, he grabbed the man behind George, changing into him.

“This, you idiot, is a shifter.” Alice laughed at Jill’s expression. “He actually came to me with a fabulous idea. After he kills my fiancé, the Mayor, he will pose as him, so it’d be best you die now because your world is about to get rocked.”

Jill tried to hide her shock at the man before her being Jax’s brother, but she did notice something, and maybe she was wrong. “Okay, well, maybe I’m wrong here, shifter guy, but it looks to me like you need to make contact with the person before turning. How’s that going to work when the dead Mayor gets…juicy?” Jill cocked her eyebrow at him and smiled when she read his expression. From the glare he was shooting her, it appeared she was right.

“I’m bored with this conversation,” Alice sneered.

“That’s probably because you’re too stupid to understand the conversation.” Jill smirked at her.

“And I really hate her. You want to tag team?” Alice glanced at Jax’s brother, holding out her arm.

“Sounds like a great idea.” He grabbed her arm and within seconds, he was transformed into a Alice lookalike.

“You have got to be shitting me?” Jill looked between the two, knowing she had to get it together and think about this crazy shit later. She had a feeling she was about to get her ass kicked by not one, but two Alice’s. Yeah, that shit just wouldn’t do. Tilting her head from side to side, she rolled her shoulders, and then waved them both toward her in a cocky fashion. “Which whore wants their ass kicked first?”

******

Slade stood back with the fifty or so Warriors, his eyes fixed on the building Jill was in. He scanned the place, looking for what dangers he would be facing. As the Warriors behind him made plans, he knew time was running out. His rage out of control, Slade began to walk, then his walk turned into a jog, his focus on getting to Jill.

“Guess he didn’t like our plan.” Jared ran up beside Slade, yelling behind him, “Take out anyone who tries to stop us. We’ll explain shit later to whoever we need to explain shit to.”

Picking up his speed, Slade saw an officer raise his gun. His mouth moved with warning, but Slade didn’t hear him. He lifted his hand, picking the officer up and throwing him against the iron fence without physically touching him; his gift was strong with his rage. With one leap, Slade sailed over the fence, landing on his feet. Warriors followed his lead, landing all around him. Shots rang out, but Slade continued through the chaos, using his power to toss people out of his way. A young guard stood in front of the door, holding his gun with shaking hands.

“Stop.” The man’s voice shook. “Please, I don’t want to shoot you.”

Slade lifted his arm. As the man rose off his feet, Slade pushed forward hard, using the man to crash open the doors. Making his way further into the building, Slade grabbed another guard who was cowering against the wall. He wore a gun, but didn’t pull it. “Where is she?”

“I don’t know who you’re talking about.” When Slade picked him up off his feet, the man cried out.

“The Mayor’s bitch. Where is she?” Slade growled, his eyes black.

“I can show you.” A young girl with mismatched eyes came forward, her red hair flowing behind her. She wore what appeared to be an issued jumpsuit that he noticed other patients wearing.

Slade dropped the man and stared at the girl for a long second. “Who are you?”

“Hurry,” she said, ignoring his question as she took off down the hallway, looking behind her to make sure Slade was following. “I think they are going to hurt that pretty girl.”

Growling, Slade took the girl’s arm. Speeding her along, the girl’s feet left the ground.

“It’s that door down there,” she pointed. Putting her hand on his arm, she whispered, “Be careful. They are bad people.”

Slade set her on her feet as he made his way toward the door. Seeing the camera, he pulled his gun and shot it, and kicked open the doors. The first thing he saw was a man standing behind George, pulling his gun. Slade barely gave him notice as he lifted his gun and shot him between the eyes. He continued his search and found her.