Adam (11 page)

“Son of a bitch.” Jared
’s eyes left the cabinet to look at her. “Good job, rookie.”

“
No big deal.” Jill felt weird now she was being praised; she didn’t like it. “Had a hunch and just followed up on it.” She did her best to keep Anne’s name out of it.

“Without back-up
,” Slade added, but nodded as he passed her, heading toward the cabinets.

“Good work
, Jill.” Sloan also passed her, but went in a different direction. “Damon and Duncan, help Slade secure this area. I want everything and I mean everything boxed up and sent to the compound and in my office. I’ll send Sid and Lana up to help.”

The Mayor
remained still, looking at the pictures. “Have all of these people been turned?”

“It looks that way
,” Jared replied, his eyes narrowing as he also glanced at the pictures.

“What in the hell are you going to do about this?” The Mayor demanded, turning to Sloan.

Purposefully ignoring the Mayor, Sloan jumped toward the ceiling door, landing perfectly on a beam, and then headed downstairs. Jared followed suit, and then turned to look at the large hole.

“You know you probably could have used your power to stop yourself from hitting the floor.” Jared looked up at Jill.

Jill shrugged, wondering if she could have actually done that. “I really wasn’t thinking clearly with a two-hundred pound man on my ass,” Jill replied, a grin forming on her lips when Jared chuckled at her. Once he disappeared, she jumped, passing the Mayor again as he tried to make his way to the door not paying any attention to them at all.

Sloan and Jared stood at the bottom talking
, until she headed toward them. “Finish up with them,” Sloan ordered her as she passed. They all ignored Alice, who remained at the bottom of the steps; the expression on her face clearly indicated she was pissed and didn’t like being ignored.

“Where are they going to go?” Jill asked. “They can
’t go home yet. Anne has a young son. It would be too dangerous until she is sure she’s under control with feeding.”

“We got room at the compound
,” Jared supplied, raising his eyebrows at Sloan. “Other Warrior groups have taken the others.”

“Shit!” Sloan cursed running his hand through his hair. “Okay, but you guys are responsible.”

Everyone jumped out of the way as a loud noise sounded above them. Looking up, they watched as the Mayor’s shiny black dress shoe came through the floor. “Alice!” he yelled from above.

Jill laughed loudly along with Jared and even Sloan let out a deep laugh. They all walked away
; no one saw Alice whose fangs had grown as she watched Jill follow the Warriors.

Chapter 13

Walking out on the porch
, Adam glanced at his watch. It was almost midnight, and according to Slade, they were still starting their training in the morning. Even though he was half-vampire, his other half needed sleep. His feelings about Angelina were still mixed. He loved her; that he had no doubt, yet there was something keeping him from her. Guilt maybe that he had left her, just turned and walked away when she was in danger.

Slade came out on the porch
and stopped next to him. “Good job tonight.”

“This should have happened when I first came here
,” Adam replied, his eyes finding Angelina as she stood next to Jill and Anne, who was hugging her husband. Sid also stood close by, making sure things went smoothly before they ushered the women to the compound to help with their transition. “I just walked away.”

“You said you read her.” Slade leaned against the porch railing
, also looking out over the yard toward the scene below.

“Yeah, I did and I read her as happily married
,” Adam shook his head in confusion. “I can always read people, even when they try to hide something from me.”

Slade sighed
, rubbing his eyes. He then ran his hand through his hair. “You can’t always depend on your powers, Adam,” Slade warned. “Many things can affect the outcome.”

The expression on Adam
’s face was tense with frustration. “But why didn’t she warn me, why not send me a message that she was in trouble instead of filling her head with being happily married to the fucking asshole?”

“That I can
’t answer.” Slade pushed himself away from the railing. “But she can.” He nodded toward Angelina before disappearing back into the house.

Adam
looked on as she stood back a little from Anne and her family, but close enough if Anne needed her. His Angel was a good woman with a good heart. Knowing he had to talk to her, he took a step in her direction, but Jared shoved a large box against his stomach.

“Stop standing around mooning over your woman.” Jared rolled his eyes. “We need to get this shit loaded and back to the compound
, and I’ll be damned if I do it all by myself.”

Adam glared at Jared
and took hold of the box before it hit the ground. Not knowing which vehicle to put it, he placed it in the backseat of his car. Just as he was heading back, he saw the Mayor limping toward Angelina, with Alice and five uniformed officers following.

“Take the women as well as the male breed downtown.” The Mayor ordered, his tux covered in white drywall dust and insulation.

Jill’s head snapped around. “They’re going with us.”

“Ah
, shit.” Adam picked up his pace stopping next to Angelina.

“All half-breeds are being rounded up
—” He began to speak again, but Jill walked up pausing in his face stopping him in mid-sentence.

“Round up?” Jill hissed, her golden eye blazing black. “What the hell do we look like
, cattle? I don’t know what you are trying to accomplish, but these women are going with us, and then back to their families. And if you ever try to round up me, I will—”

Sid stepped up
, pulling Jill away. “Calm down, little hothead.” Sid grinned down at her, but when he raised his head to the Mayor, his whole attitude changed in a flash. “I’d advise you to turn, get in your limo and rethink what you are trying to do. If you continue with your campaign of putting half-breeds into concentration camps, you will lose. Look in your history books, Mr. Mayor, because history will tell the story and it’s not pretty.”

“The
re are nice places for them to live, and I don’t know who used concentration camps, but that certainly was not my word,” the Mayor huffed. “We need to get control of this situation.”

“Who needs to get
control of what situation?” Adam finally spoke up. “These are people with families who love them. I am half-human and I’ll be damned if you make me a prisoner.”

The Mayor
’s eyes turned angry in a flash. “You can breed other half-breeds. This is out of control. It needs to be taken care of and will be taken care of. I have the support of many influential people, so you need to realize that this is going to happen.”

Alice smiled. “Just think
, Adam, things like you and Jill won’t be a burden on anyone anymore. You will be taken care of by the government and people like us.” Her attitude of self-importance made him want to throw up.

“I
’d rather, and I think Jill would agree,” Adam stepped closer to both the Mayor and Alice, “say fuck you and your backward ideas of helping us by shoving his head up your ass.” His eyes went from the Mayor back to Alice.

“You ungrateful little prick.” Alice turned ugly in a blink of an eye. “You might want to think twice about who you piss off. The time is going to come that this is going to happen and those who rebel will regret it dearly.”

“You can’t talk to these…breeds.” The Mayor patted her hand, and then nodded toward the officers. “Go ahead and let them say goodbye and take them.”

Sid, Adam, Jill and even Angelina made a line of defense
, blocking the two women and their families. “I’m just going to make this very clear.” Sid glanced over at the officers, his face void of any emotion. “One person touches these ladies and there will be a lot of heads up a lot of asses.”

Lana
, who had come out and had heard the end part of the conversation, stood next to Sid. Her eyes landed on Alice, and without blinking, didn’t back down. “That sounds unpleasant.”

“Oh, believe me
,” Sid’s lips curved, “not only is it unpleasant, it’s very embarrassing and smelly, especially if your head doesn’t go up your own ass.”

Jared walked pas
t carrying a box. “True story,” he replied, setting the box down to stand next to Adam. “So whose head is going up whose ass?”

“Depends on who makes the first move
,” Sid said from the other end of the protection line. He cocked his eyebrow at the officers who looked away from him to the Mayor.

“You are disgusting and a disgrace to the race
,” Alice hissed, her eyes spitting fire at each of them.

“No, we are honest
, and honey, you are the one who wants to put your race into cages, so who exactly is the disgrace? Now, I suggest you get your evening-gown wearing ass out of here and take your new toy with you,” Sid clipped out as his eyes snapped to the Mayor’s. “You have no idea what you are creating, but I’m going to warn you,
Mayor
, it will cause a war between the two races; something we have tried to prevent and have for thousands of years. It will be hell on earth, so I would rethink what you are trying to do, and who you have by your side counseling you, because I can guarantee you, she has her own agenda.”

“They…”
her eyes snapped to Jill and Adam, venom dripping from each word, “are not my race.”

“You mess with me or any of my people
, I will personally see you pay.” Adam had enough. He was a half-breed and not by choice, but it was his race and he would do anything in his power to protect those who shared this fate.

“You are not people
,” Alice snorted with disgust, even through her beauty the true ugliness that dwelled inside her came forward. “You are freaks and need to be put down before you can breed more freaks.”

“Okay, that
’s it.” Jill pushed forward toward Alice. “I’m sending her ass to the next county.” Jill raised her arm, palm out which caused Alice’s hair to blow back, but Sid grabbed her arm, stopping her.

“I suggest you leave now
, because in five seconds, I’m going to let go of her arm,” Sid warned Alice, but his eyes turned to the Mayor. “This could get ugly real quick, and you are the only one who can stop it. I highly suggest you stop it.”

“This is going to happen.
It has already been put into place. We are just waiting for the President’s signature,” the Mayor said, but started to usher Alice away. “The sooner you realize it, the better it will be for you.” He looked directly at Jill and Adam.

Alice
passed by where Sid stood in front of Anne’s husband and small son. An evil grin lit her face as she leaned down toward the little boy. “Your momma is a freak, kid.” She smiled large, showing sharp fangs; the young boy cringed and began to cry.

No one could stop Jill as she broke away from Sid tackling Alice from behind. Angelina even went for Alice and Anne followed suit. Alice lifted
her body off the ground, throwing Angelina and a weaker Anne away, but Jill had grabbed hold of Alice’s hair to keep from being thrown.

Adam ran for Angelina
, who was just picking herself up to go back at Alice. “Let me go, Adam,” Angelina growled as she fought his tight grip on her. “I’ll tear her apart.”

He couldn
’t help it, a large proud grin spread across his face even as pissed off as he was. Here was his very human Angel taking on a full-blood vampire in defense of a small child. He watched Lana take Angelina’s place and Sid fighting to get her off Alice. “Calm down.”

“Calm down?” Angelina turned on him, her eyes narrowed in fury. “Did
you see what she did to that child?”

Adam nodded, but didn
’t let go. He watched as Sid pulled Lana off Alice and Slade grabbed Jill. “Yes, I did.” Adam finally let her go as Alice and the Mayor rushed to their waiting limo. “But you are human.”

Her eyes turned to meet his, sadness shining through. “And that
’s the problem, isn’t it?”

Before Adam could say anything
, she pulled out of his hold and headed toward Jill who was talking to the little boy.

“Hey.” Jill smiled at the little boy
, catching his attention. “I’m Jill, a friend of your mom’s. And this is Angelina.”

The little boy wiped his nose
and looked at both women, distrust clear as he held onto his dad tightly.

“Did that woman scare you?” Jill asked
, and when the little boy nodded, Jill had to calm herself not to go chasing after the limo pulling away. “What’s your name?”

“
Shane.” When he didn’t answer, Anne and her husband replied at the same time.

“Well
, Shane, I didn’t get to see what kind of face she made at you.” Jill smiled at the little boy. He reminded her of her little brother. “Was it something like this?” Jill crossed her eyes and stuck out her tongue.

The little boy looked at her for a second before a giggle escaped. “No
,” he said, shaking his head, watching her closely.

“No?” Jill
’s face went back to normal as she faked a surprise look. “Are you sure?” She made the face again until he was laughing freely.

He nodded his head
, a smile lighting his face, but the wetness from tears still wet his chubby cheeks.

“Well
, next time you think of that ugly face, I want you to remember this one instead.” Jill did it one last time but more exaggerated. When Shane laughed, Jill smiled at him ruffling his hair. Her eyes then met Anne’s husband’s. “I’ll take care of her. I promise.”

He nodded his head at Jill. “Thank you.”

“I love you.” Anne slipped into his arms, kissed his cheek and then Shane’s.

“Hurry back to us.” He pulled Anne close
, kissing her deeply.

Adam noticed Sid and Slade take a step closer
to make sure Anne would not lose her composure. She didn’t. She kissed her son on the cheek before holding Jill’s hand tightly. Adam’s eyes briefly met Jill’s and Jill’s thoughts filled his head.
This isn’t going to happen. We will not allow that bitch to separate half-breeds from their loved ones. I’ll die first.
He totally agreed
.

*******

Angelina watched Adam nod at Jill before everyone went their separate ways, getting into cars. Lana and Sid took the other woman, Janie, who had been turned, while Jill walked with Anne, Slade following them. Feeling more alone than she ever had in her life, Angelina was at a loss. Feeling she had no other choice, she started to walk away from the place that had pretty much ruined her life as she knew it.

“Where is your family?” Adam
’s voice so deep and strong came from behind her.

Stopping
, Angelina turned, her eyes automatically going to his. “I’m sure my dad is on the road and my mom…” she shrugged, “well who knows.”

Anger surged through his body. “Did someone call them?”

Angelina ignored his question. “Thank you, Adam.” Her eyes searched his before she turned to walk away.

“Thank you is all I get?”
He stopped and turned her toward him. “Where are you going?”

“Home.”
Angelina leaned toward him, just as lightening filled the sky followed seconds later by rolling thunder. “Thank you very much.” A teasing smile tipped the corner of her lips, yet it didn’t quite reach her eyes.

A voice that would haunt her for the rest of her life screamed her name, but Angelina didn
’t look, didn’t flinch.