Duncan

by Teresa Gabelman

  “You make me feel like I can be normal again.” Pam smiled sadly. “Thank you.”

  “There is nothing normal about you, babe.” Duncan leaned close, but slow enough not to spook her. He had to take things extremely slowly. “You are everything special.” His lips touched the softness of her cheek, and he wanted to shout victory when she didn’t flinch from his touch.

  Pam did jump, but not because of the kiss to the cheek. “Did you feel that?” She grinned at Duncan, putting her hand on top of his and pressing down.

  A large smile spread across Duncan’s handsome face. “Think you got a fighter on your hands.” Duncan laughed when the baby kicked again. “Doesn’t that hurt?”

  “No.” Pam laughed with him. “It’s actually a comfortable feeling. I like feeling him move.”

  “Him?” Duncan ran his hand all over her stomach, wanting to feel the little fighter kick again.

  Her face flushed in embarrassment. “I don’t know why I keep calling him, him.”

  God, he loved seeing her like this. “Do you have names picked out?” His voice deepened. He couldn’t believe he was talking to her. Hours ago, he was at a loss to where she even was.

  “No, not yet. I don’t even know when I’m due.” She frowned. “I’m pretty big for three months, so I’m a little worried. He gave me a shot of something when he was….”

  He watched as she withdrew, horror at what she was about to say hit her. He wasn’t going to let her withdraw from him. “When he was what?” As hard as it was, he kept the anger out of his voice. He knew what she had been about to say, and it turned him inside out with rage.

  “Raping me.” After a few minutes of silence, she finally whispered what she needed to say out loud.

  The anguish in her voice and eyes tore him in two. “I’m sorry.” He did not look away. “I’m so sorry.”

  She nodded, quickly looking away. “I need that vial. Can you take me to my old apartment tomorrow?”

  “I’ll find it,” he assured her.

  “No, I need to do this. If I don’t start facing what happened and dealing with it, I never will.”

  Duncan nodded, but wanted to protest. His need to protect her was immense, but wanting to help her heal was greater. “I’ll take you.”

  Before Pam could respond, someone pounded on the door. Duncan stood with a reluctant grunt as answer.

  “Sloan wants to see us.” Jared stepped into the room with Tessa by his side. “Tessa will sit with Pam so they can catch up.” Jared winked at Pam.

  “But I thought he wanted to talk to me.” Pam stood holding her back.

  “Just relax.” Duncan walked over to the bathroom, disappearing for a second before reappearing. “I put a towel on the sink if you want a bath. The second drawer in the dresser has shirts if you need something to change into.”

  Duncan wanted to take her in his arms, assuring her that everything would be okay, that she would be okay, but he knew he had to take things slowly. He couldn’t crowd her; he couldn’t push her away. With one last glance her way, he followed Jared out of the room.

  The two Warriors headed down the hall to Sloan’s office. Each step away from Pam he took, the more rage he felt.

  “You okay, bro?” Jared eyed him.

  “No.” Duncan’s teeth clenched tight. “And I won’t be until that son of a bitch is dead.”

  “Did she tell you what happened?” Jared ventured, but seriously didn’t know if he wanted to know.

  “She didn’t have to. I can see it every time I look into her eyes.” Duncan slammed open Sloan’s door harder than he intended. Sid and Damon stood behind Sloan, their eyes plastered on the big screen across the room.

  Jared and Duncan stopped, also watching as the camera zoomed in on Pam and Duncan, his arm protectively around her, pushing her behind him. “Shit.”

  “I know.” Sid cocked his eyebrow. “The camera adds ten pounds. You look like shit.”

  Sloan ignored Sid’s smartass remark. “Shit? Shit is the only thing you can think to say?” Throwing the remote on his desk, it skidded off, hitting the floor. “Goddammit! Didn’t one of you think you should warn me about this?”

  “I was a little busy.” Duncan replied, more used to Sloan’s temper than anyone else in the room.

  “Oh, you were a little busy. Well, let me tell you about busy.” Sloan tossed one hand up in the air before slamming it down on his desk, rattling the one picture on the wall, his eyes blacker than midnight. “I’ve been on the fucking phone since I’ve been back. I’ve had government officials calling me, shitting themselves thinking we are going to breed like rabbits.”

  Sid snickered, opening his mouth to respond, but Damon elbowed him hard, shaking his head.

  “How in the hell did the media get hold of this so fast?” Sloan asked them all, not picking one individual to ask.

  “Detective Ferguson is trying to flush out Kenny Lawrence,” Duncan growled, remembering the salute the asshole had tossed his way.

  “So he’s using Pam being pregnant as bait.” Sloan nodded, getting the point real quick. “The fucking bastard.”

  Someone knocked on the door. Sid, who was standing near, reached over and opened it. “What’s up?”

  Adam walked in wearing a large frown. “Have you checked the monitors out front lately? There are reporters all over the place setting up camp.”

  “Let me take care of this.” Sid slid his hand through his blonde hair.

  Sloan looked around at the group with a long drawn-out sigh. “Surprisingly, you seem to be my only choice at the moment.”

  “What the hell does that mean?” Jared stepped forward.

  “I mean what I said.” Sloan cocked his eyebrow. “I can’t chance Damon decapitating anyone who pisses him off at the moment; my hands are full. You, being newly mated, don’t have a grasp on your emotions quite yet. And I hope to hell I don’t have to explain why I can’t send Duncan out there.”

  “I’m your man.” Sid grinned, flashing fang. “I swear I’ll make you proud.”

  Sloan watched him walk out the door fixing his shirt and hair, Adam following behind him. “He drives me fucking nuts.” Everyone else nodded their heads in agreement. “Hope that wasn’t a mistake.”

  “Probably the biggest you’ve ever made,” Jared snorted, shaking his head as he glanced at the television waiting to see Sid’s ugly mug pop up.

  “Where’s Pam now?” Sloan dropped the subject of Sid, getting back on track.

  “In my room with Tessa.” Duncan glanced at Damon. “Where’s Nicole?”

  “Not sure.” Damon glanced away, his frown growing.

  “You still haven’t talked to her since this afternoon.” Jared’s attitude got nasty. “What the fuck is wrong with you?”

  “Let it go, Jared.” Damon growled with a sneer.

  “Why are you being such an asshole?” Jared snarled back.

  “Fuck you.” Damon took a step forward, getting in Jared’s face. “You got your own woman to worry about, stop worrying about mine.”

  “I wouldn’t have to worry if you’d step up, man.” Jared also took a step.

  “Both of you back off!” Sloan’s angry voice was enough to stop them from coming to blows. “What the hell is going on? Shit is getting real, and all you guys want to do is tear each other up. I seriously don’t need my Warriors fighting like high school pussies with hard-ons.”

  “My bad.” Jared nodded toward Damon who nodded back; both wore frowns still eyeing each other.

  “Yeah,” Damon replied with a nod back.

  Sloan rolled his eyes before looking at Duncan. “I’ve put a call in to someone who might be able to help Pam. He’s a hell of a doctor, and I’ve asked him to help us out. He is also interested in the half-breeds.”

  “Good.” Duncan felt a little more relief. “Now, if that’s all, I’d really like to get back.”

  “Did the son of a bitch really file her fangs down?” Sloan’s eyes darkened as he asked the questi
on then cursed when Duncan’s eyes flashed black, which was answer enough. “Has she fed?”

  “I took care of her.” Duncan headed toward the door, feeling that was enough information on the subject. “Tomorrow I’m taking her to her old apartment. Hopefully, we can find some answers.”

  “That place has been combed over already,” Sloan reminded him.

  “She says she knows places he hid stuff. She hasn’t been back since she first took off - that we know of - and neither has he.” Duncan opened the door. “He gave her a shot of something, and we need to find that vial. It may be what they were going to use on Tessa for breeding. I don’t know much about women and pregnancy stuff, but she looks damn big for three months.”

  “She’s one tough woman.” Jared added, though there was worry in his golden eyes. “She’ll be fine.”

  “She better be,” Duncan growled, walking out. He slammed the door behind him.

  Sloan turned to Damon and Jared, but before he could say anything, his eyes landed on the television. “Fuck!” Sloan cursed as he watched Sid physically carrying a reporter off the property.

  *****

  “Damn, there’s more of the bastards.” Adam walked out the front door next to Sid. Cameras flashed as video cameras started rolling, reporters falling all over themselves trying to get up close.

  Sid’s eyes traveled the length of the yard; trucks with large satellite dishes lined the street. The VC Council had always had an open door policy. Anyone needing help could walk right up to their door, but this was ridiculous and it pissed him off.

  Forgetting about wanting to look good in front of the cameras, his protective instinct for Pam surged to the surface. Where the fuck were these douchebags during the height of children being adopted and turned for vampire blood? Now they show interest in Pam being a half-breed and pregnant, which could put her in danger, if it hadn’t already.

  “You have exactly five minutes to remove yourselves from this property,” Sid called out, his eyes scanning every face.

  “Is Pam Braxton here?” One reporter shouted as microphones pressed forward. “Can she give a statement on her condition and who the father is?”

  Grinding his teeth, Sid took a step closer. “Don’t make me repeat myself.” His eyes focused on the asshole who ignored his orders before looking out over the crowd. “I really don’t like repeating myself.”

  “Is the father one of the Warriors?” The man shouted over other reporters asking pretty much the same question, just rephrased.

  Sid growled, grabbed the reporter’s shirt and picked him up to his face level. “Did I mention I don’t like repeating myself, Adam?”

  “Yes, I believe you did.” Both Adam and Sid grinned, showing large fangs. The reporter Sid held paled, and the rest took a huge step back. “If they don’t start leaving, start hauling their asses off the property.”

  Adam rubbed his hands together, eyeing a few who looked like they wanted to push their luck. “Yes, sir.”

  With one arm, Sid took the sputtering reporter to the edge of the property, tossing him to the street. “Do not let me catch you anywhere near this place again.” With that warning, Sid turned to see Adam walking behind the rest of the group as they all made their way, without help, off the property.

  “Did you get that?” The reporter asked his cameraman before turning back to Sid. “You will hear from my lawyer.”

  “And you will hear from ours for trespassing,” Sid shot back without turning around. His eyes were on Sloan, Jared and Damon, who stood a few feet away watching.

  “What?” Sid threw his arms out. “I didn’t bite, decapitate or kick anyone’s ass. I just escorted the asshole off the property. I asked politely for them to leave, but they didn’t heed the request, and I don’t like repeating myself.”

  “He really doesn’t,” Jared agreed with a smirk. Sloan looked ready to kill something.

  “Do I need to call in our lawyer?” Sloan growled, looking at all the cameras pointing at them from the street.

  “Probably,” Sid replied, walking past them.

  “Dammit, Sid.” Sloan grabbed his arm. “Don’t you have any control? I trusted you to take care of the problem.”

  “And that’s what I did. I dealt with the problem. They put one of ours in danger, they deal with me. I’m nice until it’s time not to be nice. Those reporters just being here threatens Pam, who Duncan adores, and that just won’t do. You know I’m right.” Sid snapped his arm away. “And that fucking reporter is still breathing, so that should tell you how much control I had.”

  “I think our boy is growing up.” Jared shook his head, a grin tipping his lips as he watched Sid walk away.

  “Shut the fuck up, Kincaid.” Sloan slammed his way into the compound, his mood dark.

  Chapter 7

  Duncan couldn’t get back to his room fast enough. The thought of Pam disappearing again played in the back of his mind. He’d just got her back, and his every instinct shouted for him to hurry. Finally making it to the door, he pushed it open so fast Tessa jumped from the chair she was sitting in.

  “Where is she?” he demanded, quickly sweeping the room before his darkening eyes landed back on Tessa.

  “She’s getting a bath.” Tessa frowned. “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing.” Feeling a little foolish, Duncan shut the door glancing at the bathroom. “Is she okay?”

  “Well, she was until she saw that.” Tessa nodded toward the television.

  Duncan looked at the television and saw reporters still surrounding the compound. The camera was going from a reporter back to Sloan, Jared and Damon who stood guard, still as stone. At least the volume was turned down. “Damn,” he cursed, grabbing the remote and clicking it off.

  “She got upset and wanted to leave so she wouldn’t cause any more trouble for us, but I talked her into getting a bath and relaxing.” Tessa walked toward the door to leave. “She doesn’t have any clothes.”

  “She wants me to take her to her old apartment tomorrow,” Duncan replied taking another glance at the bathroom. “She can pick up some stuff then.”

  “They aren’t going to fit. She needs maternity clothes.” Tessa gave him a sympathetic pat on the arm.

  Duncan ran his hand down his face. “I should have known that,” he sighed.

  “Go easy on yourself, Duncan. Finding her was mind blowing enough, but her being pregnant has thrown everyone.” Tessa leaned closer. “She needs you more than ever now, so go to her. She’s been in there for a while.”

  Nodding, Duncan watched Tessa close the door softly behind her. His eyes automatically went to the door that separated him from Pam. Two steps and he was standing before it, rubbing his hands together. Raising his hand, he went to knock, but stopped. Cursing silently, he wondered what the hell was wrong with him. He was a fucking Warrior, not some nervous ass kid crushing on his first girl. Rolling his eyes, he knocked quickly and waited. When Pam didn’t answer, he frowned and knocked again louder. “Pam?”

  Without thought, he grabbed the knob and twisted, opening the door. Pam lay sleeping in the bathtub, her face unlined without stress, turned peacefully toward him. His eyes traveled from her face to the creamy swells of her breast which disappeared in the cooling water. A smile tipped his lips spotting her rounded stomach swelling out of the water. She was absolutely beautiful. Moving toward her, he noticed goose bumps gliding across her arms. Reaching down, he felt her cold soft skin. “Pam.” He kept his voice low so not to startle her. “Pam, honey.” He shook her arm slightly.

  “No.” She shrugged him away sloshing water, one creamy breast exposed to his view.

  Keeping his eyes averted as best he could, he shook her a little harder. “Pam, wake up.” His voice rose trying to get her to wake.

  Pam came awake with a vengeance. Her arms slashed out striking out at anything, slapping him across the head. “No! Get away!” Her screams pierced his heart. “Not again, please! No!” She slipped while trying to sit up banging h
er head against the hard edge of the bathtub.

  Doing his best to restrain her without hurting her was harder than he could ever imagine. She was slippery and scared to death. “Pam!” he shouted louder, trying to get her to snap out of the hysteria she was trapped in. He grabbed her face forcing her to look at him, letting her fist fly hitting him wherever they landed. Her eyes were unfocused, and at that second, he knew she wasn’t seeing him, but seeing a nightmare happening all over again. If he ever saw that son of a bitch, he would make him suffer and beg for death. “Look at me! It’s Duncan! It’s me! Stop before you hurt yourself!”

  After what seemed like hours, her eyes started to focus and her fists stilled. She searched his eyes, her naked body shaking from cold and fear. Duncan only held her by the upper arms to keep her balanced, so she didn’t slip.

  “It’s me,” Duncan repeated more softly. “You’re safe.”

  Her stricken gaze landed on his cheek. A small cry escaped before she could stop it. With one hand covering her mouth, the other hovered over the long scratch mark oozing blood. “I’m so sorry.” She dropped her hand without touching him.

  “It’s fine,” Duncan reassured her, but the look in her eyes told him that it wasn’t going to be fine. Reaching over, he grabbed a towel.

  “It’s not fine.” She ignored the towel, her face twisted in anguish. “I’m not fine. This isn’t fucking fine!”

  “Come on, you’re freezing.” He carefully pulled her up, keeping his eyes on her still stricken gaze. Wrapping the towel around her, he helped her step out of the bathtub.

  Pam stood shivering, holding the towel like a lifeline. “I can’t do this.” Pam shook her head looking panicked. “I’m not going to be able to do this.”

  “Do what, honey?” Duncan had no clue what she was talking about until her gaze and hand dropped to her stomach.

  “Be a good mother.” Tears started to flow freely down her pale cheeks. “What if I see him every time I look at the baby? What if my feelings change once the baby is born and I resent…” She couldn’t finish.