Sid (The Protectors Series) Book #4

by Gabelman, Teresa

  A knock sounded on the door before Jill walked in carrying her sketchpad. She walked straight past Sid without looking his way. Taking a seat, she flipped to a page and held her pencil ready to go.

  “Hello, Jill.” Sloan glanced at her, eyes filled with question.

  “Hi, Sir,” Jill responded business-like.

  Sloan glanced at Sid who simply shook his head. “Okay, well, this is Lana Fitzpatrick.” Sloan introduced them, and both women nodded their greeting. “She is going to describe a man, who we are hoping you can capture in a profile pic.”

  “I will do my best, Sir,” Jill nodded to Sloan. Her eyes met Sid’s for a split second before looking down at her paper.

  “Are you okay?” Sloan frowned, not bringing up her bruised and swollen face, since the others had already briefed him.

  “Dandy.” She gave her best fake smile, shifting her position before looking at Lana. “Ready when you are.”

  “Amy, why don’t you come outside with me?” Sid walked over, holding out his hand. “It might help if we aren’t here to distract them.”

  Sid watched both women closely as they shared a look. Something was definitely not right. “Ah, okay.” She gave him a half-smile, taking his hand.

  Sloan’s cell phone rang; he answered, walking out ahead of Sid and Amy.

  Before closing the door, Sid turned and tossed Lana a slow wink along with a sexy grin filled with promise.

  Chapter 7

  Lana glared at Sid as he walked out behind Amy, whom she prayed kept her damn mouth shut. “Dammit.”

  “What?” Jill asked, glancing up from her sketchbook.

  “Is he always so…” Lana frowned, trying to find the right word.

  “Annoying? Pain in the ass?” Jill glared at the door, rolling her eyes. “Yes, he is, but what’s most annoying is he’s a good guy. One of the best.”

  That surprised Lana. “How so?”

  “He will go out of his way to help anyone. He will moan, groan and complain about it, but he will help anyone,” Jill sighed with a huff.

  The word moan caught her attention in a very vivid way, but Lana mentally shook the word right out of her head. Hearing that vamp moan was the last thing she needed. “Was that evidence of him trying to help you?” Lana nodded her head toward the door.

  “Yeah. I know he meant well…I think, but it hurt more than it helped.” Jill sat in thought and then shook her head. “Being a half-breed sucks, but being a woman around here sucks even more.”

  “Why? Are you the only woman?” Lana asked, increasingly intrigued by Jill. She looked so small and fragile, yet she was training to be a Warrior.

  “In the program, yes,” Jill grumbled. “The Vampire Council supplies blood donors to the Warriors, but they’re women.”

  “So you’re supposed to take blood from women?” Lana scrunched her nose. “That would be awkward.”

  “Exactly.” Jill threw up her hands. “Especially when they don’t want to have anything to do with you.”

  “So, the one that hit you was a blood donor?” Lana frowned looking at her face, which was still swollen and bruised.

  Jill snorted, “Yeah, plus five other guys.”

  “Wow.” Lana’s eyes popped open. “Six guys? Well, were they cute?”

  “For a human, you seem to be taking this blood donor stuff and me being a half-breed pretty well.” Jill eyed her. “It doesn’t freak you out?”

  Lana thought for a minute before she laughed. “I read dead people.” Among other things, but she didn’t say that out loud. “It takes a lot to freak me out.”

  This time Jill’s eyes popped open wide. “That is cool. Creepy, but wicked cool.”

  They both laughed. “Jill, I think we could be great friends.”

  “I’d like that,” Jill nodded with a genuine smile. She could do with some more women on her side.

  “Now, these guys, were they wicked hotties?” Lana grimaced. “I didn’t use that word right, did I?”

  “Ah, no,” Jill laughed. “But yeah, actually they were, but it was so humiliating, and then Slade got all mad, but I was handling the situation…” Jill frowned and then laughed, shaking her head. “Why am I telling you all this?”

  “Sometimes, it’s nice to talk to someone not closely involved.” Lana smiled back. She really liked this girl. “So what happened?”

  “Slade happened.” Jill frowned. “He got mad, started yelling and throwing guys through the wall. Now, he’s mad at me, and it was Sid who sent them here.”

  “Who’s Slade?” Boy, there sure were a lot of Warriors with a name that started with an S, she thought. How confusing was that!

  “The doctor here.” Jill didn’t elaborate, but her mood soured. “Okay, let’s get going on this before Sid comes in here being all bossy. Just give me all the details you can, and we can make changes as we go if I’m not getting it right.”

  Lana was surprised they had their own doctor and really wanted to know more, but figured Jill was finished. She started her description of the man. “I’m not sure how tall he was, but he was taller than me. He was very thin, almost skeleton-like. His face was long with prominent cheekbones, and his eyes were sunken and golden, but they turned red.” Lana shivered, thinking of that moment.

  “Red?” Jill glanced up.

  Lana nodded. “When he first appeared, his eyes were golden like a vampire, but then he opened his mouth showing large fangs, and his eyes went from gold to a swirling red.”

  After a few seconds, Jill went back to sketching. “What color was his hair? Was it long or short?”

  “It was black and short, but it was slicked back, and he has a receding hairline,” Lana answered, and then sat quietly, wishing so badly she could talk to her sister. She suddenly felt way out of her league, but she had the chance to help the women who had been taken; she would do whatever she could. No one deserved what the women she witnessed through a dead man’s eyes were living. It was a nightmare.

  “Is this close?” Jill turned her book around showing the drawing.

  Gasping Lana’s hand went to her throat. “My God.” She stared at the picture and felt true fear; his eyes stared at her from the page, giving her an eerie, creepy feeling. “That’s him to the very last detail.” Her voice shook as she stared at the picture. The drawing was so realistic; it seemed as if his bony hand could reach out and grab her again. She swallowed hard to keep the bile from rising into her throat at the uncanny resemblance.

  “He’s pretty creepy looking.” Jill looked back at the drawing. “He do that to your neck?”

  “Isn’t that the question of the day?” Sid walked in, grabbing the picture and studying it before turning it to Lana. “This is the man you think is in charge?”

  “Yes,” Lana nodded, her eyes traveling from his large hands, up his muscled forearms and then up to his broad shoulders. Damn, he was built. She could feel the power radiating off him. A funny fluttery sensation that she hadn’t felt in a long while hit the pit of her stomach and that was so not good.

  Sighing, he put the picture down on Sloan’s desk. “Jill, thank you.” Sid finally took his gaze off Lana. “But I need to talk to Ms. Fitzpatrick.”

  Jill nodded and stood. “It was nice meeting you.”

  Lana smiled up at her. “Thanks, Jill. You’re very talented. Maybe someday you can show me some of your other drawings that don’t involve creepy men.”

  Jill laughed, “I would really like that.”

  “I’ll talk to you in a few minutes, Jill,” Sid said to her retreating back, but she didn’t respond and closed the door behind her.

  “Tell her you’re sorry. She’ll forgive you.” Lana actually felt a little sorry for the huge vampire. She could tell by the long sigh that escaped he felt bad. “But my advice is to stay out of her business when it comes to guys.”

  Sid nodded, but didn’t comment.

  “Am I free to go now?” Lana stood, and then realized she still had on his jacket. When she started t
o remove it, he stopped her.

  “Keep it.” Sid frowned down at her. “Just get it back when you can.”

  “No, I can’t.” She pulled it off, handing it to him, already missing the warmth and delicious scent. Okay, she had to get over that real fast. “Where’s Amy?”

  “She’s waiting for you.” Sid turned, grabbing a pen and paper. “If you think of anything else, call.” He handed her the paper.

  “I will.” Lana took it and slipped it into her pocket. No way in hell would she be calling him. Not going to happen, she thought.

  “I warned Amy, and I’m going to warn you. Be careful. Don’t be going out with guys you don’t know,” Sid warned, his face set in a stern mask.

  “I usually don’t,” Lana frowned. “But Amy has a way of talking me into stuff. Tonight is a good example of that.”

  “Even though my cover is blown all to Hell, I’m glad she did.” Sid picked up the picture again. “We are closer to finding the major player. I’m just sorry you were hurt in the process.”

  “It happens.” Lana shrugged, nervously wondering what Amy had told him.

  “She’s a good friend,” Sid grinned. “She wouldn’t tell me anything, and I tried. And all she would think about was naked guys, and well, I can only take so much of that, so I stayed out of her head.”

  Lana laughed in relief. “Amy’s head is the last place I’d want to be.”

  Sid smiled before looking at her neck, his smile fading. “You sure you’re okay?” His voice held real concern.

  “I’m fine,” she lied. She was far from fine, but she would deal with it. She really didn’t need anyone else looking at her as if she had lost her mind. She was already wondering that about herself. It was never easy doing what she did, but this time was different, and she felt so alone. She had to suck it up, as always.

  Walking to the door, Sid opened it for her. “Thank you, Lana.”

  “You’re welcome.” She wondered at his sudden change of attitude. One minute he was calling her a liar and the next, he was thanking her. She was seriously confused by his mixed messages, her mixed emotions and her desire to kiss him goodbye. Holy shit, where the hell did that thought come from? She cringed. Clearing her head, she walked out of the room, finding Amy talking with Sloan, who also thanked her. As they made their way to the door, she turned. Sid was leaning in the doorway watching her; his intense gaze holding hers. A slow smile tilted his lips, causing her heart to skip a beat and making her step on Amy’s heel.

  “Damn, Lana.” Amy jumped, hopping out the door. “What the hell is it with you and my feet tonight?”

  Embarrassed, Lana practically pushed Amy out the door as a deep rumble of laughter followed her out.

  “Damn, sexy-ass vampires,” she muttered.

  ******

  Sid watched the women leave and had a strong feeling that wasn’t going to be the last of Lana and Amy. Something with those two women didn’t add up.

  “This is him?” Sloan sat behind his desk holding the picture Jill drew.

  “Ugly son of a bitch, isn’t he?” Sid walked up and sat in the chair Lana had been sitting in. He could still smell her fresh womanly scent.

  Sloan nodded, staring at it for a minute longer. “I’ll fax this out and hopefully get a hit. I’d say he won’t be hard to miss.” Sloan headed toward the fax machine. “Did you find out what happened with her neck?”

  “No, but I will,” Sid replied with confidence. “I believe those two have some big secrets that we need to know about.”

  “I’ll do a check as soon as I fax this out.” Sloan tapped in a number, sending out the picture. “I need a damn secretary to do this shit.” Sloan tapped in more numbers, before hitting send.

  “I know a few who would be qualified.” Sid glanced at his phone, checking his texts.

  “After what I saw and heard tonight with Jill and your picks, I don’t think I trust your expertise on whose qualified and who’s not.” Sloan sat down behind his desk giving Sid a disgruntled glare.

  “Hey, none of that was my fault.” Sid frowned, thumbing toward the demolished entryway.

  “As a matter of fact, get Jill and the guys in here. I need to find out what the hell happened out there,” Sloan ordered, ignoring Sid’s case of innocence. He knew Sid far too well to believe he was an innocent bystander.

  “How the hell can I get blamed for something when I wasn’t even here?” Sid stood and walked toward the door. “Changing my damn name to Sid ‘Scapegoat’ Sinclair.”

  ******

  Lana slammed the car door as hard as she could. “Are you crazy?”

  The car started and took off. “That Warrior Sinclair got me all messed up. And look who’s talking. You hit a damn Warrior. Punched him right in the face.”

  Looking at her partner, Lana rolled her eyes. “Don’t even go there. You gave my real name.” She tried to keep her anger in check, but this was bad. “What the hell were you thinking?”

  “I’m sorry.” Susan, aka Amy, sped down the road while lighting a cigarette. “I messed up. Why in the hell did you run?”

  Lana wanted to smack the side of her friend’s head. “Because VC….shit…Sinclair…whatever in the hell his name is, kept asking questions, questions that made me think he was on to us. I had to do something to make it legit.”

  “Yeah, he was getting a little weird,” Susan frowned. “That should have clued us in when he started questioning us like a cop.”

  Lana cursed, “What a damn mess.”

  “But we did pull it off.” Susan blew a long stream of smoke, and then grinned, pulling her wig off. “What was that shit all about not double-dating with me you were spouting?”

  “These Warriors are smart. I figured they were listening, so I didn’t want them suspicious of us whatsoever.” Lana rolled down her window, letting the smoky air out. “And you do have the worst taste in men.”

  Susan shrugged, not really disagreeing. “Yeah, you’re right about that.”

  “And never mention my sister again. She is off limits.” Lana frowned at her, grabbed the rest of her cigarette and threw it out the window.

  “Hey!” Susan cried out. “Those cost money.”

  “Yeah, well, you need to stop bumming money off me, so I say you can’t afford to smoke.” Lana frowned, and then cursed. “And next time, give me time to disguise myself. Dammit, Susan, how could you use my real name? This is going to bite me on the ass.”

  “I’m sorry,” Susan repeated, pulling into their parking lot. “I’ll take the heat for this one.”

  “Yes, you will.” Lana looked at her, surprised that Susan thought she would take the blame.

  Susan parked, turning off the car, but neither moved to get out. “What happened when you touched that vampire, Lana?”

  Lana stared out the window. “The man who I saw, whoever he is, is very strong.” She swallowed hard, her throat tender. It was hard to admit aloud, but deep inside, she wondered if they weren’t in over their heads.

  Susan pulled into a busy parking lot, parked and turned off the car. Both women just sat staring at the building.

  “Well, guess it’s time to face the music.” Susan grabbed her bag taking the keys.

  Lana got out of the car, impending doom settling around her. “Let’s just hope he’s in a good mood.”

  “Have you ever seen him in a good mood?” Susan snorted, unbuttoning two more buttons on her blouse.

  “What are you doing?” Lana’s eyes shot from her blouse to her face.

  “We fucked up big time.” Susan pushed her boobs up as she looked down at her handy work. “We need all the help we can get.”

  “There is no way….” Lana’s tone was outraged until she glanced back at the building and frowned. “Better undo one more button. Have a feeling this is going to go very badly.”

  Chapter 8

  Jill had just arrived at her room when her phone buzzed again. Sid had sent a group text wanting everyone to meet in Sloan’s office. “You h
ave got to be kidding me.”

  Tossing her sketchpad on her bed, she flopped down, lying back with her arms spread wide. Closing her eyes, she blindly reached for her sketchpad. With eyes still closed, she opened it to the page she knew by feel, by heart.

  Slowly, her eyes opened to Slade’s handsome face looking back at her. She captured him, as she would like to see him, smiling at her with that slow sexy smile. Her phone buzzed again, causing her to slam the sketchbook closed.

  Grabbing her phone without looking at it, Jill stormed out of her room, heading down the hall toward Sloan’s office. In no time, she had arrived. Walking in without making eye contact with anyone, she made it to the back of the room and leaned against the wall. Adam spotted her and made his way to her along with Steve.

  “Damn!” Steve’s eyes bugged out when he saw her face, but didn’t ask anything else when she shot him a ‘don’t ask’ look.

  Adam just glanced at it. “You okay?”

  She nodded without saying anything. Her eyes moved up, and of course, landed right on Slade. It was as if her eyes shared a special bond with the man. He wasn’t looking at her, but his face was hard as stone, his eyes cold as ice, and it hurt to look at him.

  Sloan walked in with his phone, which seemed to be attached to his ear. He didn’t look too happy. “You better believe you will make this right!” Sloan yelled into the phone. “We’ve worked too hard to get this far to have you people screw this up.” He scribbled something down, clicked his phone off and threw it on the desk. Looking at it for a minute, he picked it back up and threw it in a desk drawer, slamming it closed.

  “Was that Hong Tong’s apologizing for messing up our order yesterday?” Sid grinned from his position in the chair next to Sloan’s desk. “I swear you can’t find good fast food today.”

  “No, it wasn’t Hong fucking Tong’s, you dumbass,” Sloan growled, indicating he was not in the mood. He looked around at everyone and decided to save that conversation for last.

  Even though she was mad at Sid, he always made her laugh, and now wasn’t any different. Glancing at Slade, she saw a small grin tip his lips.