Sloan (The Protectors Series) Book #9

by Teresa Gabelman

“You have more class and integrity than anyone inside those walls.” He wasn’t exactly whispering and again, he didn’t seem to care. “Don’t let anyone make you feel beneath them or I’ll have to….”

  “You’ll have to what?” She stared up at him, waiting on pins and needles for him to finish.

  This time he leaned down, his lips close to her ear. Chills and urges ramped through her body at the closeness of his lips to her skin. “Kill them.”

  A loud laugh escaped her lips and she slapped her hand over her mouth. “Stop it,” she said as they continued toward the party.

  ******

  Sloan could listen to her laugh all day. She had a contagious laugh; even a woman who had passed them looked back and smiled at her. He felt a sense of pride having her on his arm.

  Once inside he’d become alert. It was just part of his job, his makeup. Crowds made him edgy. Anything could happen and it wasn’t just him he had to think of; she was here with him and his responsibility.

  A waiter came by, offering them a glass of wine, but he declined for himself. Becky however, looked up at him for permission and he grinned with a nod.

  “I’ll just have one.” Becky took a sip and moaned. “Since I’m working, but, man, this stuff beats Busch beer.”

  “You’re not on the clock so enjoy yourself.” He chuckled, glancing around, then back down at her. “And anything tastes better than Busch beer.”

  She gave a tilted nod in agreement. “That is true, but it’s cheap.” She took another drink. “But this stuff isn’t.”

  “Sloan.” A man walked toward him, his hand outstretched.

  “Hey, George.” Sloan shook his hand, noticing how the mayor’s eyes kept dropping to Becky. Actually, a lot of males’ eyes were dropping to Becky and he wasn’t really sure he liked that very much. No, in truth, it was pissing him off. “This is Becky Spencer. Becky, this is Mayor Groper.”

  “It’s nice to meet you.” Becky took the mayor’s hand.

  “Likewise.” The major’s eyes went to her breasts, which looked fucking amazing in that dress. Sloan really wanted to fucking smash the mayor’s face in, and he liked the guy. “George. George!” Sloan finally got his attention.

  “Huh, oh. Come. I want you to meet our new DA.” George turned to look over the crowd.

  “New DA?” Warning signals started going off inside his head and when he had this sensation, he usually wasn’t wrong. Something was off. “What happened to Lance, our existing district attorney?”

  George stopped and looked at Sloan in surprise. “You didn’t hear?”

  “Obviously not.” Sloan was not happy about this. Why hadn’t he been informed they were getting a new district attorney, and what the fuck happened to Lance Garfield?

  “He was arrested on heroin charges, among other things,” George whispered, then frowned at Sloan. “I can’t believe you didn’t know about this.”

  “Been a little busy hunting bad guys and keeping my trainees alive.” Sloan was not happy and he knew those around him felt it. He didn’t hide his feelings from anyone if he wanted them to know he was pissed, and he wanted their mayor to know he was not happy in the least. There was no way in hell, though, that Lance Garfield was on heroin. Someone had planted the shit; he’d bet his life on it.

  “I heard about that.” George looked concerned. “Was anyone hurt?”

  “No.” Sloan’s reply was gruff.

  “Good, that’s good.” George once again looked around.

  “Are you okay?” Becky tugged on his arm, leaning close.

  He nodded, but didn’t give her a reassuring smile he usually would. His senses were alert and he knew someone in the fucking room was keeping close tabs on him. He hadn’t stayed alive for so long without knowing and trusting his instincts.

  “There he is. Stay here.” George disappeared. Then just as quickly, he reappeared with a man in tow. “This is Sloan Murphy.”

  Sloan nodded at the man, trying to get a read on him. He took the hand that was offered and shook. The man had a good grip and was actually trying to prove something with the tight squeeze. It was the man’s eyes Sloan didn’t trust. He took stock of the man, and his eyes were shifty to say the least. Sloan didn’t like him. His assessment was as instinctive as he was sure it was right. Every fucking time.

  “This is our new district attorney, Evan Nico.” The mayor finished the introductions, not realizing he had just introduced two men who had never met, but were definitely enemies.

  A not so subtle smile of “gotcha ya” hit Sloan’s lips as a “give it your best shot” grin lit Evan Nico’s.

  Chapter 26

  Katrina sat in the kitchen waiting for someone to give her a ride to Becky’s. She was bummed that she hadn’t gotten to see Becky before she’d left with Sloan, but training called. Things were going a little better. The guys were mostly leaving her alone, except Ben glared at her constantly, but that she could ignore easily.

  Hearing someone come in, she turned to see Steve. “Hey!” She smiled, happy to see him. Steve was awesome, but lately he seemed sad, and that wasn’t like him. She hadn’t known him long, but he was always cheerful, making jokes.

  “What are you doing?” he asked, grabbing something to drink out of the fridge. He then sat down across from her.

  “Just waiting for someone to get free to take me to Becky’s. She was off today,” Katrina replied, wanting to help Steve somehow. He had always been there for her and she felt like she was letting him down.

  “I can take you in a little while. I have to hang here until Jax gets back, just in case one of the trainees sees something on the monitor.” Steve rolled his eyes. “Fun shit.” He took a drink, then stared at the can of soda.

  “You’ll get your powers, Steve.” Katrina leaned over the table and touched his hand.

  “I’m seriously doubting it,” Steve replied with a sigh. “Hell, I’d even take the toxic farting gig, but that stopped. Go figure, huh.”

  Katrina chuckled, then felt relief when Steve laughed with her. “Sometimes when we want something so bad it takes forever for it to happen. Just like in school when you wanted the day to end and stared at the clock, it ended up being the longest day ever.”

  “Yeah, been there done that.” Steve leaned back in his chair. “I’ve always had this problem of wanting something and wanting it now. I’m not very patient. It’s just….”

  “Just what?” Katrina urged him.

  “I don’t want it to be a joke, like toxic farts or something like that.” Steve was dead serious. “I know I’m a goof-off, but I take my duties seriously and I want a serious power. Something that will help the Warriors.”

  “You never know, you may already have the power you’re supposed to have, but haven’t realized yet.” Katrina added, “That’s what happened to me.”

  “Yeah, maybe.” Steve flicked the can with his finger. “Sometimes I just want to disappear. Do you ever feel that way?”

  “All the time.” Katrina nodded. “Usually I do because not a lot of people notice me, which is fine with me. I’m invisible to most anyway.”

  “What I wouldn’t give to be invisible sometimes.” Steve shrugged, then sighed. “Yeah, sometimes I wish I was invisible.”

  Katrina gasped, her chair sliding back and hitting the wall behind her. “Oh my God! Steve!”

  “What?” Steve sounded alarmed. “What is it?”

  “You’re invisible?” Katrina said, shocked, then laughed, her hand on her cheek in disbelief.

  “Oh, ha-ha, Katrina.” Steve’s voice dipped in sadness. “I didn’t take you for a cruel person.”

  “No, I’m totally serious.” Katrina stood to get something that showed a reflection. Yanking the chrome toaster off the counter, she all but pulled her arm off when she forgot to unplug it. “Shit!” She hurried and unplugged it, heading toward Steve.

  She could see a shimmer of him, but it was truly strange.

  “What the hell are you doing with the toaster?�
�� Steve asked, his tone pissy.

  “Here! Look!” She held the toaster out, which quickly left her hands. She watched the toaster jerk back and forth, up and down, sideways and upside down. It was a very weird experience watching the toaster float in the air until it dropped on the table. “Steve?”

  Suddenly there was a big whoop that filled the room, the chair he had been sitting on was knocked over, and she was picked up off her feet. She was hugged and spun in circles.

  “What in the fuck!?” Jared boomed as he walked in.

  Katrina was getting dizzy, but she saw Jared and Sid, who had followed him in, staring at her in horror.

  “She’s possessed.” Sid’s voice was serious and it kind of scared her.

  “Put me down, Steve,” Katrina said and she was immediately put on her feet.

  “Steve?” Sid walked toward her, looking at her closely. “Katrina, are you okay?”

  “I’m fine,” Katrina responded, and before she could say anything else, Sid was blocking at something.

  “What the fuck?” Sid was in a fighting stance, looking around. “Something just touched me.”

  Katrina was about to tell Steve to stop when she saw Jared’s hair lifting from his shoulder. A giggle slipped past her lips at the look on Jared’s face. His arm shot out and she heard Steve curse.

  “Hey, damn,” Steve’s voice called out. “It’s just me.”

  “No! That’s a fuck no!” Jared hissed, a look of disbelief on his face. “This cannot be your fucking power. No!”

  “Oh, but it is.” Steve laughed gleefully. “Can you believe it? All this time I probably had my power, but didn’t know it.”

  “Jesus!” Sid shook his head. “Okay, enough. Time for us to see you, Steve.”

  They waited and nothing.

  “Am I back?” Steve asked, but they all shook their heads. “Okay, now?”

  “No.” Jared frowned. “Come on, stop screwing around.”

  “I’m not.” Steve’s voice pitched high in panic. “Oh, God. What if I’m stuck like this? I’ll never get laid.”

  Katrina rolled her eyes, walking toward him. Blaze had walked in and was looking at them all like they were crazy. “You wished to be invisible, so just wish to be visible.”

  Suddenly, Steve shimmered back, his eyes wide with fright. “Am I back?”

  “No,” Sid said, making Katrina frown.

  Steve slapped his hands over his face. “Oh, God. What have I done?” He sank to his knees, his face still in his hands before he looked up to glare at Katrina. “This is all your fault, Katrina.”

  “You’re back, Steve.” Katrina sighed, nodding toward Sid. “He was lying.”

  “I’m back?” Steve leaped up and grabbed the toaster. “Oh, thank God.” He then kissed his reflection; actually, he kissed the toaster.

  His eyes widened. “I wish for a million dollars!” he shouted, then looked around. So did everyone else. He then looked under the table.

  “Ah, I don’t think that’s how it works.” Katrina shook her head. “Your words have nothing to do with it. Your power is invisibility. You just have to use your mind to achieve it. Try it again.”

  Steve nodded, then frowned. “I’m scared.” He glanced at Katrina. “What if I stay that way?”

  “You won’t.” She chuckled, then stopped when her gaze met Blaze’s.

  Steve once again disappeared, but then reappeared quickly. “Am I here?”

  “Yes.” Katrina nodded.

  “Sweet! I’m going to fuck with Adam and Jill. This is awesome.” Steve headed for the door, but stopped and headed toward Katrina to give her the biggest hug. “Thank you!”

  Not liking the questioning looks she received from Jared, Sid, and Blaze, she wished she had Steve’s power. Since she didn’t, she slowly made her way back to the table and sat down.

  “Someone is going to kill him,” Jared said as he headed further into the kitchen.

  “My bet’s on Damon,” Sid called out, rattling pots and pans. “No, probably going to be Sloan.”

  “Honestly, do you know how much intel we can get using his power?” Jared stopped and looked at Sid. “This is pretty huge.”

  “Guess we need to keep the kid alive then,” Sid replied as he continued to prepare for dinner.

  Katrina sat listening to them and was amazed by the Warriors. There never was a dull moment. She used her peripheral vision to watch Blaze, who stood staring at her.

  “Do you need a ride?” Blaze’s voice had her turning toward him.

  “If you got time,” Katrina replied, hating to be a pain the ass.

  “Come on.” He held the door open for her.

  Katrina called out a good-bye to Sid and Jared as she passed Blaze, careful not to touch him. Yeah, Steve was lucky.

  Chapter 27

  Becky didn’t know exactly what was going on, but something was definitely not right. She felt Sloan’s tension as if it were her own. She watched the man he had been introduced to, Evan Nico. He was a big man, but nothing compared to Sloan. His hair was dark and he had a dark exotic look about him. As she studied him, knowing he was the reason for Sloan’s different mood, the man looked down at her.

  “And who is this lovely lady?” He reached for her hand.

  “Becky Spencer.” She smiled, but as soon as he touched her hand, she wanted to pull it back. “Nice to meet you,” she lied. She could have gone the rest of her life without meeting the man before her. His eyes kept going to her cleavage. The mayor’s had also, but the look Evan gave her was different and made her feel dirty.

  Finally, Evan looked away, maybe because Sloan casually stepped in front of her, blocking his view.

  “Ah, a jealous man, I see.” Evan smiled with a nod. “And totally understandable with such a beautiful woman. I’ve heard a lot of things about you, Sloan Murphy.”

  “Good,” Sloan replied, his voice even, emotionless. Becky noticed that the mayor looked a little nervous, so it wasn’t just her feeling the tension. “I’m sure I’ll be hearing a lot about you also.”

  “Oh, of that I have no doubt,” the man said, the lightness of his voice darkening. “Heard you’ve had a little trouble lately.”

  “Nothing we can’t handle,” Sloan replied, his shoulders stiff, poised as if ready for something.

  “Well, you let me know.” Evan took a step. “If you catch any involved, I will make sure they are prosecuted to the extent of the law.”

  “Well, Evan, I appreciate that, but we already have seven in custody.” Sloan didn’t say anything else for a second, as if letting his words sink in. The change in Evan’s mood soaked over her quickly as his mouth formed a frown, his eyes narrowing before it was replaced quickly with an emotionless stare. That was very telling.

  “Oh, is that so.” Evan’s friendly smile slipped. “Well, like I said, you turn them over to the authorities and I will make sure they get the max prison term. After a fair trial, of course. I’m pretty good at what I do.”

  “This is VC jurisdiction, and we are also very good at what we do, but thanks.” Sloan sounded anything but grateful.

  Evan’s cool demeanor seemed to slip a little, giving him an anxious edge as the skin around his mouth tightened visibly. Becky knew Sloan was saying things on purpose. She was witnessing her boss in action and he was damn good.

  “Well, I have another function that can’t wait. It was nice meeting you, Sloan Murphy.” Evan nodded toward him, then looked around at Becky. “Ms. Spencer. I’m sure I’ll be seeing you both soon.”

  “You can bet on it,” Sloan said as Evan walked away, but Becky thought she was the only one who heard until Evan turned to glance at him.

  “Is something wrong?” the mayor asked, his confusion plain on his face.

  “Definitely,” Sloan replied, finally looking away from where Evan had disappeared. He took Becky’s hand and headed toward the door.

  Before she knew what was happening, she was inside the limo and Sloan was on the phone. Actually,
it was a phone he’d pulled out of a backpack on the floor of the limo. It looked like a disposable cell phone. He looked up at her as he waited for whoever to answer, and she gave him a smile.

  She was disappointed, but hoped it didn’t show. This wasn’t a real date. It was work and that was exactly what he was doing. Working.

  “Put me on a secure line.” Sloan’s voice filled the limo. Again he waited, not saying anything. “Good. I just met Evan Nico, our new DA.”

  Becky looked down at her dress and straightened it, not that it mattered now. But she didn’t want to seem nosey and she definitely didn’t want to look disappointed.

  “Yeah, no shit,” Sloan was saying. “This is going to be tricky. He knows that I know something, which is fine. I want the fucker looking over his shoulder every second. And I think we need to have a little talk with our mayor. Yeah, George is the one who introduced us, very happily I might add. So this Nico asshole has made some definite friends with the higher ups.”

  Looking out the window, Becky watched the scenery go by, wishing she could have danced with Sloan just once.

  “This is why I don’t do relationships.”

  Wondering why Sloan would be saying that to someone on the phone had her looking his way, but he wasn’t on the phone anymore. He was staring at her.

  “Why are you saying that?” Becky tilted her head. “This was work and hopefully whatever you found out tonight helps you. And the sooner you get on it the better, I’m sure. I totally understand.”

  Sloan chuckled. “No, actually, I don’t think you do. That bastard, Evan Nico, is behind the bombing at the gym, or at least that’s what the informants said and what Adam discovered while reading them. His name came up with all of them.” Sloan leaned back. “I didn’t leave to do more work because there is nothing I can do at the moment anyway. We left because of your safety.”

  “My safety?” Becky’s head snapped back.

  “Yes, your safety, which is very important to me,” Sloan said as he pushed a button, lowering the privacy window separating them from the driver. “Hank, can you do a twenty-minute drive, then head to my address please?”