Sid (The Protectors Series) Book #4 (15 page)

“What?” Sid knelt beside her.

“Ben warned you to come back.” She closed her eyes again. “He also said you know who the man in the red cape is and that this was all a set up.”

“Who was it?” Sid demanded
, not liking any of this.

“He’s gone.” Lana looked up and then around the area.

“Who’s gone?” Sid’s frustration was evident in his voice.

“Ben.” Lana stood with Sid’s help. “
Whoever we’re dealing with is strong. If he can block the dead from seeking me out or stop them from talking with me, then his power is very strong. Ben called him the General.”

“
Who had you around the throat, have you seen him before?” Sid made sure she was steady on her feet before returning to collect his guns from the ground.

“Yes.”
Lana couldn’t help but shiver. “I didn’t see his face before, but now I know why he wears that cape with a hood. And I think Ben is right. I think he knows you.”

Sid holstered his guns watching her closely. “What do you mean?”

“I don’t know. A feeling, I guess, but when he heard your voice, he at first looked shocked, and then smiled, or at least it looked like a smile.” Lana frowned.

“What the hell are you talking about?” Sid eyed her.

“His face was badly scarred. It was hard to tell his facial expressions.” She looked up at Sid. “His skin looked melted, like he had been burned badly.”

Sid
paused, staring at her; she could tell his brain was going a mile a minute.

“Son of a bitch!
Come on. We have to go.” He grabbed her hand while dialing his phone with his free hand. Putting it to his ear, he slowed down so she could keep up. “Meet me at the compound in five. Make sure the women are accounted for and everyone is there.”

Lana groaned as her body protested, but she kept pace. “What’s going on?”

“It looks like you’re not the only one seeing dead people.” Sid opened the door, helped her in, and then ran jumping into the driver’s seat.

“I don’t think he was dead
, Sid,” Lana frowned.

“No, but he should be.” Sid put the car in reverse.
“Buckle up,” he warned as he backed up and took off at a breakneck speed.

Chapter 15

“No way.” Duncan shook his head
. Barely controlled rage flew off him in waves. “No fucking way. I sent that son of a bitch to hell.”

“I’m not
one hundred percent positive, Duncan, but I have a bad feeling about this.” Sid glanced at Pam, who held Daniel tightly. “Just keep the women close until we know for sure.”

“It can’t be
,” Pam shook her head, fear making her shake. “You killed him.”

Duncan walked over to hold her close. “I watched him burn
,” Duncan told her, his eyes moving from her to Daniel and then back to Sid. “I watched him burn!”

Sid didn’t know what to say. He wasn’t positive it was Kenny, but the coincidence was too fucking crazy not to take serious
ly. “I know you did, brother.” Sid gave him a nod, his eyes going to Daniel. “But there is no way we can let this go without making sure. There’s too much at stake.”

“We’ll up security around here
,” Sloan nodded. “Phillip is coming back and I’m trying to get a few more Warriors transferred.”

The
Warriors silently looked at each other. With the women in the room, they didn’t want to frighten them any more than they were, but each knew this was bad. Really bad.

Duncan leaned down
, kissing Pam and then Daniel’s soft little forehead when he started to fuss. “If this is Kenny, which I doubt, I will not let anything happen to you or Daniel.” Duncan hugged her close. “The little guy’s getting hungry. Go on and feed my boy. I’ll be there in a minute.”

“Don’t you keep anything from me
, Duncan,” Pam warned and didn’t look away until he nodded. She looked at each Warrior before turning and leaving the kitchen with Daniel, who was fussing loudly.

Nicol
e pulled Damon down, kissing him on the cheek. “I’ll go with her.” She stopped next to Jared. “Is Tessa up?”

“Yeah, she was just getting a shower when I came down
,” Jared replied.

“I’ll stop by and check on her.” Nicole patted his arm.

“Thanks.” Jared smiled down at her. “Tell her I’ll be up soon.”

“Stay inside unless one of us is with you
,” Sid gave the warning as Nicole walked out.

Duncan
’s attention snapped to Sid as soon as Nicole was out the door. “You didn’t get a good look at him?

“No, he never fully faced me
,” Sid replied, the frustration thick in his voice.

“Even if he would have gotten a good look at him
, trying to get a positive ID would have been impossible,” Lana added, her voice hoarse and harsh from not talking for a while.

Sid cursed
, walking away. They were in the kitchen, which was the biggest room they had and would hold them all at one time.

“He was disfigured beyond recognition. Any hair he had was patchy
, and one eye was scarred over with skin. The other was a dull gold with a pale white film.” Lana wished she had more, but that was it.

“Here, drink this.”
Sid handed her a mug. “It’s hot tea and brandy. It will help soothe your throat.”

“Thanks.” Lana took the cup, blowing across the top before taking a drink.

“We need a way in.” Jared frowned. “And because of all the shit that’s happened around here, we are all poster boys for the Warrior Clan in this area. Dammit!”

“
Blurred Lines” broke the silence following Jared’s curse. All eyes landed on Jill who had been standing to the side with Steve. Steve took a step away from Jill.

“Sorry.” Jill started out the door to answer her phone, but Sid stopped her.

“Answer the phone, Jill. I know that’s Adam’s ring tone because I almost killed the fucker over that damn song,” Sid glared at her. “Put it on speaker.”

Jill glanced around at all the eyes on her as she answered. “Hello
?” She clicked the speaker holding it out.

“
Why the hell didn’t you call me back?” Adam growled over the phone.

“Because I haven’t been alone unti
l now,” Jill said the lie as every Warrior in the house frowned at her. “Stop being an asshole and tell me where the hell you are.”

“Sorry
,” Adam replied, sounding just a little sorry. “I need your help, Jill. I’ve made contact with someone, and I need you to help me on this.”

Jill closed her eyes feeling like the biggest tra
itor in the world. She loved Adam like a brother and she hated betraying him, even if it was out of her control. Glancing at Sid, who nodded to her, she sighed.

“You know I’ll help you any
way I can,” Jill replied with a frown. “But don’t you think you should be asking about Tessa?”

Silence echoed over the phone and throughout the room. She knew she chanced Adam getting pissed and hanging up, but she didn’t care. She had to make sure for herself that Adam wasn’t turning into a
non-caring blood craving rogue.

“I’ve been talking to Steve
,” Adam admitted.

All focus turned to Steve who spread his arms wide open
, his mouth as wide as his eyes; then he just slumped his shoulders, glaring at Jill.

“And I talked to Jared
, who was being a total jackass. I know how my sister is, Jill, so don’t worry about that,” Adam shouted in the phone.

Jill watched Jared take a
menacing step toward her phone, but Damon stopped him with a slap of his huge hand to Jared’s chest. Sloan pointed at Jared in warning.

“Well
, I do worry about it, Adam,” Jill said even though Sid was shaking his head at her and rolling his eyes. “Because there is no way I’m helping you do anything if you’re turning rogue, so don’t tell me what to worry about, and if you don’t lose the ‘tude’ I’m hanging up. I’m not your little bitch.”

Sid smack
ed his hand to his forehead. Jared still looked ready to kill her phone. Damon just shook his head, while Sloan was glaring at her and Slade was actually grinning. Lana, the only other female in the room, gave Jill a thumbs up.

Again
, silence, as everyone held their breath, wondering if Adam was just going to say ‘fuck it’ and hang up.

“Growing some balls are we
, Jill?” Adam, sounding like the old Adam, chuckled.

“Bigger every day.” Jill couldn’t help the grin on her face. “Now stop being a jerk and tell me what you need me to do.”

“I need you to meet me at Metropolis Night Club tomorrow night at ten.” Adam’s tone turned deadly serious. “I need to sell you.”

That shocked Jill. “Sell me? What the hell are you talking about?”

“It’s our way in.” Adam’s voice had an excited edge to it. “Please, Jill, I really need your help. I know it’s asking a lot, but I swear I won’t let anything happen to you. I just need to find out where they take you and then I’ll get you out.”

Sid and Lana made eye contact. Lana dug into her bag
, grabbing a pen and an old envelope scribbling something down.

“To who?” Jill responded
, reading what Lana wrote. “Who are you selling me to?”

“He wouldn’t give his name
,” Adam sighed. “I know I haven’t given anyone any reason to trust me, but I swear, Jill, I never meant to hurt Tessa. I love her more than anything, but I have to find Angelina. Please understand that.”

Sid watched the emotions play across Jill’s face as she looked at each one of them. Slade and Steve were shaking their heads no, while everyone else was nodding
, urging her to agree. Sid grabbed the paper from Lana, writing something down.

‘
We will have your back!!’

Jill read Sid’s note. “I’ll be there
, Adam.” Jill glanced at Sid, who gave her a wink of confidence. “I gotta go. If anything changes, just text me.”

“I owe you one
, Jill,” Adam sighed heavily over the phone.

“You bet your ass you do
,” Jill replied, hanging up the phone, and that’s when all hell broke loose.

Sid stood back watching everyone cursing and yelling. He glanced at Lana
, who also sat back watching. They finally made eye contact both knowing, without a doubt, this was the break they needed.

******

When everyone finally left the kitchen and the plan for the next night was in place, Lana stood ready to leave. “Well, I guess I better get going.” She stretched grabbing her stuff. “I need to go see my sister since I won’t be able to make it tomorrow night.”

“You don’t have plans for your birthday?” Sid frowned down at her
, not liking the sadness in her beautiful blue eyes.

“No, we usually celebrate with her the day after.” Lana rubbed her throat
, which was still bruised an ugly shade of black and purple. “I’ll have to tell them I can’t make it then.”

“Why not just do it tonight?” Sid lifted her chin a little
, looking at her neck, anger darkening his eyes. When she didn’t answer, Sid’s eyes slid to hers. “Why don’t you celebrate on your birthday, Lana?”

“Because her fiancé will be there and he hates me
,” Lana frowned. “His whole family hates me actually.”

Sid watched as she fought the emotions swirling in her eyes. “Lana
, if you want to see your sister then nothing should stop you.”

“I know that, but I try to give them their time without drama.” Lana looked up at him with a hardness. “Usually
, I don’t give a damn what people think, but I am responsible and I know that. I just don’t want it thrown in my face constantly. I have a hard enough time dealing as it is.”

Anger at anyone who would throw something like that in this woman’s face pissed Sid off.
He dared anyone to throw anything while he was around. “Come on.” He grabbed her bag, handing it to her.

“What?” Lana took the bag
, looking confused.

“Let’s go see your sister.” Sid grabbed her hand
, leading her toward the door. He would be damned if anyone tried to stop her from seeing her sister.

“You’d go with me?” She looked surprised.

“I am your partner, so yeah.” Sid nodded, his expression serious. He was on her side, and he was proving it with his actions.

“Thought you were my boss.” Lana glanced at him as they made their way outside to Sid’s car.

“When you’re stubborn, I’m your boss,” Sid explained with a get-this-straight smile. “When you’re complying with everything I say, we’re partners.”

“Thank you
,” Lana said as soon as they were both inside the car.

“Call your parents
,” Sid instructed. “I’d love to meet the ones who gave birth to the woman who put me in my place.”

Lana laughed. “Oh, I put you in your place?”

Sid loved her laugh. It was open without a hint of anything other than a true genuine laugh. He wasn’t used to that with women and he enjoyed the sound. “Okay, maybe not put me in my place, but made me think twice about crossing you.” Sid worked his jaw back and forth with his free hand. “Who the hell taught you to punch like that?”

“My daddy
,” Lana smiled proudly. “Me and my sister could take any boy in the neighborhood.”

“That I have no doubt.” Sid glanced at her once they stopped at a light.

“Do you always have a smile on your face?” Lana teased. “I thought VC Warriors were supposed to be all moody badasses.”

“Oh, I’m a badass.” Sid tossed her a look. “
I just like to have a good time while being my badass self.”

Lana laughed. “You certainly seem to do that well.”

“You better believe it.” Sid pulled into the parking lot. “I’ll teach you how to be just like me.”

“
Full of myself?” Lana got out of the car with a large grin at the seriousness of Sid’s tone as he got out and walked around to her side of the car.

“
Nooo, but you will be the coolest and funniest badass chick on the police force.” Sid replied after opening her door and helping her out.

Lana grinned at him before g
lancing up at the hospital. “Thank you.” She turned, reaching up to kiss his cheek. “I know we started out on the wrong foot, and I know I don’t really know you well, but just by the past ten minutes, I realize how great a person you are.”

Sid frowned
, feeling uncomfortable, which was a feeling he was not comfortable with at all. “Lana, I’m an asshole.”

“No, you’re not. If you were
, I would be walking into a grim situation alone.” Lana grinned up at him, grabbing his hand. “You’re a nice guy, Sid Sinclair.”

Even though her words made him cringe,
they also warmed him. He didn’t want to see her face this alone. He wasn’t exactly sure what to expect, but he was ready for whatever it was going to be. She may be a cop and tough as hell, but that didn’t make his strong urge to protect this woman go away. If anything, it made her more vulnerable to him.

“Some would definitely argue that to the point of laughing themselves to death
, Ms. Fitzpatrick,” Sid winked down at her. “And it could be I have an ulterior motive in being nice.”