A Warrior Wedding (21 page)

Because of all the media attention, he had been allowed to stay with Jill until she fully recovered. They City Council members wanted no more bad press. Like they could have stopped him from staying with her. His own death would have been the only thing that kept him from her side. Also Sloan threatening to pull every VC Warrior under him out of the city had made a big impact on allowing Slade to be able to turn himself in at a later date.

It took only two days for Jill to be up on her feet. She hadn’t experienced the shock Pam had and for each individual it was different. Some turned fast and other’s could take weeks while a few didn’t make it at all. His Jillian was a strong woman.

Jill had been furious when Slade informed her he was turning himself in. She had to promise not to get a posse together to break him out of jail. She also promised to continue her fight to get the laws changed, which she did with a passion that made him proud.

Adam was also turned a couple of days after Jill, which Sloan took care of. He was ready to turn himself in when he got the call that the law had been changed so lives could be saved. It seemed Jill’s plea to the public through media was heard loud and clear across the country.

Finally, a police officer handed him all the stuff he came to jail with. “Thanks.” Slade grabbed it all then headed out the door at a run and hit a brick wall. “What the hell?” Slade picked himself off the ground.

“Hope that hurt.” Jill stood there with her hands outstretched.

Slade laughed, then tried to move toward her, but she stopped him. “I’m really angry with you.” The sun hit Jill’s matching golden eyes making them glow. “I told you not to change me.”

“Didn’t we already have this fight?” Slade couldn’t get enough of looking at her.

“Yes, but I was too weak yet to slam you on your ass.” Jill frowned. “You did a week in jail and could have lost your medical license.”

Dropping what was in his hands, he raised his palm using his power to pull her toward him. “And this is the thanks I get?” Once she was close enough, he swooped her into his arms. “I would die for you, Jillian.”

Jill clutched onto him so tight it hurt. “And I would die for you,” she said against his chest. “Sloan wouldn’t let me come to see you.”

“That’s because I told him not to.” Slade tilted her face to his. “You needed to get your strength back and had no business coming to the jail.”

“I tried to sneak, but he had everyone watching me.” Jill grumbled making him smile.

Slade buried his face in her hair. “I almost lost you, Jill.”

“Yes, you did.” Jill touched his face with her hand. “I was just trying to—”

“Save everyone but yourself.” Slade finished for her. He bent down kissing her softly, but when she deepened the kiss, he moaned and pulled away. “Let’s get the hell out of here. We have some making up to do.”

“And I’m thirsty.” Jill laid her head against his side as they walked to the car.

“I told Sloan to have you feed from someone.” He frowned as he opened the car door for her.

Jill reached up and wrapped her arms around him, kissing him once again deeply. “I refused to feed from anyone but you. Sloan threatened me, punctured his arm and well, I was so thirsty, I couldn’t help it and I definitely didn’t like it. I don’t ever want to feed from anyone other than you again.”

Slade forced his anger down. If she had to feed from anyone but himself, he’d rather it be Sloan Murphy, but he still didn’t like it. “You needed to feed and couldn’t wait a week for me.”

“I know, but don’t do that to me again.” Jill punched him in the stomach.

“Thank you for fighting.” Slade brushed some hair out of her beautiful eyes.

“Thank you for giving me something to fight for,” she whispered against his lips.

******

C
aroline was busy trying to catch up. She hadn’t done anything with her house during the marathon wedding, and school would be starting soon. She had to make this place livable. She was tired of sleeping on the floor. She had tried to get another roofer out for another quote, but so far with no luck.

A large truck lumbered down the hole-riddled driveway. Caroline looked out the window before opening the door.

As soon as she walked out the door, he jumped down from his truck. “I’m sorry, but I think you have the wrong address.”

“Caroline Fitzpatrick?” he called out, looking up from paperwork.

“Yes.” Caroline nodded, placing her hands on her hips.

“Nope, got the right address.” He tossed the clipboard back inside the cab of his truck. “Now, where do you want me to put all this stuff?”

“Listen, I didn’t order anything.” Caroline walked closer. “What is it?”

Three motorcycles came barreling down the driveway. Jax pulled next to the truck and got off his bike. “Sorry, I wanted to be here before the truck pulled in.”

“You know about this?” Caroline walked closer, still confused as to what was going on.

“Hey, mister, where you want me to put this stuff?” the truck driver asked Jax this time.

“Over there by the house.” Jax pointed to where he wanted it to go.

“Whoa!” Caroline stopped the guy. “What’s going on?”

“You need a new roof,” Jax said, then pointed to the truck. “You’re getting a new roof. Guys, help him out so we can get out of here,” Jax shouted to Blaze and Hunter.

“Wait a minute!” Caroline shouted. Blaze and Hunter dropped the skids of shingles they were carrying and the truck driver turned off his small forklift. “I didn’t order this.”

“No, I did,” Jax replied, shouting back at the men. “Come on, let’s go.”

“Stop!” Caroline shouted right back. The men grumbled and cursed, dropping the skid and even the truck driver got in a few curses. “How much was this stuff?”

“Not nine thousand, I can tell you that.” Jax turned to yell at the guys again, but they waited, staring at Caroline.

She gave up. Jax was hardheaded and he wasn’t going to leave here until what he ordered was off the truck. Hopping out of the way as Hunter and Blaze passed, Caroline couldn’t do anything but watch.

“You going to the party tonight?” Blaze asked as he passed.

“Oh, I don’t know.” Caroline frowned, actually wanting to go, but knew she shouldn’t. “I’ve got a lot to do here so probably not.”

“Ah, come on.” Hunter walked by, carrying more than the guy on the forklift. “This is kind of a going-away party for me.”

“Going-away party?” Caroline followed Hunter where he put his load down. “Where you going?”

“Guess my little stunt of letting my wolf out on the City Hall steps wasn’t such a great idea.” Hunter snorted. “I’ve been ordered home to face the consequences.” Hunter passed her.

“Do you have to go?” Caroline was a little sad that Hunter was leaving.

“When your Alpha calls, you go.” Hunter stopped and walked backwards until he was next to Caroline. “Why, you going to miss me?”

“Hunter.” Jax walked by and threw him a dirty look as he carried a stack of wood. “You may not make it back home if you don’t get your ass in gear and help.”

Hunter winked at her then took off. “Never fear, Caroline dear, I will be near if you ever have a need.”

Jax turned quickly hitting Hunter in the head with a board. “Oh, my bad.” Jax’s evil grin clearly indicated he wasn’t sorry at all.

Once everything was unloaded and Jax signed saying the material was delivered, the truck backed out.

“You guys go ahead.” Jax wiped his hands on his jeans. “We’ll be there in a few.”

Once Blaze and Hunter were gone, Caroline looked behind her at all the material. “How much do I owe you?”

“I don’t know.” Jax shrugged. “You ready?”

“To hear how much I owe you? Yes, I am.” Caroline stood, waiting.

“No,” Jax said slowly. “To go to the party.”

“No,” Caroline said just as slow. “I have too much to do here.”

“Everyone’s expecting you. It would be rude for you not to show up.” Jax tried not to grin in victory. “Very rude.”

“Dammit!” Caroline almost stomped her foot, but didn’t. Instead, she stomped her way into the house to change for the damn party. If she was anything, it wasn’t rude and the ass was right; it would be very rude.

******

J
ax could tell Caroline was happy she had come. She was sitting and laughing with Pam and Nicole. He absolutely loved her laugh. Staying away from her would be safer for her, but he was a selfish son of a bitch and didn’t want to stay away, couldn’t stay away from her.

The women wanted to have a little get-together at the compound and it seemed like they all needed it.

“Well, it seems for once we got a win on our side.” Jared walked up, tipping his beer in the air. “Finally.”

Jax looked away from Caroline to Jill, who was glued to Slade’s side. He couldn’t blame Slade at all for keeping her near after almost losing her once. It had actually shaken him up seeing Jill lying helpless on the steps and the devastation on Slade’s face. Something he definitely would never forget. He never thought love like that existed, but he had been proven wrong.

“If not for Jill, it wouldn’t have happened,” Jax replied

“Slade changing her on the steps of City Hall I think was the game changer. Now they are America’s sweethearts. A true love story.” Sid made a gagging sound. “Makes ya want to puke doesn’t it.”

Lana elbowed Sid in the stomach. “I think it was romantic and if I ever need to be changed I want it done on the City Hall steps.”

“Honey, if I ever change you it will be in my bed with my...” Sid started, but Lana covered his mouth with her hand blushing.

“Any word from your brother?” Jared asked Jax as Duncan joined them.

“No, but we will,” Jax replied, taking a long drink of beer.

“What do you mean
we
?” Duncan asked, but everyone’s attention turned to Jax.

“He’s coming and we need to be ready.” Jax looked at each one of them, then back to Caroline who looked up at him at that moment. “He doesn’t play nice and will use whatever means necessary to take us down.”

“What exactly happened between you and your brother?” Sid asked, eyeing Jax. “I mean we’ve dealt with a lot of mean bastards. What makes your brother any different?”

“He killed our sister.” Jax straightened eyeing each Warrior surrounding him. “That’s what makes him more dangerous than anyone we’ve ever dealt with. He doesn’t give a fuck and he’s coming. He’s dangerously patient to the point you think he’s moved on, he waits for the right time to strike and will take out anyone in his way.”

With that said Jax left the group of Warriors to get another beer. His eyes caught Caroline who was watching his every move. He vowed right then and there his brother would never touch one hair on her head. Caroline Fitzpatrick was his and no one touched what was his.