Sloan (The Protectors Series) Book #9 (18 page)

“Well, I’m here to pay it in full.” Blaze pulled out his wallet. “How much?”

“Five hundred and sixty-five dollars,” she replied, then counted the money Blaze put on the counter and printed him a receipt.

“I’ll go get him.” She took off toward the back and disappeared.

Blaze’s anxiety gave him energy that he needed to get rid of, but no bastards who did that to Katrina were around. He swore when he found them, he would kill them in the most painful way he knew how. He paced the waiting room, making everyone inside nervous, but he didn’t give a shit.

“Here he is.” The girl came out and so did the damn dog, with a white bandage wrapped around its torso.

Blaze wasn’t a dog person. He didn’t know much about them, but when the dog spotted him his tail began to wag.

“These are his pain meds.” She gave him a bottle and handed him the leash. “He needs them every twelve hours with food. And I think that’s it. You’re good to go.”

She knelt down and petted the dog’s head. “See you later, Sager.”

“Sager?” Blaze frowned, looking at the small dog.

“Yeah, that’s the name Katrina gave him. She didn’t want him to be in here nameless. He even comes to the name as if he’s had it for years.”

Blaze actually grinned. “What kind of dog is it?”

“Full-blooded German Shepherd. He’s going to be huge. He’s only a puppy.” She stood, then headed back to the counter. “Good luck. Give us a call if anything happens.”

Blaze nodded and headed out the door, the damn dog followed right by his side. Once at the bike, he wondered how in the hell he was going to pull this off. Carefully picking the damn dog up, he stuffed him safely under his shirt, then tucked it in. He pulled his collar down so the dog could peek out. It wasn’t the most comfortable thing, but it worked and he only had a short way to go.

“Come, Sager,” Blaze said, then chuckled at the name. “Katrina needs you.”

Once at the compound, Blaze didn’t even take him out of his shirt. He rushed inside and down the hallway to Slade’s office. Everyone was still there, even Sloan and Becky. Stepping inside, his eyes went directly to Katrina and then back to Slade.

“She’s starting to heal, but it’s too soon to tell yet,” Slade answered his unasked question.

“Why can’t she take my blood?” Blaze finally asked something he should have asked in the first place.

“Because I can’t have her healing too fast.” Slade frowned down at Katrina. “As far as I can tell, she has nothing broken, but without X-rays, that’s not a certainty. We just wait.”

Blaze paced toward
the table, pulled out his shirt, and lifted the puppy out. He carefully set the puppy down next to Katrina, but was ready to pull him away if he started to get excited. That didn’t happen. Everyone watched amazed as the puppy, himself still wounded, carefully leaned over and sniffed Katrina’s cheek. He looked toward Blaze, then Katrina, and licked her cheek before curling up and snuggling his head in her neck.

Sitting down in the chair, Blaze put his hand close to Katrina’s and wanted to touch her so badly, but didn’t. Too many eyes were on them. He looked back to the dog. Something touched his fingers. He turned to see her hand touching his.

Jill began to cry again and left the room. Slade followed, shutting the door and everyone else out.

Taking her hand in his, Blaze rubbed his thumb across a fading bruise on her wrist. “I swear to you I will find who did this.” Blaze looked up to her face. “Just don’t die on me. You will be revenged.”

The damn dog lifted its head, its eyes on his as it growled low in its throat, as if agreeing with him. At that moment, Katrina applied pressure to his hand. A tiny flicker of hope filled Blaze and for the first time that he could remember, he prayed.

Chapter 33

Sloan sat at his desk going through papers. His eyes kept going to Becky, who sat at her computer. He could tell something was wrong and it was driving him crazy. Ever since Katrina had been found beaten and broken on the steps of the compound, Becky had been very quiet, not like herself at all. Actually, the mood around the compound was anything but good. One of their own had been violated, and that they took very seriously.

Again, he glanced up to see her staring at him over her computer. “Becky, are you okay?”

She glanced down for a second before looking back up, her eyes sparkling with tears. “No, not really.”

Sloan stood and headed toward her. Gently reaching for her, he pulled her into his arms.

“Is she going to be okay?” Becky said against his chest.

“Slade is taking good care of her.” He rested his chin on her head.

Becky was silent for a few seconds. “What you guys do is very dangerous, isn’t it?”

Sloan sighed. “Yes, it is.” He knew he should have had this conversation with her before things got this far between them, but selfishly he hadn’t. “Sometimes things like this happen, but I swear to you, no one will ever touch you,” he vowed, his arms tightening around her.

“Sloan, that’s not what I’m worried about.” Becky stared up at him. “I’m worried about you. Something like that could happen to you.”

“Well, they can try,” he teased, tilting her chin up higher to look directly into her eyes. “But know that I have something in my life very important to me. I’m going to be one hard son of a bitch to take out.”

“Uh, that doesn’t make me feel better.” She sniffed, but a twitch of her lips made him smile.

“Becky, I promise you nothing will happen to me.” Sloan assured her, then kissed her softly. Rising from her lips, he still saw shadows in her eyes. “What else is bothering you?”

Becky hesitated, biting her lip. “I don’t know how this is going to work.”

This time Sloan pulled back away from her, his face going completely blank of any emotion. “How what is going to work?” His voice was even, his eyes narrowing. He had a feeling he was not going to like what she said next.

“Us,” she whispered as a tear fell.

Never had a word gutted him like the word she’d just spoken. For once in his life, he was speechless. He just didn’t want to question what she meant, afraid to hear the answer. Sloan Murphy wasn’t afraid of a fucking thing. At least, that was the case until she walked into his life.

“I know nothing about you, or your life. I’m human, you aren’t.” Her voice caught, but she cleared it and went on, “What happens when I start getting older, Sloan? What happens then, when you no longer find me attractive?”

“You will take my blood, Becky. It will keep you young.” Sloan felt a little better hearing her problem was just that and not because her feelings had changed for him.

“I have a son, Sloan.” Becky’s chin wobbled and her eyes filled again. “How is that going to work? A mother’s worst fear, my worst fear is losing my son before I die. A mother is supposed to die before her children. I never even took the time to think of this until Katrina. How different we are. How different I am from you.”

Her words hit him and he honestly didn’t have a solution. For fuck’s sake, he stood there like a complete fucking idiot as his life slipped out of his hands. And there was not a fucking thing he could do about it, except stare at her.

“I have to go. I have to think.” Becky stepped further away from him, snatching her bag off the table. “I’m so sorry.”

“Becky, wait!” Sloan called out, but she was gone and he let her go, for the moment. He would give her only a moment to think and then he would find her.

******

Becky drove in the drizzling rain, happy that Frankie was still in town having dinner with his father before he headed back to school. He agreed to meet with her outside of the restaurant. She had to talk to him. She was confused and needed to talk to her son.

What happened between her and Sloan was fast and furious. One minute she was his secretary and the next she was in his bed, his mate and future wife. All that was fine, other than the fact that she hadn’t thought things through. Didn’t understand what it meant to be in love with a vampire. Who in the hell would have thought she would have had to consider that one day?

Katrina’s condition had sent all sorts of thoughts through her mind and they wouldn’t stop. With her feelings for Sloan growing every second, she needed to understand exactly what…. Hell, she didn’t know what she needed to understand. She did know she needed to see Frankie.

Pulling up to the restaurant, she got out and texted Frankie. Within minutes he was outside, and she was holding on to her son.

“Mom, you’re freaking me out.” Frankie hugged her close. “What’s wrong? Did something happen?”

Becky told him about Katrina. “I never realized what being in a relationship with a vampire, a Warrior vampire would entail.”

“Mom, come on.” Frankie frowned at her. “You’re tougher than this. What’s really going on?”

“I can’t stay with him.” She shook her head, a few tears escaping, her heart totally breaking. “He will stay the same while I get old. How in the hell can I even think that’s okay?”

Frankie laughed, actually chuckled. “Then have him change you into a vampire, Mom.”

“Have you lost your mind?” Becky gasped, looking up at him in horror.

“Ah, no, but I think you have.” Frankie snorted, then shook his head. “Do you love him, Mom? Actually, let me answer that. Yes, you do. I have never seen you this happy before, ever, and I’ve known you for a pretty long time. Every single time I’ve called you, I’ve wanted to gag because you’re disgustingly happy.”

“Gag?” Becky frowned at him.

“Yes, gag.” Frankie snorted again. “Oh, Sloan did this and Sloan said that.” He changed his voice to sound like her.

Becky slapped her hands on her cheeks and stared at her son. “If I change, then I will watch you grow old as I stay the same. I can’t do that, Frankie.”

“And why not?” Frankie frowned, his eyes narrowing. “Do not use me like this.”

“Like what?” Becky gasped, not liking his tone.

“You stayed with Dad for me and you were miserable.” Frankie glared at her. “Do not leave a man you love because of me.”

Becky fell against her car, her head sinking to her chest. “I never meant to….”

“Knowing how much you love me is enough, Mom.” Frankie touched her shoulder before wrapping his arm around her and leaning next to her. “It’s time to live your life and let me live mine. Actually, I think it would be awesome to have a vampire for a mom and who knows, I may find a vampire of my own one day. Living forever sounds pretty awesome.”

Never could she love someone as much as she loved her son. He was wise beyond his years and seemed wiser than her, which made her damn proud.

“Live your life, Mom.” Frankie squeezed her tight.

“How old are you again?” Becky eyed him teasingly.

“I know.” He smiled with his chest puffed out. “Pretty freaking mature of me, huh.”

“Very,” Becky chuckled, then shrugged her shoulders. “This is all new to me. I just don’t know what to do.”

“Are you going to turn into an old hag tomorrow?” Frankie asked, his eyes shooting over her head at something.

“No,” she replied, then laughed because in all honestly, he was right. She had just had a total meltdown for no reason at all. Well, at least a meltdown that could have come later, but she had been truly scared, and her feelings for Sloan were intensifying.

“Just be happy, Mom,” Frankie continued. “Sloan’s a good guy. I really like him.”

“He really is. I think I made a mistake. I hope he understands.” She sighed, wiping her eyes.

“Oh, he will.” Frankie grinned, looking over her head.

She was getting ready to turn to see what Frankie was looking at, but her ex was coming out of the restaurant and he didn’t look happy.

“What in the fuck is going on?” Frank stormed his way toward them. “Dammit, Becky. I’ve told you when it’s my time with Frankie you need to stay the fuck away. Are you that goddamn stupid I have to smack some sense into you?”

“Dad.” Frankie stepped between his parents. He was smaller than his father, but Sloan wasn’t.

“I got this.” Sloan stepped in front of both Becky and Frankie. “I’m going to give you one choice and that’s only because I respect your son. If you don’t turn your ass around and go back into that restaurant, I am going to beat your fucking ass all over this parking lot.”

“Who the fuck are you?” Frank actually took a step back, but still tried to sound tough.

“I don’t answer to you, motherfucker.” Sloan took a step forward. “But if I ever hear you speak to Becky like that again or if you ever even threaten to raise a finger toward her, you will know my rage. You got me?”

Both Becky and Frankie peered around Sloan to see Frank back down. His shoulders drooped as he turned quickly toward the restaurant and disappeared inside.

“Now that was awesome, but it wouldn’t have hurt my feelings to see you knock his ass out.” Frankie smirked with a shrug. “I know that’s pretty shitty to say about my own dad, but he is an asshole most of the time. I only hang with him because if I don’t, he makes it hard on Mom.”

“Well, you don’t have to worry about that anymore,” Sloan replied as he turned. “He won’t be doing anything to your mother.”

Frankie stuck his hand out and Sloan gave it a firm shake. He then grabbed Becky in a tight hug, laughing at her confused look at Sloan. “He gave me his number the day I met you guys for lunch. I texted him after talking to you on the phone.” 

“I love you.” Becky hugged him with everything she had.

“I love ya, mom.” Frankie pulled away and smiled first at her, then Sloan. “You belong with him. Now, I’m going to go in, get my shit, and then I’m out. I’ll text you when I make it back to campus.”

“Be careful!” Becky watched her son head back to the restaurant, tears leaking again.

“He’s right you know.” Sloan’s deep voice surrounded her. “You belong to me.”

Becky smiled. “He said with.” She knew at that moment she could never live without him. She threw herself into his arms. “I’m so sorry.” She held him tightly. “I just got so confused and afraid. This world is a little different for me.”

“We’ll figure this out, Becky,” Sloan promised as he held her. “I swear I will do whatever I can to make sure you are happy.”

“That’s not going to be hard to do, Sloan, because I am happy. Very happy.” She stood on her tiptoes and kissed him on the chin. “I just had a meltdown for a second.”

“Red hair thing?” He kissed her back, his mouth curving into a teasing smile.

“A heart thing,” she replied, then let him lead her toward his bike. “Hey, what about the car?”

“One of the guys will pick it up. I’m taking you home.” Once Sloan mounted the bike, he looked at her before she climbed on behind him. “And never forget, you do belong to me, Becky. You are mine.”

She slid on the back of his bike, her arms wrapping tightly around him as she pressed her cheek against his back. “I am yours, Sloan Murphy. I’m sorry I left like that.”

“You did what you had to do, Becky. You’re an amazing mother.” He reached around, shifting her onto his lap while sitting on the bike. “You are an amazing woman. I would have found you, even without Frankie’s text. I’m not letting you go.”

She put her hand against his cheek, her eyes meeting his. “I don’t want to be let go.”

“Good to hear.” He gave her a wink. “Now, how about we go back to our place to make up?”

“Make up?” Becky frowned as he helped her slide to the back. “We didn’t really fight.”

“That’s a shame.” Sloan started the bike. “I’ve heard make-up sex is the best.”

A smile lit Becky’s face. “Well, I guess maybe we did have a little fight.”

“That’s my girl.” Sloan gave her a sexy grin over his shoulder before taking off.

Becky sighed, wrapping her arms around him tightly. With an evil grin, she let her hand travel down to his waist and head toward what she had thought about grabbing the previous times she had ridden behind him.

“Son of a bitch.” The bike weaved as he grabbed her hand, moving it quickly back to where it should be. “Becky, stop! Dammit, I almost wrecked. You are definitely going to pay for that.”

“Promise?” she replied, then squeezed him tighter, moving as close as she could to him.

His only response was a growl as the bike sped up and they flew down the road with Becky smiling and finally feeling at peace.