Slade (The Protectors #6)(7)

“Chuck!” her mother cried out, running from the porch to her husband’s side.

Slade was there at his side steadying him. “You need to calm down, Mr. Nichols.”

“Get off him,” Jill’s mom tried to push Slade’s hands away.

“He’s a doctor.” Jill stepped between her mom and Slade. “Is he okay?” Her eyes searched Slade’s concerned face.

“He needs to sit down, calm down and have some water,” Slade ordered.

“I’m fine,” her father repeated.

“No, you’re not.” Slade led him toward the lawn furniture near the house. “And if you don’t listen to me, I will call an ambulance and your cardiologist.”

“You wouldn’t.” Chuck Nichols, who Jill knew hated being sick, period, looked panicked.

“I would,” Slade countered. “You have just had major heart surgery. Even though it’s good you are active, cutting wood and getting overly excited is not what your doctor would be happy with. So if you don’t want to find yourself back in the hospital, I suggest you do as I say.”

Before anyone could say anything else, a beat-up Mustang came flying up the gravel drive. A tall, well-built male version of Jill hopped out of the car and took off toward Jill in a dead run, but stopped when Slade stepped in front of her, blocking his path.

“You her brother?” Slade’s deep voice echoed across the yard.

“Yeah, who the hell are you?” Trevor looked up at the large vampire.

Slade stepped aside letting him pass. Trevor gave Slade one last long look before picking up Jill in a tight hug. “Where the hell have you been?” He set her back down looking her over, then pulled her blue tipped hair. “I’ve looked everywhere for you.”

“I stayed with Tessa and Adam Pride for a while,” Jill replied, leaving out she had lived out in the woods by their house, scared and alone, before meeting up with Adam.

“I didn’t know what happened until it was too late and you were gone, Jill.” Trevor frowned at his mom and sister. “It wouldn’t have happened if I had been here.”

“It’s okay.” Jill glanced at her dad, whose color was coming back. He was sipping on water with Seth sitting on his lap. “Now’s not the time to talk about it.”

Trevor’s eyes followed hers and he nodded. “He hasn’t been the same since that night.”

“Neither have I,” Jill smiled sadly, as her eyes met Slade’s. “Slade, this is my brother, Trevor.”

Slade reached out his hand. “Slade Buchanan.”

They shook hands both eyeing each other, sizing each other up. “You were just protecting her when you stepped in front of her.”

“Just making sure you were who I thought you were.” Slade nodded. “We had a little excitement with a shotgun just before you got here, so I’m a little on edge.”

“What?” Trevor’s eyes widened. “Who in the hell had a shotgun?”

“Janie’s fiancé.” Jill frowned, looking toward her sister and, hell, she still didn’t know his name. “Who is he?”

“Anthony Bonner.” Rolling his eyes, he snorted. “He’s a douche who is anti-vampire; he came around right after I left. I don’t even know how they met, but he has Mom and Janie all stressed out about half-breeds and vampires.”

Wanting to change the subject so not to upset her dad again, Jill glanced toward the house. “Hey, can you run up and get a couple of things from my room?”

Trevor looked away from her, scratching his head. “Well, yeah I could, but…”

“But, what?” Jill asked, not really wanting to know the answer. When he still didn’t answer, only shuffled his feet nervously, looking anywhere but at her, she sighed, “They got rid of my stuff.” It wasn’t a question.

Always one to fidget when nervous, Trevor rubbed his eyes, then forehead. “Not exactly.” He finally looked at her, lowering his voice, “Dad found Mom and Janie going through your stuff, boxing it up and throwing stuff away. He literally had a heart attack.”

Jill looked over at her dad who was playing with Seth, her mom close at his side and her eyes glaring right at her. “Why does she hate me so much?” Jill turned back to her brother, confusion and sadness on her face.

“She doesn’t hate you, Sis.” Trevor clasped her shoulder. “She fears you.”

“No, she hates me,” she pushed his arm away. “Do you fear me?” Her voice held a hint of challenge, but her gaze held a trace of plea hoping his answer would be no. That he still saw her the same way, his annoying older sister who he liked to mess with.

Trevor snorted, rolling his eyes. “Fear you?” He pushed her, making her stumble into Slade who had been standing silently by her side. “That’s a joke, right?”

“Careful, bro.” Jill crossed her arms, tilting her chin up. “I’ve got skills now.”

“Skills?” Trevor’s laugh boomed across the yard, gaining everyone’s attention. He looked up at Slade. “You better watch out, big man. And just so you know, I won’t hurt her…too bad. Just don’t want you killing me or anything, but I need to make sure my sis remembers who’s the bigger badass.”