Adam (13 page)

“I hope he doesn
’t take what
I
did out on my mom.” Her eyes shot up to his, fear at the very thought shadowed her features. “I was brave because you were there with me, but when we leave she won’t have anyone.”

Adam honestly didn
’t think her mom deserved her worry, but he lead Angelina to the car, helped her in, and shut the door. Turning, he passed the car, went up the two steps and opened the screen door. Walking straight up to Dan, who had his head tilted backwards, but had turned to see who came in; he back peddled as Adam advanced on him.

“What do you want?” Dan
’s voice was high-pitched and his nose looked a little crooked.

Adam grabbed him by the throat
again. “If I find out that you harmed Angelina’s mom in any way, I will be back and that broken nose will be the least of your worries.” Adam shook him, his eyes narrowed. “Understand?”

Dan nodded his head
, which sent a fresh stream of blood seeping out one nostril.

“
Good.” Adam let go with a forcible push, sending Dan down on the couch. Turning, Adam nodded to Angelina’s mom before heading back out to the car. Getting in, he strapped his seatbelt and looked over at Angelina. “He won’t hurt your mom.” A grin slipped across his lips as he put the car in reverse and backed out of the driveway.

Chapter 15

Sid leaned against the door to his room waiting for Lana to get out of the shower, but what he really wanted to do
was strip and get in the shower with her. Since he had already tried to follow her in the small bathroom, only to be pushed out with the door closed on his face, he pretty much figured she was still pissed.

It was three in the morning
. Her face was battered and he knew she was exhausted, but that didn’t stop him from wanting her, craving her and didn’t that make him a big asshole.

The door opened and
she exited the bathroom looking sexy as hell in one of his large shirts, which looked a hell of a lot better on her. She caught him staring at her breasts; her nipples peaked through the plain white shirt begging for him. Turning away, she bent over and removed a pair of underwear from her bag as well as a brush.

Sid
’s eyes dragged down her body and groaned, which caused her to stand up quickly pulling the shirt down before shooting him an evil glare. “Don’t even think about it.” She pointed the brush at him.

Throwing his hands
up innocently in the air as a sexy grin played at the corner of his lips, took all the innocence out of the action. “You’re beautiful. I can’t help it.” He took a step toward her, but stopped suddenly when she reached into her bag and pulled out her gun.

“Don
’t lie to me.” Lana pointed the gun at him with a steady hand. “I look like shit.”

His eyes dropped to the gun
. It was actually sexy as hell with her panties dangling from it. “I didn’t know you had another gun.” His grin didn’t disappear.

“Exactly.” Lana smirked
. Her smile turned into a grimace when it pulled at her swollen cheek. “Now back off, lover boy. I’m still pissed and not in the mood.”

Not one to say sorry to anyone and definitely not one to admit when he was wrong
, Sid struggled with this one. He had reacted a little harshly, but he had been in shock. He knew it wasn’t her fault and he had practically bit her head off.

Lana was watching him closely. “I
’m serious, Sid,” she warned. “I’m not in the mood.”

Walking up to her
, he stopped when the barrel of the gun hit his chest. “Shoot.”

Narrowing her eyes
, she nudged the gun, but then dropped it to her side. “It would be easier to shoot myself than you.” She sighed, placing the gun back in her bag.

He
cupped her chin, bringing her face up to his. “Don’t ever say that,” he ordered. He rubbed his thumb across her damaged cheek; his eyes glazed over in rage. “I want to kill the son-of-a-bitch who did this to you.”

“That makes two of us
,” Lana replied, reaching up to touch her face. “It really hurts. And I’m so damn tired and I’ve got a headache from hell as well as wanting to puke because I sound like a damn girl.”

Sid smiled down at her when she glanced at him. No wonder he loved this woman
; she was it for him and he knew it without a doubt. “I shouldn’t have yelled at you.”

“
Sid, I don’t care if you yell at me. I mean I care, but I’ll yell back and give you hell.” Lana’s eyes flashed so many emotions at once from miserable, to angry and then finally hurt. “You didn’t trust me. You know everything about me, my secrets, my fears and I know close to nothing about you. I was there to help you and you shut me out.”

“Lana, I…” Sid began, but stopped
, pulling away.

“I know you
’re a big badass Warrior who needs no one, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to be there for you.” Lana’s voice cracked. “I honestly don’t know if I can be in a relationship with someone who doesn’t trust me enough to confide in me. I want a partner in a relationship, Sid. It has to go both ways. I lean on you and you lean on me.”

“
I was raised in a place run by priests, where once you were old enough, they tossed you out unless you were a lucky one and found a family. I wasn’t one of the lucky ones, but I was bigger than most and they kept me because I could work. I worked slowly on whatever they gave me for fear of the unknown. I was afraid of being set free in a world I knew nothing about. After they finally had nothing left for me, I was let go. It took only two days for me to be arrested for trying to steal some bread.” His eyes were closed so he couldn’t see her reaction to his past that haunted him. He hadn’t spoken about his past to anyone, but he remembered everything. The smells, his fear, his hunger, his loneliness, but most importantly, the horror of what he had become. “Because of my size, I was bought out of the prison system by a man named Alexio Milona, a Lanista…trainer of Gladiators.”

“You were a Gladiator?” Lana gasped, her eyes widened in surprise.

“I was a slave who was made to fight for the rich for their entertainment.” Sid spat, hatred edging each word, then turned and walked away from her. He placed one hand on the wall; his head slumped. “How can a man look at the woman he loves more than anything in this shitty world and admit he was a slave? That he ate from the floor any scrap that was thrown to him. He was chained and whipped like a dog until he was ordered to perform whatever task was asked.” He didn’t lift his head when he felt her hand touch his back softly, but he did flinch. “How can a man stand tall knowing that the woman he loves may look at him differently because he killed just for that scrap of food on the floor, or a splash of water to wipe the filth off his body, and in the end, traded his soul for a way out?”

Dipping under his arm
, Lana stared up under his hung head. “How can a woman not love the man who survived such horrors? A man who turned out to be a decent human being instead of a monster taking revenge for the life he had been dealt.” His eyes rose to meet hers. “I see the man you are. How can I not love you, Sid Sinclair, no matter your past?”

“I killed people for
the entertainment of others.” Sid’s eyes didn’t leave hers, his voice a low growl. “And I found enjoyment in that. It was the only thing I could find enjoyment in. In each face of the person I killed, I saw the men who enslaved me. I was damn good at what I did; we all were. And never forget, Lana, I am a monster. I’m not a human being. I am a vampire.”

“
And I’m a human,” Lana replied, touching his chest with her hand, “who never learned how to cook like a woman should, hates to clean and would rather spend her free time at a shooting range.”

His golden eyes searched her face. “
I don’t think I can love a woman who can’t cook.”

Lana ran her hand slowly down his chest to the waist of his jeans. “But I can do other things
which are much better than cooking.” She gripped him tightly through his jeans, making his eyes flare hot. “I love you, Sid, and I don’t care about anything other than being yours and you being mine. If we stay true to that, then nothing can come between us. That part of your life happened long ago.”

His eyes darkened
at her words and the firm grip she had over his crotch. “But to us it’s as if it happened yesterday.”

She ran her hand back up to his chest, behind his thick neck to pull him close to her. “
Then I guess I have to spend all my free time making you forget the bad memories by making better ones.” Their lips were inches apart as she whispered, “I love you.”

Sid
’s eyes closed for a second as he savored her words, but then they opened to make sure she was real, and of course she was, but never did he think a woman who knew the truth would love him. “You are my life.” Sid, who was full of smartass remarks, had none at that moment. He had never been more serious in his long life. Gripping her just below her ass, he lifted her and instinctively she wrapped her legs around him. “You are mine.”

“I am yours
,” she agreed before sealing it with a slow kiss, her hands tangling in his hair.

Sid pulled back, his eyes almost black, search
ing her bruised face. “I can make that all go away.”

“Is it that ugly?” Lana frowned
, pulling her hand away from his neck to cover up her damaged eye and cheek.

“Nothing about you could be ugly, but every time I look at it
, I want to kill someone,” Sid growled.

“How can you get rid of it?” Lana moved her hand away wrapping
it around his neck again.

Okay Sinclair, suck it up and do it. If she refuses
, it doesn’t mean anything. Just be a fucking man and do it. He felt his eyes shift away from her and couldn’t stop it.

“By taking my blood.” Sid finally looked back at her to see her reaction.

“Your blood can heal?” Lana asked; she didn’t look or sound disgusted which was a good sign.

“Yes, among other things.” He forced his eyes to stay on her and not look away like a scared pussy.

Lana didn’t answer right way, but it was she who looked away down to his chest. “Tessa told me that is how vampires become mates.” Lana still didn’t look at him. “But you already have had mine. That didn’t make us mates?”

“No.” Sid shook his head. “We have to share each other
’s blood.” He turned his head, slightly looking away. He honestly didn’t know if he could handle her rejection.

“Do you want me to be your mate
, Sid?” She pulled his face back to hers.

“More than anything in the world
,” Sid answered with such intense conviction she looked up surprised.

A small
, sexy smile played at the corner of her mouth as she tilted her head slightly. “Then make me your mate, Warrior.” Her sigh was soft, but he heard it loud and clear.

“Do you understand what you
’re saying?” He felt his fangs growing. Not wanting to scare her, he asked his question out of the corner of his mouth, trying to keep them hidden.

“Yes, I do
, and you don’t have to hide them from me Sid.” She ran her fingers over his lips. “I trust you fully. I’m not afraid. I actually think you look sexy and a little dangerous. What girl isn’t turned on by that?”

Still having her cradled against him, he reached between
them, undoing his pants. She was wet and she never did put her panties back on. Slipping inside her smoothly, he pushed as deep as he could, and pulled out with agonizing slowness. He watched in awe as her head fell back against the wall, her neck arched for him and felt himself grow harder inside her. Knowing he wasn’t going to last long and wasn’t that a bitch, he reached for the knife he always carried. With expert precision, he cut his neck as she watched.

“Are you sure
, Lana?” He needed to make sure just one more time, because in all honesty, he couldn’t quite believe this amazing woman was willing to become his mate.

“I
’ve never been surer about anything in my life, Sid.” The confidence of her words rang loud and true in the room. “Maybe I should ask you the same thing. I’m not the easiest person to be with.”

“I was nothing before you.” Sid grasp
ed the back of her neck, pulling her toward him.

Lana also grasped the back of his head
, leading him to her. “As I was nothing before you,” she repeated his words, pledging herself to him forever.

He felt her lips latch onto his neck
. Her first pull of his blood was hesitant at first. His eyes found the vein of her soft neck, and as he sunk into it, he pulled out of her almost completely and then rammed into her as soon as his fangs slipped through her skin. Her soft scream of ecstasy almost did him in, but he held back and slowed his pace, wanting this moment to last forever.

Chapter 16

Adam heard the footsteps coming toward his room, but he didn
’t want to get up because that meant letting her go. His arms were wrapped tightly around his Angel and he was actually rethinking being a Warrior at that moment. She had just fallen asleep an hour ago. He had told her she could stay with Jill or even Anne in the room they set her up in, but she refused, wanting to stay with him and he was more than happy to open his door, his room, his heart, his everything to her. Rolling his eyes at himself for his thoughts, he forgot about the footsteps until his door slammed open. Angelina, who was fully clothed in one of his shirts and a pair of shorts, flew up in bed, her eyes wide but not quite awake as she pushed herself up against the headboard her mouth wide-open in a silent scream.

“Whoa.” Adam stuck his head in her line of vision. “Angel, it
’s me. You’re safe in my room.”

Angelina
’s eyes cleared instantly, but the fear on her face took longer to disappear.

“Ah, shit
, man. I’m so sorry, I didn’t know.” Steve back peddled out of the room. “I’ll just wait out here for you, Adam. I’m sorry, Angelina.” He quickly closed the door.

Letting out a long breath
, Angelina shook her head. “I’m sorry.” She combed her long hair back from her face. “Guess I’m a little jumpy.”

Doing his best to look normal took a lot
, because at that moment, he wanted to go to the holding cells and beat the shit out of the bastard who put this fear in her. “Hey, it’s okay.” Adam brushed a strand of hair still framing her face. “I’m going to beat the shit out of Steve as soon as I leave this room. Does that make you feel better?”

“No
,” Angelina replied, and then laughed. “Maybe a little.”

Adam knew it was going to be up to him to take this fear away from her and he was more than up to the challenge. That bastard
wouldn’t even be a memory. He heard the doorknob rattle. “If you open that door one more time, it will be the last door you ever open.” Adam’s tone was deep with warning, but his head never turned from Angelina.

“If we
’re late, I won’t be opening anything anyway because Slade will kill us,” Steve replied from behind the closed door. “So it’s a no-win situation for me.”

Adam rolled his eyes making Angelina laugh. “Go on. I
’m fine.” Angelina nodded. “I was in such a deep sleep; something I haven’t done in a long while and it just startled me.”

“Try to go back to sleep.” He stared at the dark circles under her eyes. “I
’ll be back as soon as I can. It’s safe on this floor, but don’t go up or down the stairs. The kitchen is just down this hall on the right.”

“I
’ll be fine.” Angelina stopped him. “Now go. I don’t want Steve to die.”

Adam laughed.
“I wrote my number down. It’s on the table there.” Adam pointed. “Call if you need anything at all.”

“Thank you
, Adam.” She leaned up, kissing him softly on the lips. “For everything.”

Not really knowing what to do
, other than letting her set the pace, he kissed her back, being careful not to push. “I’ll see you in a little while.”

Grabbing a clean shirt
, he tossed it on, opened the door and walked out. He knew if he looked back, he would crawl right back into bed with her, where he truly wanted to be.

Steve and Jill both stood just outside his door leaning against the wall with goofy
-ass grins on their faces. Just as Jill was opening her mouth, Adam stabbed his finger at her, shutting her up. He then grabbed Steve by the back of the neck and led them away from his door. Once in the entryway, he pushed Steve away and stared at them both with narrowed eyes.

“I so told you so!” Jill
’s eyes were shining with laughter. “Damn, I love it when I’m right.”

“And how many times am I going to hear that?” Adam frowned, but inside he smiled. Jill had been absolutely right, but he
’d be damned if he let her have more gloating power over him.

“Oh
, buddy.” She eyed him with her biggest grin, showing all teeth and fang. “For a loooong time.”

“Yeah, you
’re screwed, my man.” Steve broke in. “When women get something right, they never let you forget it.”

“What in the hell do you know about women?” Jill snorted. “Women are always right.”

“Pfft.” Steve threw her a ‘bullshit’ glare.

Before Jill could respond and it turned into a battle of the sexes free
-for-all, Adam stepped between them, pointing first at Jill and then Steve. “The next person who enters my room without knocking will get knocked out.” The warning was given with a serious tone. “I’m not kidding.”

“Okay. I
’m sorry and I’ll apologize to Angelina; I didn’t mean to scare her, but I really didn’t know she was in there.” Steve nodded as they headed out of the compound to his car. They had about fifteen minutes before they had to be at the warehouse. “But hey, does that warning go for everybody? I mean, what if Damon or one of the other Warriors burst into your room? You gonna knock them out or is it just us?”

“Steve
, does your brain ever stop thinking up stupid shit?” Adam asked, but then laughed, shaking his head.

“No
, I guess it doesn’t.” Steve joined in with the laughter, but his laugh was cut short.

Adam turned
to see what was going on. He got a small glance of someone tossing a bag or something over Steve’s head. Before he could register what was going on, someone was doing the same to him. He fought with everything he had, but there were hands all over him, pushing toward an unknown destination.

“Fighting is just going to make it worse.” The voice was deep and hard, unforgiving.

Hearing Jill cursing threats, Adam tried to calm down enough to assess their situation. There were cameras all over the compound so what the fuck was going on? Where were the Warriors and why weren’t they saving their asses. Hearing what he figured was the sound of a van door opening, a new burst of energy hit Adam. If they got in that van, they were doomed. With one last effort, he swung his head back hitting nothing but air.

“Good try
.” The gravelly voice tightened his hold when Adam struggled in earnest.

Adam was thrown in the van
. He continued to fight until a fist hit him in the side of the head almost knocking him unconscious. Hearing Jill cry out brought him back. “Leave her alone.”

“Listen here
, lover boy, don’t try to be a hero.” The man’s voice was close to his face. “As long as you and your friend here listen and obey, she will remain untouched and unhurt. You fuck up, we will all have a go at her.”

Adam stopped his struggling at those words. “You lay one finger on her and I swear I will kill you.”

“Look forward to you trying.” Just by the man’s voice, Adam knew he was smiling.

As the van began to move
, Adam did his best to clear his mind and document the directions in which they were going. Worry for his friends as well as losing his sight made this much harder. Repeating to himself the turns, stops and sounds, Adam had no idea if he had it right by the time they stopped. He had hoped Jill and Steve had been doing the same, which was fairly a good possibility, since the only sound in the back of the vehicle was breathing. Only one talked, but Adam calculated that there was at least seven or eight people crammed in the vehicle.

They stopped
. Seconds later, the door slid open and they were roughly pulled out. Adam knew it was useless to fight and he couldn’t chance being knocked out. His worry was with Jill and Steve. He tried to send messages to both Jill and Steve, but they either weren’t getting them or…he didn’t want to think of the or.

“Jill!” Adam shouted
, sudden fear filling him.

“I
’m okay, Adam.” Jill’s voice came from behind him. “Just waiting for the Warriors to come and kick some serious ass.”

Laughter echoed around them. “Oh
, waiting for heroes are we?” The gravelly voice cut through the laughter. “Funny, and here I heard you were the new heroes.”

“Fuck you
,” Adam growled, and then was pushed hard. Knowing he was going to fall, he turned to the side to take the impact on his shoulder and side. He didn’t know what the hell they tied him up with, but the shit was strong.

“Tough guy
, huh?” the man said, coming closer. “Sit him in the chair.”

Adam was picked up and placed
on a chair; he could hear them moving away. “What do you want?”

“A lot
,” the man replied. “But we can start out with each Warrior starting with Sloan Murphy.”

“We aren
’t telling you shit,” Steve growled, and then started struggling, earning him a slap.

“Oh, but you will
, future Warrior.” He laughed without humor. “You will tell me everything I want to know. Untie her.”

“No
,” Adam shouted, knowing what was coming next.

“Get off me
, you piece of shit,” Jill hissed, struggling against unseen hands.

“Leave her alone
,” Adam warned, trying his best to break free from the binding keeping him from moving.

“Then tell me what I want to know
,” the man countered, his voice indicating he was willing to do anything in order to get the answers he wanted.

“Do
n’t you do it, Adam!” Jill shouted, anger edging each word.

“
Shut up,” the man ordered Jill.

“Screw you
, asshole.” Jill cried out as a loud crash sounded in the room.

“I said leave her the fuck alone.” Adam felt a small give in the binding, his anger boiling way past the point of control.

“Then talk!” The deep gravelly voice demanded with force. “Because in two seconds, I’m going to enjoy this nice piece of ass before passing her along to my men.”

“Tell them
, Adam.” Steve’s voice shook slightly. “We can’t let them do that to her.”

“I swear
, Adam, if you say one word, I will kill you. I will hate you. I will hate you and then kill you!” Jill cried out, her voice strong, but rambling threats.

“I told you to shut up
, bitch!” The sound of a slap echoed in the room.

“Is that all you got
, you bastard. You can’t do anything to me that hasn’t already been done, so go to hell,” she shouted at her attacker, her voice strong without a hint of fear.

“Dammit
, Jill.” Adam said under his breath, his mind reeling.

“
Did you hear me, Adam?” Jill screamed; this time urgency was in her voice as the sound of ripping material echoed in the room. “They can’t hurt me anymore than I’ve already been hurt! Do not let them use me against you! Stay true to the VC!”

“Stay true to the VC?” The man laughed hysterically. “What the fuck does that even mean?”

“It means, you worthless piece-of-shit, that no matter what you do to me or my partners, we will never give in,” Jill spat the words at him.

“
Well, we’ll see how you and your
partners
feel when every cock here is deep inside that tight little body, or better yet, we could bring in his other girl; the pretty blonde, Angelina I believe her name is, would just be a bonus—” His threat was cut short by the outraged roar that rattled through the room.

Adam broke the bond that held him immobile, striking out blindly as he flew from the chai
r. His rage knew no bounds, as past and present anger was unleashed. Voices shouted out warnings, but Adam was too far gone as he ripped the bag from over his face spotting the target standing over Jill. With one leap, he pulled back his arm striking out, hitting the man in the jaw and sending him across the room. Turning to confront the others, he lashed out, but stopped in shock as the Warriors who they were going to protect with their lives took him down, his sister’s lover the first to tackle him.