Sid’s face tightened, but he nodded. “I’d deserve it.”
“No,” Sloan replied, staring him straight in the eye. “You deserved worse. But Becky loves you assholes, and right now, I’m trying really hard to remember that. And whatever was said, it upset Katrina. Make it right.”
Sid gave a short nod, guilt clear in his eyes. “I’ll fix it.”
“See that you do.” Sloan turned, then stopped. “And Sid?”
“Yeah?”
“Don’t make me regret not knocking your ass through the kitchen wall.” Sloan growled, his eyes narrowed.
For the first time, Sid almost smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Wouldn’t dream of it, boss.”
Sloan walked away, his only thought getting back to Becky. The rest could wait.
She couldn’t.
Sloan went straight to his office. Walking inside, he saw Jill sitting in one of his chairs.
“She’s sleeping,” Jill informed him.
Nodding, Sloan walked to the chair behind his desk and sat down. He could tell something was on her mind and wanted to give her a chance to let it out. He had always looked at Jill like a daughter. Even though she drove him nuts most days, he cared for her, and not just as a Warrior.
“Why is this happening?” Jill said, looking at her hands before looking up at him. “I don’t just mean this with Becky, but why are we always under attack? It just seems like every time we turn around, something or someone is wanting to annihilate us.”
Sloan leaned back in his chair and stared at Jill. She was young and newly turned. She hadn’t really lived the life of a vampire or a VC Warrior like he and most of the other Warriors had. They had seen some pretty fucked-up shit in their long lives, but this was new to her. She was innocent in so many ways of their world.
Before he could answer, she continued.
“I mean, look at Daniel.” Jill frowned, and there was such sadness in her eyes he felt it. “He didn’t have a normal childhood. Now he’s the Demon Slayer. He should be doing kid shit, not adult stuff. Hell, isn’t he really like twelve or something? He was robbed of a childhood because of what his father did to him or whatever happened. I mean, seriously. What did happen to him to make him like this? And now Becky is pregnant and you’re going to be a dad. Congratulations, by the way. But aren’t you technically dead? I’m kinda dead, I think. Can I have a baby now? Is Golden Blood that powerful?”
Her eyes rose to his, and he saw the unshed tears shimmering. With a sigh, he stood and walked over to close his office door. Grabbing a chair, he placed it in front of her and sat down.
“I wish I had all the answers, but I don’t.” Sloan admitted because he knew right now, she needed truth. “What I do know is Daniel is who he’s supposed to be. The why and how, maybe he can answer, but I can’t. I also know that yes, Becky is pregnant and I’m the father. The why and how I don’t know yet. I’m counting on Slade to give me those answers.”
Sloan paused, letting out a slow breath. Never in a million years did he ever think he’d be having this conversation, but here he was having it. If he and Becky had a daughter he hoped she would be just like Jill. She was special, a little crazy, but that’s what made her who she was.
“I thought I was technically dead.” Sloan continued. “I don’t have a heartbeat, so maybe Amara’s blood has triggered something in us. That’s another thing I’m counting on Slade to figure out. No one has all the answers, Jill.”
“Yeah, I know, and it sucks.” Jill sighed, then caught a tear with her knuckle. “I know Sid didn’t mean anything by what he wassaying. He just says stupid shit sometimes. Kinda like when I say cock a lot.”
Sloan’s lip curved into a half smile. “Jill, we will get through this and everything else that comes our way. We always do. Being a VC Warrior is not for the weak. We are hated more than we are loved. We have many enemies who will never stop coming for us. We just have to stick together.”
“Yeah.” Jill nodded, then sat forward. “Thanks, and sorry to unload on you. Slade is so busy trying to figure all this out that I didn’t have anyone else to talk to.”
“My door is always open for you,” Sloan said and meant it.
Jill smiled, then chuckled. “You might regret that.”
“Probably.” Sloan gave her a fake frown.
She stood and hugged him tightly. “Your little one is very lucky to have a father like you.”
Jill let him go and walked out of his office, leaving him sitting there with a large lump in his throat.
“Shit,” Sloan cursed, clearing his throat.
Feeling a hand on his shoulder, he turned quickly to see Becky with tears in her eyes as she stared down at him. She walked around and climbed onto his lap.