“And you know every one of them would stand between you and hell itself if I asked.” Sloan continued, his eyes searching hers.
She only nodded, this time not saying anything.
“Then understand something else.” Sloan’s voice lowered, his eyes holding hers. “I’m not trying to keep you from them. I’mtrying to keep one more thing from hurting you before we know what the hell we’re dealing with.”
Her throat tightened because she could see he was trying not to control her or shut her out. He was trying to protect her and that meant so much to her, but there were some things he couldn’t protect her from, and the situation they found themselves in was proof of that.
“I know,” she said again. “But I still need to be there, Sloan. Please understand that.”
Sloan studied her, then gave a single nod. “Then you’ll be there.”
Relief moved through her so fast she almost swayed.
“But if it gets to be too much, you tell me.” His thumb moved lightly along her jaw. “I mean it, Becky. No pride and no pretending.”
“Okay.”
His eyes narrowed at her one-word answer.
She leaned into him, just a little. “I will. I promise.” She reassured him.
Sloan bent his head, kissing her softly. “Good. Because I need you strong, not stubborn.” He cocked his eyebrow at her in mock warning.
Her brows rose. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me,” he said in that Sloan voice he used with the Warriors.
“I’m sorry, have we met?” Becky pulled back enough to look up at him. “I’m always stubborn.”
For the first time that morning, a real smile touched Sloan’s mouth. “Yeah, I know.”
She pinched him on the stomach with a fake frown. “You didn’t have to agree with me.”
“I wouldn’t have you any other way.” He pulled her to him and kissed her.
The kiss deepened, and Becky felt her hormones heating up until someone cleared their throat loudly. Sloan broke the kiss with a growl.
“Sorry,” Duncan said, though he didn’t sound sorry and he didn’t leave. “We need to get to the compound.”
Sloan turned from husband to Warrior in an instant. “Why?”
“Daniel wants all the Warriors there.” Duncan held up his hand. “Don’t ask, because whatever you’re getting ready to ask, I don’t know.”
“Shit,” Sloan hissed, then looked down at Becky.
“Might as well get it over with,” Becky said, trying to give him a reassuring smile. But behind that smile, she was petrified.
And just that fast her appetite diminished as her nausea returned.
CHAPTER 16
They made it to the compound after throwing the chili in the crockpot. Sloan had been exceptionally quiet on the drive, and Duncan followed close behind them. Now Sloan sat behind his desk, all the Warriors standing around the room, and no one said a word as they waited for Daniel. It was as if they knew something big was about to go down.
Becky sat near Sloan beside his desk, her eyes continually going to Katrina’s questioning ones. She wanted nothing more than to talk to her, but in private. That definitely wasn’t going to happen in this room.
“Where the fuck is he?” Sloan’s voice boomed, making her jump.
Duncan just shrugged as the door opened and in walked Daniel. His swirling white eyes landed directly on Becky. He smiled, but there was something behind it that made her stomach tighten before he turned his attention to Sloan.
