CHAPTER THIRTEEN

P iper hung her coat and a couple of dresses in her hotel room wardrobe, then glanced around. She’d booked a basic room with a queen-sized bed and a view of the building next door.

That was as far as The Seattle Times budget stretched.

It wasn’t like she was going to spend much time in it.

Her stomach grumbled.

She needed something to eat and to stretch her legs after the flight to Los Angeles. It was nice being in a warmer climate, so she chose a short-sleeved red dress and some black heels, freshened up her makeup and hair, then slipped her cross-body handbag over her head and went downstairs.

The night air was thick with the sounds of tourists and traffic. She wandered past a number of restaurants before deciding on a steak house. Sitting at the bar, she ordered a glass of rosé, a medium rare steak and salad.

Her mom hadn’t been happy when she’d cancelled, but for once Piper had been pleased by her over-the-top reaction. And yet when she’d asked about Sage again, she got the same robotic answer; she’s on holiday.

Jesus.

Kara was right. It was like she was inside some sci-fi movie and aliens had abducted her mother and returned some fake copy. Which got her thinking. While Piper didn’t read all those romance novels her sister did—okay, fine, she’d read one or two—she knew enough about vampire fiction and their myths that they could mess around with the mind.

What if it was true?

What if she was the victim of brainwashing, or whatever they called it?

She dug into her steak, and ordered a second glass of wine, feeling relaxed for the first time in days. She was excited to see what she could find out in Los Angeles even if she was looking for a needle in a haystack.

As a journalist, that’s where you always started.

Maybe Sage was here at BioZen and the holiday was just a cover, because she was working on a top-secret project.

The fact she had left her diary behind seemed odd. Not to mention clearing out her belongings.

And why would she lie about being on holiday?

Piper tapped her finger on the stem of her glass. One question at a time. That was her motto.

Behind every question there was either an answer, or another question which would eventually lead to the answer.

It just might not be the answer she wanted.

OLIVER DROPPED HIS bag on the ground and glanced around the lobby of the hotel.

“Either you’ve really pissed Ari off, or there have been budget costs.” Ben laughed.

Yeah, it wasn’t their usual flash hotel, but there were enough stars that they’d be comfortable. It wasn’t exactly a dive.

“It’s fine. You’ve just been living it up with the Moretti’s,” Oliver teased.

“Hey assholes,” Kurt said, walking in behind them.

Speaking of.

“You just get in?” Ben asked him as they fist-pumped each other.

The Moretti SLC nodded. “Bumpy fucking flight.”

“Thanks for coming out,” Oliver said, shaking his hand.

“No problem. We all want to bust apart and destroy whatever these assholes have planned. It’s dodgy as hell.”

They all shook their heads at the thought of what those in their race had already been through at the hands of BioZen scientists. The problem was, they didn’t know what BioZen was doing with the information.

But it wouldn’t be good.

Good for the company’s profit margins, but not for the vampires. Or likely humanity.

“Let’s talk upstairs. The king has been progressing conversations with his contacts, so this doesn’t completely fall on our shoulders,” Kurt said. “But let’s see what we can find out.”

It was a reminder that, while The Institute was taking the lead on this mission, the royal family was the one in charge. Sure, Ari lived by his own rules, and as a Moretti he could to some degree. But the head of the vampire race was still, and always would be, Vincent Moretti.

This wasn’t a time for politics, though. They all wanted the same thing; to live their lives in peace alongside the human race. They’d done it for over fifteen hundred years and could continue to do it as long as their existence remained hidden.

Which was becoming harder and harder with technology and people’s need to know the truth. The human quest for knowledge was understandable. It was how they had progressed and evolved in such a short period of time. Relatively speaking.

It was the people who used that knowledge for nefarious purposes that fucked it up for everyone. Broken people.

Those who needed control because, deep down, they were fearful.

Of what?

Who the fuck cared? They were dangerous, whatever the reason behind it.

This wasn’t a therapy session.

“I’ll go check us in,” Ben said, and Oliver gave him a short nod. They had worked together so long, including traveling all over the globe, that this just felt like another day at the office.

“Ah, shit. Apparently, they need my ID. I’ll come with.” Kurt stared at his phone then shoved it in his pocket. “Back in a minute.”

Oliver widened his stance, kicked his bag between his legs and pulled out his phone. He scrolled through the data Darren’s team had sent through and began considering their first steps for this mission.

Around him people came and went, and the elevators dinged open and closed.

“Let’s go,” Ben said when he and Kurt returned a few minutes later. All three of them, dressed top to toe in black and no doubt looking nothing like local Californian guys, walked to the bank of elevators.

Oliver pressed the button.

Ding.

One of them opened and two elderly holiday makers stepped in first. Ben and Kurt went next and then Oliver followed, turning and pressing the number for their floor.

“Hold the elevator! Hold it,” a voice called out.

His eyebrows shot up.

For the love of God?

“You have to be fucking kidding me,” he muttered.

“Problem?” Kurt asked.

Oliver groaned, shook his head, and muttered no, thinking what a lie it was, then placed his hand on the door frame to keep it open.

Piper fucking Roberts ran into the elevator car, panting. “Thank you, floor nineteen, please.”

She stood way too close to him as he leaned down and pressed the button. She hadn’t made eye contact with him, so Oliver stood frozen, trying to ignore the fresh smell of spring blossoms that had become a familiar aphrodisiac in his life.

Her scent.

Ding.

“Excuse us. This is our floor, William. Come along,” the elderly lady said.

“I know, Doris. I booked it,” William replied defensively.

Jesus.

The older couple tried to squeeze past the three huge vampires. “Excuse me,” Doris said. “Excuse, oh, I’m sorry.”

Oliver muttered a curse and stared at Piper’s much smaller-framed body. He cleared his throat while attempting to move out of the car.

There was no way he was touching her.

“Oh,” Piper said, twisting and turning at the commotion.

Ben let out a small laugh.

“Thank you. Aren’t you such big boys?” Doris said, giving them all a wink when she got out.

“Spinach.” Kurt winked back.

“Oh, my God.” Piper laughed as they all stepped back in, and the doors closed. Oliver wasn’t laughing. He stared straight ahead, trying not to engage with her at all, but could feel her gaze on him. His eyes drifted down to her just as her smile faded and recognition kicked in.

“You,” she said, drawing in a sharp breath, and took a step back, bumping into Kurt.

“Whoa, darling,” the big vampire said.

Oliver grabbed her arms and then abruptly let her go. “Okay, this is interesting.”

Ben frowned.

“Are you following me?” Piper accused.

“Oli, what’s going on?” Ben asked.

“Oliver!” Piper said, pointing at him. “That’s, oh my God. My dreams!”

Her fingers pressed to the sides of her head and he could see she was in pain.

Damn it.

How did she keep remembering him? This was becoming a huge problem.

“Well, as much as we’d all like details of this dream, I think someone better start talking.” Kurt crossed his arms.

“This is Sage’s sister. Piper,” Oliver said in a low, dark voice.

“Oh, shit.” Ben and Kurt both cursed.

“WHO THE HELL ARE YOU ?” Piper asked, trying to take a step away, but she was stuck in an elevator surrounded by three huge men who looked like they belonged inside a paranormal military movie.

Maybe they were actors?

Was that why she kept dreaming about this one particular guy?

Had she seen him in a movie?

No. They weren’t actors. Even though they were all incredibly gorgeous, they gave off an extremely dangerous vibe. And yeah, they were gorgeous. Good lord, their bodies were bulging with muscles. Their biceps, arms, chests, and thighs.

She was completely flustered by their raw masculine power.

All three of them were wearing black everything with tattoos poking out underneath their t-shirts like total badass dudes. She bet there was ink in other sexy places, too.

Holy hell.

She knew she should run like hell, but she needed to know who this Oliver was and why he seemed so familiar. More importantly why—aside from the obvious—her body craved him like he was a shot of heroin.

Her cheeks heated.

“Oh, boy,” the one behind her said.

“Well, princess, the thing is, I’m trying to stop you from remembering me. For your fucking protection,” Oliver ground out, leaning into her face.

He looked completely pissed. At her. How could he be? She’d never met him before. He said he was trying to stop her from remembering him. That made no sense.

She narrowed her eyes. “Do we know each other?”

“Yes. But you shouldn’t know me and frankly, it’s causing problems.”

“She keeps breaking through the blocks?” One of the muscly hunks spoke.

“Three fucking times,” Oliver said, glaring at her.

Blocks?

“What blocks? What are you talking about? Why are you in my—”

“Dreams. I know. Trust me, darlin’. I know.” He closed his eyes for a moment as if she were the bane of his existence.

A hot shiver ran through her as his bright blue eyes flipped open and scanned her body. She turned and pushed the number nineteen button a million times to hurry up the journey.

Suddenly, Piper felt she was in danger. She wanted answers, but not that much.

“Just FYI, I have mace and there are cameras everywhere, so think twice before making a move.” Piper stared at them in what she hoped was a brave manner.

Two of the three guys smirked in response, which, fair call, she was only five foot five and they looked like they could snap her neck in two seconds and laugh about it over a beer.

Oliver wasn’t smirking, though. His eyes were deadly serious. He still looked pissed and a little like he wanted to... kiss her angrily. The scary thing was, she wanted him to do it and that was why she needed this elevator to open now !

“You never answered my question. What are you doing here in Los Angeles?” Oliver growled.

The doors opened.

“Visiting family.” She took a tentative step backwards out of the car. “So you have a good holiday or whatever.”

She hit the wall opposite with her back and the doors began to close.

Oliver glared at her.

Close.

Please fucking close.

Two inches.

One inch.

She drew in a breath and...