CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

“ W e’ve got a ping.” Frankie, one of the tech guys, called out.

“Yes!” Darren cried out, then began tapping away. “Nice work, Frankie.”

“Dude. You rock.” Dave, the other member of Darren’s team, said.

Ari nodded and stretched his legs. “Good job.” They’d been working long hours, and they deserved the recognition. Now it was go-time.

Oliver, we have a location.

Be right there.

Ari would be lying if he said he wasn’t concerned about his new head assassin. Not because he didn’t think Oliver was capable, but the self-doubt he’d seen since Oliver took the job was a surprise.

He knew Oliver’s history and understood the pain of being rejected by his family. Hell, in some ways he was still dealing with his own. Vincent had accepted him in part, but he saw the doubt in the king’s eyes.

More so now that Ari had mated.

Soon, they’d have to talk. For now, they were just dancing around the damn subject. Both of them had had other priorities: the birth of Lucas Moretti, Vincent’s son. And Ari meeting and mating Sage.

They would all be together later in the year for their nuptials, so perhaps there would be an opportunity then.

Vampires didn’t marry like humans, but when he turned Sage without permission—something that occurred often enough—it had been his promise to her to provide her with a wedding.

He had once been human—heck, he was the original Moretti vampire, along with his now deceased brother, Gio—so he was happy to take part in the Christian-based ceremony. Especially as he had some knowledge of God’s existence that no other living being had—as far as he knew.

What their vows would be, they’d decide together.

He just hoped he could bring her sister home in one piece.

To do that, he needed Oliver’s head in the game. The male was motivated, there was no doubt, and he wouldn’t deny Oliver the chance to get his girl—if anyone had tried to hold him back from Sage, he’d have destroyed them limb by limb.

Ari needed Oliver to step up and be the leader Ari knew he could be.

If Piper was his mate, they’d deal with it. He needed Oliver to show him he could be both head assassin and a mate.

If not...

He’d give him a chance, but the shit they dealt with every day was life and death stuff. Oliver knew that. And now they were partnering with the Moretti royal family, keeping the race protected. There was no room for half performers by those lacking in confidence.

He’d trained Oli better than that.

He just needed Oli himself to believe he was worthy.

Oliver teleported into the operations office, dressed head to toe in black and his body layered with weapons. He was ready to go.

Well, that was a good start.

“Where is she?” Oliver growled.

“Location in your device in three, two and one,” Darren said.

Oliver looked at Ari for instruction as he pulled on his jacket and zipped it up. Elijah and Logan stepped into the room.

“Let’s go,” Ari said, and the four of them marched out the door and through the mansion to the front entrance.

Then they teleported out.