Chapter 17

“What’s wrong?”

Oliver sighed. “Let’s get over to the coffeehouse. Davin’s interrogation revealed some interesting developments.”

Not reassured in the slightest, I stayed in bed. Nimbus, perhaps sensing my mood, jumped up on the bed and settled next to me.

Frowning, I glanced at the bedroom door. It was shut, and I swore he’d left the room.

“Am I in danger?”

“You were already in danger,” Oliver pointed out.

“Right, but not from any of you.”

Oliver paused, his eyes widening. “Hannah, I’ll do anything in my power to protect you. You are in no danger from me or the others.”

“You’re sure?”

He nodded and came over to me, taking my hand and sitting next to me on the bed. Nimbus watched him, but didn’t object, so I relaxed.

“My annoyance was at the extra danger, not at you. My apologies. I should prepare you. I think you’re going to have to tell us about your past, but it’s also possible we’ve discovered it inadvertently. We’ll know more when we meet with the others.”

“Fuck.” I shuddered, and Oliver put his arm around me and kissed my forehead.

“It’s all right, Hannah. We’ll figure it out.”

I leaned against the shade and hoped no one would be mad.

Nimbus rooed softly and leaned against my other side.

“One other complication,” Oliver said.

I huffed out a breath. What else?

“Vampires and werewolves have excellent senses of smell. They will know what we’ve been up to.”

“We showered. Also, so?”

“A shower is not enough. And I just thought I’d warn you. They are, after all, both interested in having you as a mate.”

“Well, they can suck a dick.” I buried my face in his shoulder. “Let’s just stay here. I was having a nice nap.”

He chuckled. “While I tend to agree, I think we do need to address the danger. It impacts more than just you. Also, while werewolves are notoriously bisexual, I’m fairly certain Davin is straight. The same applies to vampires and also Katsuro. I doubt that suggestion will appease them.”

“Kinda my choice, isn’t it?”

“Ahh, my dear,” Oliver kissed my forehead again. “You don’t have to choose.”

“I don’t have to what? I don’t understand.”

“Should you desire it, date all of us. Mate with all of us, or none of us, or choose. It’s your decision.”

“Is that… normal?”

Oliver shrugged. “Sometimes yes, sometimes no.”

“Do you think Katsuro or Davin would go along with it?”

“If you tell them that it is your desire, they will. If you don’t want all three of us, you will eventually have to make a choice, but know this, however you choose, I will still protect you and Nimbus and you will always be welcome here, as I said before.”

I rubbed at my eyeballs. “That’s a lot. I think I’ll go back to dealing with the people trying to kill me. Much more straightforward.”

“Are you sure they want you dead?”

“If it’s the same people as before, yes.”

“Unfortunately, there are far worse things than death. Let’s go see what Davin has discovered.”

Chilled by Oliver’s statement, I crawled out of the sheets and let him help me get dressed. Nimbus stayed glued to my side.

***

Jaz, hair dyed a vibrant green today, handed me a latte when I walked in. Her eyes widened, and she flicked her gaze toward Oliver, who ignored her scrutiny.

“Thank you,” I said, also ignoring her rare expression of emotion.

“This one has caffeine in it. You’re going to need it.”

“Great. So, they’re keeping you filled in?”

She curled her lips. “It’s excessively complicated, but know this, I am on your side. Even in the times when I might appear that I am not.”

“You can trust her,” Oliver said, touching my shoulder and gesturing toward the back.

I took a calming breath and nodded. “Cool. Thanks.”

Nimbus trotted along at my side as we headed into the back room with the comfy couch. Katsuro lounged in a chair and Davin sat on the couch arm. They both stood when we went in. Katsuro’s eyes narrowed, and he glared at Oliver. Davin’s nose twitched, and I swear he lifted his lip as if he were going to growl at the shade. For his part, Oliver managed to keep his expression neutral.

“So, what’s up?” I asked to forestall any posturing. I wasn’t interested.

Katsuro dragged his attention from Oliver back to me.

“I understand why you were reluctant to share your past. I’m assuming this is related to you?” He picked up a paper from the table and handed it to me.

I took it and gave it a quick scan, but I knew it was. I recognized the picture from a news article about shutting down the trafficking ring. They’d kept my picture out of the media, amazingly enough, but I’d seen this article a few times. I sank down onto the couch. Oliver leaned against the doorframe and Nimbus sat at my feet.

“Yeah. What brought this up?” I gave it back.

“Kerin had a lot to say,” Davin admitted. “She won’t be a problem any longer.” His expression turned to sorrow. “However, it appears that there was more depth to this trafficking ring than the human authorities knew.”

I buried my hands in my face. “Fuck.”

“They were apparently blood suppliers for a less ethical group of vampires, along with their other unsavory activities,” Katsuro added. “The human authorities shut down the operation, leaving the supernatural side of the equation extremely displeased. I suspect Drake is involved with that, but I don’t know. Jaz will do her best to discover more.”

“Do they not know she is loyal to you? I’m confused.”

“They know. They also think they can win her away from me. Her story is one she should tell, but I trust her.” Katsuro steepled his fingers and studied me while he talked.

“Old debts, etcetera,” Davin added.

There was too much to untangle, and in the end, it didn’t matter. I hadn’t been able to leave my past behind as I’d hoped. Somehow, I’d arrived in the very worst place possible and come to the attention of vampires who wanted blood slaves. Oliver was right; there were worse things than getting killed.

“Okay.” I couldn’t think of what else to say. Clearly, Nimbus and I had to leave. Now. I’d have to figure out what I could tell my contact in Washington as to why I was moving again so quickly. A few tears burned in my eyes. I really liked it here.

“Something else.”

I looked up, and Davin held out my phone.

“It’s been ringing off the hook, as it were.”

I glanced at the caller ID. Max. My contact in D.C. had called half a dozen times in the last hour.

“That’s weird.” I took the phone.

“Hannah, perhaps you should answer it where we can all hear. If you think that activity is strange, perhaps one of us can hear something you can’t,” Katsuro suggested gently. “I understand if you want to call in private, but it may not be wise.”

“Think they hacked my phone?” It wasn’t out of the question.

“Call your friend,” Katsuro said instead of answering.

I hit the button to dial.

“Hannah?” Max—that wasn’t his real name—picked up on the first ring. “Are you all right?”

“Yes, of course. I’m allowed to sleep, right?” I couldn’t help the edge of irritation that colored my tone. It might even make the discussion sound more realistic.

“Are you alone?”

“Uh, no, my dog I just got is with me. Why?”

“Just making sure. So, something came up and we need to move you. Same as before, we’ll replace everything. We can have a car there in a few hours. I’m really sorry about this, Hannah. We’ll get you to D.C. and get you a new identity.”

Even to me, he sounded a bit strained.

I glanced around at the men in the room. They all had small frowns, as if concentrating hard. Perhaps listening to things my merely human ears couldn’t hear?

Nimbus whined softly and laid his chin on my knee. Wait, since when was he tall enough to do that? Little guy was growing fast. That revelation distracted me from the fear twisting my gut, which might have been his point.

“Yeah, okay, Max. I’ll see you all in a few hours.”

“Great, Hannah. Stay inside until we get there.”

“Will do.” I hung up and dropped the phone on the table. “Okay, even I thought that was weird.”

“He was not alone,” Katsuro said. “The being with him was not breathing, but I could hear the faint rustle of cloth, and it was not from this Max person.”

“Well, I’m fucked. I have to leave. Now.” I stood abruptly and hurried toward the door.

“Hannah—” Davin said.

“No, I have to go. The only thing I can do is run.” I was out the door before the men could stop me. Oliver, for his part, didn’t try, which I thought wise.

“Call Bridger,” Oliver said as the door shut. “She needs a vehicle.”

“Bridger?” Katsuro replied flatly. Then I was out of earshot as I ran toward the exit.

Jaz followed me, and I hoped they were right that we could trust her. We didn’t speak. I just ran toward my apartment complex, Nimbus and Jaz keeping pace.

She waited at the entrance while I went inside and sprinted up the stairs, fighting tears. I’d just found a place where I might belong, and now I had to leave again. And this time, I couldn’t even rely on the government and whatever protection they might have been able to give me.

Nimbus stayed glued to my side while I threw a bag of essentials together and hurried back down the stairs.

I hadn’t intended to go with Bridger, but then I remembered that the bad guys knew my vehicle now. They might know Bridger’s, but somehow I thought that might still be safer. He stood there twirling his keys in his hand and staring at Jaz when I came back down. Jaz bared fangs at Bridger before vanishing from view.

“Where the fuck did she go?” I glanced around.

“Vampire.” Bridger shrugged. “I told you. They’re quick. I hear you need a ride?”

He sounded way too calm about this. Especially since they’d clearly just let him in on the truth about Beechworth.

“Yeah.”

“Great! Let’s go!”

He headed for his car and, feeling miserable and swallowing around the lump in my throat, I followed.