CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

B rooklyn sat on the end of Sage and Ari's sofa and chewed her bottom lip. They wanted her to go to Seattle, into BioZen, and help them get access to the secret vault that Willow Moretti was being kept in.

The one she'd never known had existed.

"I could go with her," Brianna said, her eyes red as if she had been crying for days.

Sage had told her that Brianna and Willow were best friends, so she really felt for her.

If it had been Belinda, she'd have done anything for her. But walking into a dangerous situation with the Russian mafia and deadly vampires?

Um, that might be a little beyond her skill set.

Where was Logan? She was sure he would have followed her earlier, but he hadn't.

"We could pretend I wanted to be a scientist, and she was showing me around the place." Brianna shrugged.

"Brooklyn doesn't work there anymore. Plus, you can't go in there during the daylight any more than we can," Ari said. "And Craig would castrate me if I let you go."

"It's not his call," Brianna snapped.

Sage rubbed the female's leg affectionately.

"If we can get you inside, then we can get our vampires in there," Ari told her, ignoring Brianna. "Sage is the only one who knows how to navigate to the classified location. So Brooklyn, you are the next best thing. And human."

It made sense.

She just wished Logan was there to give her confidence and tell her he'd go with her and protect her. Perhaps she'd read way more into his words. One minute he was saying no fucking way, then he was dead silent and letting her walk away with Sage.

The scientist might have caught them having a kiss, but that didn't mean Brooklyn wanted to make a scene and ask him to come with them.

She sort of expected he would.

Two hours later, he still was nowhere to be seen.

"You also get to see your mom and dad, which you wanted to do." Sage smiled.

"Will I be in danger?" she asked.

Everyone was silent for a long moment, then Ari nodded. "Yes. This has some risk to it. Our warriors will not be able to enter the building and protect you until the sun is down."

She nodded and tried to ignore Brianna's pleading stare.

"What is my excuse for going in?" Brooklyn asked. Sage and she stared at one another for a long moment.

"Maybe it's as dumb as saying you left a Tupperware container in the lunchroom." Sage shrugged.

"Yes. That would work." Brianna nodded, scrunching the tissues in her hand. "It's not like anyone is suddenly going to think, oh she must work for vampires and is tricking us."

Ari laughed. "True."

"I guess. They may get security escort me," Brooklyn told them. "I don't have clearance anymore so who knows how they'll react."

"They might. Even if you end up in the lobby in one of the bathrooms, that may be enough." Sage tapped her chin. "Security will leave you alone then, and you can hide out until they lock up."

Brooklyn thought about it while Ari nodded.

"This has legs. Does the building have the door release buttons on the inside?" he asked.

"Yes," she said. "I've never used them past seven at night, though."

"That's enough time. The sun will be down by then," Brianna said, hope lining her voice. "God, the idea that Willow and Isabella are in that horrible cell on their own. I hate it."

Tears began pouring down her cheeks, and Sage pulled her into her arms.

"I know, Bri. I know."

Ari turned to Brooklyn. "I realize this is a big ask. The team will be waiting outside. Once you open the door, they'll be with you. You can then guide them through the facility to where Sage says the classified area is."

"How will they get through the tungsten?" Brianna asked.

"We have a few ideas," Ari replied. "Let's just say our race may not be a secret for much longer."

"I can't deal with a PR disaster as well as my best friend being kidnapped and my mate in danger," Brianna cried.

"The choice is not mine," Ari said. "The king has said we must do whatever it takes to get the princesses back. On that, I agree. I've spent fifteen hundred years keeping our race a secret. Trust me, this is incredibly uncomfortable for me."

Fifteen hundred years?

Holy hell.

Brooklyn had never asked Logan how old he was. Now she wanted to know.

I like your pussy. Don't confuse this. Logan had said to her and then added, but you will not fuck anyone else.

Well, she was confused.

Not whether he was the love of her life, although Logan was an incredible lover. Clearly sex with a vampire was incredibly more erotic than she'd ever imagined, but surely part of it was because of their chemistry.

Brooklyn had no intention of sleeping her way through the Moretti army—even if they were all gorgeous as hell. And she'd been honest when she said she wasn't expecting anything from him.

Brooklyn glanced at Sage's finger where a large and impressive diamond sat. Vampires obviously did commit deeply. Their bonding and mating was unique.

She knew Logan would one day meet his mate and there was no way she was getting attached to him, or any vampire, only to be dumped for some fated love.

How intimidating.

She'd had enough failed relationships with bad boy humans to do this all over again with another race. No thank you very much.

It was a good reminder she needed to get over the fact he'd just let her go with Sage tonight. Clearly, he didn't care.

So she was on her own.

Could she do this?

Could she go to Seattle, into BioZen, and put her life at risk? Was this the way she could make amends for killing her brother?

Logan and all his I'm an assassin talk. It did scare her, but she was a murderer, just like him.

Sure, it was different, but she had been the cause of her own twin brother's death, and she wouldn't be able to truly live her life until she did something to clear her karma.

This could be it.

Who knew what would happen if the princess died? Brayden wouldn't survive. One entire arm of the Moretti family would vanish. A lot weighed on her shoulders.

She'd feel a lot better about going if she knew Logan would be there to protect her. But he wasn't even here. Clearly, she had romanticized their sexual encounter already too much.

This is what she did, and why she was single.

He was probably off flirting with other females or even sleeping with one of them. He had been hard as hell when she was sliding down his body.

The thought made her angry.

Maybe some time away from him and the castle would help.

"I'll do it," she suddenly said.

The decision meant she could go home to appease her parents and stop them from buying the property in Manhattan.

And take her mind off Logan.

"Thank god." Brianna broke down once more, her face dropping into her hands.

Ari stood.

"I'll get the team ready. Work with my mate to memorize the location of the lab inside the building. Then I will come for you."

Brooklyn glanced at Sage and nodded.

"I will be back here in an hour."