CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

D ex didn't actually exist. Brooklyn's childish little lie had got a response from the handsome vampire, but now she didn't feel good about it.

Not after that lingering feeling as she said goodbye to him.

What if he got killed? What if...

Did it matter?

Logan had made it clear that he didn't want her, and she knew nothing between them could ever work. So she got focused back on her part of the dangerous plan.

She had eaten lunch alone in the café she'd frequented when she worked at BioZen and ended up bumping into a few former colleagues. Then walked to the offices with them using the same cover story she'd practiced over and over with the SLCs.

"I left my favorite Tupperware container in the lunchroom," she said, shaking her head. "So dumb of me. I'm in town to see my parents this week, so any chance you could swipe me in to go look for it."

"Aren't you earning big bucks in the private field now?" Darren teased her. "Go buy another one."

Brooklyn chuckled and even to her, it sounded fake.

"I know, but it's like your favorite pair of shoes," she said, following them inside the lobby.

"I think you have to sign in," Jillian said.

Oh yeah. They'd have a record of her. Damn, she forgot about that.

"No problem." Brooklyn skipped over to reception and waved at Bill and Jackson, the two front desk managers, then rejoined the others at the lifts.

"Excuse me, ma'am." A security officer approached. One she didn't recognize.

"She used to work here." Darren leaned around her. "I'll take her up to get the things she left her last month."

The uniformed man nodded, taking note of her face. "Keep your visitor pass on you."

"Yes sir." She smiled, but inside she was shaking like a leaf.

She watched the man walk away and noticed a group of men in black suits standing near a corner in the lobby.

They didn't look like visitors.

Or maybe she was just nervous.

The elevator pinged, and soon she was on her way to the tenth floor.

"Nice to see you," Darren called out as he headed to his desk.

Brooklyn waved. "You can head off, too, if you want, Jill. I'll just sneak into the lunchroom and search through the cupboards. If it's not here, then I'll head out."

"You sure?" Jillian asked. "I still have fifteen minutes left for lunch."

"I have to meet my mom, so I can't stay," Brooklyn lied. "Great to see you, though."

"Take care." Jillian waved goodbye, and she blew out her breath.

Then slipped into the lunchroom.

Knowing there were cameras around, Brooklyn kept up the appearance and began opening the cupboards. Taking her time, she pulled a few homeless plastic items out and studied them.

Then selected one.

When she left, she pretended to be distracted by something on her phone until someone came to the elevators.

Thank god, he was going up.

Without glancing at the buttons when she was inside the elevator, she made it look like she thought they were going down, still busy on her phone.

Ping.

"Ohhh, damn. I meant to go down." Brooklyn sighed, annoyed with herself.

The young scientist smiled at her. "Sorry."

She waved him off and then when the doors closed, she pushed floor fifteen.

Now, she was in hot water.

There were only two reasons to go to floor fifteen. The vampire experimentation lab—which no one knew about—or the executive suite.

She had no excuse to be on the floor and she was going off script. But Brooklyn wanted to scope out her path before heading into her hiding place for the next few hours.

Her chest tightened when the doors opened and she found herself face-to-face with two armed men in black suits, similar to those below, standing at opposite sides of the foyer.

"ID?" One of them said, stepping forward.

Shit.

Did he have a Russian accent?

"Oh"—she hugged the Tupperware container to her chest—"I used to work here."

He glared down at her.

"Just looking for the lid." She held up the clear plastic. "I left last month. It's my favorite. Perfect size for soup and salads. Seriously. And you know how pricy this stuff is. Well, maybe you don't. Anyway, sorry, I'll just get out of your way."

When my science career is over, I am seriously going to consider acting. Unless he doesn't buy it and I end up dead.

Then it wouldn't matter.

His frown deepened as he studied her and the empty container.

"Go." He waved her on with annoyance.

Brooklyn skipped past him, but now wished she'd just gone downstairs. The reality of how dangerous this situation truly was had never been clearer.

Worse, she didn't even know if they had a lunchroom on this floor.

Crap.

Racking her memory for directions after being startled by the Russian, she closed her eyes. Left, next right, along the long corridor, and then two more lefts.

Brooklyn set off and, before she took the final left, she stopped. Then peeked around the corner and was glad she had. Three armed men in black suits stood outside the door.

This was it.

The lab holding the Moretti princesses.

She quickly ran past and did a full circle around the floor, returning to the elevators. The two guards glanced at her as she pushed the button, waiting for it to open.

"No luck." She shrugged, holding up the plastic and then turned her back on them, cringing.

"Tell him he has to call me immediately." A deep and angry Russian voice growled behind her.

Slowly, she turned and found herself face-to-face with Nikolay Mikhailov. She knew who he was because his photo was on the wall in the Moretti operations room.

Fuck.

Trembling, she stood hugging the Tupperware to her chest as if it was a bulletproof vest.

"I don't give a fuck. He has one hour." Nikolay grunted and hung up. "Where is Alexis?"

"Getting sushi," one of the guards replied.

"Jesus Christ," the mobster ground out.

Come on, open the hell up. She mentally screamed at the elevator, feeling the dangerous mobster's eyes on her back.

"Who are you? Who is this woman?"

Oh, fuck.

Brooklyn turned and almost threw up at the dark gleam in his eyes. If she had thought Logan was dangerous, she was wrong. Well, he was. But not to her. Despite what he claimed.

This man? Yeah, he would kill her.

"Brook," she answered.

"Forgot her fucking lunch lid." One of the guards shook his head.

Nikolay studied her.

Shaking, she tried to lift the container, but his eyes slid down and then slowly back up to her.

"My mom was pissed at me for losing it." She tried to laugh, but it came out jolty and high pitched. "I've looked on every floor. I can't believe people steal Tupperware. It's so rude, who—"

The doors pinged open, startling her, so she stopped her ramble. Without waiting for permission, she stepped in and prayed to every known god in human history that the mobster didn't join her.

Apparently, she hadn't repented enough because he did.

Oh god, please help me.

Talk about the longest elevator ride in the history of elevator rides. Brooklyn's heart pounded in her ears like violent hail against a rooftop as she counted the floors.

This could be the end.

She would get to see Brad again. Then perhaps she could tell him how sorry she was.

Beside her, Nikolay watched her while she kept her eyes on the metal doors and clung to the Tupperware.

"Just buy another one," he said in his thick accent.

"What?" Her head snapped to her right in surprise.

"Buy another one. To please your mother." Nikolay nodded as if he was giving her an order.

"Sure." She squeaked.

Then the doors opened and he strode out. She couldn't move. Her legs almost gave out, and if anyone had been watching, it would've looked like she desperately needed the bathroom.

Which she did.

Because Brooklyn was sure she was going to throw up.