CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

U sually, when you stay in the restroom for too long, you're worried people are thinking you might be doing number two.

Flush after flush, people coming and going, washing their hands, and there you sit, pushing.

Brooklyn wished her bowel movements were her greatest issue right now. Instead, she was freaking out that one of those armed men would come in asking what she was up to.

She'd attracted way more attention than she had planned.

Goddamn it.

Why hadn't she just come down to the restroom first? Being a spy wasn't in her future. She was terrible at this. Still, that mafia man had been nice saying that about her mom.

Surely, men like him had a level of humanity to them. Perhaps he was close to his mother. Or wife.

Who knew?

But a level of unease was snaking its way around her chest with every minute that passed.

When Logan has messaged her, it had taken her mind off things for a few moments. He said he wanted to talk.

About what?

To tell her she was a human scumbag once more. That because she'd worked at BioZen, he couldn't be with her, and sorry.

No thanks. He didn't need to explain.

That fact he'd gotten over his mood was his business. Brooklyn would rather just move on.

She's shed tears and was now planning to leave.

The door suddenly opened, and she stopped breathing. Heavy footsteps entered.

Oh, god.

She stared at the cubicle door, wondering if these were the last moments of her life.

Shit, shit, shit.

The person walked across the floor, and she climbed onto the toilet seat. Her entire body was shaking as she clenched her eyes closed. Then suddenly she felt a presence.

Right in front of her.

No, no, no. I want to live.

Brooklyn opened her eyes and started to scream—

"Shh," Logan said, covering his hand over her mouth. "I've got you." Then he pulled her into his arms tightly and tears poured down her face.

Logan?

Logan was here?

How?

"Sshhhh, you're safe," he whispered, sitting on the toilet, keeping her tight against his chest.

Knowing vampires were way more powerful than humans was one thing, but having the man you had feelings for lift you into his arms and protect you was a whole other experience.

One she wasn't immune to.

She clung to him like her life depended on it.

Perhaps it did.

As her heart rate calmed, and she felt safer in his arms, Brooklyn lifted her head.

"How are you here?" she asked. "It's still light outside."

A smile at the corner of his mouth twitched. "I wasn't going to let the sun keep me away. Told you we need to talk."

"Are you crazy?" she whispered.

"Crazy for you apparently." Logan shrugged.

"Logan this isn't the time to be playing around. That was dangerous."

His hand ran over her hair and the way he gazed upon her was something out of a romance novel. It looked a lot like...

Stop being a fool.

He is not in love with you.

"I need you to stay calm, sweetheart. I won't let anyone hurt you. But there is a chance Mikhailov knows who you are."

Her eyes widened as she gasped.

"Breathe," Logan said firmly.

"Oh god. He saw me. We have to get out of here." Brooklyn tensed.

"If he comes in, I'll kill him," Logan replied firmly.

"How did you get past them?"

He stared at her for a long moment and then finally said, "I can't tell you."

She stared at him; her mind blank.

Before she could contemplate what that meant, he kept talking.

"The others will be here in about thirty minutes. I was not waiting. I needed to know you were okay." Logan brushed his fingers across her lower back, where he held her.

She blinked, her brain blanking.

"Brooklyn." Logan cupped her face, his eyes darting to the door when they heard it open.

A woman's high heels tapped on the floor.

She went to cry out, the stress becoming too much, but Logan was faster. He brushed his thumb over her lips, and she melted into him.

God, he was also a very confusing man. One minute he was fucking her like she was just a whore, the next holding her like she was the most delicate thing in the world.

Kiss me, he mouthed.

She shook her head.

His lips stretched into a half smirk. I'm sorry.

She shook her head again.

Not giving up, Logan pressed his mouth against her ear, and the feel of him sent shivers through her body. "You make me crazy, little mouse. I think I'm falling—"

Flush.

Logan pulled away. What in the...was he going to say the... L word...no way.

Brooklyn shoved at him. Do not say that. She mouthed.

He leaned forward and pressed his lips to hers. And oh god, she melted. She opened, letting his tongue sweep in and glide erotically against hers.

She moaned.

He pulled back and smirked, whispering, "Shh."

The door closed with a click.

She slapped his chest. "Logan."

"I meant what I said. I'm sorry about last night. I'm"—he rubbed his forehead—"struggling with the way I feel about you."

"Which is?"

"A lot," he said, taking her hand. "More than a lot."

Oh.

"I'll always be human, Logan. That won't change." Brooklyn said, running her fingers over his dark scruff, unable to not touch this gorgeous male. "I can understand why you hate my race, but no matter how much you like me, I can't change who I am."

He had to realize that.

"Technically," he murmured.

Technically?

"Right now I need to keep you alive and ensure we get the princesses out."

Wait, did he think she would turn into a vampire for him like Sage did for Ari? That was how he had reasoned this? That she would not be human for long.

"Logan, I am not—"

"Later, little mouse. I need you to tell me everything that happened," Logan said, "when you met the mobster."

He was right.

They were smack in the middle of a very dangerous situation. She could tell him there was no way in hell she'd be giving up her humanity any other day.

To be honest, she was just enjoying this brief interlude and feeling his arms wrapped around her.

God, he had amazing arms.

And those beautiful eyes of his were the most incredible steel blue. She could get lost in them for hours as he pleasured her.

If only things could be different between them.

So she took what he was giving in this moment and wriggled her ass to get comfortable, hiding her smile when he groaned.

Then she began to relay the events.

As Logan listened and ran his fingers along her face, Brooklyn grieved what could have been.

He might not think she was one of the evil humans he despised, but she was.

She'd acted selfishly and killed her brother.

Tonight, she'd make amends to the universe, but there was no scenario where Logan knew the real her and could love her.