“No …. no,” she whispered and closed her eyes, trying to shut out the world.

“Rest. Two nights from now your mate will be here and you’ll see things differently.”

He stomped out of the room and shut the door behind him. When she heard his footsteps disappear down the hall, she allowed her tears to flow down her cheeks. She’d awakened to a nightmare, and it was only just beginning.

Chapter Thirty-Six

The well-oiled machine of Scanguards was once again in operation. Within two short hours, everything was organized. Every available vampire in Scanguards’ employ had been mobilized and was now sitting on the specially equipped jet. Even Haven, the ex-bounty hunter, was ready to join the fight.

Maya, Gabriel’s mate, had been left behind to guard Delilah and the baby, much to her chagrin. She would rather have been by her husband’s side, but Samson had learned from experience never again to leave his wife without protection.

Zane understood only too well now. He knew what it felt like to lose the one person that meant everything to him. He promised himself never to leave Portia unguarded after this, no matter whether she took him back or not. If she didn’t, he’d simply hire a bodyguard to protect her from afar, to always watch over her so no harm would come to her.

He’d had a long conversation with Samson while they’d waited for the plane to be readied. He’d told his boss about the men he’d chased down, the assassin he’d killed only recently, and his lifelong quest to bring the monsters of Buchenwald to justice. Samson had understood, and Zane was relieved to know he had his boss’ full support.

Zane put his seatbelt on when Oliver took the seat next to him.

“You owe me one, bro,” he said quietly.

Zane turned his head to face him. “Listen, Oliver, for what it’s worth, I’m sorry.” He swallowed hard. “But I’d do it again if I had to.”

Oliver glared at him. “You could at least have let me in on it. Damn it! I would have covered for you had I known!”

“You what?” Had he heard right? Oliver would have had his back?

His colleague leaned closer. “You know I looked up to you. Why didn’t you trust me? Between the two of us we could have made sure nobody knew what was happening. But no, you had to trick me with that stupid phone call.”

Oliver jabbed his index finger into Zane’s chest, disappointment shining in his eyes.

“I didn’t know …”

Oliver turned and faced forward. “Did you mean any of the things you told me?”

“What things?”

“What you said on the phone about being a vampire. That if I wanted it, you would help me.”

Zane ran his hand over his bald head and sighed. “God, I’m such an ass.”

“I couldn’t agree more.”

“Then why would you possibly want to be like me? I lead a miserable life.” And it would only get worse.

Oliver spun his face toward him. “Miserable? Do you have any idea what you’re saying? You’ve been given a gift. Do you know how many people are out there who would give anything to get an extra few years of life? A chance at immortality? A life without illness?”

Zane shook his head. “It means nothing when you have to live that life alone.”

“What are you talking about? You have Portia. Quinn told me how she looks at you.”

Zane suddenly felt his old anger return. “Uh, yeah, Quinn. I still have to settle a score with him. He sold me out to Samson in the first place.”

Surprise flitted over Oliver’s features. “Quinn didn’t sell you out. On the contrary, he kept his mouth shut about you and Portia, even after Samson already knew.”

“But then who—?”

“I said nothing, not even that she was at your house that day,” Oliver said defensively.

Zane raised his hands. “Hey, I wasn’t accusing you. I just want to know.”

“I’m not one to rat—”

“Who?” Zane interrupted.

Oliver hesitated. “Samson asked Thomas, and apparently he’d noticed something.”

A curse rolled off his lips. Maybe bringing up Thomas’ attraction to Eddie hadn’t been a good move after all, particularly since everybody knew that Thomas would never act on it. He was Eddie’s mentor, and Eddie was straight. No wonder Thomas had felt the need to pay him back for that slap in the face. “I guess I deserved that.”

Oliver gave him a confused look.

“Don’t ask.” He owed Thomas an apology. Shit, he hadn’t apologized to anybody in decades, and now he was about to apologize twice in the space of an hour. His life was definitely changing.