“Maybe later,” Samson’s voice interrupted him from behind.

Oliver turned instantly and rose. “Samson.”

“Join me in my office.”

Oliver walked along the wood-paneled corridor that led to the back of the house, where Samson’s study was located. As he entered it behind his boss, he was instantly reminded of when he’d worked here as a human. He’d spent many hours in this house, taking care of Samson’s needs and protecting him while he slept during the day.

“Take a seat.”

Oliver sat down in the chair opposite the massive desk that housed two computer monitors and various other electronic devices. Samson took his seat behind the desk and steepled his fingers.

“I called you because we’ve got problems,” Samson started in a calm voice, his expression serious.

Oliver lifted an eyebrow and moved forward on his chair, a sinking feeling rising from his gut. Conversations that started like that never ended well. “Yes?”

Samson rested his arms on the desk, folding his hands as he leaned forward. “I’m disappointed in you, Oliver.”

Oliver’s heart missed a beat. Shit! What was Samson referring to?

“You didn’t follow the orders you were given. The girl was supposed to be on a plane to Washington.”

Oliver jumped up, his heart racing. How did he already know this? Fuck! Who had ratted him out? “Blake! He couldn’t keep his mouth shut!”

“Sit down!” Samson ordered.

Reluctantly, he slunk back into his seat.

“Blake has nothing to do with this. And it doesn’t matter how we found out. The point is: you didn’t follow Zane’s orders, and by doing so, you’ve put yourself in danger.”

“I’m not in danger!”

“You might not think so because you don’t know the whole story, so let me tell you what’s going on: at a raid of a nightclub last night, we apprehended one of the rogue vampires we’ve been hunting for weeks. A second one was destroyed by Cain, but not before that rogue butchered a young Asian woman, leaving her dead. Both of those vampires were showing withdrawal symptoms.”

The wheels in Oliver’s brain were clicking into place. He knew where this was leading.

“They wanted to get high on blood. On special blood that they were addicted to. They’d been feeding at a blood brothel in Hunter’s Point, the very place that Ursula led you to, and that you found empty. When they couldn’t get any more blood from the girls who were being held at the brothel, because they didn’t know where it had been relocated, they started attacking Asian girls.”

Oliver squeezed his eyes shut. He realized what the rogues had been trying to do: find Asian women who had the same kind of blood as Ursula.

“But when it turned out that the women they encountered in the nightclub didn’t have blood that got them high, they went berserk! I don’t want the same to happen to you.”

Oliver met Samson’s intense gaze. “Why would that happen to me?”

“Oliver, Ursula has special blood. It will get you high, and you’ll become addicted to it. We all know how vulnerable you are. And I know you better than most. You can’t be allowed to be near her. One bite, and your fate might already be sealed.”

“No! You’re wrong. I won’t bite her.”

“Please, Oliver,” Samson implored him, his voice more soothing now. “I’ve been told how you look at her. It’s not a secret that you want to sleep with her, if you haven’t already done so. You know what that means. You’ll want to bite her as part of making love to her. And then, you won’t be able to stop. We can’t risk that, because we don’t want to lose you.”

Oliver shook his head, furious. “I’m not like that! I didn’t bite her the first time. I promised myself not to, because I couldn’t go down that road again! I knew I had to be strong. And I was. I am!”

Samson narrowed his eyes, his expression changing. “You knew? You knew all along what her blood does and you didn’t tell anybody?”

Oliver suppressed a curse. Crap! He’d inadvertently blurted out too much.

“Why didn’t you come to me? You should have told me!” Samson thundered.

“I promised her not to tell anybody.”

“She entrusted you with her secret?”

Oliver nodded. “She’s scared of all of you. She told only me so I would help her, but she’s afraid that if you all knew, you’d just imprison her for her blood, just like the other vampires did.” He ran his hand through his hair.