I doubted he would. “Okay, keep me updated. What did Levi say about the vampires in the basement?”
“Not much, he had one of his people come to collect them and said that he would handle it from there. So if you get news on that front, if you could share it with me, that would be great.”
I sighed. “I’ll share whatever I’m allowed to. I have to go in this afternoon to speak to O’Donald about Nick.”
Mason sighed. “Take someone with you.”
“You’re not typically someone who keeps telling me to do that, yet twice in the last twenty-four hours, you’ve made that suggestion.”
“I don’t trust Nick. I never have, and here he is back to try and ruin your life.”
I sighed. “Okay, I’ll take someone with me to the office, but I can promise you, O’Donald isn’t going to let anyone into the room with us.”
“It’s your office, can’t you decide who goes in and who doesn’t?”
“It’ll probably be a talk in O’Donald’s office because he won’t go into mine.”
Simon sat up at that and narrowed his eyes at me. I knew exactly what he was thinking because he knew how well protected my office was.
“Just be safe,” Mason said again. “And let me know if Levi says anything about the vampires.”
“I’m sure I’ll hear from him tonight.”
The line went dead, and I laid my head back on the pillow. Simon gently took the phone from my hand and put it back on his nightstand before pulling me close to him.
“Is O’Donald a danger to you?”
“I really don’t know. He won’t or can’t go into my office, but he was able to get on my property without an issue.”
Simon hmmed for a moment, and it rumbled in his chest. “I’ll come with you.”
I nodded and rolled over so I could lay my head on his chest. “But first, just a few more minutes of sleep.”
I walked into PIB and waved at Mandy. She smiled and started to get a visitor badge for Simon. “O’Donald said for you to go straight to his office when you got here. How’s your vacation?”
“Well, it would be better if he wasn’t calling me into work.”
She laughed and handed Simon the little plastic badge. Simon clipped it on his shirt, and we took the stairs to the top floor where O’Donald’s office was.
Typically, when I walked down this hall, I was in some sort of trouble. Now I either seemed to be in trouble or on O’Donald’s shit list at all times. I stopped at the door and knocked. Simon turned almost all the way behind like he heard something, and then he frowned when the door opened.
I also frowned, because when the door was completely open, I found Nick standing at the side of O’Donald’s desk, dressed in a suit, and looking like he belonged there.
No fucking way.
Simon stiffened beside me as if trying not to make a move to step in front of me. I put my hand on my gun.
“Still carrying when you’re on vacation?” O’Donald asked.
“I live a dangerous life. I don’t leave home without it.” I jerked my head to Nick. “What is he doing here? And alive?”
O’Donald nodded. “That’s a very good question. I pulled up Nick’s files, and though he was listed as deceased, it turned out that he, in partnership with Boss Man, faked his death in order for him to go undercover in the underground.”
I locked my jaw. “Is that so?”
“You had no idea?” O’Donald asked.
“None.” It wasn’t a lie, because it didn’t match up with the story Nick told me when he was alive.
“When you return to work, Nick will become your partner in the Black Magic Task Force.”
I met Nick’s gaze. “I don’t work with partners.”
“You do now, Collins. Nick will get settled while you’re on vacation.” O’Donald waved his hand as if my opinion didn’t matter.
This complicated everything. Nick wanted to overthrow the king, but I couldn’t admit to that without admitting I knew he was alive. I was Princess, what better way to take down the king than through me?
“Okay.” Was all I could say before I turned my back to walk out of the office.
Nick followed me but didn’t speak until O’Donald’s office door shut behind us. “What? No hug for your long-lost partner?”
“I don’t trust you.” I tried not to snarl. “I don’t know what game you’re playing, but I can’t trust you at my back, so I don’t want you as my partner again.”
Nick put a hand on my shoulder to spin me around to look at him. “I’m here to protect you, Abby.”
“Don’t even try that, Nick. I didn’t miss the threat you gave me at the hospital, or any of the threats against Levi while you were in hiding.” I jerked away from him. “Now, I’m going to go enjoy the rest of my vacation.”
“Fine, I’ll see you in the office Monday.” He shoved his hands in his pockets. “Special Agent Collins.”
“Agent Averin,” I replied in a cold voice and walked down the hall with Simon at my back.
I didn’t glance behind me when I took the stairs, and I didn’t speak until we got to Simon’s truck. “Fuck.”
“That’s one way of putting it.” Simon sighed. “What on earth are you going to do?”
I pressed my lips together. “Well, if he means me harm, he’s not going to be able to get into the office. So, there’s that.”
“The doll?” Simon asked.
I nodded. “The doll. Now, I need to know if O’Donald is in on it, or if he really thinks Nick was undercover.” I jumped as my phone buzzed against my hip.
“Damn it, Abby, you’re jumpy.” Simon put a hand on his heart.
“Sorry, I forgot it
