Rare Vigilance (Whitethorn Agency)

Cristian made a face. “We aren’t at Rapture. And I’m not interested in picking up anyone tonight.”

“Understood,” Atlas murmured.

They returned to the group. Andrei was the only one who seemed to notice their return, since the rest were busy deciding what to order for dessert.

“Who was that at the bar?” he asked Cristian.

“No one,” Cristian replied, passing by his great-uncle to reach his empty seat and jumping right into the dessert conversation.

His short response—and obvious desire to not discuss it further—may have protected him from Andrei’s further curiosity, but it couldn’t save Atlas.

“Surprised that one got past you,” Andrei called to Atlas.

“Won’t happen again,” Atlas replied.

He returned to his position at the door and tried to ignore the intimidating weight of Andrei’s gaze on him. Atlas hoped the older vampire would read his lack of intervention with the man at the bar as an honest mistake, but he sincerely doubted it. He’d been too eager to trust Jasper’s promise of results, and all he had to show for it was Andrei’s increased suspicion.

When the meal finally ended, well after the rest of the restaurant had closed to the general public, the group gathered themselves up and began a slow procession to the door. Dinu and Vasilica clung to each other, unaware of the world around them. They whispered back and forth, slipping in and out of different languages as easily as breathing. Ioana followed behind them with amusement, keeping them on course and ignoring their tender exchanges.

Atlas expected Andrei to follow Ioana, as he so often did. Instead, the large man stepped close and said, “You seem distracted, Mr. Kinkaid. Is something wrong?”

He tilted his head back to meet Andrei’s gaze and replied, “New place, new security challenges. I’ll feel better once Mr. Slava’s back home.”

“You have been behaving oddly all night,” Andrei pointed out. “Almost as if you expect something to happen.”

Behind Andrei, Cristian stilled on his path to the door. Atlas kept his professional mask in place, hoping Andrei and Cristian wouldn’t see through it. “It sounds like you want to accuse me of something,” Atlas told Andrei, keeping his voice even. “I’d be interested to hear what you have to say.”

“As would I,” Cristian agreed, surprising Atlas by taking his side.

Andrei turned to his great-nephew with a frown. “Did you pay any attention to him at dinner, as I told you?”

“Of course,” Cristian said lightly. His dark gaze flitted over Atlas and his mouth quirked in an odd smile. “But I doubt our focus was the same.”

Andrei made a strangled sound and launched into a louder, firmer lecture in Romanian. Atlas hated that he couldn’t even attempt to defend himself from the accusations he knew Andrei hurled against him. Cristian listened calmly for the first bit. It was when Andrei began gesturing at Atlas and using a variety of new inflections that could only signal disgust that Cristian broke in. He didn’t bother to raise his voice. The melodious rise and fall of his quiet words landed like punches against Andrei, whose huffs and blusters were quickly silenced. The argument ended with a question from Cristian, one he repeated until Andrei muttered the appropriate response and stomped past Atlas for the exit.

Atlas unlocked his knees and reminded himself to keep breathing slowly, even as relief rushed through him. In an effort to hide his response, he told Cristian, “I don’t think he likes me.”

“Oh, he doesn’t. He warned me not to trust you.” Cristian didn’t look too concerned, despite the dire statement.

Atlas reminded himself his attempted betrayal hadn’t been discovered yet. He was still alive, after all. He forced himself to sound casual when he asked, “Did he give any reason for you not to?”

“Nothing I consider to be good enough evidence. I think the real issue is that you stole his job.”

“What?”

Cristian smiled at Atlas’s confusion. “When my mother fled her family, he was the only one who took her side. He knew her parents would send people after her and decided he’d prevent that from happening. He was her bodyguard, then mine after I was born. He’s angry that Father thinks we need someone else to watch over me now.”

“And he’s taking that anger out on me?” Atlas asked.

Cristian shrugged. “Maybe. He never got this protective with the other agents. But then, no other agent has lasted as long. So I wouldn’t worry about it too much.”

“Right,” Atlas muttered.

“Come on,” Cristian ordered. “The others are probably waiting for us at the car.”

Atlas nodded and followed him, desperately wishing for his shift to end. He needed to retreat and reassess his approach. Cristian’s defense of him tonight was fortunate, but Andrei would be watching him even more closely from now on. He hadn’t found a way to keep Bea safe. Between Jasper’s failure to act and Andrei’s open distrust of him, the night was a total loss.

* * *