Chapter 32
“I called DuBois. He’s meeting us at the restaurant. As are my friends,” Vlad stated after he bundled her into the car and set off.
She started then peered at him. The city lights streamed across his face as they drove. The hard planes somehow reassured her.
“You’ve had a shock, so we thought it best if we all met up at a restaurant.”
“Us, Beau, and your friends?”
“My parents and Molly are also coming.”
“Does anyone else know?” The adrenaline that had pummeled her veins ebbed to a mere trickle now. She was restless and a little down, but not hungry. On the same token, she also wasn’t in the least bit interested in cooking tonight.
“I’m sure Aleksi will be notified, if he hasn’t been already.”
Vlad signaled to turn right and took the turn expertly before sliding into a parking space. “Stay there.”
He stalked around the car and opened the passenger door to assist her. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” His eyes were busy, watching, scanning, taking in the area around them.
She walked with Vlad into the restaurant, aware that he kept himself between her and any supposed threats.
She savored the feel of his hand on her back. Savoring also that she was finished with the hospital. The anticipation of returning to the palace lab was nearly exhilarating. Despite the fact that she would be there alone tomorrow.
When they entered the foyer, they met Vlad’s parents and Molly. Maria and Molly both engulfed her in tight hugs. “Please tell me you finished today and are coming to the palace tomorrow.” She grasped Maria’s arms.
Maria shook her head. “I still have work to finish in the morning, but I plan to be with you by the afternoon.”
“Thank goodness.” That was acceptable.
Graham also hugged her. “I had no idea your old lab was that bad.” He frowned at her, and she was surprised at how much like Vlad he looked. Perhaps it was because she caught sight of a warrior poking through his usual manner.
She yanked herself back into the conversation. “I should have said something to you, but the thing is, I didn’t have proof.” Or backbone that nasty little voice snidely added.
That backbone was in evidence now so she took great pleasure in flicking the voice away.
“I would have helped if I had been informed there was a problem.” Graham settled a determined gaze on her. It showed hints of his displeasure.
“Not to worry. I grew a backbone today.”
He nodded, again looking remarkably like Vlad.
Her thoughts were interrupted by Beau’s arrival. His eyes were flat and hard as he swept the restaurant, taking in everything until he finally located her. Then he crossed to her and wrapped her in a tight embrace. Tears collected in her eyes and tried to escape, but she blinked them back.
“Do your parents know what happened?”
She shook her head. “They’re out of the country, remember?” She thought for a moment. “Karis and Emerson are as well.”
“That’s why I called you,” Vlad said.
Beau didn’t release her but did lean forward to shake his hand. As well as Graham’s. When he finally did release her back into Vlad’s care, Molly slid into his arms for a quick squeeze.
Vlad’s friends arrived then. Their eyes were identical to Vlad and Beau’s as they stopped to greet her. Derek messed up her hair, Ben hugged her, and Rex smiled at her.
“It’s a good thing Tia isn’t here, or you’d be thoroughly hen-pecked,” Ben said cheerfully.
“I miss Tia, but I’m really happy to be returning to the palace lab tomorrow.” She glanced at Maria. “I’m hoping certain individuals will hurry up and join me.”
“I’m planning to.” Maria smiled as the host approached. “I’m as eager as you.”
Beside her, Vlad stiffened very subtly. She caught the impression that like Aleksi, he wasn’t thrilled that she was returning to the palace lab. Why?
She turned to ask Vlad just as the host offered to lead their party to a private dining room that was cozy and would allow them to talk. The space met with approval from the men in their party.
After the host left them with menus, Graham said, “I’m looking into the lab personnel. Too many of you are having uncomfortable experiences. That shouldn’t be.”
She exchanged looks with Maria. “Those stuck there will appreciate that.”
Maria nodded vigorously.
Everyone ordered and then the SEALs leaned back in their chairs and questioned Vlad, Graham, and her about the incident.
From the way they interacted, she figured they knew more than they revealed, but her insides were only just settling. Perhaps it was possible to swallow some food. Maybe. It helped to be surrounded by these people.
Vlad sat close and she leaned a little into him. He nudged his chair as near to hers as was possible. Their thighs pressed together and she rested her hand on his thigh, where his hand curled around hers. They sat quietly together as the others joked and laughed and appeared to enjoy themselves. It was typical of friends gathering together for a meal.
Yet all of it felt surreal.
Someone had tried to kill her. Twice.
Her parents were going to panic when they arrived home.
She sincerely hoped all of this was well behind them by then.
***
Vlad arrived the next morning just as she was locking her door. There was a bit of tension about him.
“You didn’t come for breakfast.”
“No, I ate at the palace. Are you going to be alone in the lab this morning?”
“Yes, as far as I know. Jorge will probably be at the hospital all week, training his replacement.” She turned and followed him down the stairs. “Your mom should be with me this afternoon.”
He nodded, and held the outer door for her before they crossed to where he had parked the car. After he helped her inside, he didn’t waste time climbing in and starting the motor.
“Why do you ask?”
“I’m gathering facts.” He didn’t take his eyes off the fairly heavy traffic.
She doubted that was true. “Why do you ask?” This time there was an edge of hardness in her voice.
He slanted her a quick, sardonic look. His lips even turned up in a momentary smile. “I really am gathering facts. I will continue to do so while you work this morning.”
Suspicion crept into her mind. “You’ll be gathering these facts from the cozy comfort of my lab.”
His smile was quicksilver but it set her pulse racing. There should be laws pertaining to his smile. “That is correct.”
With no fanfare, but great ease, he turned into the palace parking area. Any trace of a smile disappeared as he scanned the space. The hair on the back of her neck stirred and she swallowed.
There was an air of expectancy, and not the good kind, about the place as he coasted to a stop in a parking spot close to the door. He was there, like a human shield as she exited the car and bustled her inside. Without any sign of hesitation. Here was a man on a mission. It was strange to think of herself as his mission.
Especially in light of the fact that she wanted quite a lot more from him than his current businesslike manner. Where was her good morning kiss? What about a little hug?
She stopped to scowl at him.
Vlad didn’t stop. Instead, he hauled her forward as though she weighed no more than her niece, Nadia. This was untrue so surprise spurred her forward.
Once they were inside the palace, she relaxed a bit, but Vlad did not. He continued to scan their surroundings as though he expected the boogey man to pop out of the wainscoting. The palace magnificence was a bit lost on her though, because she was too busy enjoying the feeling of homecoming. This was where she belonged.
They ambled down the hall to the room where palace staff stored their belongings. She left her purse and lunch before she led the way to the lab. She unlocked the door and snapped on the lights. The black benchtops gleamed in the light and as the familiar smells of the space greeted her, she smiled.
“It’s good to be back,” she declared as she moved quickly toward the incubator. The well water plates looked good, and she planned to record the data later.
She booted up a computer, checked supplies, opened Tia’s office door to start a pot of coffee, and in general peeked into each space to make certain all was well with the lab.
Vlad seated himself at the bench where his mother typically worked. He carried a small computer and within moments was tapping away at the keys. It didn’t take him long to immerse himself in whatever he was doing.
She left him to his business to concentrate on her own. Tia had sent her an email with new projects so she printed that out now. There was one especially that she was eager to start and now she highlighted it. Then, after reading through Tia’s specific instructions, with a cup of coffee in Tia’s office, where Vlad joined her, she started her preparations.
It would take her most of the morning to prepare for the first leg of this experiment and that was exciting. This entire project should keep her busy for a week, perhaps longer.
The storage room looked exactly as it had when they left. At first. But after staring at the shelf where the five millimeter pipettes should be, she decided that wasn’t quite true.
Peeking out of the room she called to Vlad.
He was beside her in the time it took to blink. That’s exactly what she did when he conjured himself up right there in front of her. Blinked at him.
“What’s wrong?”
“The five millimeter pipettes aren’t where we previously stored them. Your mom and Jorge have both been here since then. They probably moved these items.” She bit her lip. “You told me to mention anything that didn’t seem right.”
“Even little things are significant. Go through the rest of the space.”
When she did so, she found a few more items that had been moved. All of this was minor, and probably meant nothing, yet they disturbed her. The taut, grim lines of Vlad’s body told her he also found her suspicions valid. He took out his phone and appeared to send something. She didn’t know what or to who, but she suspected he sent their findings to his friends.
“Is there anything else that’s raising your alarms?”
She trailed through the lab again. Then she crossed the room, slid the stainless steel work table to one side, and entered the smaller storage closet. Vlad was right behind her. A huge, menacing shape casting shadows into the room before she flipped on the light.
She stepped inside and started inventorying the contents. There didn’t appear to be anything amiss here. When she finished she shook her head.
“This is fine.”
He nodded before he followed her out. Her timer dinged before she could question him further. She completed the next task and soon lost herself in the work at hand. Every time she stepped into the large storage closet though, the hair on the back of her neck stood on end.
A disconcerting sensation at best. So she wasn’t upset when lunchtime came and they left the lab.