Julian stood off to the side, watching the radiant smile on Serena's face as she stared unblinkingly at the mercenary known as Fenris.
His eyes darkened.
His brows knitted together in a deep frown.
A strange, suffocating wave of irritation washed over him. He couldn't quite put his finger on what it was, but the sensation gnawed at him.
It was a completely absurd reaction.
Yet it felt fiercely, agonizingly familiar.
It was the exact same irritation he felt every time he came home from work, only to
find his younger brothers and Nicholas Blackwood tripping over themselves to shower his sister with attention.
It was the distinct, territorial feeling of watching someone try to steal his precious treasure.
Julian's frown deepened.
This was ridiculous.
The Panacea wasn't his sister. Why the hell was he getting so defensive?
But a second later, his brain supplied a perfectly logical justification.
He chalked the irrational emotion up to the fact that The Panacea was his sister's close friend.
Since she was part of his sister's inner circle, it was only natural for him, as the eldest brother, to look out for her.
The moment this Fenris guy showed up, she had blindly handed him the most critical part of the operation.
It was perfectly reasonable for Julian to be concerned that the brute might botch the job.
After all, this directly impacted his sister's overarching plan.
Julian cleared his throat, turning his refined gaze toward Jerrick. A polite,
impeccably warm smile touched his lips. "Mr. Fenris, there are two separate cargo authorization checkpoints between here and the Cargo Transit Elevator."
His smooth voice dripped with helpful condescension. "Not to mention at least three active ship patrol units along the route."
"This pod has no serial number and hasn't been logged into the ship's logistics database. Tell me, Mr. Fenris... how exactly do you plan on getting it through security and into the main event?"
Beneath the polished tone, the question was laced with unmistakable hostility.
He was blatantly calling the mercenary out.
Jerrick slowly lifted his gray-blue eyes, meeting Julian's stare.
"And what brilliant solution do you propose, Mr. Joker?" Jerrick asked, his voice deadpan.
There was no overt anger in his tone.
Yet the air between the two men instantly crackled with explosive tension.
Serena arched an eyebrow, her clear eyes darting between the two towering men.
Why were they instantly at each other's throats the second they met?
Julian, utterly unfazed by Jerrick's subtle provocation, offered a flawless smile. "We collaborate, naturally."
"You are the head of security hired by the ship. The sudden riot outside buyers,
nvolving the hunters the Outside
and the perimeter guards shatting down the loading docks..."
His smile widened. "I assume you had a hand in orchestrating that?"
Jerrick didn't deny it.
Julian continued smoothly: "Since
your little distraction outside worket
perfectly let's push the chaos further."
2
Step
"I sugges you use your authority as
security chief to temporarily relieve the guards patrolling the elevator sector."
"That way, you can keep the perimeter entirely clear of unauthorized personnel
during transport."
Julian let his words hang in the air.
Jerrick finally looked up fully.
Through the slits of the black balaclava.
Those freezing gray-blue eyes locked onto Julian.
"Collaborate?"
The mercenary's voice was completely flat.
It was terrifyingly calm.
But the venom was unmistakable.
"Then what exactly is your purpose standing here, Mr. Joker?"