“Was not joke. Was genuine offer.”
“Even better.” He laughed, and the sound did something uncomfortable to my chest. Made it feel less tight. “But no. Father would frown on bodyguards shooting members of the press. Bad optics.”
“Your father frowns on many things I do.”
“Like what?”
“Like keeping you alive in ways that are not approved by committee.”
Sebastian snorted. “God forbid we actually be effective instead of diplomatic.” He shifted in his seat, leaning closer to the partition. “So what's really wrong? And don't give me the professional bodyguard deflection. I can tell when you're worried.”
I shouldn't have answered. Should've maintained professional distance. But the words came anyway. “City is too quiet. When cities go quiet like this, it means they are holding their breath. Waiting for something.”
“Waiting for what?”
“For violence. For chaos. For whatever breaks first.” I met his eyes in the mirror. “I do not like taking you into this. Too many variables I cannot control.”
“You can't control everything, Viktor.”
“I know. This is what worries me.”
“Welcome to my entire life.” He settled back, but his eyes stayed on me. “Control is an illusion anyway. We just pretend really hard until something explodes and reminds us we're all just improvising.”
“This is very pessimistic worldview.”
“This is very realistic worldview.” But his tone was light. Teasing. “Besides, I have you. The immovable object. The unstoppable force. Pick your intimidating metaphor.”
“Am neither. Am just man who is very good at his job.”
“You're more than that.” The words came quieter. More serious. “You know you are.”
I didn't know how to respond to that. Didn't know what to do with the fact that he saw past the weapon to the person underneath and seemed to like what he found.
“You should wear seatbelt properly,” I said instead, deflecting. “Not lean forward like this.”
“Worried about me?”
“Is literally my job to worry about you.”
“That's not what I asked.” His smile was dangerous. Knowing. “But fine. I'll behave. Wouldn't want to give you another reason to brood.”
“I do not brood.”
“Viktor. You brood professionally. It's like your resting state.”
Marcus made a sound that might've been a laugh quickly turned into a cough. I glared at him.
“Even Marcus agrees with me,” Sebastian said, clearly delighted. “This is a democratic vote. You brood.”
“Democracy does not apply to security assessments.”
“No, but it applies to personality assessments. And the people have spoken.”
Despite everything. Despite the tension coiled in my gut and the feeling that today was going to end badly. Despite all of it, I felt my mouth twitch.
Not quite a smile. But close.
“There it is,” Sebastian said softly. “Knew you had it in you.”
