06-09-2016, 03:24 PM
Ayden's voice got his attention and he reluctantly broke eye contact with the man. His jaw clenched for a moment, determination a ball of fire in his chest. Not this time. He wouldn't fail. He spoke calmly, making sure to watch his words. "You remember that man who we met in the park in St. Petersberg?"
He raised his eyebrows, hoping she got his meaning. After a moment, he went on. "I think one of his friends is sitting over there. And we're on his radar."
He could be wrong. He could be overreacting. Despite everything that had been said- all oblique and veiled- at the bookstore, he didn't know anything for certain. The man's arrogance and self-righteousness had been enough to make Connor wary of him. And disgusted- the man reeked of pious zealotry. And now, sitting there, he seemed much more formidable with a coffee cup and plate of pastry in front him than the guy in the park had with his gun drawn. Still, he trusted his instincts. Care and long life go together he'd read once and he believed it.
"We need to get out of here."
He thought about messaging Nox but then thought better of it. Nox might have been the one to give them away, despite everything. He didn't really believe it. Not really. But given Nox and Aria's last encounter with Ayden...No. They had to do this on their own.
His one overriding thought was to protect Ayden. Get her somewhere safe. She had the power, he knew, to do something about it, but with the terrorist attacks and increasing scrutiny, anything she did in public would put her more firmly in the cross-hairs- of more than just the Atharim. If they were in private, Ayden would be in a much better and safer position to act.
He didn't believe the man would act openly. He seemed much too cool and collected to risk a public encounter that would out him and what he was. If he wasn't just some harmless self-righteous douchebag as opposed to the harmful kind. Still, he couldn't take that chance.
"I think if we calmly and unhurriedly get up and leave, we shouldn't have any problems."
He paused, looking into her beautiful eyes. He wasn't going to fail her.
He raised his eyebrows, hoping she got his meaning. After a moment, he went on. "I think one of his friends is sitting over there. And we're on his radar."
He could be wrong. He could be overreacting. Despite everything that had been said- all oblique and veiled- at the bookstore, he didn't know anything for certain. The man's arrogance and self-righteousness had been enough to make Connor wary of him. And disgusted- the man reeked of pious zealotry. And now, sitting there, he seemed much more formidable with a coffee cup and plate of pastry in front him than the guy in the park had with his gun drawn. Still, he trusted his instincts. Care and long life go together he'd read once and he believed it.
"We need to get out of here."
He thought about messaging Nox but then thought better of it. Nox might have been the one to give them away, despite everything. He didn't really believe it. Not really. But given Nox and Aria's last encounter with Ayden...No. They had to do this on their own.
His one overriding thought was to protect Ayden. Get her somewhere safe. She had the power, he knew, to do something about it, but with the terrorist attacks and increasing scrutiny, anything she did in public would put her more firmly in the cross-hairs- of more than just the Atharim. If they were in private, Ayden would be in a much better and safer position to act.
He didn't believe the man would act openly. He seemed much too cool and collected to risk a public encounter that would out him and what he was. If he wasn't just some harmless self-righteous douchebag as opposed to the harmful kind. Still, he couldn't take that chance.
"I think if we calmly and unhurriedly get up and leave, we shouldn't have any problems."
He paused, looking into her beautiful eyes. He wasn't going to fail her.