Christian gave her a look that promised payback for the cheek pat, and she was smiling as she pushed through the swinging door.
CHRISTIAN WAITED until the door closed behind Natalie, then gave Marc a questioning look. “You talked to Alon?”
“I did. And he’s done his homework,” Marc told him. “I think he might know more about vamp stuff than I do at this point.”
“Does he have family?”
“On a kibbutz in Israel. Parents and two brothers, some toddler nieces and a nephew. His only sister was killed during a bombing in Jerusalem.”
Christian frowned. Family could be a problem, especially if they were religious. “What do they think about this?”
“He says they’re fine with it. They’re socialist for the most part, and not particularly religious.”
“He talked to them about it specifically?”
Marc nodded. “Apparently, he’s been considering this ever since he met Natalie. He knew about vampires before that, but she was the first person he’d come across with any personal knowledge. Frankly, I’m surprised meeting her would make him more interested rather than less. I don’t think your woman was all that fond of vampires before meeting you.”
Christian shrugged. “I’m a charming guy.”
Marc scoffed loudly.
“Show some respect, asshole. I’m your Sire.”
“Right,” Marc said, his expression shifting to one of mocking attention. “Don’t want to give the newbie the wrong impression.”
“Where did I go wrong?” Christian muttered. “Okay, I’ll ask Alon to come by the house later. We’ll talk, and I’ll make a final decision. In the meantime—”
“I’m back! And look! All in one piece, too!” Natalie bounced out of the locker room, with a huge smile.
Marc nearly choked to death trying not to laugh, while Christian could only scowl. Obviously, it wasn’t only with Marc that he’d gone wrong.
“Let’s go,” he growled, indicating the door to the back parking lot.
“My car’s there, too,” Natalie said, jiggling the keys in her hand.
“Leave it, we’ll—”
“I’m not leaving my car again,” she said stubbornly, planting her feet.
Christ, was he a powerful vampire or not? Shouldn’t somebody be cowed by him? “Fine,” he snapped, and turned to Marc with a jerk of his head. “You drive her car. Natalie and I will take the SUV. Natalie, give him your keys.”
“I don’t like the idea of—” Marc started to protest, but, wonder of wonders, he caught the impatient look Christian was sending him and changed his mind. “Go north down the alley,” he said, pointing. “You lead, I’ll follow.”
Alon came up to say good-bye. He shook Marc’s hand, then reached out to hug Natalie, pulling her away from Christian and into his arms. It took every ounce of control Christian possessed not to tear the man’s arms off, but he told himself that Alon didn’t know what he was doing, that the human and Natalie were friends, nothing more. That didn’t stop the low growl of warning that rumbled up from his chest.
Natalie shivered a little at the sound, but she quickly kissed Alon’s cheek and broke away from his embrace. “I probably won’t see you tomorrow,” she told him, “but—”
“I think Alon should come home with us,” Christian interrupted, shifting his attention to the Israeli. “If you’re available, that is. We have things to discuss.”
“Sure thing,” he said firmly. “I’m finished for the night, and my assistant can close up.”
Christian hadn’t told Natalie, but he’d already decided to turn Alon, if that’s what the man truly wanted. He was going to need soldiers, loyal soldiers, when he became Lord of the South, and the best way to ensure that was to make an army of his own. He couldn’t do it all in a day, or even a year, but Alon was a good beginning, and he’d make a great security chief. Natalie had said he was former Israeli military, but Christian knew there was much more to it than that. He’d known, even before talking to Alon, that he’d been Special Forces, and almost certainly one of the covert branches. There was a coiled readiness to such men, a constant awareness of everything around them, even when they were pretending not to pay attention.
But first, Christian had to be certain that the human knew what he was asking for, that he understood deep in his gut that there could be no return from this decision, other than death.
When Alon rejoined them, Christian took Natalie’s hand, and walked out to the parking lot, with Alon leading the way. Unlocking the SUV with the remote, he opened the front passenger door and nudged Natalie in that direction, while Alon reached for the back door. Either Marc would bring Alon back to the dojo later tonight, or, if it got to be too late, he could always borrow Natalie’s car and drive himself. The thought struck him that at least that way, Natalie might remain safely at home during the day tomorrow.
She turned as she climbed up and settled on the passenger seat. “I never told you what I discovered today in Anthony’s files.” She started to say more, but he’d already stopped listening, one hand held up in warning.