Page 90 of Warrior's Cross

Cameron was gathering goblets when Sylvia practically flew into the service area, catching everyone’s attention. “Cam,” she hissed. “He’s back.”

Cameron’s chin snapped around, and he stared at her. “He?” His heart hammered in his chest.

“The scary guy,” she answered breathlessly, getting Miri’s attention as she walked by them.

Cameron’s hand tightened on the crystal glass in his hand. “Are you sure?” he asked.

“Look,” Sylvia whispered as she moved toward the door and its small window.

The past few weeks had marched by uneventfully with no sign of Arlo Lancaster, who had so unnerved him, and also no sign of Julian after he and Preston had run Lancaster off that night. Cameron’s life had calmed and settled into a daily blur... until now.

They could barely see the man from their angle; Lancaster had requested the same quiet table he’d been given the first time, and he sat in the chair that allowed him to watch the door. As they peered at him, Keri led another man to the table to join him. A tall, dark, handsome man they all recognized.

Cameron’s breath caught as he looked upon Julian for the first time in months. He slowly leaned forward, grasping the counter tightly as he looked out through the slats. His chest suddenly ached badly, so badly he could barely swallow.

Julian stood by the side of the table for a long moment, managing to look large and intimidating even in the finely tailored suit. Lancaster leaned back in his chair casually, looking up at Julian almost insolently before he stood, buttoned his suit jacket, and offered his hand with a few words in greeting. Julian looked down at the hand for a moment, and then he grasped it and shook it stiffly. He looked around, seeming almost uneasy, and he unbuttoned his jacket slowly as he sat opposite Lancaster.

They sat silently, staring at each other.

“This is not good,” Sylvia whispered at Cameron’s side. “What do we do?”

Cameron stared through the blinds, feeling his emotions drain away. He’d been too upset, too scared, too lonely, all for too long. It was too much to feel any of it right now, so he buried it deep down.

“We do what we always do,” he answered flatly, voice becoming more firm as he spoke. “This has nothing to do with us.”

“What are you talking about?” Miri asked from Cameron’s other side.

“We don’t know them. We don’t know them from any other customers,” Cameron told them. Ignorance would keep them safe.

Julian had taught him that.

The women nodded slowly, and they all looked back out at the two dangerous men.

They seemed to be complete opposites. Julian sat proper and tense, his face expressionless as he looked at the other man. Lancaster, though, sat slightly sideways with his elbow propped on the back of his chair, reclining casually with his ankle resting on his knee. He was grinning impishly and meeting Julian’s eyes unflinchingly.

Cameron straightened and tugged at his collar before smoothing down the front of his shirt. He picked up the card listing the evening special and walked out of the service area.

How he found the determination, he didn’t know. How he knew what was going down was wrong, he didn’t know. All he could do was follow Julian’s lead as he’d seen it before—do his job and pretend not to know the man who had been his lover.

When he got to the table, Lancaster had just begun to speak in a low voice. “You’re a hard man to track,” he said in amusement. “Hiding in your castle. Might as well be Bruce Wayne.”

“Does that make you the Joker?” Julian asked flatly, clearly not amused.

Cameron paused a few feet away, completely taken aback by the sound of Julian’s voice in a melodic Irish accent. It was right, but it wasn’t. He’d never heard Julian use an accent. Maybe it was something he was doing with Lancaster? Something to hide his identity? If so, he was really good at it.

Lancaster laughed softly and nodded.

“Why are we here?” Julian asked with the barest hint of annoyance.

“I heard you like this place,” Lancaster answered innocently. “The food is delicious. Although the service is somewhat lacking.”

Julian was silent, staring at his companion blankly, and Cameron took that as his cue to approach the table. “Good evening, gentlemen,” he greeted, trying desperately to keep his voice from wavering. “My name is Cameron, and I’ll be your server tonight.” His voice, thankfully, came out purely professional, as was his manner. He rattled off the night’s special without looking at either man and then asked,

“Would you like to start with some wine?” He couldn’t bring himself to make eye contact, especially with Julian.

Lancaster looked up at Cameron with a large grin. “Wine sounds wonderful,” he drawled happily. “Bring us your most expensive bottle,” he requested as he looked back at Julian almost challengingly. “We’re celebrating tonight.”

From the corner of his eye, Cameron saw Julian’s jaw clench.

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