The speaker cleared her delicate throat. “It doesn’t matter. She’s not Movement, so she’s not eligible to take the assignment.”

“Excuse me, I’m right here,” I nearly growled at her.

“Ladies, ladies. Let’s not have a catfight,” Max urged, standing again. “Unless there’s going to be torn clothing involved. If Cyrus is her sire, I say she’s got the right to take him out herself.”

“How do we know she won’t fall to the blood tie and stab us in the back?” That bitch was becoming more irritating with every second.

“Hello!” I shrieked, rising to my feet. “I’m still right here. How do you manage to keep from going all feral and tearing people up? I haven’t done it yet, and I’m pretty sure I can avoid doing it in the near future!”

“I don’t want you going in there again!” Nathan shouted, grabbing me by the arm and tugging me back into my seat.

I wrenched out of his grasp. “You don’t have the authority to boss me around, so drop the dad act!”

His face went ashen.

“Oh, God, Nathan, I’m—”

“You know what? Go ahead and come along. If you get killed, it’s your fault, not mine. I don’t give a damn anymore.” He stood and stalked off, slamming the door behind him.

“Forget that D.C. thing. I want to go with them,” Max said, waving his hand furiously in the air.

The woman scowled at both of us and ran after Nathan.

Max shrugged and addressed the group. “I guess that means meeting adjourned.”

Tears stung my eyelids as the discordant bells above the door chimed. I don’t know what bothered me more, that I’d hurt Nathan’s feelings or that she was out there comforting him.

“Hey, don’t worry about it, he’s not really interested in her.” Max’s voice was so close to my ear, I jumped.

I turned to see he’d slid into the vacant seat beside me. “I don’t care.”

Max’s smile was boyish and held just a hint of naughtiness, as though my obvious attraction to Nathan didn’t remove me from his prospective bedding pool. “I know you don’t. I just feel like talking about it. If you don’t care, it shouldn’t bother you.”

I couldn’t help my smile. “Fine.”

“Rachel’s a good girl. But Nathan’s not her type, if you catch my drift.”

I didn’t, so I just stared at him blankly.

Max frowned. “Okay, let me put it this way. If Nathan were to actively pursue her, he’d have to get a major operation. In Switzerland.”

“Now I get it.”

“Good, I could tell you were a smart one. I’m Max Harrison.” His handshake was firm, as if he’d been practicing for a job interview. I was surprised when he slipped his hand out of mine and tried to bump fists with me.

I laughed. “I’m sorry, I’m not that hip.”

“Don’t sweat it.” He covered his soft laugh with a cough. “Rachel just looks out for her kids. They’re the vamps she took under her wing when they were new to the Movement.”