He hoped.
Viper gave a brief nod and stilled at his side—full protection mode. Titus caught it anyway.
The room shifted a bit.
People were watching each other now, taking measure—and they were part of it. With their early exit to investigate the room, he and Viper hadn’t had time to mingle, hadn’t drawn much attention.
That grace period was over.
The scrutiny wasn’t obvious. Not rude. Just… lingering. A second glance held a fraction too long. A quiet recalibration.
Then the temperature changed.
It was subtle enough that Titus almost missed it. A voice dropped near the bar. Someone he didn’t recognize angled their body, eyes tracking Viper with the faintest frown of recognition.
If Viper had been recognized, the rest would follow.
Sure enough, a voice drifted past them—barely a whisper, not meant to carry.
“Kensington.”
Titus exhaled slowly.
“So… this is happening,” he said lightly.
Viper’s mouth curved. Not quite a smile. “Apparently.”
“I guess you can’t do low-key in this circle,” Titus murmured, lifting his drink.
“Yeah. No,” Viper said, grimacing.
Titus almost felt sorry for him. He knew exactly what came with Viper’s name.
“Let’s just hope the op doesn’t go sideways.”
“Hope springs eternal,” Viper drawled.
Titus snorted, catching himself mid-laugh and holding his glass away from his clothes.
“I’m serious,” he said, still smiling.
“I won’t let it,” Viper said, easy and absolute—then winked.
Across the room, Lorraine Harrington tilted her head.
She hadn’t been listening closely until a name was dropped.
“…of course, the foundation prefers to stay off-calendar,” the man in the slate suit was saying. “Discretion is half the value, wouldn’t you agree?”
Lorraine smiled, polite and distant. “Discretion is the value.”
Her eyes moved—not scanning, just adjusting. She followed the subtle pull of attention through the room, the way a current shifted when something dense entered the water.
She saw her son first.
Titus stood near the edge of the crowd, shoulders squared, expression flat. Alert. Controlled. He wasn’t alone.
The man beside him didn’t move like a guest.
