Judgement?

Once I exit the building, I start walking in the direction of the FAU agency, already forgetting about Ralph until he pulls up next to me in his car.

"Get in." He says as he unlocks the doors waiting for me to get in.

"No." I say and continue walking, not paying him any mind as she watches me confused.

We may be close but he doesn't know the reason why I hate cars or when people touch me without permission, he knows why I'm afraid of intimacy and why I don't date. I mean it took him a while before he got close to me.

Then I hear the car door open making me stop and look back at him to see him with his bag on his shoulder and him locking the car then he starts walking towards me.

When he looks up at me, he sees the silent question in my eyes but quickly averts his gaze to the floor, shuffling on his feet nervously.

"I just remembered you told me you heat cars so the least I can do is join you in walking." He mutters knowing fully well I can hear him.

"Hmm." I say in response and continue walking with him following close behind. When we arrived at the agency's front doors, I let out a sigh and came to a stop letting Ralph walk in front of me.

Reluctantly I follow him inside, we end up inside the meeting room from the previous day to see Henry, Victor, Sean, James, and Director Walker already there.

Upon seeing me, Victor avoids my eyes and tenses while Henry takes a subconscious step back making me smirk slightly.

"Ralph, is something wrong?" Director Walker asks confused as to why we're here when we should be checking out the kidnapping sights.

"Why don't you ask Henry?" He says his voice is void of emotion as he looks at Henry and Victor while I take off my shades and place them in my pocket.

"I have no idea what you're talking about." He says with a charming smile on his face.

"Really?" I ask as with a casual flick of my hand Victor is tossed to the side and is held mid-air while I approach a struggling Henry who tries to move away from me.

"What's the meaning of this, Astrid?" Walker asks me and I turn to face her.

"You vampire friends don't know the meaning of the word boundaries. Henry kidnapped me last night, drugged me and my pet dog Ollie, dug into my memories without permission, and compelled me to find the missing vampire from his clan." I say a little too calmly.

"Henry." Walker says with an exhausted sigh as she looks at him who still can't move.

"Release them, Astrid." Walker says with an authoritative tone and I look at her with a raised eyebrow.

"Please?" She asks not breaking eye contact with me and I release them.

"Thank you." She says to me and I nod at her then her attention returns to Henry and Victor.

"I just wanted to get to know her." Henry says as he stares at me as though he's obsessed.

"What do you have to say for yourself, Victor? Did you see nothing wrong with kidnapping an innocent girl while she's asleep?" Ralph asks with venom lacing his voice as he stares at the vampire who avoids everyone's gaze except mine.

"I'm sorry. I was only following orders but…." He says pausing debating whether he should say it or not.

"But?" I ask, prompting him.

"When Lord Henry gives orders, I usually follow them without question for I trust him but when he gave the order to take you, I didn't understand why." He says still looking at me.

"In other words, you didn't trust his judgment." I say and he nods while Henry looks like he's been slapped in the face.

"Why?" Henry asks getting Victor's attention.

"Forgive me sire but there were other more civil ways to get Astrid to agree to help us instead of kidnapping her." Victor says.

"Are you saying you no longer trust my judgment?" Henry asks.

"Sire all I'm saying is that sometimes you forget your manners." Victor says meeting Henry's furious gaze head-on.

"Very well, I'll take it into account next time." Henry says to Victor then his gaze lands on me.

"That's not good enough. Like I said before I'll help in finding the missing underworld members but Henry needs to stay away from me." I say looking at Walker.

"He can help us with the investigation." Walker says.

"I don't doubt it but I doubt you need all the vampires from his clan attacking you because he's dead, do you?" I ask, looking at her.

"No, I don't. Henry will get a restraining order and won't be able to approach you. You and Ollie will be safe." Walker says.

"That remains to be seen." James says getting everyone's attention only to see his eyes have gone pitch black and he's barely holding himself back.

"James?" I ask and he looks at me, his expression softening.

I remember my brother telling me that sometimes trolls, especially stone trolls identify certain individuals as clan in the sense of being protective of them and when said member is hurt in any way they go into a fit of rage going after the one that hurt the member of their clan. Only if said member or members calm them down is only when they would calm down.

In this case, as much as I would love for Henry to learn a lesson he's not worth it.

"It's ok, James." I say as I place a hand muscular arm. He takes a couple of deep breaths while his eyes are closed and when he opens them again, I smile letting the dimple in my left cheek show.

"Are you sure?" He asks, looking down at me.

"Yup." I say with a nod of my head to reassure him.

"Ok." He says, giving me a small smile.

I turn back to everyone to them looking at me shocked while I simply shrug my shoulders in response.

"Astrid." Victor says getting my attention.

"Hmm?" I say in response.

"I truly am sorry." He says and I smile at him.

"It's ok. I know what it's like to follow orders without complaint or question." I say with a sigh.

"Do you forgive me?" Henry asks with a sugary smile on his face.

"You're lucky you're able to talk." I say with a sweet yet charming smile on my face, making his face pale more than it already is.

"Let's go Ralph. We still have a job to do." I say as I turn away from them and head outside with Ralph following.

After another long walk, we end up at the first site which like the said is closed off to the public. It's a run-down cafe that gives me an uneasy feeling as I take a look around the outside. Ralph shows his badge to the officer guarding the building and once he scans it he lets him in. I go to follow him but the guard holds his hand out to stop me.

"Badge?" He asks bored looking at his phone.

"I'm with Ralph." I say and he scoffs at me.

"Nice try sweetheart. No badge, no entry." He says.

"Really?" I ask and he looks up at me annoyed about to retort but when he meets my eyes, he stops short.

"You're her?!" He asks shocked but I don't respond to him instead I raise my eyebrow at him.

"Who?" I ask pretending that I'm clueless, tilting my head to the side.

"I'm sorry miss. You may enter." He says as he stands and nervously straightens his uniform trying to impress me.

"Thank you." I say simply and enter the building to see Ralph already waiting on me.

"Let's get started." I say with a deep sigh.

"It's going to be a long day." I mutter to myself.