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Tristan closed his eyes and dropped his head back. “Did I make a mistake?”
“Nah. I’m the best there is, and you know it,” Doyle said.
Tristan sat on a barstool at the bar. “I just got off the phone with Ambassador Baptiste.”
Angela said, “Oh, she hasn’t left yet?”
“Well,” Tristan said, “she was on her way, but her sister is missing.”
Angela uncrossed her leg. “Oh, no. Please tell me there’s no connection.”
“I’m not sure. According to Giselle, her sister is a bit of a free spirit. She’s pretty sure Jada is at a music festival or camping,” Tristan said.
“Does she need any help searching for her?” Angela asked.
“Well,” Tristan paused. “I thought about returning for a few days to see what I can do.”
“You would leave here? Leave us?” Angela’s anxiety skyrocketed.
Tristan nodded to Doyle. “Doyle’s here, and I handpicked every guard that’s here right now. Giselle tracked her sister to Arkansas, and then nothing. It’s like she disappeared.”
“Arkansas?” Angela asked.
What is happening in that dang state?
Tristan continued. “Senator Van Houten is waiting for me back in DC, and she offered to help however she could.”
Angela stood, set down her glass, and walked over to the window. Three deer grazed at the far end of the lawn. One lifted her head. Angela could have sworn the deer met and held Angela’s gaze. Were deer shifters a thing?
She turned her back to the window and asked no one in particular, “Do you trust Beatrice Van Houten?”
“What do you mean?” Mariah said.
Angela walked to the bar and stood next to Tristan. “Do you trust her?”
“I’m not sure what you mean,” Mariah said. “She’s a Republican. We’re Democrats. How much do the two parties trust each other?”
“It’s not just a normal party-against-party thing. There’s just something about her that seems off.”
Mariah walked over and put her arm over Angela’s shoulders, quickly hugging her. “You’ve been through a lot. Is it possible that you are leery about everyone?” She returned to the chair, squeezed Robert’s knee, and let her hand rest there.
A slight pang tugged on Angela’s heart. Was Blake walking into a bigger mess than they realized?
“I suppose,” she said.
“You know,” Doyle started. “I once met a set of twin horse shifters in Arkansas. They were beauties. I wanted to?—”
“Shut up,” everyone said in unison.
He got off the couch and walked to a fireplace, holding his hands toward the fire. “What? I’ve traveled a lot.”
Tristan turned to Angela. “He is the best choice for your bodyguard, but I’m sorry I can’t get him to shut up. I could try to find someone to cast a spell if you get tired of listening to his stories.”
Angela shook her head and sighed. “It’s okay.” She pointed to Doyle. “Can you be decent if we go out or anyone but us comes here to visit?”
Doyle used a finger to cross his heart. “I know how to behave.”
Angela turned back to Tristan. “Do you trust Beatrice?”
