...well, whoever it was hadn't exactly made the stealthiest of entrances. Julian cringes at the loud thump--it seemed to reverberate throughout the room, and while it may be abandoned for the moment if the racket kept up it wouldn't be.

His hiding place was not particularly effective, and whoever this man was, he didn't have a visible weapon. Julian did--loathe as he was to use it--and the reflexes to bring them to bear should he need.

In an instant, he'd calculated the risk and potential and determined his course of action, then smoothly stood up.

"I hope you didn't make nearly as much noise on your way here as you did coming out of there."