“What the fuck?” Claus muttered, his voice low but sharp. Instinctively, he shifted a little in front of Mia, subtly shielding her.

A man stepped out from the shadows, mid-forties, tall, his smile easy but his eyes too calculating. He raised both hands slightly in mock surrender. “Easy there, buddy. Didn’t mean to startle you.”

Claus’s tone was cold. “Then what the hell are you doing sneaking up behind us?”

The man chuckled, feigning embarrassment. “Sneaking? Nah, nothing like ...