“I’ll see you later.” Bridget kissed Turner’s cheek.

“Are you sure you don’t want to come?”

“I’m sure. They don’t need another spectator in the room. Between you, Kian, Anandur, and Brundar, that’s already too many people. The Russians pose no threat. They are human females, how dangerous can they be? I would advise against bringing Anandur and Brundar along, but I know Kian won’t do it.”

Turner had to agree. Less was more, especially since they were not going to employ any intimidating tactics. To coax as much information as they could from the women, it would have been better if Bridget joined them instead of the bodyguards. Women trusted other women more than they trusted men. Or in the Russians’ case, distrusted them a little less.

“I think you should come instead of the bodyguards. The women will feel more comfortable with you there.”

Bridget shook her head. “I’m not good at this. Vanessa would have been perfect, but no one thought to include her.”

“She is the therapist, right?”

“Yes.”

“I have not met these women, but I know a thing or two about Russians, and a shrink would have raised their hackles.”

“You have a point. Anyway, good luck.”

He kissed her cheek. “I’d better go. They are waiting for me outside.”

“I’ll be lounging by the pool.”

“Have fun.”

Kian and Syssi had invited everyone to stay in their vacation home, but Bridget preferred the hotel, and Turner was glad of it. Kian and his bodyguards were good company for about an hour or so, but he had no wish to spend entire days with them.

As Turner exited the lobby, it took him only a split second to locate Kian’s rental even though he hadn’t seen it yet. Anandur’s unmistakable red bushy hair was visible through the window of an SUV idling a little further down the curb.

“Where is Kian?” he asked as he got into the back seat.

“Buying swim trunks. He claims that he forgot to pack them, but I think he did it on purpose. So does Syssi. That’s why he is in the store right now. “

“Why? Is he sensitive to sunlight?”

Anandur turned around and pinned him with an incredulous look. “Are you kidding me? Didn’t you see the sunglasses he whipped out the moment we landed?”

“So did you and Brundar and everyone else. The glare here is strong.”

“Yeah, but Kian’s are not normal sunglasses. He is extremely sensitive. Ten minutes in the sun and he looks like a boiled lobster.”

“So why is his wife insisting on him getting out?”

Anandur shrugged. “She said she is going to slather him in the strongest sunscreen protection available. If she doesn't force him out, he is going to spend the entire vacation working.”

Turner had no doubt. The guy needed help, as in trustworthy people he could delegate work to. Except, he knew exactly how difficult it was to find such people, and Kian’s pool of prospective candidates was much more limited than his. No one had told him how many immortals belonged to the clan, but Kian had mentioned that the clan wasn’t big.

Were there a few hundred? Several thousand?

Turner had a feeling the clan numbered in the mid hundreds. If he were allowed to attend the big assembly, he could figure it out simply by physically observing those gathered locally and those abroad on the screens. According to Bridget, every adult clan member had to vote.

“Okay,” Kian said as he pulled the passenger door open and climbed inside. “Mission accomplished.”

Holding a large shopping bag, Brundar joined Turner in the back seat.

Judging by the rattle coming from the bag, there was more than swimming shorts inside.

“What’s in there?” he asked.

Brundar put the bag on the seat between them. “Vodka.”

“Good thinking.”

Anandur chuckled as he eased into the road. “The fastest way to a Russian girl’s heart.”

“You should know,” Kian said.

“I can’t wait to see Lana.”

Kian lowered the window shade and took his sunglasses off. “Don’t hold your breath. She probably snagged a new guy by now.”

“Very likely.”

The rest of the drive to the captain’s house passed in silence. Kian read reports, Anandur was deep in thought, probably thinking about Lana, and Brundar did his usual impersonation of a statue, thinking about who knew what.

Turner itched to investigate the guy just to figure out what his deal was. It wasn’t as if Brundar was an important member of the clan with major decision-making responsibility. He and his brother were simple soldiers acting as bodyguards. Turner knew the type well. But the Guardian was a mystery, and as such he piqued Turner’s curiosity.

Besides, he preferred speculating about Brundar’s secrets than thinking about his upcoming chemotherapy.

He’d postponed it as much as he dared without incurring Bridget’s wrath, with the Hawaii trip providing a good excuse not to start yet, but he could come up with no more reasons for delaying it. Monday afternoon, Turner was meeting with his regular doctor to start the treatment.

Bridget had offered to accompany him to his appointment. He’d turned her down as gently as he could, but her feelings had gotten hurt despite his best efforts.

Nevertheless, it was something he needed to do alone. Like an injured animal that nursed its wounds in hiding, Turner preferred not to be seen in a weakened state.

“You have arrived. Your destination is on the right,” the navigation system announced.

The house Anandur parked next to was a modest dwelling in a middle-class neighborhood. Apparently the dinner-cruising business was not very profitable, or it was but the captain was a frugal lady.

The four of them got out, with Anandur leading the procession and Brundar guarding the rear.

“Are you expecting trouble?” Turner asked.

Kian adjusted his sunglasses, pushing them further up his nose. “Not at all.”

Anandur knocked on the door, which was opened almost immediately by a tall blond who looked like she spent hours lifting weights at the gym. The span of her shoulders was wider than that of most men.

She embraced Anandur, kissed him on both cheeks, then shoved him aside to make room for the others.

“Good to see you, Lana,” Anandur said.

“You too, deck boy.” She dipped her head at Kian. “Hello, boss man.” She opened the door all the way then glanced at Brundar and Turner. “This one I know,” she tilted her head at Brundar, “but I don’t know this one.” She pointed at him.

“This is my business associate, Turner,” Kian introduced him.

“Nice to meet you, Lana.” Turner offered his hand.

Hers was calloused and strong.

Inside, five pairs of suspicious eyes zeroed in on him. As they pushed to their feet and stood in line to shake hands with Kian and the brothers, he noted that the other five were just as muscular as Lana. Except, she was pretty enough to still look feminine, while the other ones were not so lucky. Except perhaps for the brunette with the intelligent grey eyes.

She approached him first. “I’m Geneva, the captain.”

“I’m Turner.” He shook her hand, which was just as calloused as Lana’s.

“And your designation?”

“Consultant.”

She lifted a brow and glanced at Kian.

The guy smiled. “If you want Geneva and her crew to tell you anything, you’d better tell her exactly who you are.”

Turner nodded. “I’m an ex-Special Ops strategist who is currently working in the private sector. I specialize in complicated rescue missions.”

That seemed to satisfy Geneva who motioned for him to take a seat next to Kian on the couch. “Please continue,” she said when he was seated.

“Kian asked me to investigate the worldwide trade of human slaves, the majority of whom are young women and girls who are either abducted or manipulated and then forced and coerced into sexual servitude. When I told him the problem was much bigger than I originally believed it was, he asked me what could be done about it. I had a few ideas. We are here because we need insider information about the nitty-gritty of the operation.”

Geneva nodded. “I’ll tell you what I can. But I don’t know how much it’s going to help you. We only saw a small part.”

“I’d appreciate any information you can provide.”