“Why didn’t you tell me before?” Bridget glared at Turner.

The guy had a lot to learn about being in a relationship. Not that it was news to her, but still, he could have said something about his upcoming trip to South America and not waited until the last minute.

Well, three days to be exact, but it felt sudden nonetheless. He’d known about this trip for weeks.

Victor had made such a big fuss about going to see Douglas and being away from her for just a little over twenty-four hours, but he hadn’t thought he should have informed her that he would be gone for four days?

“It wasn’t a done deal until yesterday, and you’ve been busy.”

True. The Guardians had taken her up on her offer and had been calling to let her know they were coming. Each one of the men deserved to be heard and encouraged and congratulated and not reprimanded for forgetting to check the time difference between the continents. She was asking them to make a major life change. The least she could do was give them her undivided attention even if it was two in the morning in Los Angeles.

Bridget rose to her feet and started collecting the empty containers of Thai takeout they had eaten for dinner. “Does it have anything to do with the ambush?”

Turner picked up their plates and followed her to the kitchen. “It has everything to do with that. I can’t just leave it be. I have to get to the root of this. Besides, my client wants an outsider to check his network and find out the breach.”

Bridget dropped the empty containers in the trash and turned around to face him. “You’re not a tech person.”

“I’m taking one with me.”

Leaning against the counter, Bridget crossed her arms over her chest. “I feel uneasy about this. If the breach is in your client’s network, it means that whoever ordered the attack on you is there as well. It’s dangerous.”

He shrugged. “If you want someone safe you should have picked an accountant. My work comes with certain risks which I’m well aware of, and I take the appropriate precautions against.”

“I would’ve felt better if you had a couple of burly bodyguards with you. Maybe I can ask Kian to lend you a Guardian or two?”

Victor walked over to where she was standing and put his hands on her waist. “I don’t think he can spare any at the moment, and I don’t think my client will appreciate me showing up with bodyguards. It’s offensive to someone like him. It’s like suggesting that his security is shit.”

“Apparently it is.”

“It isn’t, but even if it was, I can’t disrespect him like that.”

“You told me that he doesn't go anywhere without a cadre of goons. Why would he mind if you did it?”

“Because he is an important political figure and I’m just a contractor providing a service. We are not equals. Not in his eyes.”

Bridget huffed. “Male posturing. That’s all it is.”

“Politics. A woman holding the same position would have been no different.”

She sighed. “Just promise me to be careful.”

When she’d first met him, Victor had looked like a man who could handle himself in a brawl. Not that his fighting skills were a guarantee of safety, as proven by the ambush and the potentially lethal knife wound he’d sustained, but it was better than having none. The problem was that Victor wasn’t doing well on the chemo, and his body was weakened.

His skin, which had been pale before the chemo, was now so pasty it looked grayish. He lacked energy, and he wasn’t as focused as he used to be.

Naturally, she pretended like nothing was amiss and encouraged him to keep going for treatments. The side effects were unfortunate but there was no way he could stop them. Hopefully, his body would adapt and the adverse reactions would diminish.

In the meantime, though, he was supposed to rest as much as possible and not go on long trips to Third World countries.

He kissed her forehead. “Always.”

With a sigh, she dropped her hands and pushed off the counter.

Victor wasn’t going to change his mind no matter what she said. Besides, she shouldn’t try to stop him from doing what had to be done. Finding out who was behind the attack was important not only to his client but for Turner’s safety.

Understandably, Victor had been in a crappy mood ever since he’d started the chemo. Some good news would cheer him up.

“Come, let’s sit in the living room.” She took his hand and pulled him behind her. “You wanted an update on what’s going on with the Guardians.”

As they sat on the couch, he wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her to him. “Don’t think that I’m going willingly. I’m going to miss you, and I can’t even ask you to join me. First of all, because you’re up to your ears in work, and secondly because it’s not safe. Or rather the other way around.”

She lifted a brow. “Are you admitting that it’s not safe?”

“Not safe enough for you. The moment the culprit finds out I have my girlfriend with me, you become a target. He would think you’re the weak point and could be easily taken.”

“The jerk would be in for one hell of a surprise.” She looked up at him. “Are you sure you don’t want me to come? I can be your secret weapon.”

Bridget wasn’t a violent person, but she found the idea of taking out the scum behind the attack on Turner extremely appealing. Perhaps she could take a leaf out of Eva’s book. If a detective could become a novelist, a doctor could become an assassin. Just once. When it came to protecting her loved ones, Bridget had no qualms about doing a little cleanup job.

“Not going to happen, Dr. Bridget, so wipe that evil smirk off your pretty face and tell me about the Guardians.”

Yeah, it was a nice little fantasy. She would make a shitty assassin.

“We have fifty, and I expect more phone calls in the coming days.”

“That exceeds our best estimates.”

“It does, and they are starting to arrive soon. Kian is expediting the move to the Village to make room for them in the keep. Nathalie and Andrew are moving as are Amanda and Dalhu. Brundar and Callie have to stay because of Brundar’s job. All the current Guardians are staying to welcome the newcomers and start training them.”

Turner frowned. “That’s not a good strategy. He is leaving the Village unprotected. Some of the Guardians should move with the first wave.”

“I’ll mention it to him. Unless you want to?”

As much as Kian appreciated her input and respected her opinion, he would be quicker to take Turner’s advice on matters of security.

“You’re the expert. You should talk to him.”

“I will.”

“I wish Eva and Bhathian could move. Between the two of them, they can protect the others.”

“Why can’t they?”

“Because Eva refuses to leave her crew behind. She is convinced they are Dormants and is waiting for them to transition.”

That sparked Victor’s interest. “Do they have special abilities?”

“Nothing definite, quite iffy if you ask me. Supposedly Sharon is an excellent judge of character, like in infallible, and Nick is a whiz with electronics.”

“The girl’s ability might be paranormal, but what is special about being good with electronics?”

Bridget shrugged. “He managed to infiltrate the keep’s security system, and he is not a super-hacker.”

Victor whistled. “Now, that’s impressive. My hacker is excellent but had no luck breaking in here. That guy must be special.”

“You tried to hack into the keep?”

“Did you expect anything less from me?”

She chuckled. “Right. The keep was another mystery you just had to solve. I’m surprised you didn’t succeed.”

“I was surprised too, and impressed.”

“How about disappointed?”

He waved a hand. “Nah. It would’ve been more disappointing for me if I succeeded. Besides, it was a much-needed dose of humility. I was reminded that I’m not omnipotent.”

Bridget gasped dramatically. “You’re not?”

“Sorry.”

“Don’t sorry me, mister. Come to bed, and I’ll show you that you’re plenty potent for me.”

“Yes, ma'am.”