Dark Operative_A Glimmer of Hope

by I. T. Lucas

  “Yes, but if I’m followed, I call for a pickup.”

  “Uber?”

  Turner chuckled. “There is a lot you still need to learn about security. Uber is an application, which is very susceptible to hacking. I use transport services that don’t display their function with signage and don’t use an app. An old-fashioned phone call is required to schedule service.”

  Thankfully, Kian didn’t seem offended. “I might have a better idea than switching vehicles at the mall. We have a tunnel under this building that leads to several of the other ones we own on this street. We can park the cars that are going to the village over there, scattering them between the underground parking lots of the other high rises.”

  Turner was impressed. “That’s even better than my solution. It’s less involved.” He eyed Kian with new appreciation. “I guess you didn’t build the tunnels for that. Those are emergency escape routes.”

  “You got it.”

  “Let me give it some thought and come up with the right protocol for using the other buildings. I want to make sure nothing is overlooked.”

  “Good deal. Let me know as soon as you have it ready.”

  Chapter 13: Bridget

  “I saw Julian today,” Amanda said as she grabbed a chair from a nearby table. “He looks good, happy.”

  The get together in the café had been Carol’s idea—a girls’ night out without actually going out.

  Bridget moved her chair closer to Eva’s to make space for Amanda’s. “The residency was hard on him. With all the pain and suffering bombarding his senses he was barely hanging in there. Julian is a sensitive soul.”

  “Are you sure?” Syssi arched a brow. “He reminds me a lot of Kian, who can sometimes be quite obtuse.”

  Bridget huffed. “Julian only looks like Kian. Personality wise he is more like Anandur. Everything is a joke to him.”

  “Anandur is a sensitive soul,” Carol said.

  Amanda put her cappuccino cup down. “He is a romantic, that’s for sure, but I don’t know about the sensitive part. He is a Guardian, a warrior. He needs to be tough.”

  “A person can be both,” Eva said. “Take me for example. I can be tough and ruthless when needed, but that doesn't make me unfeeling. The opposite is true. I’m ruthless because I internalize the suffering of others deeply and feel compelled to do something about it. I want to be the champion and the avenger for those who can’t protect themselves.” She sighed. “I miss those days.”

  Bridget wondered what Eva was talking about. As far as she knew, the woman was a detective who specialized in corporate espionage, and when there wasn’t enough work in that, she collected evidence on cheating spouses.

  “Aren’t you still doing that?”

  Eva waved a hand. “No, I gave it up when I became pregnant. Too much darkness for the baby.” She rubbed her stomach, which had started to show a little.

  “Why? Are you afraid one of the cheaters will attack you?”

  Eva regarded her with a puzzled expression on her face, then shook her head. “Right. Yeah, I stay away from the domestic violence cases.” She smiled. “The upside is that I have more time to write my novel.”

  “How is that going?” Amanda asked.

  “Slow. Brandon suggested I hire an assistant, meaning a ghostwriter, but where is the fun in that? I want to see if I can do it.”

  “What is it about?” Syssi leaned closer. “Is it your story? Are you writing about an immortal female who doesn't know why she doesn't age?”

  Eva shook her head. “I started the outline on that one, but then Kian decided to really sink his teeth into modern-day slavery, and I thought this was a more important project. I want to raise awareness about the problem. I don’t know if my book will end up any good, or if anyone will read it. But if by some chance it takes off, maybe it will help girls and their families to be more careful and know what to look out for.”

  Amanda patted her shoulder. “Well, good luck with that. I hope you’re done before this baby arrives.”

  “I hope so too.”

  With a smirk, Amanda trained her intense blue eyes on Bridget. “How are Julian and Turner getting along? You have a full house now.”

  If she was fishing for gossip, Amanda was going to be disappointed. “Actually, they get along great. You know Julian, he can charm anyone.”

  Amanda arched a brow. “Even a cold fish like Turner? That’s an accomplishment.”

  The barb hurt even though it hadn’t been directed at her. “You don’t know the guy. Don’t repeat what you’ve heard from others before you had a chance to talk to him.”

  Amanda hadn’t visited Turner after his injury, which was fine since she hadn’t known him prior to that, but still. She should’ve done it as a gesture to Bridget. They were supposed to be friends.

  Unfazed, Amanda shrugged. “You’re right. Some men are cold to other males but charming to women. Is he one of those?”

  “No, he is not a charmer, but he is not cold either. I think Eva understands. He has a similar attitude to hers.”

  Eva made a face. “Maybe. He is impossible to read. Is it me, or does the guy not emit any emotional scents?”

  Bridget nodded. “He’s an anomaly.”

  “Interesting.” Eva lifted her glass of orange juice. “That might be a very useful trait when spying on immortals.”

  The woman had a one-track mind. “That’s not his job.”

  “Right,” Amanda agreed. “What I want to know is what happens at night. It must be awkward to enjoy each other with your son in the next room.”

  Bridget couldn't help the grimace. “Yeah, that’s the only downside to the arrangement. Other than that it’s wonderful to have a full house. It’s like we are a family.”

  Syssi chuckled. “Kian was freaking out when Annani was staying with us. We ended up using one of the timeshare apartments on the lower levels.”

  Amanda clapped her hands. “That’s a splendid idea. Julian can move to one of those. Problem solved.”

  Bridget shook her head. “I can’t suggest it. It will sound as if I’m not happy he is back home because I have a man living with me.”

  “Don’t worry about a thing, darling, I have it all figured out.” Amanda pushed her empty cappuccino cup away and leaned forward. “We have a situation which Julian can help us resolve.” She glanced at Eva. “Sharon and Robert need a place to hook up, but Robert can’t leave the keep unsupervised. And for obvious reasons, we can’t have Sharon come to his place, not without breaking the rules, that is, and our Robert is a stickler for them. Not that I blame him, he is still on probation as far as Kian is concerned, but I digress. If Julian moves into one of the timeshare apartments, we can have Robert move in with him, and then he can invite Sharon to his place. The lower levels are not restricted, and Julian can act as Robert’s unofficial keeper.”

  Satisfied with her idea, Amanda leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms over her chest. “What do you think, girls?”

  Bridget was fine with most of it but not the part about her son guarding Robert. “Julian is a doctor, not a Guardian. He is no match for Robert.”

  Amanda waved a dismissive hand. “Robert is not going to do anything. Kian is just being paranoid.”

  “He can have the remote to Robert’s cuff,” Eva suggested. “If he tries anything, all Julian will need to do is press the button and boom! Off comes Robert’s hand.” With an evil smirk on her face, she spread her arms to demonstrate the explosion.

  How awful. Imagining the blood and gore, Bridget’s stomach lurched. The woman was even more ruthless than she’d given her credit for.

  Coming from Eva, a very feminine-looking woman who also happened to be pregnant, such a suggestion was very unsettling. But then, after years as a DEA agent and then a private detective, Eva had probably developed a sort of macabre humor as a way to cope. Surgeons often joked most inappropriately, but no one in the operating room took offense. Everyone knew that they were just releasing
stress.

  “What about privacy?” Syssi asked.

  Good point. “Sharon and Robert will have the same problem Victor and I have.”

  “Not the same, darling. You’re his mother. Besides, Sharon won’t know Julian can hear them, and I doubt Robert cares one way or the other.”

  Bridget sighed. “I hate having to be quiet. Takes half the fun out of it.”

  Across the table, Syssi’s cheeks reddened, and she lifted her coffee cup to hide her embarrassment.

  Naturally, Amanda hadn’t missed it and pounced. “Sweet Syssi. Still can’t talk about sex without blushing.”

  “I wasn’t the one talking about it. You guys were.”

  “And still your ears are red.”

  “Stop it.” Syssi grabbed her napkin and chucked it at Amanda. “It’s bad enough that I suffer from this embarrassing affliction that makes me seem like a prude or a virgin. You don’t have to advertise it.”

  Catching the flying piece of paper, Amanda crushed it between her fingers, then glanced at the women around the table. “All I can say is that appearances are misleading. Our sweet Syssi is far from a prude. In fact, she is quite adventurous.”

  “Amanda!”

  “What? I’m just saying. You don’t want people to think you’re a virginal prude, so I set the record straight, and you’re still complaining. I didn’t know you were so hard to please.”

  Syssi threw her hands in the air. “You’re impossible!”

  Chapter 14: Turner

  “Are you sure you don’t need help?” Turner eyed the heavy suitcases Julian was hefting. The things must have weighed a ton since they were filled with books. Expecting this to be his last move before the one to the village, Julian had emptied his bookcases, but instead of using boxes, he was using duffel bags and suitcases he’d collected from their neighbors.

  “I got it. Only one more round and I’m done. Robert is going to help me move my desk.”

  Julian muscled the suitcases out the door. “Can you close it for me?”

  “Sure.”

  “Thanks. I’ll be back in a few minutes, so don’t start anything yet.” He winked.

  Turner was still adjusting to the immortals’ casual attitude toward sex. The guy was talking about his mother as if she was a roommate.

  “I apologize on Julian’s behalf,” Bridget said.

  “It’s fine.”

  “For a moment, you looked scandalized.”

  She was getting better at reading his subtle facial cues. “I like Julian, and I don’t want him to think he has to leave on my account.”

  “He does not. I told you, Amanda asked him to do it as a favor to her, and he was more than happy to say yes. I think he is relieved. A guy his age doesn’t want to live with his mother. He prefers to share an apartment with another dude. After all, he’s lived with other guys for the past seven years. Moving in with me probably seemed like a step backwards to him.”

  “I’m surprised that he doesn’t mind an ex-Doomer as a roommate.”

  Bridget smiled. “The young find it easier to accept Robert. Dalhu as well. They didn’t witness the atrocities the Doomers committed. Knowing about it is not the same as living through it.”

  “Did you?”

  “It’s not going to work, Victor. I’m not going to tell you how old I am, so stop fishing.”

  “I’m not fishing.” He was.

  It was annoying that she kept her age a secret from him. As if it would’ve bothered him to find out she’d lived a few centuries. It would’ve only made her even more fascinating. He could’ve asked her about events she might have witnessed, events he had a feeling were not reported correctly in the history books.

  But if she kept refusing, maybe he could find someone else who was old enough to shed light on some of those events.

  “Who is the oldest immortal living here in the keep?”

  She arched a brow. “If you’re asking whether I’m that person, the answer is that I’m not.”

  He pulled her into his arms. “Given how touchy you are about the subject, I’m starting to suspect that you’re ancient.”

  She pushed on his chest, but he held on. “I just want to know who could tell me things about historical events I’m curious to find the truth about. That’s all. You can keep your secrets.”

  She relaxed and let him hold her. “Kian is the oldest. But you’ll have to ask him how old.”

  “Is he also shy about his age?”

  “No. But it’s his choice whether he wants to tell you or not.”

  “I’ll ask him on the trip. Five hours in the air should give us plenty of time to chat about non-business related stuff.”

  “It’s six hours to the big island. But good luck with that. Knowing Kian, he is going to take work with him. The guy never rests.”

  “In that case, you and I can use the time to make out in the bathroom.”

  Bridget laughed. “Not going to happen, buddy. You’ll have to wait for a commercial flight to join the mile-high club.”

  “I’ll have to charter a private plane just for that.”

  “You’re serious? You would do that?”

  “Why not? I want to experience as many things as possible with you.” What he hadn’t added was the before I die.

  But he didn’t need to. As Bridget’s smile wilted, she leaned her head against his chest. “I didn’t want to come on this trip, but I’m glad you convinced me to go. There is so much I want to do with you.”

  He rubbed small circles on her lower back. “It must be difficult for you. You’re used to thinking in terms of boundless time, but for me it is finite.”

  She nodded. “I was so busy with the presentation that I didn’t take the time to pause and ponder on life with you. Regardless of what happens, and when it happens, we need to make the most of each day. Do you have a bucket list? Because I want to check off all the items on it.”

  Turner chuckled. “I don’t, but I’ll make one.” Wanting to lighten the mood that had suddenly become heavy, he added, “Just so you know, though, it’s all going to be about where and how we have sex.”

  With a mock stern expression, she waggled a finger at him. “I don’t share, so no crazy ideas about threesomes.”

  “Wouldn’t dream of it. I don’t share either. Any other limitations?”

  “No.”

  He arched a brow. “Are you sure?”

  For a moment, she looked uncomfortable. “I know that there is some crazy shit out there. I’m not naive. But you don’t strike me as a sexual deviant.”

  He lifted her up and kissed her hard. “I’m not. I have nothing weird in mind, and I’m not all that imaginative either. Besides, we will never do anything you’re not comfortable with. In fact, I’m pretty sure you’ll have some ideas that are going to shock me and not the other way around.”

  The little smirk on her lush lips confirmed his suspicions. “I promise not to shock you.”

  “On the contrary, please do.”

  Chapter 15: Robert

  Robert peered over the recipe he’d printed earlier, then double checked he had everything he needed. The main ingredients were already lined up in the proper order on the counter. All that remained was to measure the exact quantities of spices. As a novice cook, he shouldn’t improvise but follow the instructions to the letter.

  Julian walked into the kitchen and glanced at the orderly display. “You should have barbecued, dude, or ordered takeout.”

  Bridget’s son was the best roommate possible—easy-going, equipped with a sharp mind and a good sense of humor, and not nearly as messy as Robert’s previous roommates. The most Julian left lying around was a book or a magazine or one of his electronic devices. No empty pizza boxes, no dirty dishes, and no shoes in the hallway for someone to trip over.

  “I want to impress Sharon. This is our first official date, and since I can’t take her out to a restaurant, this is the next best thing. If I can manage a complicated building-supplies order, I can ma
nage a simple recipe.”

  Julian leaned against the counter and crossed his arms over his chest. “I can sleep at the clinic tonight. Give you guys some privacy.”

  That was very gracious of him to offer, but there was no way Robert could accept. “I wouldn’t dream of inconveniencing you like that.”

  “It’s not a big deal. I’m used to sleeping on hospital beds, and right now there are no patients in the clinic. I have plenty of beds to choose from.”

  Robert measured two teaspoons of paprika, pouring the spice onto a small plate, the second in a row of spice plates he’d prepared. “I appreciate the offer, but I can’t accept.” He looked up. “There is more to this arrangement than us sharing an apartment. You’re supposed to keep an eye on me.”

  Julian uncrossed his arms and pushed his hand into his pocket. “I have this.” He pulled out the remote to Robert’s cuff. “The clinic is not out of range. I can watch the feed from the security camera out in the corridor to see if you’re trying to leave.”

  “What if I want to escort Sharon to her car? As a gentleman, I should.”

  “Then I’ll watch the feed from the guest parking lot as well.”

  “You forget that per Kian’s instructions, which you’ve agreed to, you are supposed to stay here when I come back from work, and if you can’t make it or need to leave, you have to arrange for someone else to take your place.”

  Julian rolled his eyes. “I was desperate for a place of my own, but I didn’t want to hurt my mom’s feelings and ask for it. I love my mom, but she needs her privacy too. When Kian asked me to move in with you as a favor, I was so glad that I would’ve agreed to whatever. That’s why I didn't argue and point out that he was overdoing it. We can bend his rules a little, and no one will know. It’s not like I’m leaving the building.”

  The level of insubordination the clan members were allowed still shocked Robert. Kian was too lax of a ruler. He ran the place more like a business than a stronghold, which would’ve been okay if they had no enemies and their existence didn’t need to remain secret. To keep the clan safe, Kian needed to rule like a military commander, and not like the chairman of a board of directors.