Too Far Gone by Debra Webb, Regan Black Page A

was also about saving lives.
    “Mike? Are you there?” Claudia’s voice came through the speakers.
    “Yes.” He hadn’t heard the chime that she’d come online. He swiveled back around and smiled, though the webcams weren’t in use. The Guardian Agency prided itself on maintaining anonymity for everyone.
    “You could’ve warned me you’d run me ragged day and night with this one.”
    “Did you have other plans?” he teased.
    “About as often as you do. Missing the surf?”
    “Yes.”
    “Well, if you’re not careful, you’ll be fish food.”
    “That’s the Italian mob. We’re dealing with Russians.”
    “
Prosti menya
,” she said, asking for forgiveness in Russian. “You’ll be kneecapped and then tossed into the ocean.”
    He laughed. She knew her criminal disposal protocols. “I’d prefer to take to the ocean on my own terms, knees intact. Based on what you’ve found, is Vanya enemy or ally?”
    “I can’t confirm her status just yet.” Claudia was silent a long time, but Mike heard the occasional muttering and rattle of her fingers on the keyboard. “Her full name is Vanya Babichev. She’s thirty-two.”
    “How many of us do you support?” he asked, as he scrolled through the Trinity agency blog in search of more clues.
    “You’re not cleared for that info, Protector Stone.”
    “Aww. You know I love it when you use formal titles.”
    “Has Lauren identified any other women? Beyond the mistress?”
    “A few. All of them are still listed as missing.”
    “Any of them recent?”
    Mike searched his notes. “She remembers seeing one girl in the parking lot at the Trinity Agency building two months ago.” He gave her the name. “Did Trinity get a nice chunk of money around that time?”
    “Not that I’ve found,” Claudia said, the exasperation coming through loud and clear. “His finances are clean. Nothing in his psych background indicates he’d do this for the fun of it. He was paid, or he was under some sort of pressure.”
    “We’ll find the sweet spot.”
    “I fear you’re going to have to find Vanya to do that.”
    Mike hesitated but only for a second. “I’ll make it happen.”
    “Just don’t get dead in the process.”
    “Would you miss me?”
    Claudia sputtered and ended the call.
    Now all he had to do was figure out how to do this while Lauren stayed here.
    Handcuffs could work. For a number of things. He chuckled and shook his head. “Get your mind off sex, Stone.”
     
    East Hollywood, 11:30 p.m.
    What the hell had he been thinking?
    Lauren had talked him into hitting the clubs in search of Vanya. He had apparently lost his mind. Not true... exactly. Lauren was damned persuasive. And he was damned worried. Not that anyone would recognize the sexy actress. The short dark wig and racy clothing was totally un-Lauren-like. She hadn’t fallen out of character even once since they started. Good thing too, because he felt his control slipping with every hour they were together. They’d been working the club scene in this unglamorous part of Hollywood, winding their way deeper into seedy areas.
    He couldn’t put all the blame for his fraying willpower on the fear of Lauren being discovered. Jealousy reared its ugly head with every appreciative look aimed her way. Maybe he really had lost his mind.
    Lauren’s full breasts tested the limits of the snug, low-cut dress and yet somehow she kept the effect just shy of trashy. Beside her, he was little more than a prop. They’d been through three clubs and he still hadn’t adjusted to being arm candy, to use her term. Whenever men took too much interest, Mike responded with blatantly possessive moves, signaling she was off limits. He had enough to manage as they searched for Vanya. Unless getting into a brawl over who would take Lauren home helped their cause, he had to keep himself in check.
    He’d certainly had more difficult jobs than spending hours with his eyes and hands all over a gorgeous woman. She, in turn