The immortal was using his compulsion to reeducate Modana's men and continue his education of the cartel boss himself. The idea was to turn the ruthless killers into do-gooders and to spread misinformation that would reach the ears of the Brotherhood and get them off the clan's tracks. Both were lofty goals, but if anyone had a chance of achieving them, it was Kalugal.

Negal was glad that Onegus had chosen Kalugal to accompany them on the mission and asked Toven to remain on the ship.

He doubted that Toven would have been able to do what Kalugal was doing. The royal was too much of a straight shooter and an idealist. Kalugal, on the other hand, was a creative storyteller who didn't concern himself too much with the truth.

"Is there anywhere else we can go?" Negal asked Jasmine.

She shrugged. "Margo and I went through several areas on our way to the top deck, but I don't remember much of it." She lifted a hand to her forehead. "It was hard to think straight. Let's just keep walking until we find somewhere comfortable to sit." She cast him a sidelong glance. "Unless you are tired of carrying Margo. She must be getting heavy."

"Not at all." He hoisted his precious cargo higher on his chest so her face was closer to his, and he could feel her breath fanning over his skin. "She's practically weightless."

Margo giggled softly. "Thank you. That was the right answer."

He looked down at her. "I didn't know that I was being tested."

She lifted her face to him with a sweet smile. "Don't you know that you are judged on every word you say?"

"By whom?"

"Women," Jasmine said. "We try to determine a man's worth by testing him in every way we can, but I totally suck at it. I fell for Alberto's fake charm."

"He was a scam artist," Margo said. "You should stop beating yourself up over this."

"No, he was right about that. It was stupid of me." Jasmine kept walking, with Negal following.

"The blind leading the blind," Margo murmured into his chest. "She has no idea where she's going."

"Yes, I do." Jasmine looked at them over her shoulder. "If we can't find a good place, we can go back to our cabin."

"It's cramped and crappy." Margo shifted so she could look around. "Let's find the master bedroom suite. I bet it's amazing."

Jasmine snorted. "Do you have naughty ideas for the three of us?"

"Dream on, girl. Negal is mine." She gasped, and her cheeks reddened. "Did I just say that?"

"You certainly did." Call him a peacock and give him glorious tail feathers to spread because that's how he felt right now.

"I'm sorry." She buried her face in his chest. "It's the drugs talking. Don't pay attention to anything I say."

"I liked what you said."

"You don't know me, and I don't know you. You are not mine any more than you are Jasmine's."

"I'll take him," Jaz said.

"We are both drugged." Margo cast her friend a glare. "Her inhibitions are also compromised. You shouldn't listen to either of us."

"What's over here?" Jasmine pushed a door open. "Oh, look. It's the kitchen."

As Negal followed her inside, the smells assaulted his senses, and his stomach growled, reminding him that he hadn't eaten anything since the wedding last night.

"Someone's hungry." Margo laughed. "Put me down, and let's get something to eat."

There were two barstools in the large kitchen, but Negal had no problem eating while standing. He gently lowered Margo to one of the stools and held on to her until he was certain that she wasn't going to tip over.

As Jasmine walked over to the stove and started lifting lids and sniffing the food, a door opened, and a guy in a white coat brandished a gun at them.

"Put up your hands," he said in heavily accented English.