Page 30 of Dark Gambit Reliance

Kalugal arched a brow. "Are you sure they are not counterfeit?"

"I'm sure."

"Oh, well. Then I have to try it." Kalugal pulled one out. "That's a special treat."

"I can give you the name of my supplier."

Kalugal smirked. "I only enjoy cigars in your company." He lit his cigar. "So, tell me why you need to borrow my plane when you have two and a helicopter."

"The helicopter is only good locally. And I need both planes for other things."

Kalugal puffed out. "I assume it has to do with the Kra-ell threat."

"Why am I not surprised that you know about it?"

Kalugal rolled his eyes. "You talked about it on Callie's opening night. Did you forget that I was there?"

"I didn't forget. It's just that we didn't discuss our plans. Hell, we didn't have a plan back then."

"And you have one now?"

"Well, it's an if-this-then-that sort of plan. Each stage depends on the results of the previous step."

While Kian explained Turner's proposed mission plan, Kalugal listened and puffed on his cigar but didn't comment or offer suggestions. When Kian was finished, he took a sip of his whiskey. "You need my men. I can't join in because Jacki would never forgive me if I left her alone, but Phinas can lead them."

That was an offer that Kian hadn't expected.

"Thank you for the offer, but your men haven't seen battle in decades, and from what I've seen, they don't train as often as they should to maintain their skills." A grimace twisted his lips when he thought about where they had learned those skills.

"It's true that my men haven't seen battle in a very long time, and it's also true that they don't train much, but they keep in good shape, and you need bodies to fill the exoskeletons for a show of force. Do you have enough of those suits for them?"

"I have plenty."

"Then it's settled. You'll need to charter a large plane to deliver the men and the suits to Karelia. Where are you going to land it?"

"So far, we have used St. Petersburg International Airport, but Turner is negotiating with his local contact to use an old Russian Air Force base an hour and a half away from Igor's compound. Some officials need to be bribed."

"This operation must be costing you a bundle."

"It is. I hope we can pay ourselves back from the funds Igor stole from Jade's tribe. He cleaned out their bank accounts, and according to Vrog, there was a lot of money in them. Regrettably, it's worth much less twenty-two years later."

"Maybe he invested it."

"Perhaps." Kian took a puff of his cigar. "We will find out when we take over the compound and catch the scumbag."

"Until then, I can help out with the expenses."

Kalugal wasn't usually that generous. He was still contributing monthly to the clan's charity, but that was the extent of his philanthropy. Maybe he'd changed his mind.

"Are you having second thoughts about lending me your men and your plane?"

"Not at all. The money will be in addition to that."

Kian narrowed his eyes at his cousin. "Why are you being so generous all of a sudden?"

"The Kra-ell are a potential threat to me as well. I want to know their plans and how many of them were on that ship." He took another sip of whiskey. "Most importantly, I want to know if more of them are coming."

That was a legitimate concern, but it wasn't typical of Kalugal. His cousin preferred to remain in the shadows and leave the work of protecting him and his men to the clan. He and his men had also been very busy for the past year, working long hours and even on weekends.

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