She followed the cobblestone path from the house to the beach and made her way to the ocean where she kicked off her shoes and sank her toes into the sand on the edge of the surf so the water would wash over her and cool her feet before she became too hot.

“Oysters, Ms. Mahdi?” Yasmin jumped and craned her neck around to see who was talking to her.

A man with a weather-beaten, permanently sunburned complexion stood behind her, holding several netted bags in his fist. He held them up for her to see.

“How do you know my name?”

He had a sly look on his face. “My daughter told me about you.” His English wasn’t perfect, but she understood him.

Yasmin stepped away, wishing she hadn’t left the house without her bodyguard.

“Your daughter is Zeynep Kartel?” she asked, nodding toward the house.

“You know her?” he asked proudly.

“A little. Why did you come find me?”

His dark eyes roved down her body. “She told me you might need help leaving the big house while the boss is away. Is it true?”

Before she could answer, Yasmin caught sight of Henry striding down the path toward them, his handsome face creased in a frown. When he caught sight of Zeynep’s father, he snapped, “Get out of here. This stretch of beach is private.”

The older man shuffled along, casting another calculating glance at Yasmin before leaving her side.

Yasmin asked Henry, “Do you know who he is?”

“Some old oyster peddler who insists on selling his wares on this part of the beach, despite being told he’s not welcome. I’ll have to tell the boss he’s down here talking to you.”

Yasmin felt bad for the older man. Though she got some sketchy vibes from him, she didn’t want him to get into the kind of trouble Volkan could bring to him.

“Please don’t tell him,” she pleaded. “He’s just doing his job. I’m sure he’s learned his lesson and won’t be back. Volkan might not understand and try to take what little the man has.”

Henry stared at her for a long minute, then nodded. “Make sure you stay away from strangers. Volkan wouldn’t like it.”

That was an understatement, but she readily agreed.

Yasmin wondered why Henry didn’t recognize the oyster salesman. The family was close, and Henry always seemed to be around. Maybe Zeynep was ashamed of her father and asked him never to come around? If so, then what was he doing on the beach?

Yasmin had more questions than answers when it came to Volkan’s enigmatic family. As she made her way inside, she thought of her own family.