Nix. (Den of Mercenaries Book 3)(43)

“Sorry.”

With a powerful arm hooked around her waist, he dragged her deeper into his side, his hand splaying low over her belly.

“There’s nothing to fear,” he said, fingers fiddling with the strings of her shorts. “I’ll be right there with you.”

“I know.” And she did. It wasn’t fear that was keeping her awake.

“Just nerves then?” he asked, his tone taking on a playful note as his thumb dragged over the edge of her shorts, seconds before he was pushing inside. “Do I need to help you relax?”

She didn’t get the chance to answer—he made the decision for her.

And by the time he kissed the nape of her neck after she’d come down from the cloud, Luna was finally able to relax.



Luna was still sleeping peacefully when Kit woke the next morning. Carefully, he pulled his arm from beneath her as he climbed out of bed.

As much as he wanted to stay there with her, there were a few last minute details he needed to handle with Aidra before the flight out.

After a short trip to the bathroom, Kit made his way downstairs, finding Aidra already dressed for the day with a look on her face that told him he wasn’t going to like what she had to say.

“While Fang may appreciate your new found interest in Luna because that makes me more available for him, I’m …”

“Not?” Kit asked, bypassing her to go through the kitchen door.

“Who you choose to have relations with is none of my concern, but if your behavior changes, then I’m concerned,” she finished hastily.

“Would you care to tell me what you mean?” Kit asked her. “I have a schedule to keep.”

“Not only have you decided not to bring the Wild Bunch with you, you’re not even taking me.”

“Your point?”

“One deviation could be the beginning of a pattern, Nix. While I trust that you’re capable of taking care of yourself, this is her—” This she said with a nod toward the kitchen door as though Luna stood there. “—first time being around other people besides perverts and us.”

Kit poured a mug of coffee as he thought over her words. “I once carried out my own personal invasion of the Balan’s Home for Boys, or did you not know that I was the one to rescue your lover from that place?”

It hadn’t just been Fang either, but the rest of the Wild Bunch as well. He still didn’t know how long they had been in the orphanage—there were some secrets they refused to share—but when he had come for the Professor, he had freed as many of the children as he could.

“No, he never mentioned that,” Aidra said softly. “You know he doesn’t like to talk about where he came from.”

“Seven guards, three teachers,” Kit sneered the word, remembering some details of the assignment that had stuck with him all these years, “four chefs, and The Professor himself. Understand me, Aidra, if I thought I couldn’t protect Luna, I wouldn’t have agreed to this.”

“It’s different when you care about someone, or have you forgotten that? As I said, it’s not your skills that are lacking, but she can be a distraction for you, whether you want to admit it or not.” Aidra blew out a breath, as though he were the one annoying her. “And I don’t believe you had much of a choice in the decision, no? She does work for your brother, or have you forgotten that?”

How could he forget?

Already, just the thought of the contract she would be made to sign annoyed him. Uilleam was fond of his games, and Kit didn’t doubt for a second that he would attempt to use Luna to leverage something from him.

That was who he was—who they both were.

“Your concerns are noted, Aidra.”

“But you’re not going to change the plans, are you?”

“I’m sure you already know the answer to that.”

“Then at least keep yourself in one piece by the end of it. Someone has to sign my paycheck.”

“You have the routing and account numbers for at least a dozen of my off-shore accounts, I’m sure you’ll make do.”

Aidra shrugged, annoyance forgotten as she smiled. “I was trying to make you feel important.”

Kit rolled his eyes, taking a sip of his coffee. “Now that we’ve had this chat, would you like to go over the itinerary?”

She pulled out her tablet, swiping through a few screens before she read, “Your flight leaves at nine—funds have already been wired to the pilots—you’ll land at noon with your car waiting. The keys to the Easton property will be waiting for you there.”

Kit frowned. “Why that one? It’s nearly an hour’s drive away from the casino?”

“It has the wall of windows remember?” Her smile was coy. “The view is nice.”

She didn’t even attempt to hide her meaning. “You’ve been with Fang too long.”

“Have I? I haven’t noticed. Between your arrival and the next seven hours you’re free to do whatever you want, including fu—”

“Move on, Aidra.”

Her laugh echoed in the silence of the room. “The games start at ten sharp. Your buy-in has already been delivered. I also emailed you a more detailed report, should you need it.”

“Anything else?”