Nix. (Den of Mercenaries Book 3)(47)

It was a family owned business, one that had been around for more than three generations. The CEO, a man whose name Luna didn’t know—it wasn’t in the file—had only hired him after his daughter fell in love and agreed to marry him. After a slew of affairs, one with her former best friend, she had quickly regretted her choice in a husband.

“What’s the job, exactly?” Luna asked as she tugged the hem of her dress down a bit more, an action she was sure she would be doing all night—the thing refused to stay in place.

Besides several documents filled with information about the man, his business, and his finances, she hadn’t seen anything that told her what they were supposed to be doing at the casino.

“D’you want me to tell you, or would you rather I show you?” Kit asked as he kept a hand at the small of her back, leading her down into the private rooms that were off limits to everyone except those that had the password.

A part of her wanted to know now, so she could be prepared for whatever was to come. The dress she wore was entirely too tight to hide a gun, but carefully concealed in the messy bun she wore were two pins that were sharp as razors.

Security waited for them at the bottom of the staircase, a wire wound around his ear. He touched a finger to it, his eyes darting as he listened, before he allowed them by.

“You’ll do fine,” he murmured before they walked into the room.

Yeah, she hoped so.

A table was set up in the center of the room, a bar against one wall, the bartender standing behind it carefully wiping down the polished wood.

Men in tailored suits were sitting around the table, drinks within reach as they all talked amicably until Kit and she walked into the room.

Now they were looking at them, and Luna understood all too clearly what her role was to be this night.

Eye candy.

Sure, the men spoke to them both, but their eyes lingered on her, never going any higher than the low cut neckline of her dress that did wonders for her cleavage.

Some weren’t ashamed at all by their staring, even with dates at their sides.

“Leave it to Nix to bring the most beautiful woman in the room,” a man said with a chuckle, and as her gaze shifted in his direction, she saw that it was Robert—Kit’s target.

It didn’t seem to matter that the woman sitting in his lap frowned, glaring at him, though Luna didn’t feel much sympathy for her since she was pretty sure that wasn’t his wife.

Robert Morrison was much shorter in person that she was expecting, five-five, if an inch. He wore wire-framed glasses that were propped at the end of his nose. And despite the way he wore his hair, she could still see the bald spot he was trying to conceal.

“I wasn’t expecting to see you here tonight, Dick,” Kit lied smoothly as he pulled out a chair for Luna to sit in before claiming his seat at the table.

It was clear that Robert didn’t like that name, but he was smart enough to not call Kit on it. Then again, he seemed too interested in looking Luna over to say much of anything.

“We landed a new contract at the firm,” he said with a shrug of his shoulder and a squeeze of the woman’s ass sitting in his lap. “I thought I’d celebrate.”

“By losing all your money?” Kit asked with a quirk of his lips, “Doesn’t seem very much like a celebration.”

Robert laughed boisterously. “Am I losing to you? Don’t forget Nix, you may have a mind for business, but your poker face is shit.”

Luna’s expression didn’t change, but inwardly she was wondering if they were talking about the same man.

Kit’s poker face was better than anyone she knew.

Which could only mean that if they played together before, Kit had purposely showed his hand, if only so Robert would let his guard down.

“I’ve brought my good luck charm this time,” Kit said.

“And what a charm she is.”

Luna wondered if he even realized how smarmy he came across, or if he actually thought what he was saying was charming. It wasn’t what he said, necessarily, but how he said it.

But she ignored him—there was nothing to worry about with Kit at her side, especially considering he couldn’t take his eyes off her.

She wondered how he could possibly be winning when every time she looked up, his gaze was trained on her instead of his cards.

Not that she was complaining.

It was thrilling, being the object of his desire—especially in a room full of exceptionally beautiful women.

Luna wasn’t ugly though she thought her eyes were a little too wide, and her chin a bit too pointy, but these women looked like they made it their job to look as attractive as possible—from the expensive dresses and heels, to the expertly blended makeup they wore.

Yet still, Kit only had eyes for her.

“A drink for the lady,” Robert said with a nod, setting a glass filled with a yellow liquid in front of her.

She hadn’t even realized he’d moved from his spot at the table, let alone that he had went through the trouble of fetching her a drink. But despite the gesture, she didn’t touch it.

“I—”

“She’s not going home with you, Dick,” Kit said, his eyes finally back on his cards as he scanned what the house had laid out, then tossed out a few chips.

“You’ve never been opposed to sharing before,” the man threw back with a sly grin, tapping his thumb against the felt of the table.