Nix. (Den of Mercenaries Book 3)(63)

By the time they were leaving again, smiling at her with encouraging nods once she was fully dressed, Luna was ready.

Or as ready as she could possibly be.

Staring at her reflection in the mirror now, cheeks flushed, hair strategically pinned with errant strands curling to frame her face, she looked like a bride. Unconventional, but a bride all the same.

Gathering the skirt in her hands, she walked barefoot across the floor, following the scattering of rose petals until she reached the front door where a note was taped that hadn’t been there before.

See you soon …

Three little words that made her heart flutter.

But she didn’t let her eagerness, that giddiness that had settled into her body overtake her, not just yet.

Up the walkway, cool petals brushing her feet, Luna headed for the shore. The sun was just peeking over the horizon, casting brilliant shades of orange and pink in arcs along the sky though partially obstructed by grayish clouds.

This day couldn’t get any better, from the warm glow of the sun, to the slight breeze that ruffled the skirt of her dress as she walked.

Torches lined the walkway from the moment wood merged with sand. Down at the end, wearing a proper three-piece suit, Kit was always so poised, never a hair out of place, but today he had left it as it usually fell when it dried, wavy strands falling over his forehead.

He was beautiful.

As she started toward him, his eyes found hers and the most brilliant of smiles crossed his face—as though she was the thing that mattered most to him in the world.

Seeing him there, waiting for her, spurred Luna into motion, sending her hurrying across the sand until she felt his arms go around her, his soft laugh making her feel lighter than air.

And she knew, in that moment, that she would always run to him.





Chapter Seventeen





April 2014



It was supposed to be Spring—when flowers bloomed and the cold weather gave way to warmth and sunshine, but mother nature apparently wasn’t having that.

Already, Luna missed Bora Bora and being able to walk into the ocean from the bungalow. She missed the silence of the nights when she could enjoy being alone with Kit.

With her husband.

Husband.

That they were married now still baffled her.

Despite the promised high, it was still fifty degrees outside, and to make matters worse, the skies had finally opened up, freezing droplets raining down.

Not for the first time during her long trek into the city, Luna regretted climbing onto her bike and venturing into the city. Even with a helmet, gloves, and leather jacket, she was still soaked through by the time she arrived at the address Uilleam had sent her.

The street was mostly empty besides the few cars along the curb. Parking her bike, she waited until she was inside the building before removing her helmet, the wet ends of her hair wetting her shirt.

The office space, though she wasn’t entirely sure it was an office, was barren. During the few times Uilleam had called on her personally throughout the years, she would often find him in swanky locations that seemed expensive just to look at.

This place, whatever it was, didn’t seem to fit what she knew about him.

More importantly, he was nowhere to be seen.

Popping her head back out to make sure she was in the right location, Luna frowned as she reached for her phone, but stopped when she heard the click of heels.

“I’m sorry,” a woman said as she came around the corner, eyeing her from top to bottom. “We’re closed for renovations.”

Luna might have been willing to believe that had there been a sign of some kind—and if she wasn’t dealing with the Kingmaker.

“I’m looking for a friend,” Luna said, “maybe you know him?”

“Who’s your friend?”

“The Kingmaker.”

Now, the woman’s expression shifted. “A moment, please.” She disappeared back around the way she had come, only to return not long after. “Come with me.”

It would be just like Uilleam to plan this dramatic meeting when he could have told her about the assignment through an encrypted email—it wouldn’t be the first time.

With a roll of her eyes, Luna followed after the woman, then down a flight of stairs. Now she was beginning to see what was hidden behind the empty facade.

Tucked around the corner and away from prying eyes, there were a row of doors on either side of the narrow hallway.

They stopped in front of one marked 2B, where the woman rapped on the door twice before twisting the handle. “Sir, you have a visitor.”

Uilleam’s voice sounded from inside the room. “Send her in.”

The woman stepped to the side, waving for Luna to go in. Not sure what to expect—because no one could anticipate what Uilleam got into—she entered hesitantly, trying to make sense of what she was seeing inside the smoky interior.

Uilleam was there, but he wasn’t alone. There were two women lounging on either side of him, both wearing frilly lace and nothing more. One had a hookah pipe tucked between full lips as she drew in the smoke, water bubbling inside, and the other was running oiled hands down Uilleam’s back and further still …

Luna jerked her gaze away, but not before she got an eyeful of his toned backside in all its glory. Unfortunately, there was a rather large mirror hanging on the opposite wall, so that did little for her.