Nix. (Den of Mercenaries Book 3)(7)

If anything, her frown grew more pronounced. “Nope, chemistry is still at the top of the list.”

As she finished her last toe, Cat sat back and admired her work, then looked at Luna and whispered, “Did you hear about tonight?”

“What about tonight?” Luna expected something, but maybe Cat knew more than she did. “Lawrence is coming back for me at some point, I think.”

“Emmett cancelled all the appointments for tonight.”

Not only hadn’t she heard that, she could hardly believe it was true.

There was never a time that she could remember where Emmett had closed the doors to his estate.

Not since she had been there at least.

“Why?” Luna asked.

“Somebody’s coming. Don’t know who, but it’s supposed to be a business dinner, and—”

“Luna!”

Cat fell silent at the booming voice, as well as the rest of the room—Lawrence Kendall had that kind of reaction when he entered.

As Emmett’s son, he felt entitled to the women here—often doing what he wished without consequence. Luna wasn’t the only girl to be brutalized by him, though hers occurred more regularly. She couldn’t count the number of times he had left one of the girls bloody and broken after spending a night with them.

At one time, Luna hadn’t understood why he acted the way he did. He wasn’t bad looking, nor was he unintelligent, and if he were a touch kinder, he could probably willingly have anyone there, but she had learned that it had nothing to do with looks—he was just a monster that liked to hurt things.

When dark eyes landed on her, he gestured for her to come to him with a crook of his finger and a smile on his lips. He had showered too in the time he’d been gone, hair neatly styled and suit freshly pressed.

Cat squeezed her fingers a moment before Luna shuffled to her feet and slowly crossed the floor. What could she do against him? He was bigger, taller, and had a gun that he kept in the waistband of his jeans—she didn’t stand a chance.

“And you,” he said, gesturing to Cat with a flick of his fingers.

He didn’t just stop at Luna and Cat however, pointing to more of the girls, until they were all lined up, waiting for his instruction.

Glancing back at the textbook still on the floor, Luna was forced to leave it behind as Cat tugged her hand, a silent command for her to follow along.

As Lawrence walked them through the building, not for the first time, Luna thought of how easy it would be if they all worked together. At the very least, they could kick his ass and attempt to escape, but that idea wouldn’t work well … not when Emmett had security all throughout the place to make sure no one stepped out of line.

It was one thing, trying to fight off someone who was unarmed—they had him in numbers—but those guards had guns, ones they weren’t afraid to use.

Filing into the spacious sitting room, they stood shoulder to shoulder as Lawrence walked a path in front of them, appraising them with cold eyes. When he reached Luna, a smile curled his lips, and right then, she knew she probably didn’t want to know what he was thinking.

The soft tap of Emmett’s leather shoes sounded on the floor a moment before he appeared, a thick cigar in his left hand, his eyes on them. He looked like an older version of Lawrence. Same hair, though his was peppered with gray, and the same eyes—though his were cold, they weren’t unforgiving like his son’s.

It was Emmett, actually, that was behind having Luna taken from her childhood home in San Jose—the only home she had ever known.

A life she longed to return to.

Sometimes, in the dead of night when Lawrence had finally passed out and his snores echoed throughout the room, Luna liked to close her eyes and try to picture that life with her mama and papa and sister.

Luna missed them the most.

Her memories were usually fleeting, only brief bursts of images and smells.

She missed the blazing sun on her face, the water from the sprinkler on her skin as she ran around the backyard, chasing behind the labrador she had begged her mother for.

Oh, how Luna missed Blanco and his snow white fur that he constantly got dirty on a regular basis, just from running through mud and dirt. She wondered if she ever found him again, would he even recognize her.

“Tonight,” Emmett began, dragging Luna from her thoughts. “There will be an auction held. You’re to cater to the guests’ needs, whatever they may ask of you. Is that understood? You will do as your told, no matter what is asked.”

While affirmations sounded around the room, Luna kept her mouth shut, not sure what to say. She didn’t miss that he hadn’t made mention of what kind of auction it would be, but if she had to guess, it wouldn’t be a worldly possessions they bid on.

“You have two hours to get this place spotless, and dressed standing as you are. Attire will be given. Do you understand?”

Again, they all agreed.

But Luna, once more, didn’t say anything at all.



A lot could be accomplished in a couple of hours, Luna thought as she carefully zipped up the side of the dress that had been left for her on the bed. It was better than she had expected—just a simple little black dress, though it did stop a little higher on her than past choices.

The main house had been scrubbed and cleaned by the staff, leaving the marble flooring clear and the fixtures sparkling. Appearances were important, and seeing this place, one wouldn’t have the slightest clue what took place on the premises.