Nix. (Den of Mercenaries Book 3)(83)

“Go on.”

“In a sorts, while Carmen is a client of mine, I also utilize her services for a few private matters, and should she be exposed, that will come to an end.”

Elias spoke with an almost clinical air, as though he were reading from a manual or a textbook. If this were about anyone else, Kit may have been willing to do business with the man.

Elias reminded him of himself.

“As I’m sure his doctors can attest, though there was significant blood loss, no major organs were hit. I wasn’t trying to kill him, you understand. It was merely a deterrence—to keep him and that girl away long enough for you to accept the contract with Caesar.”

“Because of our arrangement,” Kit said, realizing what the man was hinting at.

Had he agreed to take on Caesar as a client, that would then make the man off limits to Uilleam. Nor would he be able to send any of his mercenaries after him.

Their attempt at a peace treaty.

Now, Kit regretted it.

“Precisely. Since Carmen is Elias’ wife, that extends your protection over to her.”

Fucking Uilleam and his need to think he was better than everyone.

Holding the table up, Kit asked, “So you think to blackmail me in order to force me to agree to a protection deal for Carmen Santiago?”

“That is merely an insurance policy,” Elias said. “I didn’t think you would be in a very pliant mood once you arrived—and I value my life. I’m asking you to take on the assignment, not for them, but to protect you. There is a reason you thought to murder your wife’s father, is it not? You’re trying to bury the truth. You don’t want her finding out about your brother’s deal and the hand you played in it, and I don’t want my client exposed. For the moment, our interests are aligned.”

Shit.

Not once since he was child living under his tyrant father had Kit ben backed into a corner.

He was tempted to decline, to still walk away and risk Luna finding out the truth, but he also knew that should he say no, Elias would kill them all anyway and his pride would be for nothing.

Kit willing took risks everyday—he believed in himself that much.

But was the risk worth Luna’s life?

“What do you want?” he asked, even as the words ate at him.

“Whether your wife finds out the truth is immaterial, but I need your assurance that nothing will touch my client. Not your brother, not his mercenaries, nor anyone else. Should you agree, you’ll be free to continue business as you were, though you will be accepting a contract with Caesar as well. If it makes you feel better, we are willing to pay a generous fee for your services.”

No, that didn’t f*cking make him feel better.

Kit couldn’t offer a response, not when he didn’t have anything to say.

He would never express gratitude, nor was he happy that he couldn’t see a way out of this deal.

Yet.

“Also, under the terms of our agreement,” Elias said as he removed an envelope from his breast pocket, along with a pen, “you are not to mention anything I’ve said here to Uilleam—not even my name. Should you, you will be in violation of it and I will consider the contract void. Should that happen, then you will get a firsthand look at what the Jackal can do when actually given a kill order.”

Jackal.

He would store that name away for later.

“Now, if you could,” he went on as he set the packet on the table, pen on top. “The papers inside require your signature. Tomorrow, a jet will be waiting for you at the address I send. Don’t be late as your clients will be waiting for you to land.”

Though every bone in his body rebelled against what he was about to do, Kit had no choice but to cross the room and remove the pages, the pen already in hand.

“Do smile, Kit,” Elias said with one of his own. “I thought you Runehart boys loved your games.”

Kit ended the call before he was forced to throw the f*cking thing out the window.

“Nix—”

“Not now,” he forced out between gritted teeth.

“But—”

“I said leave it.”

“Let me remind you that I know seven different ways to kill you right now and I’ll make it out of this car just fine,” Aidra snapped, fiery eyes glaring at the side of his face.

He took a breath.

It wasn’t her fault. None of this was her fault, and he didn’t need to take this out on her.

His f*ck up.

He just needed to figure out how to fix it.

“Apologies.”

Her shoulders relaxed. “Fang and I aren’t like you and Luna, but don’t you think it would better to just tell her the truth instead of trying to hide it? It wasn’t done intentionally.”

“Wasn’t it?” Kit shot back, scrubbing a hand down his face. “Would an apology be enough for what I caused her to endure? It’s not.”

Aidra didn’t roll her eyes, nor did she act as though he were exaggerating. “We forgive those we love, Nix. Isn’t that what you’ve always said?”

He had.

That was the reason he had always been willing to put aside the numerous occasions when Uilleam had done something to piss him off.

But there were just some things one couldn’t slap an apology on and think it would all be the same in the end.