Nix. (Den of Mercenaries Book 3)(9)

How did he even know to look?

And why was he called the Kingmaker?

What did that even mean?

When Luna attempted to pull her hand away, Uilleam held fast, and whatever kindness she thought he possessed, it vanished when he gave a command.

“Kneel.”

The command caught her off guard, silence stretching between them as she just stood there staring at him.

“Did you not hear what he said?” Lawrence asked, the threat in his voice clear for anyone to hear.

Do as your told.

Gritting her teeth, Luna carefully sank down onto the floor, hands clutching at the hem of her dress to keep it from riding up further.

“Crawl to me,” he said, making her cheeks darken with anger and embarrassment, but she followed his direction, not stopping until she was mere inches from his seated form.

Once she was close enough, he reached for her, brushing strands of her hair out of her face, his voice low as he whispered in Spanish, “Play your part, and you may leave this place tonight.”

Not given a chance to question his meaning—or even to process that he knew she spoke Spanish—the Kingmaker looked away from her and to Lawrence.

“Where have you been hiding this one?” Uilleam asked and laid a hand on her shoulder, his hold possessive, but it didn’t feel sexual.

“She’s special,” Lawrence said with pride, as though he had been paid a compliment.

Uilleam’s expression changed, but Luna couldn’t read it. “Of that, I have no doubt.”

Lawrence must have noticed it too, but he ignored it. “Business, let’s discuss.”

“I’m not sure what’s left to discuss,” Uilleam returned. “It’s already done.”

“But when—”

“Very soon, but that matter isn’t of importance at the moment. Your payment for services has come due, and I’m here to collect.”

That easy smile that had once graced Lawrence’s face disappeared. “We agreed to after the job, not before.”

“Considering the circumstances, I thought it best to collect now.”

“Why? Do you think I’m going to lose it all once my father is dead?” Lawrence asked snidely, a touch of his temper showing.

“Well, yes.”

Lawrence, not liking this answer, nor the way Uilleam spoke, set his drink down. “This is not your place, Kingmaker. You play by my rules.”

“Your father’s rules, you mean,” Uilleam said, his tone never changing. “You’re not at the top just yet, Lawrence. So is it you that intends to check me?”

Luna didn’t notice it, not at first, not until the silence had become too much and she was forced to look up. She expected to find anger in Lawrence’s face, outrage even, but neither was there.

Panic, instead.

Even his men looked about nervously.

As though he had to force himself to say the words, Lawrence shook his head and said, “Not at all. Your payment, yes. Cash or wire—”

“I know with some certainty that you don’t have one-point-five million here in cash, Lawrence. Are you attempting to annoy me?”

Luna knew Lawrence’s family was rich, but that number still boggled her mind.

What had he bought for that much money?

“Perhaps I can offer you something else,” Lawrence said glancing in her direction. “For an extension, of course. If you would like her for the next hour—”

Uilleam made a humming sound in the back of his throat. “Or indefinitely.”

His words made Luna tense, but Uilleam’s hand on her shoulder tightened subtly, a silent command for her not to move.

Lawrence’s expression changed then, and unlike Uilleam, she could read him just fine. He didn’t like the idea of giving her to someone else—for a short period, sure, but not where she wouldn’t be there for him to torture when he felt like it.

“I’m not quite sure I understand.”

“I’m willing to forgive some of your debt should you give her to me,” Uilleam answered, his voice dipping low as though he were speaking to a child. “I’m not sure what’s left you don’t understand.”

Lawrence forced a laugh, rubbing a hand over his jaw. “There are plenty of girls here, should you want one, but they’re for rent. What kind of businessman would I be if I sold off my best stock?”

“A smart one if you were to name your price. Or have you forgotten the reason I’m here in the first place? Besides, after that unfortunate incident with the hacksaw, you’re not really in a place to argue, no?”

Luna knew the ‘incident’ Uilleam referred to. It was only a few weeks ago that Lawrence had lost his temper, as he was prone to do, and killed one of the clients.

“That has nothing to do with this,” Lawrence said.

“There is also the small detail that the contractor I have doesn’t peddle in minors—and before you say a word, it is quite obvious this girl is underage.”

How the hell did he know that?

“Fake documents can be made,” Lawrence suggested.

Uilleam, who seemed to have answer for everything shook his head minutely. “And should we run her DNA, would it be found in any database? Missing persons, perhaps?”

It took every part of her being not to gape as she glanced up at Uilleam. Did he know who she was? Did he know that she had been forced here against her will?