Nix. (Den of Mercenaries Book 3)(91)

“I’m sorry?”

“At some point over the last—how many years has it been?—you had to have asked yourself why the Kingmaker wanted you as badly as he did.”

Luna had wondered that very question since the second Uilleam offered to buy her. It wasn’t as though he knew her, or cared about the horrors she faced. Over the years, she’d had an up close and personal view of how callous he could be.

And because that was what he did, Luna thought, but didn’t voice it aloud. It wasn’t as though she were the first mercenary Uilleam recruited, and she knew she wouldn’t be the last.

So why did she feel anxious all of a sudden?

“I’ve learned a great many things about the Runehart brothers since my business began. And one thing I learned is that you never get in between them—there are often casualties in their wars.”

“You know something,” Luna said—it was the only thing that made sense.

“It’s not what I know that’s important, it’s what you don’t.”

“Then tell—”

“I think our business is concluded, Luna, don’t you? Unfortunate what’s happened to Mr. Kanekov, but I would wager you’ll find your way soon enough. But I do have something for you, because I’m sure it bugged you nearly as much as it bugged me. I finally found the owner of the warehouse I’ve been asking you to track down.” Belladonna’s gaze didn’t stray from Luna’s as she said, “I’m a bit surprised really, that Uilleam was willing to buy the place instead of having it put in someone else’s name—but I’m also sure he didn’t intend for anyone to filter through the shell companies under his employ.”

There was a dangerous thing about fear and doubts. Sometimes they could be ignored, pushed aside because the worries were unfounded, but other times it only took the smallest bit of information to make those doubts morph into something bigger.

Something like suspicion.

And very much like realization.

Luna didn’t even notice that the woman used a name most didn’t know.



The roar of her bike wasn’t enough to quell the storm brewing inside Luna as she drove to the New York compound where she knew Uilleam was staying. Even as her mind was a thousand miles away, she still expertly navigated through traffic.

Too many questions but not enough answers plagued her as she drove. There was so much that didn’t make sense, but more and more of the pieces were beginning to fit together.

But the picture was not one she wanted to see …

No, she wouldn’t jump to conclusions. She wouldn’t assume things she wasn’t sure of, not when she could get them from the source.

Riding up to the steel reinforced gate that surrounded the acre of property, she keyed in her personal code, whipping inside once the gate was open far enough.

With Uilleam’s attendance, the facility had been locked down, only those that he permitted allowed to come and go. One would have thought, considering the attempt on his life, that he would have requested more security to ensure that if anyone tried again, they would be dealt with quickly, but Uilleam had sent most of the security away.

His trust was hard earned, she knew. And despite him being the one that wrote the checks, he knew there was always the potential of someone risking a foolish mission because someone else offered more money.

The entire west wing of the facility was off-limits, but Luna was permitted to enter. Perhaps because she had Uilleam’s trust.

Or maybe because he didn’t see her as a threat.

Whichever the answer, it wouldn’t end well for one of them.

Uilleam was sitting in the rec room, a cloth napkin tucked into the collar of his shirt, a knife and fork in his hand as he cut into the massive steak on a plate in front of him. He was paler than usual, bruise-like shadows beneath his eyes, but as his gaze shot to her, she could see that underneath it all, he was still the Kingmaker.

“Luna, always a pleasure. What can I do for you?”

“42nd and Hamilton,” she said without preamble, refusing to look away from him. Needing to see even the most minute expression on his face. “You own the warehouse there.”

Uilleam didn’t blink. “I own many warehouses.”

She had spent enough time around the younger Runehart brother to know when he was evading, and that realization made her snap. Jerking one of the knives she kept hidden at her wrists, she palmed it before walking over to him and slamming it down hard into the steak, shattering the plate beneath it.

Uilleam looked from her to it and back again. “You have my attention.”

“Don’t do that,” she said, her voice betraying the emotion brewing inside of her. “Don’t treat me like a fool.”

For once, she hated how calm and unbothered he was—how indifferent. She remembered once when she had wished she possessed that trait—wished she was capable of hiding her thoughts and feelings the way he and his brother could.

“You’ve never been a fool, Luna,” Uilleam said with surprising conviction. “And I’ve never treated you like one.”

“Then tell me the truth. Tell me about the warehouse.”

“Does Kit know you’re here?”

Luna was taken back by the question, not because it was particularly shocking, but because she didn’t think in all the years she had known him she had ever heard him use Kit’s name.