Page 97 of Mercenary

I calm my nerves, then scowl at him.

His lips lift slightly. “You’ve been occupying my time for quite a while now, Madelyn.”

He abruptly stands, and I scurry backward. Even Declan in all his frigidness never frightened me like this man does.

“I’ve seen to it my men . . . women . . . are highly trained. Guns, knives, self-defense skills, manipulation. Better than Marines. The best of the best. And how am I thanked?” he continues, shaking his head. “My top man, my most brutal enforcer out-and-out lies to me.” He rolls another finger upward for me to see. “Next Jaxson will be rising out of the ashes to screw me over in your defense.”

Jaxson’s dead.

And Kylie’s devastated.

“Did she ever introduce you to him?”

“Who?” I blurt out, buying myself a few seconds to process what he’s revealed.

He sighs, impatiently. “You sound like your sister. Don’t play coy.”

“Will you believe me if I tell you the truth?”

“Perhaps.”

“I didn’t know he existed until recently.” I step closer, just out of his reach. Close enough where I can clearly see myself in his mirrored lenses. The stoic sister, brave and loyal to a fault. A survivor who’s lived through hell too many times to count. Declan’s lover—no ifs, ands, or buts about that.

I frown, then add softly, “What I do know is she loves Jaxson.”

A few seconds pass while he considers this. “Like Declan loves you?” he replies, going for the jugular.

I gasp. Is he serious or simply mocking me? Hard to tell.

He sweeps his arm toward the rumpled sheets. “Love isn’t part of our game.”

Words meant to crush me. Like a bug beneath his fancy, polished shoe.

“And what game is that?” I snap. “Because truthfully, I’m sick and tired of being a pawn in something I don’t understand.”

I glare at him, a deep V grooved into my forehead. Try as I might to rid myself of it, there it is with each passing second, reflected in his sunglasses.

Another pause, then he shakes his head. “Never mind,” he says, easily letting me off the hook.

I relax. A mistake.

“So what do you propose I do with you?”

“How about you give me some privacy to get dressed?” I quip, never thinking he’d listen.

He abruptly turns and stalks to the door. “Meet me in the kitchen when you’re ready.” Then, to my shock, he exists the room, closing the door partially behind him.

Leaving me staring at the doorway, wondering how I’m going to get myself out of this dangerous situation. Wondering how long it’ll take Declan to return with my sister. Wondering how I’ll distract Hayden enough to slip some roofie powder into his water.

Wondering when this cloud of grayness will give way to the sunshine hidden within it.

29

Madelyn

The reality TV divas aren’t fooling anyone. Data shows that women resolve conflict mostly by discussing issues. Men, on the other hand, revert back to being violent cavemen. The world would be a better place if we communicated better, if women were in charge. And despite Kylie’s warning about dealing with the man I’m about to meet, I’m determined to prove it’s true.

Defiantly optimistic—well, maybe I am.