Page 5 of Mates & Mercenaries

“Don’t worry,” I say with a forced smile. “We’ll introduce ourselves to Skylar and then head back out to get things ready for tonight.”

“Fine. Just keep going down this hallway and it’s the last door on the left. There’s a Skylar sign on the door, you can’t miss it.”

I nod and watch Evan walk away. He’s got a real purpose in his step. Whatever’s happening needs him right now. I’m sure he’ll let us know what it is if it’s going to affect the party.

“Babysitting?” Rex scoffs, just as I expected him to. “Is that what we’re here for? I thought we were going to be security for the whole party, not for some kid. Doesn’t that seem like a shitty side job? Like Evan doesn’t trust us to do something much more important?”

I shrug. “We just need to do what Evan tells us to do. If he wants us to focus on his daughter, then that’s what we have to do.” He isn’t looking at me like I’m convincing. “Just think of the pay check, okay? That’s the most important thing here. We just need to keep our heads down and do our best. Don’t fuck this up, basically.”

“Hmm, yeah, I guess so.” Rex continues to frown, though. “It just seems a little shitty, don’t you think? Like, there are so many other ways our talents could be used.”

“True, but this might be the easiest way for us to get our money and keep our heads, don’t you think?”

“Or, we could see some action and show these assholes what we can do.”

I don’t know which attitude I prefer. I just start walking because the sooner we meet this kid, the quicker we can find Sam and get through this shit show. It’d be easier if I could just tell the guys what I’m really going to do while we’re here, but I’ll fill them in on all those details when I have my plan and the time is right.

3

SKYLAR

My father is having a party in our home tonight and I’m not allowed to be there. I have to be locked away in my bedroom like a child or a God damn princess in a fairytale. If I can’t feel safe in my own home, then where can I feel safe? It’s ridiculous and I hate it.

This whole debacle has even dampened the good mood I was in because of the mysterious man and the way he made me feel. If I close my eyes, I can still feel his lips on mine, his hands all over my body, the depth of him thrusting inside me until I simply couldn’t control myself any longer. God, I wish I could do that every night. I wish I could have a normal life, not one that’s controlled because my father is a kingpin of a crime syndicate. I would love to be out dancing and flirting and doing other things people my age do.

The hammering noise outside my bedroom window startles me out of my fantasy and makes me jump. I go over to the window to see what’s going on and find a face that I recognize skulking around the house. No it isn’t one of my father’s asshole men, I’m excited by the prospect of interacting with an “outsiders.”

I take in the man’s floppy blond hair, sparkling blue of his eyes, and the ways his cheek bones are so chiseled it actually hurts. He’s wearing jeans and a sports jacket, and it’s safe to say that I am intrigued as to why he’s here. So much so that Ineedto know more about him.

I pull the window up, not even worrying about being in my sexy silk pajamas.

as soon as he sees me, his cheeks flame red and he half tries to hide himself from view. “Oh wow, sorry.”

With last night’s excitement and freedom still coursing through my veins, I don’t think twice about pushing the window open wider and leaning out of it. “You don’t need to apologize to me, I just wanted to say hey.”

I make sure my arms are folded under my breasts as I lean out a bit more, and it pleases me when his eyes are drawn to my cleavage. The more of me that he can see, the better. I’m definitely emboldened by last night, and I really want him to join in with my flirting. I crave that sort of attention, especially knowing that it’s taboo and forbidden.

“H-hi,” he stammers back a little awkwardly. “Sorry for invading your personal space. I’m just here to set up cameras up around the property for tonight. I want to make sure all the blind spots are covered, and here seems to be quite a risky area.”

His words make me realize that tonight might actually be dangerous and that I should stay in my room if Dad is going this far. He doesn’t usually require so much protection, and he definitely doesn’t hire outsiders to make that happen. I did hear a rumor that there would be other crime bosses here, but I didn’t really believe it. Maybe that is what’s happening, though.

I swallow hard, trying not to get too freaked out. I don’t want to make this already nervous man more worried than he is. I just want to have a laugh.

“So, are you like, a mercenary, then?” I flutter my eyelashes playfully. “That must be a really exciting life, huh? What sort of work do you do?”

He glances around wildly, as if he’s worried about being caught talking to me. This is too cute. The total opposite of the domineering man I went home with last night. But, actually, that’s a turn-on in itself. I don’t think I have ever met a man like this one before. He’s endearing. I lean over a little more to try to get a better look at him.

“We do all kinds of work,” he tells me. “I only get told what I need to know, so I don’t have much information for you, I’m afraid.”

I let out a little laugh. “I’m not a government spy or anything. I don’t want to know all the state secrets. I’m just trying to get to know you a little better, that’s all.”

He doesn’t really look more relaxed, so I change topics. “What’s your name? I’m Skylar.”

“Skylar.” He rolls my name around in his mouth like it tastes delicious. For some reason, this makes me laugh. Probably because I got so intimate with the guy I met last night, but we never shared names. “I’m Sam.”

“Nice to meet you, Sam. So, you’re setting up security cameras around my room, huh? Some might say that’s the work of a pervert. What if I want to walk around naked?”

He blushes even brighter and his ears actually turn red with embarrassment. I’m sure it’s a bit of fear as well, because he might not know much, but he’s bound to know who I am. “I…I don’t think the cameras will catch anything going on inside your room.”

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