“That’s because…” I try to find the right defense. “He’s giving me room. Kai knows how important finding this family is to me.”
As he leans closer, I can see a cocktail of crazy simmering in his eyes. They’re brown, thank god, not blue like mine and Collin’s. He smells like weed and too much cologne. “You’re not important to him, kitten. Or he’d be here with you.”
I jump, yelping when my door suddenly opens. “There you are,” Collin says warmly, “come inside. We’re having a wine tasting out on the terrace. The view of the valley from there is magnificent.”
Calming my racing heart, I refuse to look back at Kurt. Because fuck him, that’s why.
We do not go to the terrace for a wine tasting.
“Mr. Harris, the rest of the Council is waiting for you in the study.” The man nods his head respectfully to Collin while I gape at his honest to god butler’s uniform. He even has the requisite British accent. Of course these people have a butler.
Collin frowns. He didn’t know about this, either? “Very well. Thank you, Winston.”
Winston the butler falls in step behind us, along with a couple of guards who peel themselves off their stance against the wall.
This isn’t right.
I can feel how not right this is because if Collin doesn’t know about this deviation from his plans, it must be because his brothers don’t want him to know.
Or they know he won’t like it, whateveritis.
My palms are sweating, rubbing them against my dress, I hope it doesn’t stain the linen. I’d dressed up a little, thinking we were having a nice dinner or something.
Winston opens a door with a flourish and inside, I can see Malcolm lounging behind an enormous desk, the two other brothers, Jonathan and Lucas, are seated in front of it, like a tribunal. They’re all smoking cigars, and the smell is vile.
“There you are.” Malcolm ashes his cigar carelessly, missing the ashtray and blowing out a cloud of smoke. “Join us! Collin, I’d like you to meet a new friend.”
The door closes behind us and reveals the man sitting on a big leather sofa.
Richard Fucking Armstrong.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
In which are youfuckingkidding me right now?
Luna…
“I’m going to enjoy this.” Richard’s grinning at me, and all I can see is the Namahage mask he wore that night on the island, the hideous grimace, and the big, blocky teeth.
“What the hell is going on?” Collin thunders. I feel a huge surge of relief that it’s obvious he didn’t know that his brothers set me up. “Why the hell is Armstrong here?”
“So, you do know about the product and the very active bidding war?” Malcolm prompts.
“There’s been a lot of speculation,” Collin agrees. “I know about the four families. Armstrong has been shopping around for a buyer. It’s a weapon. A chemical weapon, correct?”
“It’s nerve gas.” I jump in, spitefully happy to do it before Malcolm can make another smug pronouncement. “A special kind that can be launched from an extremely long distance. It kills within seconds and dissipates minutes later because who would want to destroy property, right? Just the human beings standing on it.”
For a horrible moment, Collin looks intrigued before his frown returns. “We don’t do business with chemical weaponry. Toomessy, too complicated. So why is he here?” He turns to me. “How do you know so much about this, Luna?”
“Because she was there that night when Kai MacTavish murdered my brother.” Richard stands up angrily, and I don’t miss how Collin steps in front of me. Unfortunately, neither do his brothers; their impassive expressions melt into something darker. “She showed up with her slutty girlfriends, wanting to be part of our group. A bit too select for trash such as her.”
“You will not speak about my granddaughter that way, or I will tear your head off your body. Am I clear?” Collin’s not shouting; his tone of voice is calm, but he is terrifying and for a moment, I see the enforcer who’s killed for his mafia.
“All water under the bridge.” Richard waves his hand graciously. “Here I am, with the product. Our agreed upon price, one point five billion US dollars and…” He turns to smile at me, mouth stretched wide and too many teeth. “This bitch and her husband.”
“I told you-” Collin steps forward, and Malcolm interrupts him.
“Agreed. You have two of the three items required and…” he checks his watch, “MacTavish should be here in eight hours or so. He was very adamant about his wife’s safety.”
