Page 52 of Xerxes Ascendant
“I don’t appreciate having to expend resources in collecting you when I was promised your company, Master Epsilon,” Sinead said, that tender gaze cooling visibly when she turned it on him. “You may wish to start readying your apologies.”
Akira hissed out an irritated breath, fixing her with one of those trademark disdainful looks. “If you hadn’t noticed, the city fell from the fucking sky. I’ve had more important things to do than indulge your whims.”
“Like indulge your own?” Sinead took a step towards Kyle and reached out to stroke his cheek. Her fingertips were rough with calluses, belying her soft appearance. “I see why you went to such lengths over this one.”
Kyle cleared his throat. “So you...er, really didn’t need the credits I gave you?”
Sinead laughed; an amused, genuine tinkle that made her hands flutter. “No, sweet boy. Four hundred credits was barely a drop in the Carrion’s significant funds. But Ididneed access toyour unlocked runepad to install a tracking application on it, so I thank you for being so obliging with your donation.”
Kyle went cold.What?
“That’s how you were able to keep finding us?” he croaked, wincing when he saw Akira’s expression. The man looked predictably pissed, although it was difficult to tell which of them he was levelling that frosty glare of his upon. “But that was days ago!”
“I could have taken you while you lay sleeping in the home of that Engineer cousin of yours,” Sinead mused, her hazel eyes twinkling in amusement when the comment seemed to rile Akira up further, “but I was waiting until you were with your Master. I have something to discuss with him that isn’t for prying ears.”
Stars, Kyle had been under surveillance fordaysand hadn’t realised it? His boss’ constant paranoia suddenly didn’t seem so…unreasonable.
“Any business between us,” said Akira coldly, “does not involve Kyle. I will not do anything for you while you’re holding him here.”
Sinead bristled, suddenly looking a lot more dangerous.
“You know, one of the perks of being the head of the Carrion is no longer having to do work on the streets,” she commented to Kyle. “But when it came to the man who held the heart of the heartless Master Epsilon, I wanted to be the one to look you in the eyes as I orchestrated your capture.”
Kyle sucked in a breath.
“Such pretty eyes they are, too,” Sinead cooed, dragging her fingers back up his cheek until long, painted fingernails pressed into the vulnerable flesh beneath his left eye. Kyle tried to pull out of her grip but he was already leaning as far back in his chair as he could, the cuffs cutting painfully into the sore skin of his wrists. “Cerulean, wouldn’t you agree, Epsilon? They’d look absolutelystunningas an ornament on my desk-”
Akira had a hand wrapped around her pearled neck in an instant, his empty chair and handcuffs left swinging in a pissed off blur of expensive suit and bared teeth. The force of it knocked the gang leader away from Kyle and up against the wall, Akira’s fingers closing tighter around her throat.
The two other Carrions had their guns to his head in the next moment. Akira didn’t even blink.
“Don’t. Touch.Kyle,” he snarled into Sinead Gallagher’s face, while Kyle himself jerked uselessly against his own restraints.
She glared back at Akira, her lip curling.
Thick, uncompromising tension lay in the air between these two powerful Xerxian players, and even if the odds were in Sinead’s favour with her backup thugs, Kyle would bet on Akira every time. He was a force of nature, not just as a member of the elite and influential Coterie but in the innate way he commanded any room he found himself in.
Akira cocked his head. “Do you understand me?”
“You had your chance to come to me willingly, Epsilon,” Sinead rasped, all traces of sweet andnicehaving vanished. “And even when I was forced to compel your attendance, I ordered my men to be reasonable with you both. I can easily…remedy that.” Her gaze slid to Kyle again.
“You said we had something to discuss,” Akira reminded her shortly.
“An indulgence of words on my part,” she retorted, regaining her composure despite the threat he still posed. “There’s something you’re going to do for me.”
Kyle shifted uncomfortably in his chair. “Why would he do anything for you?”
“Because it so happens that your dear Master Epsilon owes me a million credits.”
“I paid you it,” Akira growled.
Sinead smiled. “Theothermillion credits, love.”
At that, he fell deathly still. “It was you who bought my debt from Theta?”
“Not a coincidence, I assure you.” Sinead sniffed with visible disdain. “Now, are you going to remove your hand from my neck, or must I have one of your boy’s hands removed instead?”
That drew another protective growl from Akira and made Kyle’s heart thump fondly even as it stuttered at being on the receiving end of such casual threat of amputation. The Master obligingly withdrew from the gang leader and returned to Kyle’s side, laying a possessive hand on his shoulder.
