Arranged: A Masters and Mercenaries Novella

by Lexi Blake

  Still, the last thing he needed was a huge scene with Tasha. Despite her aggressiveness, she was quite fragile and needed to be handled with kid gloves. On more than one occasion she’d threatened to harm herself if Kash wouldn’t do what she wanted him to.

  He would let her say what she felt like she needed to say, and then calmly explain that he wasn’t going to leave his wife and she should go back to London and her boyfriend. He could do all of this quietly and solve the problem before anyone realized there was one. He glanced around, looking for the photographers. When he realized they were busy shooting Day, he decided to make his move.

  “Come on. I’m not going to do this in public. We’ll talk in private.” He began to walk toward the west doors. There was a sitting room that would serve as a good place to deal with the situation. He should have taken her calls and gently explained that he wasn’t unhappy about the marriage. He’d been a coward not to talk to her, and now he had to find a way to make her understand.

  She hurried to keep up with him and suddenly he felt her hand reach for his. She tangled their fingers together and held on tight.

  Yes, he had to deal with this and quickly.

  Murdoch’s brows rose above his eyes as Kash approached the door he was guarding. “Problems, boss? You know I can handle any unwanted guests.”

  He felt Tasha’s hand start to shake. She’d always needed someone to protect her. He had to get her to understand that it couldn’t be him anymore. “I can handle her. Please make sure no reporters follow us out.”

  He slipped beyond the door and led her to the sitting room, closing that door behind them.

  Tasha was immediately on him. She invaded his space, her head tilting up and lower lip quivering. “I’ve missed you so much. I know I was foolish to leave you, but you have to understand that woman isn’t good for you. I know everything. I still have friends in the palace. I know you didn’t want this marriage. Your mother forced you into it.”

  He tried to ease away from her, but she simply followed him until his back hit the wall. “Please, Tasha. You don’t know her. We were friends for years. Yes, this was an arranged marriage, but I agreed to it.”

  “Because that woman convinced your mother to do it. I know everything. I know how they’ve been meeting in secret for years.”

  He worked hard not to roll his eyes. She did enjoy a bit of drama. “They were meeting because my mother was interested in Day’s education programs. They became friends. I assure you my mother needed no prompting. She was sick of me acting like a horny teenaged boy, so she found a wife to help me settle down.”

  “She’s not the right one for you. I understand why you did this, but you’ve taken it too far.” Tears rolled down her cheeks. “I never thought you would actually do it. She’s wearing the ring that should have been for me.”

  He would never have married Tasha. Not in a million years. She would have made a terrible queen.

  Had he been thinking about it even back then? Had he chosen women specifically for their unsuitability?

  He tried to get a hand between their chests, needing some space. “It was never that serious between us. Don’t you remember? We agreed we were only having a bit of fun.”

  “We said that but then we fell in love. Kash, we can make this right. All you have to do is divorce her. You don’t even need a divorce. You can get this marriage annulled and we can start over.”

  “That is not going to happen. Why are you doing this?” What the hell was he supposed to do? He wasn’t the type of man to shove a woman, but she wouldn’t let him go.

  “Because I finally realize how much I love you.”

  “She’s doing it because her show on telly got canceled last week,” a familiar voice said.

  His heart nearly stopped. Day was standing in the doorway, a fierce frown on her face.

  Kash tried to hold his hands up. “It’s not what you think.”

  Tasha turned around, but stuck close to him, her well-manicured hand clutching at his chest. “It’s exactly what you think. He’s mine. He’s always been mine. I’m sorry, but this was all about making me jealous. He took it too far, but he’s got my attention now. I know this will hurt you, but he doesn’t love you.”

  Kash was damn near panicking. What the hell would he do if Day thought he was truly in here conspiring with an ex-girlfriend? “I swear, I brought her in here so we wouldn’t make a scene. I didn’t bring her in here to do anything but talk to her.”

  “Of course you didn’t. You are not the problem here, Kashmir. It’s all right.” Day shook her head. “It’s obvious to me that this woman is taking advantage of your good nature. Why don’t you let me deal with this, love?”

  She was using the same voice she used on him in the bedroom, the one that let him know she was taking over. For a second, he wanted to throw up his hands and leave it all to her. He could walk out and Day would deal with the crazy ex.

  “He’s not going anywhere.” Tasha stepped away, moving closer to Day. “He’s mine and if I don’t get him back, I’ll go to the press and tell a story that will ruin this family. Do you understand? I know things.”

  If Day was intimidated, he couldn’t tell. “Really? Well, you should go and tell all. I’m sure it will make for excellent fiction.”

  “It’s not fiction. I had an investigator look into you. I know all about your so-called vacations.”

  Day frowned. “What vacations?”

  Tasha turned back to Kash. “Your sweet new wife is a complete pervert. She’s into all kinds of nasty bondage things. But she can’t even be normal there. Do you know what she does? She’s a dominatrix. She abuses men.”

  Kash felt the whole room go still. What the hell? Day had done this before? She’d topped men and in a place where people could see her? Could know who she was?

  Tasha continued on, every word out of her mouth threatening to make Kash sick. “She would take these vacations and she would go to underground clubs. She was little better than a prostitute.”

  “A prostitute gets paid,” Day corrected as Kash watched in horror. “I did everything I did for pure pleasure.”

  Tasha shook her head, blonde curls bouncing. “I’ve got pictures of you. This scandal is going to make Kate Middleton’s nude shots look like an innocent day in the park. How are they going to feel when they find out their pretty new queen is a pervert? That she tricked the king into marrying her? They’ll know he would never marry a whore.”

  “Don’t think you can use that against us,” Day was saying. “We’re perfectly fine with the way we are and no one else comes into it. So go ahead and spout all the nasty stories you like.”

  Tasha’s mouth dropped open and she stared at him. “You let her do that to you? You let her tie you up and spank you like you’re some kind of…naughty little boy?”

  “We haven’t gotten that far yet, but honestly it’s none of your business. Now you can leave my home or I’ll have you dragged out.” Day took a step toward Tasha.

  “Dayita, don’t say another word.” He had to take control. She’d lied to him. His gut twisted at the thought of her with other men, with submissive men. Was that what she was trying to do to him? Was she trying to change him into some plaything to be used for her own pleasure? So she could have the upper hand in all things? “You should leave this room and go up to the bedroom. I will deal with you later.”

  Day’s eyes widened. “Excuse me?”

  He hardened himself against her. He wasn’t going to let her humiliate him like this. “You heard me. I said go up to our room and I will deal with you. Don’t you even think about walking back into the ballroom. The evening is done for you. I will handle our guests.”

  “What are you doing, Kash?” For the first time since he’d found her again, she sounded unsure of herself. Day was always so self-possessed. Now he knew why. She made the men around her bow down, and he’d allowed himself to become one of many.

  He knew it wasn’t fair. Deep down he realized he wa
s being a terrible hypocrite, but he convinced himself that this was different. He looked at her, a chill coming over his whole body. “I’m going to clean up the mess you made for me. Get upstairs or I swear I’ll have the guards take you up there.”

  “I’d love to see them try.” She stood up to him.

  He couldn’t have that. There would be no backing down. This was far too important. He couldn’t allow himself to look weak in front of a woman who could apparently destroy them all. He moved into her space, using his height to his advantage. “Do you want me to humiliate you, Dayita? I’ll do it. If you don’t walk out of here right now and go to our room, I’ll carry you. I’ll throw you over my shoulder and I’ll slap your ass all the way through the ballroom.”

  “You wouldn’t dare.”

  “Try me.” He leaned in. “After all, that’s what you want to do to me, isn’t it? You want to turn me into a pathetic creature who licks your boots. I assure you that won’t happen, my darling wife. You might have tricked me into this marriage, might have fooled my mother into believing you’re some kind of a saint, but the manipulation stops now. If you push me, I’ll have every newspaper in the world tomorrow running a photo of you being carried off, and the story the next day will be that I abandoned you. I’ll leave and you won’t see me until I’m ready to deal with you. Do you want that humiliation?”

  She’d paled, her eyes shimmering with tears, but her hands were fists at her sides. “Why are you doing this?” She started to reach for him. “We need to talk about this, love.”

  He backed away. This was how she got to him. She offered him everything he couldn’t have, like Eve offering up that apple of hers. “Now!”

  She turned, but not before he’d seen the look of abject horror in her eyes. She held her head high and walked out of the door.

  “Well, well, it looks like you always make the right choice.” Tasha’s satisfied voice made him turn.

  “Oh, I don’t think anyone in the world would agree with you.” Kash stalked toward her, his hands itching to do some violence. He wouldn’t, but the need was there. To destroy something. To smash it all into bits until his life was completely unrecognizable and he could start over again after sweeping up the ashes. “After all, I chose to bed down with a snake like you, my dear. Listen to me and listen well. You’re going to find out what a king can do. If you tell your trashy story to another soul, I swear to god I will make your life hell. I’ll be patient and wait. I won’t come after you right away, and you’ll never realize it’s me coming for you. I’ll find a way to ruin your reputation. If you’re up for a part, I’ll pay the producers to hire someone else. If you find a man foolish enough to marry you, I’ll send my people in to let him know what marrying you will cost him. There won’t be anywhere you can hide. If you destroy my wife’s reputation, I’ll spend the rest of my life making yours into a literal hell on earth. Am I understood?”

  Tears, real ones now, poured from her eyes. “Kash, please. Please, listen to me.”

  He was done listening. “I can start right this instant. If you aren’t off my property in the next ten minutes, I’ll consider our war on. I have far more weapons in my arsenal than you do, so think about giving that interview. If I hear even a hint or a whisper of you spreading this story, I’ll destroy you.”

  She turned and ran out of the room.

  Kash followed her. Murdoch was standing outside the door, looking from right to left, as though he wasn’t sure what was happening.

  “That’s the second crying female to come out of that room,” Murdoch said. “What’s happening, Kash? Day looked like you’d ripped her heart out of her chest. Tell me she didn’t find you having sex with that woman. She was coming to save you from that chick with the crazy eyes.”

  Did everyone think he needed saving? “Tell Mr. Weston we won’t need the bodyguards anymore this evening. I don’t want to be disturbed. Do I make myself clear?”

  Murdoch frowned. “I’m not sure what’s going on, but I don’t like the look in your eyes, Kash.”

  “Your Majesty.” Perhaps his first mistake was trying to be friendly with people. He wasn’t a person. He was a figurehead, and it was past time he used the only thing his position afforded him that was worth anything at all. Power. “You will give me my due respect or you can go home, Mr. Murdoch. I’m going to speak to my bride and I won’t be disturbed.”

  Because he had a few things to work out with her. A few questions that needed to be answered. By the time he was done with her she would know there would be no more manipulations, no more pretending. He would be the head of the household in all things and she would fall in line.

  He strode to the secret stairwell the servants used. He could get to his apartments without being seen that way. All anyone would say was that the bride and groom had slipped away to start the honeymoon early.

  He took the stairs two at a time, eager suddenly to get this over with. He would smash this whole relationship to pieces and see what they were left with. It had never been real. Not for one moment. Day had lied to him. She’d hidden huge parts of her life from him and he wouldn’t take it. Not another second.

  He opened the door that led to the hallway of his wing and was nearly shoved back. Simon Weston was sprinting down the hall.

  Kash started to yell out to the man that he should be more careful, but that was the moment he realized Weston had a gun in his hand.

  “Sorry, Your Majesty. I can’t let you go down there.” Murdoch had moved in behind him. He put a hand on Kash’s arm. “You’ll need to come with me. There’s a problem in your room.”

  Day? What had happened to her? He started to drag his arm out of the other man’s hold when he saw her being escorted out of their rooms. She was pale, her face tear streaked. She’d been such a lovely bride, but now she looked like a woman who’d seen a ghost.

  She was escorted by Rai, one big hand on her arm. He strode down the hallway with purpose.

  Kash started to move toward her, the instinct to hold her almost overwhelming. She looked so fragile that all he wanted to do was scoop her up and try to protect her. That was the moment she looked up at him. When she caught sight of him, her gaze turned blank and she moved like a zombie, her feet shuffling down the hall, all of her natural rhythm gone.

  She walked past him like he meant nothing at all.

  He could have sworn he caught Rai’s satisfied smirk.

  “What has happened?” He knew better than to go look for himself. One of his blasted guards would choke him out and he would wake up hours later looking like a fool.

  That was something he did all too often these days.

  Murdoch started to lead him down the hall, back the way Day and Rai had gone. “Apparently, one of the servants likes to sneak a sip of your Scotch at night.”

  Seriously? All of this over Jamil’s nightcap? He stopped, forcing Murdoch to drop his hold. “If you’re talking about the old man who turns my bed down at night, I told him he could have a glass when he likes. He worked for my father. He’s been here as long as I can remember. For god’s sake, don’t arrest one of my bloody butlers over a tumbler of Scotch.”

  “He’s dead,” Murdoch said, his voice flat. “He died after drinking the Scotch that was brought up this evening. Simon caught it on camera. He tried to get here first, but the queen found him. She’s very upset. Someone tried to poison you, Your Majesty. It’s time to get you out of the palace for a while.”

  Kash felt the room go cold. Apparently, his evening wasn’t going to end pleasantly.

  Chapter Seven

  Day sat in the chair offered to her, her whole body weary. Had it really only been twenty-four hours since Michael Malone had shoved her on a private plane? He’d been waiting at the security entrance to the palace to take her from Rai’s custody. She and Kash had been taken to the private airfield in separate vehicles, and the plane had taken off before she could quite realize what was happening.

  Now she was here in Dallas, Texas, a
nd she felt numb. She’d slept little and spoken not one word to her husband.

  Her husband, who’d looked at her like she was some kind of a freak. Her husband, who had made it plain he wanted nothing to do with her.

  How easily they’d broken. As if what they had together had been nothing but spun sugar to dissolve in the slightest hint of rain.

  “I know you’re both tired, but I wanted to give you an update on what’s happening in Loa Mali.” A man with short brown hair sat behind a rather plain but sturdy desk. He was a large man, his shoulders broad and his jaw square, an all-American type. The name on the office said Wade Rycroft, but the man had introduced himself as Alex McKay. “Ian sends his sincere apologies, Kash. We’ve got a problem he needs to handle. It’s a family situation.”

  Apparently the bodyguards had decided to ship them to home base.

  “I don’t care about Taggart’s family issues. I would like to know exactly what’s going on. I’ve heard nothing. We were given no choices, McKay. I will not be treated like some prisoner.” Kash stood up. It was obvious none of his anger had fled over the course of the day.

  “You’re being treated like a man who was damn near assassinated,” McKay replied, his voice even, but the narrowing of his eyes made his irritation clear to Day. “This is what you pay me for. You pay me to ensure your safety and the safety of your wife. More than that, you pay me to keep your monarchy safe. My employees did exactly what they should have done. They got you out of a dangerous situation. They shipped you somewhere no one will think to look, with the absolute best security you will find in the world. Two of my most experienced men are working to figure out who wants to kill you and also to keep the assassination attempt out of the press. If you find anything wrong with my plan, there’s the door. You’re free to go.”

  Kash turned and walked toward the door. He hadn’t read the same body language she had or he simply didn’t care.

  Day stayed in her seat. One of them had to be reasonable. “I thank you for your quick service, Mr. McKay. My husband is going to act like an ass now. Let him. I would appreciate any update you could give me. Did they find out what kind of poison was used? Has Jamil’s daughter been informed? She needs to know she’ll be given his full pension.”