page22 (1/2)

“Please letthe door behind hias Boulevard, watching the hectic traffic below He went to the crystal decanter and started to pour himself a small bourbon, then stopped

Was it possible that he was doing the sa to possess Anna when he had no right?

No, he told hi to force Anna to marry him to satisfy his own selfish lust Nikos just wanted to protect his family To protect his son

But still, the voice of conscience, rusty fro to make her fall in love with you on false pretenses, to bind her to you forever Isn’t that just as bad?

He tried to shake the thought out of his h his office, trying to concentrate on Sinistyn, the Singapore deal—anything but his plans for Anna In the end he gave up, and pu in the corner of his office with his bare hands to clear his et Helped him focus

There was blood on two knuckles when he went over to the wall of one-sided s that overlooked theat his watch Sinistyn o minutes late

Then his eyes sharpened

Sinistyn wasn’t late He was already in the casino downstairs, beneath the high crystal chandeliers, in between the gilded nineteenth-century coluamblers at the roulette tables and slot machines

He wasn’t alone, either He’d brought two hulking bodyguards fro to them

He was talking to Anna

Anna Still wearing the slim white shirt and black skirt, but sexier than ever, with her long, long legs and glossy black puhly nearlylove to her on his desk, cascaded down her shoulders Her lips were full, pink and bruised, as if she’d just come from bed

She was too enticing—innocence and sin wrapped up into one luscious package

Nikos cursed under his breath She’d defied his direct orders and come down here to intercept Sinistyn He clenched his jaw From this distance he couldn’t read the expressions on their faces What was she saying to hi to her? His hands clenched into fists as he strode out of his office to the elevator

When he reached the casino floor he signaled Cooper, his head of security, to folloith two bodyguards Trailing bodyguards in his wake, he stalked through the noise of slot amblers toward Anna and Sinistyn, barely able to keep his fury in check

Why couldn’t she trust his? Not even once? Why did she always have toso damned hard?

“Sinistyn,” he said coldly, grabbing the ave Anna a look “Leave”

“I’ her chin

He heard Sinistyn snicker under his breath Nikos ground his teeth “Let me handle this”

“This isn’t your fight It’s mine” To Nikos’s shock, she turned to Victor Sinistyn and put her hand on his hairy ar deep and soulfully into his eyes “Victor, I’one so far It’s my fault”

“About tih for you to be e with a triumphant half-smile, he locked eyes with Nikos “About time you chose the better man”

Nikos felt a strange lurch in his chest A sick feeling spread through his body She’d chosen Sinistyn over him? She trusted that man over him?

“No” Anna was shaking her head at Sinistyn “That’s what I’ to tell you I’m sorry, but I don’t love you, Victor I never have I should have made it clear froo I will never be with you No matter how much money you loan my parents Never”

The s expression disappeared froerous and hard “You don’t knohat you’re saying”

“You bought the palace for nothing I’ll pay you back the money e But I don’t want you”

His eyes becaer “At the club last week you made me think differently”

She took a deep breath and looked hiet custody ofto loan my parents millions of dollars at a thirty-five percent interest rate while clai to be our friend”

“Your father proether he said he’d convince you—”

“He tried, but I refused We’ve known each other for a long time, Victor It is time for us to be honest I will never be your wife, but I will pay back every dime e you Can we at least part as friends?”