STORY EXCERPT
Santo Ricci stepped into the hallway of the famous London hallmark building his family owned and shut the door to his office with control that masked his irritation and pent-up frustration. His body was rigid with rage at what he had heard in the just-adjourned meeting. Despite his anger, his body pulsed with anticipation of what was to come, and that actually made him feel better, knowing he would soon punish the guilty. He relished what was to come now that he had a plan in mind. .
Skyler Wright would rue the day she decided to invade his family’s privacy. He could see her squirming, trapped in a web of his making. The image brought a slant smile to his pursed lips.
The just-ended briefing with one of, if not the, best private investigation agencies in London had produced excellent results. As a hard worker himself, he appreciated good work, and that’s exactly what he got.
They charged top-of-the-line rates and in return had left no stone unturned. He held in his hand a report that contained everything he would need to destroy the woman he blamed for the circus he was about to partake in.
His eyes hardened as he looked down at the photograph that came with the file. Skyler Wright was a tall woman—almost as tall as him—with a surprisingly curvaceous body. She would look gawky with legs that went on forever if she wasn’t so well-endowed in her chest and hip areas. Wild, wavy red hair cascaded around the milky skin of her oval face, and defiance sparkled in her turquoise eyes as though she knew she was being watched.
Her demeanour was appropriate. Santo grinned. She looked ready for a fight, which was good because she was about to have one.
In the photo, she wore a long black skirt and brown cardigan over a white shirt, which did nothing for her figure. As an Italian male, fashion was in his blood, and he’d been around enough women to know Skyler could be a knockout if she wore clothes that accentuated her curves and offset her hair.
Santo shook his head in annoyance. Why am I thinking of this parasite as a knockout? Knockout or not, Skyler Wright had somehow managed to unearth medical information about his father’s health. The evil woman had confidential medical reports and pictures of the old man leaving a top London hospital. Based on his investigations, he’d found out she planned to publish them in her gossip rag, something Santo couldn’t let happen. He’d promised his father, Salvatore, he would stop her. By God, he was going to keep his promise, especially since there was a real possibility Salvatore may not be around for long.
He made his way down the corridor, toward his father’s office, lost in thought. He wanted to get this press conference out of the way so he could go to the exclusive health club he belonged to. He needed to work out some of his frustrations, and exercise had always been a way to blow off steam for him—that and sex, but he didn’t have a lover currently. He was too busy with everything that was happening to add a woman into the mix. Punishing exercise would have to do for now.
He collided with a soft and yielding body as he turned toward his father’s section. Santo was big and masculine with no spare flesh on any part of his body. The sheer impact of the collision had the other party sprawling on the carpeted floor.
“Watch where you are going,” he growled irritatedly.
He bent down to help them off the floor, and stiffened when he noticed who it was. Skyler Wright! The woman he’d spent the best part of a week plotting against. It was as if looking at her photo for longer periods of time had made her somehow appear in the flesh.
What is she doing here? Snooping around again, no doubt! He had assumed she’d be at the press conference downstairs—it was the sort of thing a gossipmonger like her couldn’t resist. He hadn’t anticipated running into her here.
The private offices on the fourth floor were strictly off-limits to the general public. This chance encounter certainly confirmed what he knew about the woman—she didn’t think twice about invading people’s privacy. He turned on the charm, realising what an opportunity this was after all. He’d been looking for a way to meet her for the first time, and she had presented him with the perfect opportunity.
Santo’s face softened to mask his contempt as he helped her up. He gave an easy smile that didn’t reach his eyes and said in a slightly accented voice, “I didn’t see you there, miss. Are you okay?”
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