Blackmailed by the Italian Billionaire (8 page)

“How do I even know they exist?” she asked, staring at him through narrowed eyes. “You could be making this up.”

He reached into his back pocket and pulled out a photo. “I like to keep this one with me. It raises all sorts of…” He stared into her eyes, his lips curling into a slight smile. “Fond memories.”

…

Lia slowly took the picture from his outstretched hand. She had to force herself to look down and then wished with all her heart she hadn’t pushed it, had taken his word. At first glance, she didn’t recognize herself, but it was definitely her. Naked from the waist up, with a man’s dark head against her breast, and her hands burrowed in his hair, holding him to her. But even worse was the expression on her face. She would never forget that look. If this picture became public, she could kiss her sponsorship deal good-bye.

She closed her eyes. When she opened them, he was staring at her, that slight smile still on his lips. Reaching out, he took the photo from her limp fingers and studied it.

“Tell me, Lia,” he said, “did that feel as good as it looks?”

In all her life, she had never wanted to physically attack someone—until now. “What is it you want from me?”

“I want to help you find your father.”

Lia snorted in disbelief. “How freaking noble of you. But why do I find it hard to believe that you’re doing all this for me?” She stared at him through narrowed eyes. “I don’t trust you. What are you really? Some kind of mob guy? Exactly how did you know my father?”

Luc regarded her thoughtfully for a moment. “My father worked for yours, and I did a few jobs for Jimmy before I…” he paused as if about to say something then changed his mind. “Before I started my own business.”

“And what is your business?”

“Oh, I buy and sell things. Lia, you’ll be coming to stay with me in London for a while. Organize it.”

“What? Stay with you? I don’t think so. I have a life here, a job, things I need to do. ”

He ignored her. “I have an apartment. It’s big enough for both of us. We hardly even need to see each other. And Lia,” he added almost gently, “it doesn’t really matter what you want. Besides, it will be safer.”

Her brows drew together. “Safer? Why do I need to be safe?”

“You said yourself, you didn’t know your father well, but why do you think he’s stayed away all this time?”

Actually, she didn’t know; she’d never really considered his reasons, just presumed that maybe he’d gotten bored with his family, taken the money, and run. Was Luc suggesting that somebody was after her father, might use her to get to him? That her father was some sort of mob guy? Like Luc. What the hell was going on?

When she didn’t answer, Luc lounged back against the wall, arms folded across his broad chest. “Besides, I have a few ideas for flushing out your father, and they include us appearing close.”

“What ideas? And how close are you talking?” she asked. It was clear from his behavior that he really disliked her, and had no more interest in her
that
way. Why should that make her feel strangely deflated?

A tentative knock sounded at the door, and Lia glanced up. It was one of the stable girls.

“Lia?” She peered into the room, her eyes flickering nervously from Lia to Luc. “Your ten o’clock lesson is here.”

Lia nodded, and the girl hurried away.

“You teach horseback riding?” Luc asked her.

“Yes. Look, I’ve got to go. I need to get changed. I’ll call you, okay?”

Not waiting for an answer, she hurried into the bathroom. She took her time changing into the cream jodhpurs and white shirt she wore for teaching, pulling on black knee-high boots. Hopefully, he’d be long gone. But when she reopened the door, he was standing in the same spot.

“You’re still here?”

He didn’t answer her rhetorical question, just stared at her, as his hot, hungry gaze drifted down over her body. “
Madre del dio.
”

“What?” she snapped.

“I like your outfit.”

He was watching her, an intent expression on his face, almost predatory, and Lia had a sudden urge to run. Her instincts were screaming danger, but her body refused to move as he strolled over to where she stood, halting a mere foot away. His eyes were no longer cold, they were smoldering, and it occurred to her that she had been wrong; he might not be pleased about it, but he was definitely still interested.

“Lia,” he murmured, before reaching out to drag her toward him until the heat of his long body burned into hers. His mouth came down and she melted against him, opening her mouth to the slide of his tongue, letting him fill her with the hot, wet heat of him. One hard hand slid down the length of her back, cupping her bottom, pulling her against the rigid length of his rapidly hardening erection. Heat flooded her, turning her insides molten and her nipples to hard, painful nubs. She wanted nothing more than to forget everything, let him take her clothes off, lie naked with him.

Her mind jerked to an abrupt halt. Naked? With him? No way! Wasn’t this the man who minutes earlier had threatened to blackmail her? How could she let him kiss her? Touch her?

Dragging herself out of his arms, she took a step back. “I don’t want this.”

“But I do.”

“And what will you do if I say no?” Lia didn’t try to keep the bitterness out of her voice. “Threaten to publish those pictures again?”

He studied her, his lips pursed; he picked up his glasses and slid them on, once again hiding his expression. “You’ve got two days. I’ll be in touch.”

So far, nothing. No Luc. No blackmail. No nothing.

Maybe he’d forgotten all about her, but instinct told her she wouldn’t be that lucky. Then during supper, it had occurred to her that maybe Sally might know something about him, something that might help her work out what he really wanted. “My mother never mentioned him? It would have had to do with my father.”

Sally’s face took on that closed expression she always adopted when Lia’s father was mentioned. “You know your mother never spoke to me about him. She knew I wouldn’t listen.”

“But you’ve been with us forever, Sally, you
must
know something.”

Sally had worked for them since Lia was a baby, and had moved in five years ago after her husband’s death. Now she stayed with them by choice, and was part of the family rather than an employee.

“I know your mother was better off without him. I was glad when he went, but she would never listen to me.” Sally sighed. “I know you think you need to find him. Make him pay back the money from the house. But what makes you think he’ll go along with that plan even if you do find him? He may just laugh in your face. Forget him, Lia.”

“I’m going to. Pete’s offered to buy the piece of land that runs next to his. It will solve our problems, at least for the moment.”

“That’s great. So if you don’t need to find your father, why the questions about this Luc Severino?”

Lia pursed her lips and did her best to look innocent. “No reason. I heard the name, that’s all.”

After Luc had gone, she’d thought long and hard. He was using the threat of those pictures to blackmail her. But into doing what? What did he really want?

With the threat of losing her home gone, she wanted to forget all about her father; instead, Luc was forcing her to continue the search. And she hated to be forced.

If he did turn up, she was going to appeal to his better nature, tell him that she didn’t want to find her father anymore. And Luc would go away, and she need never see him again or think of him again.

Yeah, right. She snorted. Just how likely was that to happen? Not a night had gone by that he hadn’t come to her in her sleep, and that was what was bothering her the most—she hated him for what he was doing, but part of her couldn’t forget how he had made her feel.

Outside, the dog started barking. Mike poked his head around the door. “Lia, there’s a man here to see you.”

Lia’s hand tightened around her mug of coffee; her heart sank. “There is?”

“Yeah, and he’s got the coolest car.” Mike didn’t wait for an answer, just disappeared again.

“Shit,” Lia muttered.

“Lia!”

“Sorry—horse manure.”

Sally smiled. “You want me to go?”

For a second, Lia was tempted. Maybe she could hide under the bed or something. Then she shook her head. “No, I think this one’s for me.”

Luc’s black car was parked in the front driveway with Luc crouched down beside it, talking to Mike. She hesitated. Luc’s face was softer this time, and as she watched, he reached out and ruffled Mike’s hair, then picked him up and swung him into the driver’s seat of the car.

She opened her mouth to complain, then closed it again—this was the first time she had seen Mike animated in so long, and she wasn’t going to jump in and spoil that because she had issues with Luc. Luc was being genuinely nice—maybe he did have a better nature after all.

“It’s a Ferrari, Lia,” her brother said, his tone filled with awe.

“Is it?”

“Yes, and Luc said he’ll take me for a drive.”

“Oh he did, did he?”

“Yes,” Luc said. “I have a little brother who gets a kick out of cars too. But not tonight, kid. Tonight you get to sit there and not touch anything while I talk to your sister.”

Five minutes later, Lia scowled. So much for appealing to his better nature! It should have been obvious from their previous meeting that he didn’t have one.

Luc stood, hands thrust into the pockets of his black trousers, his cold green eyes narrowed on her.

“I’m not coming,” Lia repeated. “I don’t think it’s a good idea.”

“We had a deal,
cara
.” He was silent for a moment, his eyes running over her, and she shifted from foot to foot under his intense gaze. “You are obviously your father’s daughter,” he said. “Treacherous. You probably can’t help yourself.”

A wave of indignation washed over her at his words.
She
wasn’t the one using blackmail. And calling her her father’s daughter? That was a low blow, and one that hit home, mainly because it had always been a worry to her over the years. After all, she certainly hadn’t gotten her character from her mother—but there was also another puzzling aspect to this conversation. “I thought you were his friend.”

“I said acquaintance,
cara
. Your father didn’t have any friends.”

“It doesn’t matter. I don’t want to find him anymore.”

“Unfortunately,
I
do.”

“Why?”

“Old business.”

His face was cold, implacable. She tried a different approach. “Anyway, I can’t go with you. I’ve got my little brother to take care of.”

He appeared unimpressed. “You also have a live-in housekeeper.”

“How do you know?”

“Come on, Lia. I had you investigated.”

Lia stared at him. “You’re unreal, you know that, don’t you? And in serious danger of becoming paranoid.” When he didn’t answer, she continued. “I can’t believe you had me investigated. Why?”

“Look at it from my point of view,” Luc said. “You arranged a meeting, you seduced me, then waited until I was asleep and searched my office. Of course I had you investigated.”