Blackmailed by the Italian Billionaire

Chapter Seven



“Mike, why don’t you go and play outside for a while?”

Mike didn’t argue, and that worried her—he’d been very subdued since their mother’s death. It wasn’t unexpected, but that didn’t stop her worrying. The door slammed shut behind him, and Lia stared at it.

“He’ll be okay,” Sally said. “He just needs time.” She left the dishes in the sink, wiped her hands, and came and sat next to Lia. “So, what do you want to talk about that you don’t want Mike to hear?”

“Have you ever heard of a man called Luc Severino?”

“No.”

Lia had been doing her best to forget that Luc even existed, but that was impossible. Even though the guy could be a real jerk, he made her feel things, things she’d never known she could feel. Now, her time was up, and she’d spent all day on edge, expecting him to show at any moment.

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.”

Lia examined his face for some sign that he was joking. This was so bizarre. He was crazy. She took a deep breath. Just stay calm.

“I did not arrange a meeting with you. I arranged a meeting with Mr. Watson. I’d never even heard of you before that night.”

Luc looked skeptical. “So you say.”

Lia wanted to scream. She took another deep breath, and then one more, closed her eyes and counted to ten.

“So, you had me investigated. You already knew all about me. You knew all the time that I was lying and that my mother was dead.”

“Not when you came to see Harley, no. But soon after that.”

She stood for a moment, nibbling on her lower lip. Would he go through with his threat and post those pictures on the Internet, leak them to the local press? The thought sent shivers of panic rippling through her. She couldn’t risk it; this was her career on the line. She had no choice but to go along with him. As she admitted it to herself, an entirely inappropriate wave of excitement washed over her, and she hugged her arms around her middle. Why did he have such an effect on her? All these years she had thought herself immune to men. Why did he have to be the one to prove her wrong?

He lounged against the wall, arms folded, but while his position was casual, his whole body radiated masculine power. With his scar and his dark good looks, his beautiful emerald eyes, he also appeared vaguely menacing and immensely sexy. It was a bizarre and powerful combination.

Her body tightened at the memory of all that leashed power focused on her. The way he had controlled her, overwhelmed her, made her feel in that moment as though she were the most desirable woman in the world—the most important person in his world. And it had all been a lie, an act.

“Well?”

His question brought her out of her thoughts. She was going to have to go with him, she knew that, but it was imperative she make one thing clear at the start. “I’ll come, but I’m not going to sleep with you. This is just to find my father.”

“Wait until you’re asked, cara.”

She ignored the comment. “And I can’t come with you if I think you’re going to hold those pictures over my head and threaten me every step of the way.”

“Lia, you will come with me because I’m holding those pictures over you.”

“That’s immoral.”

He smiled, but it did nothing to alleviate the sense of panic threatening to overtake her. “I have to admit to a certain level of moral flexibility when it comes to getting what I want,” he said. “It’s probably best you know that right from the start.”

Lia sighed. “I’ll go pack. Wait here.” She shut the door in his face and hurried up the stairs.

…



The door to the apartment swung open, and Luc stood to one side to let her pass. He seemed more relaxed now that he’d gotten his own way. On the drive into London, he’d been silent, but at least the tension appeared to have left him. She’d been expecting him to take her to the apartment in the office block, where they’d been that first night. But they’d headed not for the business district, but into an upmarket residential area in the west end of the city. Finally, Luc had pulled into an underground parking area beneath a modern apartment building, and they’d taken the elevator up to the penthouse.

Luc put her bag down on the floor and held out a hand.

“I’ll show you around.”

She ignored the hand and stood staring around her, eyes widening as she took in the sheer luxury of her surroundings. The place was huge, light, and airy with vast expanses of polished wooden floors and floor-to-ceiling windows. The furniture was sparse but beautiful, elegant and modern, uncluttered. Lia kicked off her shoes, and some of her own anger and bitterness drained from her. It was no good being angry. She never did anything sensible when she was angry, and she needed to be sensible now. But without the anger, she felt a little lost, with nothing to replace it.

“I don’t know why I’m here. Not really.” She knew she sounded forlorn.

“We’re going to find your father.”

His tone was soothing as though he were trying to calm her. Lia didn’t want to be calmed, and she let her irritation rise. “I told you. I don’t want to find him anymore.”

“But I do, and I need you in order to do that.”

“And I suppose that’s what matters, isn’t it? That you’ve gotten what you want.”

“I wouldn’t quite say that,” he said softly.

She looked at him sharply, but his face was expressionless, bland except for the small smile that played around his lips. She sighed. “So here I am. What happens now?”

“Now, we see if we can’t draw your father out.”

“Can you at least tell me why you want to find him?”

“No.”

She glowered in frustration. “What’s the big secret? It’s unlikely that anything you can tell me is going to surprise me. I already think the worst about you anyway.”

He studied her, his expression speculative. “I doubt that’s true. In which case, you’re going to have to trust me.”

“And just how likely is that? The first time we met, you pretended you wanted to help me, got me drunk, and then seduced me. The second time you blackmailed me into coming here. Not much incentive to trust, now is there?”

He shrugged. He obviously had no remorse at all about how he had gotten her here.

“And I can only stay until my wrist is healed. After that, I need to get back into training. How long are you expecting me to stay?”

“As long as it takes.”

“As long as what takes? Finding my father? And what happens if he does turn up?”

He regarded her curiously. “Do you care?”

He didn’t wait for an answer, just moved into the room, and Lia stared after him. Did she care? She hated her father, but he was a dangerous man, and for some reason the idea of Luc confronting him made her feel weak and shivery. Perhaps Luc was more than a match for her father. Her father was a bully. How would he stand up to someone like Luc? She didn’t want to know. All she could hope for was that her father would stay away. After all, he had managed it very well for the last ten years. Why change now?

Luc picked up her bag again. “Come on. I’ll show you where you’re sleeping.”

She followed him out of the living area, along a carpeted hallway. He paused at a door.

“That’s my room over there.” He nodded at the door opposite. “In case you need anything in the night.”

“In your dreams,” she muttered. Luc smiled then led her into the room. It was beautiful, pale cream and dark blue with a huge king-size bed. She also had her own bathroom with an enormous whirlpool bath.

“There’s no lock on the door,” she said as she trailed behind him. “How am I supposed to sleep at night with no lock on the door?”

His eyes narrowed. “Don’t push it, Lia.”

She wanted to push it. Instead, she followed him around the building as he gave her a tour of the place, trying not to appear as impressed as she felt. The kitchen was amazing, enormous, state of the art, with every possible gadget, none of which Lia had a clue how to switch on.

“Do you actually use this stuff?”

“I can make coffee, but I have a housekeeper who comes in each day—Mrs. Blake—don’t upset her. She leaves a meal if I want it. Otherwise I eat out or get food sent in.”

“What’s up there?” she asked, pointing at the elaborate wrought-iron spiral staircase that appeared to lead out onto the roof. “I thought we were on the top floor.”

“We are. Come and look.”

The roof garden was out of this world, not so much a garden as a conservatory, the whole place enclosed in glass with a fabulous view out over the city. Tropical plants ran rampant, crimson bougainvillea, hibiscus, and through the plants, she caught sight of the turquoise water of an infinity pool that seemed poised on the edge of the building. “You have a pool on your roof?”

She walked toward it and bent down to trail her fingers through the warm water.

“Feel free to swim,” Luc said.

Lia turned to stare at him. He seemed to belong among the lush tropical splendor, his dark exotic beauty at home in such decadent surroundings. Lia shook her head; this level of wealth was beyond her imaginings. Suddenly, she had an urge to confront him, ask him what he did, where all this money came from. Before she could open her mouth, a noise erupted from among the plants. She jumped as a large ginger tomcat emerged and strolled toward Luc, ignoring Lia completely. He rubbed himself against Luc’s legs, a loud rumbling purr vibrating his whole body. Luc crouched down and picked him up, rubbing his head.

“This is Murphy,” he said.

“You have a cat. I’m surprised.”

“I wouldn’t exactly say that. Murphy lives here. This is his domain, so if you want to spend time up here, you’d better make friends.”

Lia shook her head. “I can’t believe you have a cat.”

Luc grinned at her obvious bemusement. “Murphy was a stray. He sort of adopted me.”

Lia could see now that the cat was a little worse for wear, one ear ripped and a scar down his nose. She reached out a hand and stroked him. Murphy rubbed his head against her hand.

Luc smiled. The effect was devastating, and for a moment, Lia actually felt jealous of the cat, held in his arms. She pushed the thought away. That wasn’t going to happen—not again. But still, she found herself staring at him. He caught her gaze for a long moment then looked away.

“Let’s finish the tour.” He lowered the cat to the floor.

There was one room he didn’t show her, just waved a hand toward it. “That’s my office.”

Lia glanced at the door. She was sure she could find out all about Luc Severino if only she could get in there. Wouldn’t that be good, she mused silently, get in there, find some incriminating evidence, and get the blackmailing bastard at his own game. She came out of her happy daydream to find Luc watching her, an amused expression on his face.

“Don’t even try,” he drawled. “You’ll never get past the locks.”

“I bet I could, if I wanted to.”

“They only open with my thumbprint,” he said wagging his thumb.

Lia was impressed—talk about high-tech—but she wasn’t going to let Luc see that. “I saw a film like that once, but it was eyeballs.”

“A retinal scan.”

“They got into that room,” she said with anticipatory relish, “by cutting his eyeballs out.”

Luc laughed. “Bloodthirsty little thing, aren’t you? Remind me not to leave the carving knives out.”

Despite herself, Lia laughed. “Don’t worry, I’m not going to try to get into your office. I told you, I was looking for information on my father that night. I’m not interested anymore, so your secrets are safe.” She gave him a suspicious look. “What have you got in there that’s so secret? Some sort of criminal plans?”

He ignored her question and led her back into the living room.

“Why don’t you sit down?”

She avoided the cream leather sofa and perched instead on one of the chairs. He took a seat opposite. Lia peered around. “Anyway, there’s one important thing you’ve missed on this tour. Where are the cameras?”

“You’re in danger of becoming paranoid, cara.”

“Yeah, right. How can you say that when the only reason I’m here is because you got me into a compromising position and took photos of me? Who knows how many times you’ve done this sort of thing before for your own nefarious purposes.”

“Nefarious?” he said with a chuckle. “I’ve been called many things, but that’s a new one. And it may come as something of a surprise, but I do not actually make a habit of seducing women in my office.”

“So why make an exception with me?”

“It seemed like a good idea at the time.” He relaxed back in his seat and studied her. “Can’t you accept that I wanted you, found you attractive and desirable? And you, Lia, why did you sleep with me?”

“I thought you knew why. I was using you, of course. Getting you all relaxed so you would fall asleep and I could search your office. Hey, and guess what—it worked.”

“So how many men have you slept with?”

“That’s none of your business,” she said stiffly.

“Humor me.”

She bit her lip, but really it was no big deal. “Two.”

“And I’m presuming one of them was me,” he said smiling. “I knew you were innocent.”

“That doesn’t make me innocent. And don’t go thinking it means anything. I’ve just had my mind on more important matters.”

He examined her for a moment making her want to squirm. “The man I saw you with at the stables, who is he?”

“Which man?”

“The one you kissed.”

Lia thought back, puzzled. She wasn’t in the habit of kissing men at work. Or anywhere, really. Then she realized whom he meant. “Pete.”

“Pete?”

“My boss. He’s a good friend.”

“Boyfriend?”

“Not that it’s any of your business, but no.” Not that he wouldn’t have liked to be, but she didn’t say that. “He gave me a job when I was sixteen, and I’ve worked there since. Now he’s my trainer as well, and he lets me compete on his horses—it’s a good job.” She glanced across at Luc. He didn’t appear impressed, but at least he changed the subject.

“So, why did you really want to find your father in the first place? After all this time?”

Lia considered the question, but there was no real reason not to tell him. The reasons no longer applied. Now that Pete was going to buy the land from her, there was no way Luc could use the information against her. “I told you, my mother died. I hadn’t realized until then that the situation was so bad—she’d been paying the mortgage by selling jewelry, paintings, anything and everything. Well, by the time she died, it was all gone. I knew my father had taken out a mortgage on the house before he disappeared. I wanted him to give the money back.”

“So why don’t you want to find him anymore?”

“I don’t need the money now. I’m selling the land that goes with the house. It’ll be enough to keep us going for the next few years.”

“Selling. Who’s buying?” Luc asked suspiciously.

“Pete.”

“I don’t want you taking money from him.”

Lia stared at him in amazement. “I’m not taking anything from him, he’s buying some land. And what business is it of yours anyway? Look, forget about it, it has nothing to do with you.” She got to her feet, impatient. “Why don’t you just tell me about your big plan? What do I need to do for you to destroy those pictures and let me go home?”

“There’s time for that later.”

“Why not now?”

He frowned at her. “Are you always this impatient?”

Lia thought for a moment. “Yes.”

“Well, sit down again, and I might tell you what’s going to happen. Can I get you a drink first?” he asked.

She cast him a snarky look. “Do I look like an absolute imbecile? Been there, done that, and it’s so not happening again.”

He laughed softly. “Don’t blame it all on the alcohol. You were amazingly easy to seduce.”

“Yeah, but only because I let you. And it won’t happen again.”

He relaxed back in his seat and studied her, his eyes half closed. “Is that a challenge, cara mia?”

She shivered at the sensual promise in his voice then made an effort to pull herself together. “No, it’s not,” she said, “and will you stop calling me that?”

“Calling you what?” he asked. “Cara mia?”

“I’m not your cara, I’m not your anything. I’m here because you threatened me and that’s the only reason.”

“Really?” He got to his feet, moving to stand in front of her. Lia stood up as well, not wanting to be at a disadvantage. A wave of apprehension passed through her, but she stood her ground. She was determined she wasn’t going to be intimidated, but he was just so big, and she’d always been better at dealing with horses than she was humans. Maybe she should treat him like a stallion she was training. Stand up to him, show him who was boss…and if all else failed—castrate him.

“What are you thinking?”

“Sorry?”

“You were smiling.”

“Really?” Tilting her head back, she stared him in the face. He was watching her through those half-closed eyes, the brilliant green almost hidden behind a thick fringe of black lashes. She dropped her gaze and again wished she hadn’t—his shirt was open, showing the strong, tanned column of his throat and the dark shadow of his body hair. She remembered the feel of it under her fingers, silky and amazingly soft.

Luc smiled, a slight curl of those stunning lips, and all of a sudden, she had a flashback to the feel of them moving on hers, moving on her body. She stared at them for a long, long moment until he laughed softly, breaking the silence.

He reached out and stroked the ball of his thumb across her lower lip, and that simple touch caused the heat to coil low down in her body.

“Don’t kid yourself, cara,” he said. “You want me as much as I want you.”

His words started a fire in her belly. She opened her mouth to deny it, but she didn’t want to push him into trying to prove his point. The truth was, he might be a blackmailing bastard, but he was also the most gorgeous guy she had ever met, and for some reason he got to her like no other man ever had. So instead, she took a deep breath and sat down. The sooner they got this over with, whatever “this” was, the sooner she could go home and get on with her life.

“So tell me this plan of yours.”

“We’re going to get engaged.”

Lia’s mouth fell open. She managed to close it, but stared at him for long, long moments. Had he really said they were getting engaged? “Never going to happen.”

“Don’t worry,” he said. “I don’t expect to have to go through with the actual fuss of a wedding, though we could consider the consummation part.”

“No freaking way. I’d rather get engaged to your monster friend Harley.”

Luc laughed out loud at the comment. For a moment, he looked almost young and carefree, and Lia did her best to ignore the queer little twist in her gut.

“I doubt Harley would agree,” he said. “You’re not his type.”

Lia sighed. “I don’t want to get engaged to you.” She knew it was a pathetic reason, but it was the truth. Luc didn’t seem impressed, and she searched her brain for a better argument. “Okay,” she said eventually, “forget all that. But what can it possibly achieve?”

“Publicity.”

Lia was totally bewildered. “Yeah right, because the whole world gives a damn if we get engaged.”

“Do you ever read the gossip columns?”

“No.”

“Well, you’ll just have to believe me that I can get us the publicity we need. People are interested in me, believe it or not. You may consider me unlikable, but many others find me fascinating.”

Lia could well believe it, but she ignored his teasing tone; she wasn’t ready to be teased by this man, however fascinating he might be. “I still don’t understand. So you get the publicity, we get our names in the papers, then what happens?”

“And then your father, wherever he is, sees it, or more likely hears about it and can’t resist coming out to…”—he paused as if thinking of a suitable word—“…congratulate you on your amazing catch.”

Lia snorted. “Commiserate more like. And I’m not convinced of that. He’s made a pretty good job of ignoring us for the past ten years. I doubt he even knows Mike exists.”

“I think he will. Harley says he doted on you.”

“Harley was wrong.”

“We’ll see. I’m hosting a party next Saturday night. It was organized a long time ago, but it will be an ideal place to announce our engagement.”

“I don’t like parties.”

“Well, pretend. We’ve already established that you’re a good actress. So act.”

Luc got up, crossed the room, and poured himself a drink. “Are you sure you don’t want one?” he said with a glass in midair.

She shook her head. Tonight she was staying firmly in control of all her faculties. “I would like a coffee, though.”

Luc put down his drink and headed for the kitchen, and Lia sighed with relief as the door shut behind him. He was so intense, but strangely enough, despite his blackmail threats, she felt safe with him. Well, maybe safe was not the right word, but she was sure he wouldn’t attack her or force himself on her.

She sat back and closed her eyes. His plan had no chance of working, so it was pointless to worry about her father turning up. Pete had suggested she take a holiday. When was the last time she’d had some time to herself? She couldn’t remember—she’d been constantly training since she was sixteen.

She looked around at her luxurious surroundings. If she had no choice but to stay here, why not make the best of it? Not that she would mention that to Luc—she had no intention of making things easy for him.

“I can’t go to your party,” she said as he handed her a steaming cup of coffee. She took a sip; it was delicious, strong, sweet, just the way she liked it. “I don’t even own a dress.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll get someone to take you shopping. Just make sure you have everything you need.”

“Who?” she asked suspiciously. “Who will you get to take me shopping? I’m not sure I want to be ‘taken’ anywhere.”

“Her name’s Maggie. She was a…” he paused for a moment, “…a friend of my mother’s.”

She didn’t want him to have a mother with friends; it made him too human. She was determined to see him as nothing more than the monster she had called him. If only he looked like a monster. She put down her cup and jumped up. “I’m going to bed.”

He stood and caught her shoulder as she passed, her mind completely numb as he turned her toward him. She stared at his lips as he lowered his face slowly. It seemed to take forever, but finally his mouth came over hers, firm but gentle. His tongue slid gently into the moist recesses of her mouth, filling her with the taste of whiskey and warm man. It lasted the briefest of moments, and then he stepped back.