Aris: A Sexy Romance Novel (Thief of Hearts Series Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page B

toward Denise.  “I don’t know what the police showed Saoirse, or what they said, but we are not terrorists.  She was there the day we robbed the bank.  No one was hurt.  A pregnant lady was frightened and inconvenienced, but we’ve never killed anyone over anything.”
    “And the dead guy in the vault?  Just what did he qualify as?”
    Noah lost his temper.  He leaned forward at Saoirse, his nostrils flared, with hate in his eyes.
    “LEO was one of ours!  He died trying to open a booby trapped safety deposit box that Misha’s people wanted.  We didn’t even know what was in that box nor who had been promised what.  We went to rob a bank for cash.  Do you know what happens when you take cash from a bank?  The government prints more!  If I had had any idea then that Misha’s people were terrorists, or that he would double cross us the way he did, I would have gladly put a bullet in his head to spare Leo’s life.”
    Aris put his hand on Noah’s shoulder.  “Easy my friend.  The memories hurt still but there is nothing to be done.”  he turned to look at Saoirse,  “So, the police assumed that because Misha was a terrorist that the rest of us had to be too, even though we left him there for them to capture.”  Aris took a deep breath, “Well, people know it’s foolish to jump to conclusions.  I had assumed they would figure out we had left him behind on purpose, but apparently Misha had a good story for that.  I will not pretend that I am not a criminal.  I have robbed banks, stolen art, acquired things for unscrupulous people to accomplish what I wanted to do, but I swear to you, I have never hurt an innocent, nor have I ever knowingly made it possible for someone else to hurt innocent people either.  I have no way to prove that to you.  I only hope that you will learn to see it for yourself.”
    Denise thought she detected hurt in Aris’s eyes,  “So what do you need with us?”
    Aris smiled at Denise, “I have thought about Saoirse every day of my life for the last seven years.  I told myself the day I walked away from that helicopter that under different circumstances I would not have left her behind.  After seven years, I finally have time on my hands.  I wanted to see her.”
    Noah spoke up while Aris stared at Saoirse,  “We did have an attorney that looked at contracts for our various American dealings.  Unfortunately, he went on a holiday to Hong Kong, met a woman, who somehow, forgot to mention to him that she was married.  When her husband came back from his business trip, our attorney fled.  There are dealings that we need to make sure are appropriately represented, but not nearly enough to make three weeks worth of work.  More like two or three days probably.”
    “So...”  Denise shook her head still confused.
    Noah hmphed, amazed that an intelligent woman like herself hadn’t put it together yet.  “Ms. Denise, the islands are warm, the people are kind, we have every amenity that you could want or need, could you not do with a paid vacation?”
    Denise smiled at him,  “Yes, we could.  Especially paid!”
    Saoirse finally broke her silence, addressing Noah, “If this is a paid vacation then why can’t we say no?”
    Aris took her hand in his.  She pulled at it but not hard enough to compel him to let go. 
    “I have waited seven years for different circumstances.”  Aris kissed her hand as he held it between his.  His hands were warm and soft as they enveloped hers,  “Give me twenty-one days.  Open your mind and your heart.  Judge me for who I am, not who you’ve been told I am.  If after that, you can’t stand the sight of me; then I promise you, you will never see me again.  Will you give me that much?”
    “Never again?” she couldn’t look at him.
    “Never again.”  Aris promised her.
    “Fine.  We leave first thing in the morning.” she pulled her hand out of his, crossing her arms.
    The limo dropped Denise off at her