High Stakes Seduction - Book 1 Read Online Free PDF Page A

pursued me relentlessly into the forest, finally pinning me to a large tree, circling me and growling deep in their throats. Then, stepping through the two wolves at the front of the pack, there he was.
    Tall, dark, intense eyes pinning me as securely to the tree as he had pinned me to the chair earlier in his office. He reached out a hand, running a finger down my cheek, as sparks of desire ignited inside me. All the while, he watched me with those beautiful, intense eyes, a hungry smile spreading across his lips.
    The dream had freaked me out more than just a little. As I'd slipped into the bathroom to wash the sleep from my eyes, I heard sobbing coming from Maria's room.
    "Sis," I looked at her crumpled form on the bed. "What's the matter? Bad dreams?" It had taken nine months for the nightmares of the accident to go away. I hoped the recent events hadn't unleashed them again.
    "Oh, Ange," came the muffled sob.
    I sat on the edge of the mattress and pulled her into my arms, offering her comfort the best I could.
    "It all came back. Every bit of it," she said, tears streaming down her face. "The angry way they were yelling at each other, Dad insisting he wasn't in trouble. Mom threatening to leave if he didn't straighten up."
    I smoothed her hair, not knowing what to say. But I imagined talking about it in the morning light might help to ease the pain of reliving the experience through her dream. That much I could do.
    So I listened.
    "Then the awful squealing of brakes, and being flung across the back seat. Hearing her screams and everything going black!" The anguish in her voice tore at my heart.
    "It's okay, honey." I rocked her back and forth, "I'm here. You don't have to worry about that any more. It's been a while since you've had this dream."
    She sniffled. "Three months."
    I brushed a damp lock of hair off her moist forehead. "Sis, you're feverish."
    "Just anxious," she said, taking a gulp of air. "I wanted to tell Dad to watch out for that car, but I didn't have time! I never have time!"
    I held my sister and smoothed her hair. What could I say? What could I do? What could anyone do?

Chapter Ten
     
    With the memory of the dreams fresh in my mind, I called Antonio Mancini—against every instinctive sense of survival in me. There didn't seem to be another answer.
    To his credit, Mancini wasn't rude or condescending. He didn’t gloat in any way. I kind of wish he had. Then maybe I could hate him, even just a little bit.
    That afternoon, as I sat there waiting outside of Antonio Mancini’s office again, I continued to argue with myself, but realistically I knew I had no choice. The door to his office opened, and two men stepped out, each with shoulders almost too wide to fit through the door. The taller of the two glanced my way and I felt a shiver run down my spine when he locked his icy gaze on me. Wolves! I tried not to imagine where he’d gotten the jagged scar across his swarthy cheek. The other guy had the same rough-around-the-edges appearance, complete with a nose that had been broken one too many times.
    Antonio Mancini followed them out of the office, and the two men turned to shake his hand. I stared at the incongruous image of the two goons hovering over this man, but Antonio never once glanced my way until the men disappeared around the corner. Then he nodded to his secretary and stepped back into his office.
    "You can go in now, Miss Tilson," said the woman with a cheerful smile.
    "Good morning, Angela," Antonio said as I entered his office. He was dressed impeccably as usual, in a sharp gray suit, a hand-painted blue silk tie.
    I accepted his handshake. "Good morning, Mr. Mancini," I said, determined to keep this formal, despite the way his touch set off flutters in my stomach. "Thank you for seeing me again."
    "I’m glad you accepted my offer," he said, leaning back against his desk. "We can start your apprenticeship training immediately. In fact, I have need of your services tonight."
    "Tonight?