Stolen: An Alpha Billionaire Romance (Heists & Hearts Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page B

and truly pissed. It’s clear he has a thing for me, but it’s also clear that it’s nothing but physical. He wants a fuck toy, and while I’d be okay with that in some circumstances, being at a rich dude’s beck and call while everyone from the mayor on down knows I’m his policewoman booty call is not one of them. I turn to leave.
    “Wait. I want to show you something special.” His voice sounds amused, and I let my frustration get the best of me.
    “You don’t mean your dick, do you?” 
    “You didn’t think it was special?” I shake my head and started walking out.
    “In 1894, Gustav Klimt was commissioned by the University of Vienna for a series of three paintings.” I stop but don’t face him. In a single sentence he has piqued my curiosity. “He produced three paintings. In 1945 all three paintings were believed lost when the Germans burned the Austrian castle where they were stored to the ground.” There’s a depth of emotion to his voice that surprises me. I turn around, wanting to see his face as he discusses something that he clearly cares about. “Would you like to see two of them?”
    Nazi loot. I immediately think of the cases major crimes pursues. “Are they stolen?”
    “No. I bought them in private auction.”
    So, grey market. I walk back over and sit down. I don’t know much about art, but I’m completely intrigued by the idea of the behind-the-scenes maneuvering for art that has been presumed destroyed. What do the authorities do when a piece of art that isn’t supposed to exist goes missing? I stare at Dirk, and the look of supreme confidence is back on his face. He knows he has me hooked, but there is nothing I can do about it. I  am  hooked. Finally, I ask the obvious question. “And where is the third?”
    He smiles. “ That one  was stolen.”

    DIRK
----

    My response invites a lot of questions but Jill doesn’t ask any, which I’m glad about. There will be plenty of time for questions later. Questions like: The painting was stolen, but was it stolen recently? Stolen from its rightful owner in the distant past? Was it stolen and then stolen again? The possibilities are intriguing, and my hope is that Jill latches on to those possibilities while we enjoy our moments of passion. Anything that keeps her physically close yet emotionally distant. 
    I stand up. “Follow me,” I say, and she does. I can’t believe how well things are going. 
    I walk her down the hall to my gallery. It is naturally lit like the Kimball Museum in Ft. Worth and holds my private collection—art pieces that have special meaning to me and that I can’t bear to share via a museum loan or pieces that would be problematic with a public unveiling. 
    Jill’s eyes are wide as we walk past pieces by Mondrian and a few of the impressionist masters. I stop in front of my Klimt display. 
    “This is  Jurisprudence ,” I say, pointing to a large painting that is well lit by natural lighting via large skylights. I take a step and point at the next painting. “This is  Medicine . Note the amazing colors and imagery. Klimt is a genius.” 
    I’m not really looking at Jill. I can’t help but be drawn into the beauty of the paintings. For a moment I forget everything and let Klimt fill my soul.

    JILL
----

    Dirk’s voice is sexy and alluring in its sincerity and how full of awe it is. His love for the painting is clearly deep and real. He is not a collector who considers art an investment. 
    I point to a blank spot on the wall to the right of the  Medicine  painting. “Is that where the third painting was stolen from?” 
    He pauses in front of the space and stares at it. “No. That is where I hope to hang the painting. It is called  Philosophy  and is owned by Uhvanffy, a gallery owner in Uptown.” 
    I walk over and stand in front of Dirk, looking up at him. “Are you telling me that the painting was stolen from Uhvanffy’s gallery?”
    “Yes.”
    “And this is a painting that you