Not by a long shot.
Chapter Eleven
Marlowe
Marlowe arrived at Harley’s seaside cottage three days before her sculptures were due, intending to deliver an invitation to expand their relationship in person. He had lost two of his best pilots—one to a crash over the Alps and another to a bullet between the eyes—and he needed someone he could trust to fly the next shipment into Russia.
But instead of his pretty artist with the clever hands and feline smile, he’d found empty rooms with the lights still on, a mess on the kitchen stove, and a shattered beer bottle on the patio overlooking the sea.
“There’s no sign of a break-in or a struggle, sir.” Liam came to stand beside him. “But I did find this.”
Marlowe reached out, taking a child’s drawing from his pilot’s meaty hand. It was a map of the house and the surrounding areas, with a trail drawn in crayon and an X to mark the spot where the treasure was buried. It was signed by the artist—Jasper Garrett.
Marlowe smiled. “Garrett? That’s her old alias.”
“It is,” Liam confirmed. “I told you she was hiding something.”
“You did,” Marlowe agreed mildly, never one to get angry with his staff for his own mistakes. “I should have listened. Any idea what might have become of her and the little one?”
“Not yet,” Liam said. “Give me some time. I should be able to turn up something. If one of our enemies took her, they’ll be in touch.”
“And if not, we’ll figure out where our girl has gone.” Marlowe handed the drawing back to Liam. “But before we go hunting, I want to see what the little man left behind.”
He and Liam located shovels in the shed and followed the crudely drawn map to a hollow in the sand at the base of a grassy dune. Ten minutes later they had unearthed sand toys, a red shovel, and a damp, sand-encrusted towel. Marlowe left the towel but instructed Liam to bring the toys and the shovel.
One never knew when treasure might come in handy.
A red shovel could flatten the skull of a rival who had dared to abduct one of his associates.
And a plastic bucket could be used to collect precious blood as it dripped from a little boy’s throat, teaching his mother a lesson about what happened to people who tried to leave Marlowe’s family.
There was no way out of the Raposa cartel, there was only dead.
Leaving the glass on the patio and the flies circling the fishy-smelling mess on the stove, Marlowe walked through the bungalow’s door to the waiting car, knowing he would find Harley sooner or later.
There was no question of if, only when.
Harley and Clay’s story continues in
Filthy Wicked Games, coming December 3, 2015.
Pre-order your copy here.
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Sneak Peek
A Sneak Peek of Book Two
Filthy Wicked Games…
Warning: This book is rough and raw, sick and twisted, and hot enough to set your panties on fire. Read with caution (and spare panties).
Harley’s been through hell before, but she’s never met anyone as wickedly sexy as the man her ex has become. Clay is one twisted bastard. The only thing more twisted is the way her body ignites every time they touch.
She can’t say no.
He won’t say yes.
And both of them are determined to be declared the victor in the filthy, wicked game they play.
But sometimes even the sexiest games turn deadly, leaving innocent lives caught in the crossfire…
* *Filthy Wicked Games is the second installment in the Dirty Twisted Love romance series. It is a spin off of the Bought By the Billionaire series, but can be read as a standalone romance. This is a SERIAL story, with a CLIFFHANGER ending. If you don’t like being teased, steer clear.* *
Pre-order FILTHY WICKED GAMES here.
Acknowledgments
First and foremost, thank you to my readers. Every email and post on my Facebook page has meant so much. I can’t express how deeply grateful I am for the chance to entertain you.
More big thanks to my Street Team, who I am convinced are the sweetest, funniest, kindest group of people around. You inspire me and keep me going and I’m not sure I’d be one-third as productive without you. Big tackle hugs to all.
More thanks to Kara H. for organizational excellence and helping me get the word out. (No one would have heard of the books without you!) Thanks to the Facebook groups who have welcomed me in, to the bloggers who have taken a chance on a newbie, and to everyone who has taken time out of their day to write and post a review.
And of course, many thanks to my husband, who not only loves me well but also supports me in everything I do. I don’t know how I got so lucky, man, but I am hanging on tight to you.
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About the Author
Lili Valente has slept under the stars in Greece, eaten dinner at midnight with French men who couldn’t be trusted to keep their mouths on their food, and walked alone through Munich’s red light district after dark and lived to tell the tale.
These days you can find her writing in a tent beside the sea, drinking coconut water and thinking delightfully dirty thoughts.
Lili loves to hear from her readers, find her on the web at…
www.lilivalente.com
lili.valente.romance@gmail.com
Also By Lili Valente
The complete Under His Command Series is
Available Now:
Controlling Her Pleasure—Download for FREE here!
Commanding Her Trust
Claiming Her Heart
The complete Bought by the Billionaire Series
is Available Now:
Dark Domination
Deep Domination
Desperate Domination
Divine Domination