by Zoe Blake
“We should start to wrap this up, kitten. There’s got to be something in all these flash drives we can use,” said Paine as he held open his backpack. It was filled with at least a hundred flash drives, many of them silver. “Look at all those silver drives. You were a very busy, very naughty girl.”
Mirage flashed him a smile as she caught the seductive turn of his thoughts. “Yes. I was a very bad girl.”
Paine took a step toward her. Wrapping his arm around her, he pulled her close. Leaning in, his lips brushed hers. “Looks like I’m going to have to punish you.”
Mirage’s inner thighs clenched. Between the adrenaline rush of the heist, the threat of getting caught and Paine’s masculine presence, her blood was already running high and hot.
“You’ll have to catch me first!”
Mirage bolted out of the vault. The sudden movement set off the alarm.
Paine laughed as he gave chase.
It was part of their plan to set the alarm off. They wanted The Syndicate to know of the theft as soon as possible. The sooner they knew they were compromised, the sooner they would be willing to call off the hit and negotiate with Paine and Mirage.
They didn’t even return to the small apartment. Hopping in a car they had staged a few blocks away just outside the Diamond District, they were already making their way through the labyrinth of old streets before they heard the first police siren. Hours later when they were far outside of the city on a dark country road, Paine pulled the car over.
“Why are we stopping?” asked Mirage as she turned to look out the back window for any sign of trouble before turning back to Paine.
He held up a tube of crimson red lipstick. “We did it, baby. Time to celebrate.”
Giving him a seductive laugh, Mirage whipped off her T-shirt before leaning in to kiss him.
Chapter 12
Istanbul, Turkey - Three months later
* * *
Walking from the cool interior of the villa into the bright sunshine, Mirage lowered her sunglasses over her eyes and scanned the pool area for Paine. The cedar wood patio felt warm beneath her feet as she made her way to the northern corner which was shaded by the dark green leaves of several hazelnut trees.
“Coffee.” Mirage handed him a warm mug before settling onto the thick cushions of the lounge chair next to him.
“Thanks, love.”
Turning her head to the side, she glimpsed at the open laptop on the small table between them.
“Still reviewing the Turkish coup files?”
“I still find it hard to believe The Syndicate was actually involved in that mess. Makes sense now why they sent you to basically gather any evidence of their involvement.”
“Told you I didn’t start the coup,” joked Mirage.
Paine smiled, leaning over to push an errant, glossy blonde curl behind her ear as he always liked to do, before returning to the computer.
Mirage stretched and tilted her head back to catch the sun’s warmth. Her thoughts wandered over the whirlwind events of the last three months. They’d been barely out of Antwerp before The Syndicate reached out to them. Mirage informed them that in the event of the death of either her or Paine, the flash drives would immediately be distributed to every major government head and corporation around the globe. The Syndicate would be completely exposed. Ruined.
The Syndicate immediately changed their tune, apologizing for the miscommunication regarding the kill contract. Stating it was the ill-advised, over-zealous efforts of a low-level employee. Whether they were a mastermind criminal organization or a big public corporation, companies were all the same. Pass the buck and deflect blame.
Once the threat of a bullet to the head was gone, Mirage went about fixing the damage she had wrought. Since they were already in Belgium, the first thing they did was break into the museum in Brussels and steal back the fake Vermeer. She then arranged to have the original stolen one, which she had tucked away in one of her flats in London, returned to Paine’s client. After that, the rest was just a matter of a well-placed word here and a little money there and Paine’s reputation was restored.
Curiously, Mirage was surprised at how much she enjoyed working with Paine. She’d always thought she had to work alone to stay in complete control. Through Paine she was learning to loosen the reins a bit, that life was more fun when you let in a little chaos. Oh, she still pushed his buttons. Still loved to make him angry. She was addicted to the adrenaline rush of pleasure and pain that came from making him chase her. The feel of his hands when he forced her down on the bed, ruthlessly pushing her legs open wide so he could drive into her. Oh yes, that part of their relationship would never change.
The harsh ring of Paine’s cell interrupted her seductive train of thought.
“Hey, Logan.”
“Hello, Logan,” chimed in Mirage.
“Mirage says hello.”
“Tell the black widow I say hello back,” Logan returned.
“What’s up?”
“Well, they’ve doubled their offer. They’re willing to split the take fifty-fifty if you and Mirage agree to do the job together.”
The Syndicate had been contacting them relentlessly over the last few months. There were few thieves who had Paine’s special skill set or Mirage’s abilities, and they were having a hard time filling the void left by their absence. As with most things, money forgave all ills. The Syndicate wanted them back in the field. In an amusingly ironic way, the fact that they had successfully broken into one of the most secure vaults in the world actually put them in higher esteem with The Syndicate, despite the fact that it was their vault Paine and Mirage had robbed.
Mirage sat up and started to nod her head. Their time at the pretty yellow stucco villa in the hills of Istanbul had been lovely, but she was anxious to get back to the excitement of planning their next heist.
Paine laughed. “Well, it looks like the answer is yes. We’ll head back to London by the end of next week.”
“Now that business is out of the way, I heard you popped the question to the black widow. Chloe wants to know if you got down on one knee like a gentleman?” asked an amused Logan.
“No. I told her she was mine, and I wanted to make it official,” responded Paine gruffly, lowering his voice and trying to turn his shoulders away from Mirage so she wouldn’t hear his response.
She heard.
Mirage hopped up. “That’s not at all the way it happened!”
Snatching the phone from Paine’s grasp, she said, “Logan? He’s lying to you. He got down on one knee. There were tears in his eyes when he told me how much he loved me!”
Her speech came in excited gasps as she was running around the pool trying to avoid Paine’s clutches. Mirage stuck her tongue out at him as she tossed the phone in the air and then jumped in the pool right as he was about to catch her.
Snatching the phone out of midair, Paine said an abrupt, “Gotta go. I have to teach a bad kitten a lesson.” He hung up the phone and tossed it aside before diving into the pool after her.
Mirage gave out a shout of frightened excitement as she tried to swim away.
Paine grabbed her around the waist, forcing her legs to straddle him as they floated in the clear blue water.
Mirage leaned back and tried to splash him. “Let me go, you villain!” she said with dramatic flourish.
“Never.” His mouth descended, capturing her lips for his own.
* * *
How the proposal really happened…
* * *
Mirage awoke to a warm breeze floating over her bare skin. The breeze ruffled the white gauze curtains which led to the balcony overlooking the Arno River in Florence. She stretched her arms above her head, smiling when she saw the crimson silk tie still wrapped around her wrist from the night before. Shifting her hips, she grimaced slightly at the soreness between her legs. No doubt she had bruises on her hips too from where his strong hands had held her down while he thrust into her from behind. She loved
the ruthless violence of his lovemaking. It was so unrestrained and passionate, so unlike the rigid control of her former, now-forgotten existence.
As she moved, she felt something shift between her breasts. Sitting up, she lifted the gorgeous, princess cut pink diamond which now dangled from a silver chain around her neck. As she did so, she noticed a matching large pink diamond on her ring finger.
“Do you like them, kitten?”
Mirage looked up to see Paine leaning against the balcony door. He was dressed in only a pair of blue silk pajama bottoms. His muscular chest with its swirls of hair were on full, enticing display. So were the crescent moon bite marks she had left on his shoulder.
“The Raj Pink diamond?”
Paine stepped into the room to sit on the edge of the bed. With the back of one knuckle, he traced the slope of her breast before picking up the diamond pendant. “There was no way I was going to sell it. I decided to have it cut into a ring and necklace for you.”
Mirage held up her left hand, shifting it to and fro to catch the early morning sunlight, sending rainbows of crystal color dancing across the ring. She bit her lip. “Does this mean you…”
Paine placed a finger under her chin and forced her gaze to meet his. “You’re mine, Miranda. If I have to chase you around the world proving that fact to you, then I will, but I would much prefer to prove it to you here in bed.”
Paine pulled on her hips till she was lying flat, then placed the warm weight of his body over hers. Digging his fingers into her hair, he brushed his lips against her neck. “Who owns you?” he asked playfully as he shifted lower, scraping his teeth against her pert nipple.
Giving him a wicked grin, she said, “Bite me.”
Closing his teeth painfully on her flesh, he gladly accommodated her.
Mirage arched her hips and groaned before placing a hand along the rough stubble of his jaw, saying, “I’m yours, Paine.”
“Do you love me?” he asked.
“I do,” she responded without hesitation.
“Good. Remember those two little words because you will be saying them again soon,” he teased as he nibbled and licked the smooth skin of her neck.
“I don’t remember you actually asking me to marry you.” Mirage’s eyes sparkled with humor. She loved bantering with him.
Paine lifted up to straddle her hips. Grabbing her wrists, he stretched them above her head. Using the tie that was still around her left wrist, he secured them both to the headboard before running his hands over her breasts and down her stomach. Then placing his hands on either side of her head, he leaned down to rasp darkly against her lips, “I’m a thief. I never ask. I take what I want.”
Mirage moaned as she tilted her hips upward. “Take me, Paine.” Then, with a seductive twist to her lips, she whispered, “Make it hurt.”
* * *
The end.
About Zoe Blake
USA TODAY Bestselling Author in Dark Romance
She delights in writing Dark Romance books filled with overly-possessive Billionaires, Taboo scenes and Unexpected twists. She usually spends her ill-gotten gains on martinis, travel and red lipstick. Since she can barely boil water, she’s lucky enough to be married to a sexy Chef.
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Also by Zoe Blake
SWEET SAVAGERY DUET
A Dark Mafia Romance
* * *
Sweet Cruelty
It was an innocent mistake.
She knocked on the wrong door.
Mine.
If I were a better man, I would've just let her go.
But I'm not.
I'm a cruel bastard.
I ruthlessly claimed her virtue for my own.
It should have been enough.
But it wasn't.
I needed more.
Craved it.
She became my obsession.
Her sweetness and purity taunted my dark soul.
The need to possess her nearly drove me mad.
A Russian arms dealer had no business pursuing a naive librarian student.
She didn't belong in my world.
I would bring her only pain.
But it was too late…
She was mine and I was keeping her.
* * *
Sweet Depravity
The moment she opened those gorgeous red lips to tell me no, she was mine.
I was a powerful Russian arms dealer and she was an innocent schoolteacher.
If she had a choice, she’d run as far away from me as possible.
Unfortunately for her, I wasn’t giving her one.
I wasn’t just going to take her; I was going to take over her entire world.
Where she lived.
What she ate.
Where she worked.
All would be under my control.
Call it obsession.
Call it depravity.
I don’t give a damn… as long as you call her mine.
* * *
IVANOV CRIME FAMILY TRILOGY
A Dark Mafia Romance
* * *
Savage Vow
I took her innocence as payment.
She was far too young and naïve to be betrothed to a monster like me.
I would bring only pain and darkness into her sheltered world.
That’s why she ran.
I should’ve just let her go…
She never asked to marry into a powerful Russian mafia family.
None of this was her choice.
Unfortunately for her, I don’t care.
I own her… and after three years of searching… I’ve found her.
My runaway bride was about to learn disobedience has consequences… punishing ones.
Having her in my arms and under my control had become an obsession.
Nothing was going to keep me from claiming her before the eyes of God and man.
She’s finally mine… and I’m never letting her go.
* * *
Vicious Oath
When I give an order, I expect it to be obeyed.
She’s too smart for her own good, and it’s going to get her killed.
Against my better judgement, I put her under the protection of my powerful Russian mafia family.
So imagine my anger when the little minx ran.
For three long years I’ve been on her trail, always one step behind.
Finding and claiming her had become an obsession.
It was getting harder to rein in my driving need to possess her… to own her.
But now the chase is over.
I’ve found her.
Soon she will be mine.
And I plan to make it official, even if I have to drag her kicking and screaming to the altar.
This time… there will be no escape from me.
* * *
Betrayed Honor
Her innocence was going to get her killed.
That was if I didn't get to her first.
She's the protected little sister of the powerful Ivanov Russian mafia family - the very definition of forbidden.
It’s always been my job, as their Head of Security, to watch over her but never to touch.
That ends today.
She disobeyed me and put herself in danger.
It was time to take her in hand.
I’m the only one who can save her and I will fight anyone who tries to stop me, including her brothers.
Honor and loyalty be damned.
She’s mine now.
* * *
DARK OBSESSION TRILOGY
A Dark Romantic Suspense
* * *
Ward
It should have been a fairytale...
A Billionaire Duke sweeps a poor American actress off her feet to a romantic,
isolated English estate.
A grand love affair... except this wasn't love.
It was obsession.
He had it all planned from the beginning, before I even knew he existed. He chose me.
I'm his unwilling captive, forced to play his sadistic game.
He is playing with my mind as well as my body.
Trying to convince me it is 1895, and I'm his obedient ward, subject to his rules and discipline.
Everywhere I look it is the Victorian era.
He says that my memories of a modern life are delusions
which need to be driven from my mind through punishment.
If I don't submit, he will send me back to the asylum.
I know it's not true... any of it... at least I think it's not.
The lines between reality and this nightmare are starting to blur.
If I don't escape now, I will be lost in his world forever.
It should have been a fairytale...
* * *
Gilded Cage
He's controlling, manipulative, dangerous... and I'm in love with him.
Rich and powerful, Richard is used to getting whatever he wants... and he wants me.
This isn't a romance. It's a dark and twisted obsession.
A game of ever-increasingly depraved acts.