Bitter Betrayal
Page 17
A shiver ran down her spine. ‘You’re still angry about that?’
His eyes flashed. ‘Angry? No. Disgusted? Yes.’ He dragged a hand through his hair, as though mentally shaking himself. ‘He would spend a lifetime repaying his creditors.’
Nikos was conscious that he was driving a proverbial knife into her. He didn’t stop.
‘Some of his decisions might even be seen as criminally negligent.’
‘Oh, my God, Nikos, don’t.’ She spun to face him; it was like being hit with a sledgehammer.
He ground his teeth, refusing to feel sympathy for her even when her world was shattering. ‘It is the truth. Would you prefer I’d said nothing?’
When she spoke her voice was hoarse, momentarily weakened by the strength of her feelings. ‘Does this bring you pleasure? Did you bring me here to gloat?’
‘To gloat?’ His smile was like a wolf’s. ‘No.’
‘Well? Then what do you want? Why are you telling me any of this?’
A muscle jerked in his cheek. ‘I could alleviate all of your father’s problems, you know.’
Hope, a fragile bird, fluttered in her gut. ‘Yes?’
‘It would not be difficult for me to fix this,’ he said with a shrug.
Marnie’s head spun at the ease of his declaration. ‘Even a hundred million pounds?’
‘I am a wealthy man. Do you not read the papers?’
‘God, Nikos.’ Relief was so palpable that she didn’t even acknowledge the insult. Hope loomed. ‘I don’t know how to thank you.’
‘Delay your gratitude until you have considered the terms.’
‘The terms?’ Her brows drew together in confusion.
‘I have the means to help your father, but not yet the inducement.’
Aware she was parroting, she murmured, ‘What inducement?’
The breath burned in her lungs. Her heart was hammering so hard in her chest that she thought it might break free and make a bid for freedom. Tension was a rope, twisting around them. She waited on tenterhooks that seemed to have sharp gnashing teeth.
‘You, Marnie.’ His dark voice was at its arrogant best. ‘As my wife. Marry me and I will help him.’
Copyright © 2017 by Clare Connelly
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ISBN-13: 978-1-488-08095-1
BITTER BETRAYAL
First published in 1989
This edition published in 2017
Copyright © 1989 by Penny Jordan.
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