His Mistress by Blackmail

by Maya Blake

  Cold silver eyes met hers. ‘Of course. Why would I not?’

  ‘I... I thought you’d have your security people retrieve your property.’

  ‘You thought wrong.’

  She heard the faint voice on the phone and started to raise it to her ear.

  Xandro held up a staying hand. ‘If you want this business over and done with quickly, hang up the phone,’ he instructed tersely.

  She pressed the end button. ‘But...why would you want me to fly with you?’ His cold dismissal still rang in her ears, breaking her heart.

  His lips flattened. ‘I’m not prepared to sit around waiting for you to make your way across the Atlantic in case your brother is intransigent about revealing the whereabouts of the necklace. So we’ll fly together. If you can bring yourself to do that?’

  She hesitated, probably too long. The icy crevasse between them widened, even as she nodded. ‘Thank you.’

  When he spoke again, his tone was even more remote and chilling, nothing like the man she’d danced with under the Californian sky. ‘We leave in an hour.’

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  HE’D BARED HIS soul to her. Completely and utterly. And now he was totally exposed.

  He had no experience in that particular area, which was why he’d been reluctant to go there in the first place. He could claim his brain had been addled by sex. But he knew he could’ve avoided revealing his soul to her if he’d wanted. She’d asked. And he’d granted her wish.

  And now, too late, he was painfully reminded that there was a reason he’d avoided return journeys into his past. With anyone. It was why he’d discouraged it with the women he’d dated before Sage.

  But he wasn’t dating her. Hell, they didn’t even like each other.

  Liar. Had he not dragged her out to dinner each night in the weeks before they’d slept together because it’d been the only way he could have her in his arms, even though it’d proven to be more torture than pleasure in the long run? And afterwards, those carefully planned trips so he could avoid the media and have her to himself. Touch her. Engage in a conversation that didn’t start and end with an argument.

  He’d watched her dance and felt as if he was experiencing something pure and transcendental. Something beautiful and special he didn’t want to let go.

  Only to have it tossed away at the very first opportunity. To think he’d left her this morning toying with the idea that he would be okay if Ben Woods stayed hidden for a little longer. He’d even considered an offer of rehabilitation when Ben returned if it would...what? Make Sage regard him favourably? Make her want to accommodate him in her life?

  Dammit. Yes.

  He cursed the mocking laughter in his head as he flipped open his seat belt and walked to the front of his plane. They’d been in the air for three hours and for all that time she’d had her nose stuck in a magazine, pretending he didn’t exist.

  ‘I have a life to get on with,’ she’d said.

  A life that didn’t feature him at all. Did he need anything more definitive than that?

  No. Whatever he’d thought he could find with Sage Woods had only been in his imagination. And, like she said, they’d already spent too long on this exercise. It was time to get back to the real world. It was time to take his life back, too.

  So why did the thought of her not standing at the east window, of not hearing strains of music from his guest bedroom or, thee mou, the thought of not being able to touch her again, fill his chest with such black dread?

  He threw himself into a club chair, clicked the remote and raised the volume of the financial news playing on his flat screen TV. Anything to drown out the thoughts tearing through his mind and the sinking sensation that, in a shockingly short space of time, he’d given the most beautiful woman he’d ever met something much more than he’d ever parted with before. And he had no damn idea how to get back on an even keel.

  * * *

  ‘What’s he saying?’ Sage demanded urgently as a man in blue scrubs and white coat tossed out long streams of French.

  After a strained flight where she’d vacillated between pretending Xandro wasn’t sitting in icy silence across from her and wishing the conversation in the ballroom hadn’t happened, they’d landed in Nice and raced to the hospital to find out that Ben wasn’t there.

  Xandro, who, of course, spoke impeccable French, issued another lightning-fast query at the harried doctor.

  ‘Where’s Ben?’ she demanded again.

  That earned her a chilling look from the man who’d donned his ruthless mogul suit with shocking ease. ‘It seems everyone is of the view that he’s checked himself out against doctor’s orders.’

  ‘They’ve lost him?’ she screeched.

  Xandro sent her another censorious look. ‘He’s a grown man, Sage. They couldn’t keep him here if he didn’t want to stay.’

  She curbed her panic as anxiety surged. ‘What about his injuries? Ask him how bad he is? Please.’

  His lips compressed. ‘Believe it or not, it was the first question I asked. They’re not life-threatening. Unless he does something more to aggravate them.’

  ‘Oh, God.’

  A slight gentling of his features tugged hard at her. Made her wish for the impossible. ‘We will find him.’

  She nodded. She could believe that. Xandro was relentless when he wanted something.

  He ended the conversation with the doctor and then he took her arm and led her out of the emergency ward. The SUV idling at the kerb had tinted windows and the usual contingent of menacing-looking bodyguards.

  She shivered as she slid into the back and the doors shut. ‘Where are we going?’

  ‘We tracked his phone to Monaco. I have a few ideas of where he might be headed.’

  ‘Another gambling den?’

  ‘If he’s running out of money that narrows his options.’

  She leaned back against the headrest. ‘But not in a good way, right?’

  His cold silence said everything.

  The miles rolled by as they travelled along the craggy shoreline. Eventually, signs for the Principality of Monaco appeared and she silently shook her head. She’d once longed to visit this place with the man of her dreams. But never like this. Not with a man she’d fallen in love with while knowing he was merely using her as a means to an end.

  Pain wrenched at her then rolled over her in unrelenting waves. She was attempting to breathe through it when Xandro sat forward and peered ahead through the windscreen.

  Sage looked out too, noting the seedy street. Her heart sank as they pulled into an alley and stopped in front of an ominous-looking door. Two burly men in dark clothes stood on either side of it, eyeing the SUV.

  Xandro turned his attention to her. ‘You will stay in the car—’

  ‘No. Please, I need to see Ben.’

  His jaw flexed. ‘You will when I bring him out. This is non-negotiable.’

  He didn’t give her a chance to respond. He pushed open his door, nodding to one of the bodyguards. Then, without a word, he disappeared through the black door.

  The next twenty minutes was the longest of her life. By the time half an hour had ticked by, her nerves were frayed beyond recognition. She held on for another five minutes, then jumped out.

  Xandro’s bodyguard immediately stepped in front of her. ‘Miss, I can’t let you go in.’

  ‘I... I need the bathroom,’ she lied.

  He shifted uncomfortably. ‘I can get the driver to take you to a hotel or a—’

  ‘Not to put it too indelicately, but I won’t last that long.’

  She caught the tiniest pained grimace before his professionalism slid into place. ‘I’ll take you in, but please stay close.’

  Relief fizzed through her. ‘Understood.’

  His gaze sharpened and Sage fought to keep her expression neutral.

  The stench of stale smoke and cheap liquor hit her the moment she went down the dark carpeted stairs into the poorly lit gambling club. Half a dozen t
ables were grouped in a large room, all occupied by gamblers hunched over their winnings or desperately hoping to earn back their losses. On either side of the room, four alcoves were partially curtained off but Sage caught glimpses of more of the same going on.

  ‘It’s that way.’ The bodyguard indicated a sign on the far left of the room.

  She nodded, noting that while a few heads swung her way, none of the gamblers paid her close attention as she walked past. Nor were any of them Ben or Xandro.

  About to head down the corridor that led to the Ladies’, she caught sight of Xandro’s profile from behind one of the curtains.

  She turned to the bodyguard. ‘Could you get me a drink for when I come out? A club soda is fine. As you can see, I’m in no danger. Please?’

  He gave a grudging nod. The moment he headed for the bar, she made a beeline for the alcove. About to enter, she paused when she heard Ben’s strained voice.

  ‘If I win this hand, I’ll give you your necklace back, but in return you agree to stay the hell away from my sister.’

  ‘And if I win?’ Xandro demanded with a heavy trace of bitterness. ‘What grand prize do I get on top of the pain in the backside you’ve been to me this last six weeks?’

  She held her breath.

  ‘Whatever you want. I can work for you for free for however long you want. But my sister is off the table. Agreed?’

  Xandro’s harsh laugh ravaged her heart. ‘Would you believe me if I told you that you don’t have to worry about that any longer?’ he said. ‘That we can end this right now?’

  ‘End this how?’ Ben asked after a moment.

  Tense silence reigned, dragging nails over her nerves. ‘Things didn’t end the way I wanted them to, but I’ll still keep my word to you. All I want is the necklace. Return it and you can go free,’ Xandro finally said.

  ‘I don’t believe you. You’re a risk-taker, just like me. We make the deal my way. That’s the only way I can trust you to stand by it. So, are we agreed?’

  ‘Agreed,’ Xandro bit out.

  Pain slashed across her heart. The bottom that was already dropping out of the precarious world she’d built out of paper dreams gave way and disappeared into nothing. Xandro had never hidden his intentions from her and still she’d fallen in love with him. A man who was, even now, as she parted the curtains and walked into the room, sliding over the cards that would seal her exit from his life.

  She wasn’t aware she’d made a sound until the men at the table turned towards her. Xandro was the first on his feet.

  ‘Sage, I told you to stay in the car!’

  She swayed away from him as he lunged for her.

  Ben charged to his feet, too, but his steps were halted by a limp and a groan of pain as he clutched his ribs. Despite his hampered mobility, he managed to plant himself partially between her and Xandro. ‘Stay away from her.’

  ‘Keep out of this, Woods,’ Xandro snapped without taking his eyes off her.

  ‘Like hell I will. I just won—’

  ‘Stop! Enough, Ben. You know how I feel about gambling. Do you really think this is what I want?’

  Ben blinked, probably because she’d never yelled at him before. ‘Sage—’

  ‘No, I don’t want to hear any more reasons why you think your life is so miserable. Where’s the strong brother who helped me deal with the bullies? Who urged me to follow my dreams and stood by my side as we defied Mom and Dad? You were brave enough to fight for your country, but this...what you’re doing now? I don’t recognise that Ben.’

  He tried to shrug it off. ‘What does it matter? He can afford a hundred more of those necklaces.’

  She exhaled in despair. ‘No, he can’t. Not that one. And, even if he could, you’re not a thief. At least you weren’t till recently.’

  His gaze dropped from hers, a tinge of red flowing into his unshaven face. After a long moment, he reached behind him and tugged something out of his waistband. It was an oblong-shaped object wrapped in black cloth. He tossed it on the table. ‘I don’t care what happens to me, but we had an agreement.’

  Xandro took a deep, shuddering breath. Reached for the object. Discarding the cloth, he opened the velvet box. The necklace was a simple design. But the three rubies were huge, enough to command much more than the sum Xandro had bargained for all those years ago.

  It would’ve been anticlimactic, had she not witnessed the pain in his face as he stared at the piece of jewellery. Then the emotion was wiped clean from his face as he snapped the box shut and set it back on the table.

  ‘I wish to renegotiate.’ He spoke directly to her. ‘With this.’ He held up the box.

  But it was Ben who answered. ‘No chance—’

  ‘I can speak for myself, Ben,’ Sage interrupted him. ‘You do whatever you want, Xandro, but I won’t be a part of it.’

  Xandro stepped towards her. ‘Sage—’

  She held up her hand. ‘No, this ends now. You have what you want. I’m going home.’

  Xandro stepped in front of her. ‘I brought you here. I’m taking you back.’

  ‘No, it’s over, remember?’ The reminder was more for herself.

  His eyes darkened to a stormy grey. ‘Trust me, I haven’t forgotten. But if you think I’m going to leave you in this place, you’re sorely mistaken.’

  She stayed mutinously silent, afraid that the tears building at the back of her eyes and throat would accompany whatever she attempted to say.

  Xandro dragged a hand through his hair. ‘Besides, your brother shouldn’t be subjected to a long flight. Not until he’s been medically cleared.’

  She glanced at Ben, saw the pain etched on his face. ‘Ben?’

  He attempted a shrug that didn’t quite come off.

  Xandro’s lips firmed. ‘He needs medical care. I can have him in a private clinic within the hour,’ he said, his eyes piercing ferociously into hers.

  ‘I’ll pay you back.’

  Xandro’s jaw gritted. ‘If you insist.’

  ‘I do.’

  With her heart still reeling, she took Ben’s arm, fighting back tears as he leaned heavily on her. She was aware of Xandro following them out but she concentrated on Ben until they were outside and the bodyguards took over.

  She was so focused on not breaking down that she didn’t notice Ben had been placed in the second SUV until it drove away and Xandro strode towards her.

  She rushed after the vehicle. ‘Why is he leaving without me?’

  Xandro blocked her path. ‘You’ll be reunited with your brother soon enough. If you get in the car.’

  She got in, but kept her gaze fixed straight ahead. Silence reigned. Thicker. More charged. And with each mile they drove higher into the hills of Monaco she fought harder to hold herself together.

  She was at her wits’ end when they finally drove through a set of high double gates. ‘Where are we?’

  ‘We’re at one of my properties,’ he replied.

  ‘I thought you were taking me to Ben.’

  ‘I will, right after we talk.’

  ‘I really don’t see what more we have to say to each other, Xandro.’

  He scowled. ‘You may not have any more to say, but I do. I have no problem carrying you in if that’s what you prefer?’ he snapped.

  Her senses screamed at her to refuse, to save herself more pain and end this now. But that tiny voice replaying Xandro’s words to Ben—Things didn’t end the way I wanted them to—refused to accept that this was over and compelled her to reach for the door.

  She followed him through the double front doors of a magnificent villa and into a wide, welcoming hallway. Up a short flight of stairs into a sumptuous living room that overlooked a sparkling pool and more landscaped gardens.

  Before she could take a breath, he whirled to face her. ‘Why did you end things with me?’ he demanded tightly.

  Her heart squeezed painfully but she strove to keep it from showing. ‘I told you—’

  ‘I blackmailed you and you,
quite rightly, wanted to get back to your life,’ he snarled. ‘I know. But was that the whole truth? Is there more, Sage?’ he demanded.

  The need to confess her feelings burned on her tongue. ‘Xandro...’

  ‘If it isn’t, I need to know.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘Because I lied too,’ he gritted out.

  Sage swallowed. ‘About what?’

  ‘About wanting you gone by morning. It’s the worst, most damning lie I’ve ever told.’

  Her insides shook. ‘Why?’ Her voice was a thin, reedy whisper.

  He laughed, a self-deprecating sound, before he lifted one hand to grip his nape. ‘Because it’s the furthest thing from what I want most in the world. You, Sage. You are what I want. So damn much it hurts.’

  Her lungs refused to work properly. ‘Why should I believe you?’

  ‘Because I left you yesterday morning still plotting ways to keep you in Vegas with me. I couldn’t imagine watching another sunrise without you by my side. Or not having you there to argue about everything with me. I don’t know how or when you crept under my skin, but God, the thought of not having you in my life, of not seeing your beautiful face kills me.’

  Tears threatened again. ‘Why did you make that deal with Ben then?’

  ‘I wanted to get him out of there. It was the quickest way for me to do that. It’s become clear to me that argumentative characters run in your family. I’d already spent the better part of half an hour trying to talk him out of gambling away the remaining money he had. That last hand was to get it over as quickly as possible so I could get him back to you.’

  ‘Hearing you agree to it hurt, Xandro. A lot.’

  He closed his eyes for a moment. ‘I know. It hurt me to say it. But not as much as you ending things with me.’

  Her heart thudded wildly. ‘I thought the necklace was all you wanted.’

  ‘I haven’t thought about it for weeks, Sage. I was even hoping Ben would stay in hiding for longer, just so I’d have more time with you. And tonight...when I held the necklace again I knew it was time to let it go. I’ll always have my mother’s memory with me. And it did its duty a long time ago. It showed me who I could be, instead of who I was then. Now all I want is to look to the future. With you, if you’ll take me back.’