Just get on with it !
Seeing a half-open door across the expanse of marbled floor, she held her breath and tiptoed across. Gingerly pushing the door open a little more fully, she breathed a sigh of relief once more when she saw that it was the study. Moonlight was the only illumination, and it cast the room in dark shadows.
Angel could make out a desk and went over, feeling for a drawer. Her fingers snagged a catch and she pulled it out, while reaching her hand into her pocket for the will at thesame time. Sheâd just pulled it free and was about to place it into the drawer when the lights blazed on, with such suddenness and ferocity that Angel jumped back in fright.
Leonidas Parnassus stood in the doorway, arms folded, eyes so dark and forbidding that they effectively froze Angel from feeling anything but numb. And then he said quietly, but with ice dripping from his tone, âJust what the hell do you think youâre doing?â
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Angel blinked in the intense light. She heard a roaring in her ears and had to fight against the very real need to faint. She couldnât faint. But she couldnât speak. Her brain and body were going into meltdown at being confronted with Leo Parnassus, standing just a few feet away, dressed in dark trousers and a plain light blue shirt, looking dark and intimidatingly gorgeous. Looking like the man who had invaded her dreams for the past seven weeks.
She opened her mouth, but nothing came out.
With a few quick strides Leo had crossed the room, moving so fast and with such lethal grace that Angel just watched in disbelief when he effortlessly whipped the will out of her white-knuckle grip.
âWell, Kassianides, letâs see what you came for.â
Angel watched dumbly as he unfolded the document. She heard his indrawn breath when he registered what it was.
He looked at her, his dark gaze like black ice. âMy fatherâs will? You came here to steal my fatherâs will? Or just whatever you could get your dirty little hands on?â
Angel shook her head, registering that heâd called her Kassianides. It distracted her. âYouâ¦you know who I am?â
His jaw tightened. Angel saw the movement and felt a flutter in her belly. He threw the will down on the table andreached out, taking her arm in a punishing grip. Angel bit back a cry at his touch, more of shock than pain.
He unceremoniously hauled her from behind the desk and led her over to a chair in the corner. He all but thrust her into it.
âI should have guessed after your last stunt that you obviously donât have any qualms about trespassing where youâre not welcome.â
He didnât answer her redundant question. Patently he now knew exactly who she was, and she realised that someone at the party must have told him after theyâd seen him take her outside.
She knew it was probably futile, but she said it anyway. âIf Iâd known for a second where I would be working that night I wouldnât have been here, I found out when it was too late.â
He all but sneered, towering over her now, arms crossed again over his broad chest. âPlease, give me some credit. You might be able to distract other people with that seductively innocent face, but after what Iâve just seen I know that youâre rotten to your core. Your whole family are.â
Angel went to stand up on a fierce wave of anger. It was not fair to assume that she was like her ancestors, or her father, but before she could get a word out Leo had easily pushed her back down, not even using much force. Angel felt as weak as a rag doll, shaky all over. Once again the reality of his touch was more shocking than his action.
She clenched her fists and welcomed the rush of energy that anger brought. âYou have it all wrong. Iâm not here to steal anything. If you must knowââ
Leo slashed a hand through the air, silencing her. Angel stopped abruptly. As much as she held no
Jean-Claude Izzo, Howard Curtis