Bewitching the Reclusive Billionaire Cowboy by Paige Cameron Page A

bit.
    Graham heard Gina take a deep breath. “Were you holding your breath while I was driving?”
    “Most of the way.” She grinned. “Were you ever a race-car driver?”
    “Only in my young teenage years. But I did ride bulls for a while. It drove my mother crazy.”
    “Were you ever hurt?”
    “Bruised and broke an arm once, otherwise no.”
    She turned in her seat to look at him. “I’d never have thought of you doing something where you were the focus of so much attention. It doesn’t fit your personality.”
    “I ignored the crowd. Riding the bull was an exhilaration and worth putting up with the fans.”
    “You are full of surprises, Mr. Graham Brodie.” She looked back at the sea, and he slowed as they entered a small town. Just on the other side was where they suspected the traitor had gone.
    “We’ll stop here for lunch,” Graham said. Before he got out of the car he took a quick look at the picture Dan had slipped in his pocket earlier. His heart jerked. Marko, the man who supposedly shot Graham’s friend and previous partner Andy. A committee decided death by friendly fire during a raid, and they’d cleared Marko. Graham had suspected differently but couldn’t prove it. That’s when he’d left and gone home.
    “Are you all right?” Gina touched his shoulder. “You look very fierce.”
    “I’m fine.” He got out and walked around to open her door. I’m really fine. At last, after I get this scum, Andy can rest in peace, and maybe I can get rid of my nightmares and guilt for somehow not saving him.
    Gina might have been hungry, but she was also fascinated with the small restaurant sitting on the edge of a rock above the sea. The azure water glistened with sunlight, and the blue sky shone clear and bright overhead. Graham loved watching her delight. He had to remind her several times to eat her shrimp.
    “I love this place. Even the air has its own particular lovely scent.”
    “I’d never know from the sad look on your face,” Graham teased.
    She stuck her tongue out at him, and he was dazzled by her. He was glad she’d agreed to stay behind at the hotel this evening. Having her around distracted him too much.
    After lunch they drove onward. Graham saw the villa on the right by the sea as they got about halfway between where they’d eaten and the next town. Shortly afterward, he turned and drove back to Rome.
     
    * * * *
     
    Sylvia heard them unlocking her door. Her whole body ached from the previous beatings. Where were her people? Surely they could have found her by now. She was almost certain her wrist was broken. It had swollen and hurt like hell. Her fingers brushed across the cut down the right side of her face. It had bled profusely. The edges felt rough and the area open. She’d never look the same.
    The tall, heavyset man, masked as usual, greeted her with a fake cheerfulness. She’d like to kick his teeth in.
    “Ah, signorina, would you join us for dinner? A simple meal I’m sure you’ll like.” His laughter grated on her nerves. She took a deep breath to calm the fear that rose higher each time they came to get her. She hadn’t known what depths of strength she had, but love for her sister and her country fueled her determination to outlast her captors. The time was getting close, though, when they’d either kill her, or her compatriots would rescue her. She, of course, preferred the latter outcome.
    Tonight, the man led her down a different hallway, and they entered the back of a large, beautiful villa. A maid met her.
    “Come with me.” She led Sylvia up carpeted steps to a large pink bedroom and into the huge modern bath.
    “You are to bathe, and clothes are in the closet for you.”
    “Why, what’s going on?”
    “You cannot dine with the master as dirty as you are now.” The woman left, closing the door behind her.
    Sylvia didn’t care why. She wanted to be clean once more. Then if they killed her at least she’d have had this last pleasure. She