Once, he’d stolen from her family,
now he wants more...
“This time I want it all.”
The bad boy is back—for her.
When charming billionaire Finn DeLuca gets out of prison, he returns to the woman he left behind—the mother of his son. But jewelry designer Genevieve Reilly wants no part of the man who stole her family’s heirloom diamond. Still, devilish Finn always gets what he wants, even if he has to make her a deal she can’t refuse...
He was spying on her.
He’d hired people to watch her. “Why?”
Finn leaned against the porch, and Genevieve couldn’t stop noticing his hands or remembering how they could make her feel. The pleasure and excitement.
“Because you matter to me.”
She wanted to tear her gaze away and regain control. But she couldn’t. His gaze was magnetic.
“I know I hurt you, Genni, but I realize now—”
“You’re just saying that because I’m the first woman who’s ever told you no. The first one to resist.”
A flash of something crossed his face and before she could react, Finn had her flush against him.
“Don’t lie, Genni. We both know you can’t resist if I seduce you.”
Her mouth opened in protest, but her brain shut down the words before they could leave her lips. Because no matter how she tried to deny it, he was right.
* * *
The Devil’s Bargain by Kira Sinclair is part
of the Bad Billionaires series.
Dear Reader,
Isn’t it fun to break the rules sometimes? To walk on the wild side now and again? To do something that makes you feel alive? While two of the men in my Bad Billionaires series would disagree, Finn DeLuca wholeheartedly embraces the idea that rules are simply suggestions. Sure, he doesn’t have a traditional moral compass, but he definitely has his own set of rules that govern his life and choices. To the outside world, he might appear nothing more than an opportunistic criminal. Good thing Genevieve Reilly can see beneath the well-crafted facade to the pain, fear and need Finn is desperate to hide.
Genevieve Reilly wants nothing to do with Finn DeLuca. Unfortunately, their shared son means she doesn’t have much of a choice but to confront him and the past that changed the trajectory of her life. However, with each encounter, she learns a little more about who Finn truly is and not just who he wants the world to see. The question is, can she ever learn to trust him...and her own compromised judgment?
Writing this story allowed me to take a precarious walk on the wild side, and I hope reading it gives you the chance to do the same. Enjoy the ride as you read Finn and Genevieve’s story! I’d love to hear from you at www.kirasinclair.com or come chat with me on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/kirasinclair. And don’t forget to check out the other Bad Billionaires novels coming soon!
Best wishes,
Kira
Kira Sinclair
The Devil’s Bargain
Kira Sinclair’s first foray into writing romance was for a high school English assignment, and not even being forced to read the Scotland-set historical aloud to the class could dampen her enthusiasm...although it definitely made her blush. She sold her first book to Harlequin Blaze in 2007 and has enjoyed exploring relationships, falling in love and happily-ever-afters since. She lives in North Alabama with her two teenage daughters and their ever-entertaining bernedoodle puppy, Sadie. Kira loves to hear from readers at [email protected].
Books by Kira Sinclair
Harlequin Desire
Bad Billionaires
The Rebel’s Redemption
The Devil’s Bargain
Harlequin Blaze
The Risk-Taker
She’s No Angel
The Devil She Knows
Captivate Me
Testing the Limits
Bring Me to Life
Handle Me
Rescue Me
Visit her Author Profile page at Harlequin.com, or kirasinclair.com, for more titles.
You can also find Kira Sinclair on Facebook, along with other Harlequin Desire authors, at Facebook.com/harlequindesireauthors!
Family is everything.
Over the years, my daughters have given me
constant encouragement, purpose, unconditional
love and support. Angel and Sunshine, this one
is for you. I love you both! (And I’ll ignore the fact
that the dirty dishes are still in the sink.) ♥
Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Epilogue
Excerpt from After Hours Redemption by Kianna Alexander
Excerpt from Scandalous Secrets by Synithia Williams
One
Three years. That’s how long she’d successfully avoided Finn DeLuca. Apparently, the reprieve was over.
Genevieve Reilly stared at her attorney...waiting for him to laugh. Or tell her April fool. Or pinch her so she’d finally wake up.
“At least the judge recognized the validity of our argument against letting him take Noah overnight.”
Oh, because that was the silver lining in this nightmare.
“How? How could this happen? You promised me he’d never be granted visitation. He’s a convicted felon, for God’s sake.”
“No.” Lance reached across the conference table and placed a soothing hand on her arm. “I told you it wasn’t likely. But it appears Mr. DeLuca has not only influence of his own, but also friends in high places. Anderson Stone spoke on his behalf as a character witness.”
“Another convicted felon.”
“With billions of dollars and a media campaign touting him as a hero who saved the love of his life from a rapist.”
“Whoop-dee-do. That has nothing to do with Finn. Finn isn’t a hero. In fact, I’m pretty sure he’s the devil’s son.”
Genevieve rubbed at the ache lodged right between her eyes. She’d regret the day she ever met Finn DeLuca...except that would mean she’d have to regret her son. And nothing could ever make that happen. Noah was the best thing in her life.
Having Noah had given her the strength to walk away from a life that was slowly poisoning her. Yes, the decision meant she and Noah had to fight for everything they had...but the fight was worth it. She’d do without if it meant raising her son in an environment that was healthy and happy.
Lance shrugged his shoulders. “Devil or not, he’s Noah’s father. And let’s be honest, he has enough money that he could have fought us as long as he wanted.”
That had sorta been her hope...and also what had kept her up at night. As long as they were in a court battle, then she didn’t have to face him. But she didn’t have access to unlimited bank accounts anymore so paying for all those legal bills would have been difficult. She’d have managed. Somehow.
They could appeal the judge’s decision, but in the meantime Finn would get visitation. Which meant she’d have to see him. A reality she’d been both dreading...and dreaming about.
Waking up with her sex throbbing from memories
of Finn was something she tried not to think about. She didn’t really want him. Couldn’t, wouldn’t let herself.
Nope, she refused to admit that any part of her wanted to see Finn DeLuca again.
Her last memory of him had been less than happy. Blue-and-red lights reflecting off the forecourt of her grandfather’s estate. The cool, remote expression on Finn’s face as an officer placed a hand to the top of his head and guided him into the back seat of the cruiser.
She’d refused to attend his trial. There’d been no point. And, thank God, the prosecutor hadn’t needed her to testify. Not when Finn had been caught red-handed with a fifteen-million-dollar diamond stuffed in his pocket.
Her diamond. Or, rather, her family’s. Nearly losing the Star of Reilly to the charismatic, smooth-talking devil had almost gotten her disowned...a fate Genevieve had spent her entire life bending over backward to avoid. It was the threat her grandfather had used to keep her in line from the time she was very young.
After losing her parents at an early age, her grandfather had been the only family she’d ever known. He might have been the monster in her closet, but he was all she had. So she’d grown up desperate to please him. Desperate not to lose him, too.
Who knew a few months after Finn’s arrest she’d be the one walking away? Life was funny...and not for the faint of heart.
And the thought of seeing Finn again had Genevieve’s stomach flipping uncomfortably close to her throat. He was handsome, charismatic, dynamic and dangerous. He was temptation personified, and despite everything, Genevieve didn’t exactly trust herself to hate him. Even if she should.
“Mr. DeLuca’s attorney has requested you provide your preferred location for the visit. He expressed his client’s desire for you to be comfortable.”
Well, wasn’t that just dandy? And not a thing like the Finn she knew. The man she remembered had been selfish and self-centered. Generous to a fault with those around him, but only because being charming was innate, not because he gave a damn about anyone else. Even now, she’d bet everything she owned that his generosity had nothing to do with Genevieve’s comfort.
Finn DeLuca wanted something—something more than access to her son. She just hadn’t figured out what. Yet.
At least she could guarantee he no longer wanted to use her for her access to the Reilly estate. He had to be aware of her change in circumstances. In fact, the tiny shreds of the check he’d sent, which were sitting on top of her dresser, were proof that he knew her grandfather didn’t support her anymore.
Like Finn could buy his way back into her life. Or Noah’s life. She didn’t need his money and wouldn’t have taken it even if she had. Noah might not have boarding school in his future, but she could afford to provide for her son without Finn’s tainted offering.
“Genevieve?”
Hell, this was really happening. She’d spent the last couple months hoping this day wouldn’t come. She’d refused to allow herself to contemplate the possibility that it might. So, she wasn’t prepared.
“Tell him to come by my place Saturday morning. Ten o’clock. We’ll figure out what to do from there. But he isn’t taking my son anywhere without me. Not until I know for certain he’s capable of caring for him and keeping him safe.”
“I’m fairly certain Mr. DeLuca will agree to whatever you want.”
That was a lie. Because if it were true, Finn would have respected her wishes and disappeared from her life for good.
* * *
Finn DeLuca stared at the file spread across the desk in front of him. His feet were kicked up onto the hard surface beside the eight-by-ten glossy of his son being pushed on one of those baby swings in the park.
He looked exactly like Finn’s younger brother had at that age. Before everything went to hell.
Noah’s pale blue eyes were alight with pure joy as wind ruffled his dirty-blond curls. His cheeks were chubby and pink and the perfect bow of his mouth was open on a peal of laughter.
This wasn’t the first time Finn had seen the photograph. Or the first time he’d found himself staring at it, lost in a complex web of emotions he didn’t have the experience to unravel.
He wasn’t used to giving a damn about anything but himself.
But from the first time he’d seen a picture of his son—the one the hospital took when he’d been born—Finn had been lost.
No, that wasn’t entirely true. He’d had a similar response the first time he’d laid eyes on Noah’s mother. Genevieve...perplexed him. Enticed him in a way no one else ever had.
Unbidden, Finn’s gaze traveled to the image of the woman standing behind Noah. Her arms were outstretched, waiting for the swing to return so she could push him again. Her flame-red hair had been pulled up into a tight knot at the top of her head, but the few strands that had fallen down were fluttering around her face.
He knew it was long...when she chose to let it down. Which was oh-so-rare. He could count on one hand the number of times he’d seen it in anything aside from a knot or a tail. And those few times had been because he’d asked her to leave it free.
He remembered running his fingers through the soft strands, reveling in the silky texture of it. Spreading it out across his pillow. The soft, blurred expression in her pale green eyes with the evergreen ring as his fingers played across her naked skin.
Dammit, he had to get control of himself. Sporting a half-hard erection at the mere thought of Genevieve’s head on his pillow wasn’t going to get him very far with her. In fact, it would have her building her walls even higher and faster.
And he needed her buy-in to have access to his son.
Shaking his head, Finn shuffled the photograph beneath the report he’d just been handed.
“Thanks, man. What do I owe you?”
Across the desk, Anderson Stone frowned at him, clearly perturbed at the question.
“Nothing. You know I’d do anything to help you. I’m just glad you’re finally getting the chance to meet him. It’s been a long six months.”
It had been, but things were finally coming together. He might be reckless, but Finn had always understood the benefit of patience and laying the groundwork for success. Part of what he’d loved most about pulling off heists was the planning and anticipation.
Not to mention the adrenaline rush of triumph.
Running a finger over his lips, Finn sent his friend a chiding glance. “You know, the purpose of running a business is to make a profit.”
“I’m aware,” Stone drawled out.
“Apparently not, since I’m unaware of any other clients you’re currently assisting. See, how it works is, when you provide services you request payment from those who benefit.”
“Oh, is that how it works? Remind me, which one of us holds an MBA?”
Finn scoffed. “Just because I don’t have an overpriced piece of paper with my name scrolled across it in fancy font doesn’t mean I don’t know what I’m talking about. Conversely, it doesn’t make you an expert.”
“I’m not hearing any complaints about the information you’ve been provided.”
No, and he wouldn’t complain. Finn was grateful for everything Stone and Gray, the other leg in their tripod, had done for him.
Who would have expected them to go into business together? Opening Stone Surveillance had seemed unexpected when his friends had first told him they were going to do it. But once he began thinking...it made sense. Both of them had this drive to help people, a need to right wrongs.
Maybe because they’d both been wronged.
Finn, on the other hand, had never felt the need to assist anyone in his life. People got what they deserved. If they were stupid, they deserved to be taken advantage of. Then they could learn. The way he looked at it, any time he stole something pretty and valuable, he was providing a service. Highlighting the flaws in their security so they could correct t
he problem and prevent more loss.
If in the process he managed to acquire something he wanted...more the better.
The challenge was what drove him. Woe be it to anyone touting security that no one could break.
“You know we’re not letting you pay, Finn. Besides, if you’d come on board like we asked months ago, then you’d be a full partner, anyway.”
“Nope, thanks. I have a job.”
Stone scoffed. “That isn’t a job. When’s the last time you stepped foot inside DeLuca Industries?”
“Uh...” Finn glanced up at the ceiling, seriously considering Stone’s question. “Probably seven years ago, give or take six or seven months.” His lips quirked into a self-deprecating smile. “They obviously don’t need me. You know I review the quarterly financial and management reports. See, the key to running a successful business is hiring competent people to take care of it for you.”
Stone shook his head. This was an argument they’d had many times over the last few years. His friend couldn’t understand Finn’s perspective because he came from a family that was entirely wrapped up in the day-to-day minutia of running the family business. Sure, that business was a multibillion-dollar corporation with a worldwide reach, but that didn’t really change anything.
Finn, on the other hand, had decided early on that he wanted nothing to do with the family business. And felt not a single speck of guilt when he inherited it and handed it straight over to others to run.
Success and money afforded him the opportunity to do exactly as he pleased.
“Stealing things isn’t a job, either.”
Finn let a full-blown smile pull at his lips. “I haven’t stolen a single thing, officer. At least, not since I’ve been out.”
Stone scoffed. “Uh-huh. Is that because you’ve been preoccupied with Noah? I know you, Finn DeLuca. You’re going to get bored. All I’m asking is that when it happens, don’t do something stupid. I promise, we’ll find a way to use your skills in a way that’s beneficial to all of us...and keeps your ass outta jail.”
The Devil's Bargain (Bad Billionaires Book 2) Page 1
