Burnt Sienna
by David Morrell
Ex-Marine Chase Malone has sworn never to take orders from anyone again. Now a famous artist, he has built a new, isolated life, and spends his days painting. But this idyllic existence is disrupted when billionaire arms merchant Derek Bellasar offers a huge commission for two portraits of his wife, Sienna. Malone has never accepted a commission, refusing to paint to another's dictates, and will make no exceptions. But Bellasar won't take no for an answer. Before long, Malone's beach has been bulldozed, his favourite restaurant closed, and the gallery displaying his works taken over. Confused and angry, Malone vows to get revenge. Then an old friend from the Marines asks him to take the commission. Jeb, now a CIA agent fighting Bellasar's ever-increasing power, sees this as his one chance to get close to him. It is also Sienna's one chance for survival. She doesn't know she is Bellasar's fourth wife, and that each of the other three died mysteriously in an accident immediately after her beauty had been immortalized by a renowned artist. Malone is quickly overwhelmed by Sienna. Saving her life and keeping her with him soon become his only goals. Once on the run, however, he finds that a woman as beautiful as Sienna is impossible to hide...