Stealing Beauty

“Oh,” I say, parting my lips in a big O.

We pull into a gated entrance, and I look out. It’s a palatial estate. I can’t believe my eyes. “Mikhail, is this about my brother and his resort on Isla Nubia?”

He shakes his head, holding my hand in his, then adds, “No, it’s not. I told you everything is about you. Only you.”

“Do you promise?” I don’t know why I’m asking a man that “kidnapped me.”

“Of course. I wouldn’t lie to you.” Damn, he sounds so sincere that I actually believe him. I think I’m losing my mind. I need to call Julian. When I have a moment alone, I’m going to call him. My phone is in my purse.

“I’m supposed to believe you?” I challenge.

“You believe what you want. I am not a man to lie. Now I know you’re getting angry because you’re all worked up without release. I need to make you come.” Why does he have to start the sexy talk? My body overrules my head instantly, and I want to cave to this attraction.

The door opens on his side, and he exits the car first, reaching for my hand to come out. I don’t take it. I shake my head. “Marisol, what is wrong?” The way his blue eyes meet mine, there’s genuine concern in them.

“I need to call my brother,” I insist.

He pauses for a moment before he says, “You can call him inside.”

“Okay,” I say, giving my hand to him.

He walks us inside and leads me up a staircase. “You can freshen up in here. I’ll be back. I must speak with my staff and check on Ivan.”

As soon as he’s gone, I grab my purse and get my phone. Just as I do, Julian calls. “Wow, I was just thinking about you,” I answer. I’m sure he’s worried.

“Where are you, Marisol?” he asks frantically. Damn, I hate that he’s worried.

I pause because I don’t know if I want to tell him the truth. If I do, then this is over before it begins, and I think about never seeing Mikhail again. The thought burns in me, reminding me that the past three weeks had been total shit. “Um, I think there was some mix up on the airport. I just landed on another island in the Caribbean.”

“What island? I’ll have my plane come for you right now.”

Damn, I drag out my answer, “Um…Ostrov.”

“What the fuck is he playing at?” he roars on the other end.

“What do you mean? Who are you talking about?” I ask him. Does he know something I don’t? Is Mikhail playing me?

“Mikhail Dobrev. I know this is all his doing.”

“Well, I’ve been taken to the resort. I’m in a stunning room right now,” I remark, looking around Mikhail’s bedroom. I walk over to the nightstand and see a photo, picking it up, and I gasp. It’s me.

“Have you met him?”

“I don’t know. There were a few men around when I arrived,” I lie.

“You know, he looks like the typical Russian mobster type.”

“I think you watch too many movies. I doubt it’s his doing. Maybe it’s a mistake.”

“It’s no mistake. His sister is here.” I gasp, walking over back to my bag. I’m instantly hit with the pain of being naïve.

“His sister is on the island with you?”

A growl comes from behind me, and I see Mikhail storming up to me grabbing my phone. “What the hell is my sister doing there? You let her go now,” he demands. From the look on his face, this isn’t part of his plan.

“No.” Damn, I didn’t know my brother could get that loud. He’s pissed. I’m surprised he cares that much. He’s always so busy working on building his empire.

“No?”

“No, you sent her here to spy on me. I know you did. And she committed a crime. She pretended to be Marisol, checking into her room. I think it’s interesting that you’re playing innocent. Send back my sister, and I might return her without pressing charges,” my brother doesn’t know that he’s playing with fire.

“No. Not going to happen. Ever,” Mikhail informs him, taking my hand pulling me to him, holding me as if my brother is going to snatch me through the phone.

“What the fuck does that mean? You can’t keep her captive.”

“The hell I can’t. My island has its own rules, and they are made up by me,” he argues.

“Fine. You’re not getting your sister back until I get mine.”

“Don’t test me, Navarro. She’s not involved in this.” Why am I finding this sexy? Have I lost my mind? I believe I have.

“Neither is my sister.”

“No, your sister will one day be my wife. So I don’t care what you say. I’ll give you money to get my sister back,” Mikhail tosses out as a bargaining chip because I’m not one.