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    Dark Bargains: Dark Bargains, #1
    Dark Bargains: Dark Bargains, #1
    Dark Bargains: Dark Bargains, #1
    Ebook91 pages1 hour

    Dark Bargains: Dark Bargains, #1

    By Olivia Blake

    4.5/5

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    About this ebook

    Everyone has secrets.

    I'm the mistress of a rich and powerful man who delights in pain and humiliation. It's a life I chose, and there's no going back from it now. Marcus owns me, body and soul, and I'm his until he uses me up. I used to pray that day would come quickly, until I met his brother, Lucas.

    Now I just pray that I can have five minutes in the arms of the man who is everything I've ever dreamed of, everything his brother could never be.

    My brother calls her his fiancée, but I know that's a lie. No woman in her right mind would consider marrying that psychopath, and Diane isn't insane. No, I'm the one who's crazy, obsessing over the hollow-eyed beauty who haunts my house during the day and my dreams at night. My iron-clad rule is to never get involved, but I'm about to break the hell out of it.

    I just can't figure out whether I really want to save her, or if I just want to make her mine.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherTove Press
    Release dateSep 24, 2016
    ISBN9781536508444
    Dark Bargains: Dark Bargains, #1

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      Book preview

      Dark Bargains - Olivia Blake

      DARK BARGAINS

      PART ONE

      OLIVIA BLAKE

      Dark Bargains

      Copyright © 2016 Olivia Blake

      All rights reserved. No part of this eBook may be reproduced in any form or by any means, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in a review, without permission in writing from the publisher.

      This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. Names, characters, places, businesses, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

      To be notified of new book releases and sales, sign up for Olivia’s mailing list or subscribe to her blog.

      Summary

      Everyone has secrets.

      I’m the mistress of a rich and powerful man who delights in pain and humiliation. It’s a life I chose, and there’s no going back from it now. Marcus owns me, body and soul, and I’m his until he uses me up. I used to pray that day would come quickly, until I met his brother, Lucas.

      Now I just pray that I can have five minutes in the arms of the man who is everything I’ve ever dreamed of, everything his brother could never be.

      My brother calls her his fiancée, but I know that’s a lie. No woman in her right mind would consider marrying that psychopath, and Diane isn’t insane. No, I’m the one who’s crazy, obsessing over the hollow-eyed beauty who haunts my house during the day and my dreams at night. My iron-clad rule is to never get involved, but I'm about to break the hell out of it.

      I just can’t figure out whether I really want to save her, or if I just want to make her mine.

      TABLE OF CONTENTS

      Dark Bargains

      Bonus Material

      Preview: Dark Bargains 2

      The Winter Billionaires

      With One Word

      Lessons in Love

      About the Author

      Dark Bargains

      DIANE’S FIRST THOUGHT AS SHE STEPPED OUT OF THE PLANE onto the jet bridge was to run. How hard would it be to lose herself in the crowded airport with hundreds of people all around? It would be the perfect time to vanish without leaving a trail.

      A blast of dry, burning air scorched her through one of the gaps in the bridge, and she paused to squint out into the brilliant, white glare. Above the runways, the air shimmered in the brutal August heat, and she felt a pang of sympathy for the crews she saw working outside. How did they stand it? She was already drying out in the desert air, and she wet her lips while her tongue still retained a little moisture.

      With a murmured apology to the people waiting behind her, she hurried up the bridge and into the gate area. As she emerged into the open, a riot of noise hit her from all sides. People swarmed about like ants hurrying in all directions, intent on their own business and barely taking notice of the others around them. She was practically invisible.

      Run.

      The herd of other passengers from her plane appeared to know where they were going, so she followed along behind them. Even if she did run, where could she go? She didn’t know anyone here, and she didn’t have any money—just credit cards that would leave a trail a blind man could follow. And Marcus was far from blind.

      Besides, the cards were all in his name with hers just added on as an authorized user, subtle chains to keep her bound to him. While they were disguised as access to more wealth than she’d ever had in her life, they left her completely at his mercy. If she bought a plane or bus ticket with them, he’d have the cards shut down by the time she reached her destination, leaving her stranded and helpless.

      Knowing Marcus, she had probably been watched from the moment she got off the plane anyway. Her suspicions were confirmed when a clean-cut man in a dark gray suit plucked her off the escalator at the baggage claim area.

      Miss Blanchard? Mr. St. Cyr sent me to meet you. If you’ll come with me, I’ll take you to the limo.

      But my baggage, she objected, waving towards the carousels.

      We have someone picking it up, and he’ll bring it to the house as soon as it comes out. He gave her a reassuring smile. It’s all right, Miss. Most likely it will be out in just a few minutes, but if there’s a problem he’ll take care of it so you don’t have to wait around at the airport for them to sort it out.

      Even if she’d wanted to argue, there would have been no point. At best she’d cause a public scene with a man who was simply doing his job, and after it was over she’d just end up going with him anyway. She nodded in resignation and followed him towards the doors. What else could she do? Running had never really been an option.

      Her escort guided her to the limo outside with a gentle hand on her elbow, then opened the door and made sure she was well in before shutting it behind her and climbing in on the opposite side.

      There’s bottled water in the console.

      Thank you. What’s your name?

      Glen Fischer, Ma’am. I work for Mr. St. Cyr’s father.

      Thank you, Glen.

      He apparently had nothing to say after that, and they spent the thirty minute drive in silence. Diane was just as glad to be left alone. With a grimace she sank back against the buttery soft leather and took a long drink of ice-cold water. She knew she’d have little enough peace and quiet once Marcus arrived later. If their time in Bossier City was any indication, Marcus would be out all night every night dragging her from casino to casino until she was so exhausted that she wanted to do nothing but sleep for a week.

      She hardly saw the house at first. It was tucked below the roadway and hidden behind a lush growth of palms and acacias so that at first nothing was visible except glimpses of the reddish-brown roof tiles. Behind it, the glassy waters of Lake Las Vegas stretched out like a heat mirage to the barren shores in the distance. Other splotches of green cropped up here and there, but for the most part the far banks looked as lifeless as the Moon.

      As the limo turned off the road onto the private drive, the rest of the house opened up. The circular driveway and sidewalks were of multicolored brick, while the house was a Mediterranean style of mixed orange stucco with cut stone facings. Gravel-lined beds of hardy desert plants lined the walkway to the front of the house, which was shaded by the overhanging branches of two rows of tall trees.

      Wait here while I unlock the door, ma’am, Glen told her. No point in both of us frying out there.

      He disappeared briefly inside the deep, arched entryway then leaned out to wave for her to follow. Opening the limo door was like peeking into

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