Romance: The Billionaire's Desire by Kelli Sloan Read Free Book Online Page A

struggling with my ropes.
    “Because the bitch cut me off!  She said if I couldn’t afford drugs, then I couldn’t use them.  She doesn’t care about me!  So I taught her a lesson.  I stole her most valuable painting!”
    “I’m sure she will help you.”
    Robert stares back at me, “Would you like to be shot between the eyes?”
    As he moves closer to me, I notice a shadowy figure over his left shoulder.  My eyes look towards it but that catches Robert’s attention.
    Robert turns to see Nathan’s tall frame step out of the shadow, and instantly Robert points the gun at him.
    “Who are you?” Robert asks in surprise.
    “I’m Nathan,” Nathan states slowly as he raises his hands.
    “Of course you are!” Robert laughs, “How rude of me not to recognize you!  What are you doing here Nathan?”
    “I came to talk to you.”
    “Why?” Robert moves towards Nathan. 
    Nathan is clearly surprised that Robert has a gun.
    “Because you stole a picture I wanted to buy,” Nathan states firmly.
    “Now, how would you know that?  How would a man like you figure out that I stole the painting?”
    “You think I’d let the police do the investigation?  I had my own people working to find out where the picture went.”
    “But the police worked it out before you did.”
    “I can see that.  That is impressive because we worked outside the law to find you.”
    Robert laughs, “I’ve kidnapped two cops and a billionaire.  That’s not a bad days work.”
    “I’ll buy the picture from you.  Name your price,” Nathan states in an attempt to distract him.
    I continue to wrestle my hands in the ropes, trying to pull them free while Robert is distracted.
    “You seem to forget that I am the one with the gun!  I can hold you for more ransom than that picture is worth!  Sit down over there,” Roberts laughs and points next to me.
    But as Nathan walks past Robert, he lunges at him, grabbing his hand to force the gun away from us. 
    As they struggle, both men fall to the ground but the gun springs free.
    In the moments of chaos, Robert lands a clean punch on Nathan’s chin, sprawling him backwards until he lands on the floor with a loud thud.
    Robert falls on the loose gun and desperately dives on top of Nathan’s floored body.  Grabbing Nathan by the throat in one hand, Robert presses the gun into Nathan’s cheek firmly with the other hand.
    “You are going to be the first to die today,” Robert laughs.
    But my hands wrestle free from the ropes.
    With Robert distracted, I spring on top of him, grabbing and twisting the arm that is holding the gun.  The twisting forces him to drop the weapon onto the ground and I fall towards it. 
    I grasp the gun as Robert springs back towards me.
    Pop.
    I fire one shot into his shoulder and he flies backwards against the wall.
    Quickly, I stand over the top of him with my gun pointed at his head, watching as blood slowly covers his shirt in red.
    “Shoot me.  End my pain,” Robert says as he looks up at me.
    “Not a chance, sunshine,” I smile, “You’ve got years of jail time to serve before you die.”
     
     
     

 
     
    Chapter 14
     
    Saying Thank You

 
     
     
    One week later
     
     

 
     
     
     
    I am waiting in the library of Nathan’s mansion, studying the small Vin Gang paintings hanging on the wall.  I have never really understood art but I am impressed by the detail that has gone into the paintings. 
    I suppose collecting art is a good hobby to have if you’ve got the money.
    “Hello,” Nathan states in his seductive voice as he enters the library, “I didn’t expect to see you here.”
    “These paintings are worth a lot of money?” I question him, staring at one of the smallest pictures.
    “Yes, they are.  They are wonderful paintings with a lot of history behind them.  I almost have the full collection of that Vin Gang set of paintings.”
    “Expect for the one Mrs. Jackson owns?”
    “That one and one other.”
    “Where is the