To Love A Thief

By Cherie De Sues

When a beautiful thief steals the French Blue diamond from security expert Nick Corelli's personal Pandora safe, his only lead is the sensual minx who was his dinner companion just hours before.

But no one is who they pretend to be, as Nick learns when he discovers a gut-wrenching betrayal and forms an unlikely alliance with a family of thieves. Following more twists and turns than an Italian country road, Nick risks his own reputation and family business in the name of love.

Or is it? Once her family is safe, will the elusive Clarisse decide to vanish with both the diamond and his heart, leaving him behind amid the ruins?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Cherie De Sues
• Release date: Oct 20, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301097678

Cherie De Sues

Chérie De Sues is a "critically acclaimed", "award winning" and "best selling" author of thrillers, paranormal and contemporary suspense romances. A member of Romance Writers of America (RWA), and RWA participant in both the RITA and Prism Awards. Chérie also writes under the pen name of Rose Embyrs for pagan non fiction books which have been in the top 20 bestselling books at Amazon. When Chérie takes a break from writing novels, you can find her at romance conventions, book signings, online, or traveling to research her next novel. She shares her beach cottage on Galveston Island, with her Irish terrier, Reilly.

Book preview

To Love a Thief

by

Chérie De Sues

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales, is entirely coincidental.

COPYRIGHT 2010 Chérie De Sues

Smashwords Edition, ISBN: 9781301097678

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the author or Black Cat Press.

Cover Art by Nicola Martinez

Published in the United States of America

Dedication

For my wonderful son, Scott, who brings me food when I'm deeply into a story. To my Irish terrier, Reilly, who warms my feet in the wee hours of the morning.

Chapter One

The sleek black Ferrari purred under Nick Corelli’s tight grip as he followed the twisted road to his villa. With the top down, the wind from the Mediterranean Sea tousled his hair as he hastily loosened his tie.

The clock on the dashboard read just past midnight. He’d lingered too long at dinner. That had been a mistake. He should have checked in with Gio every hour. He took a short cut through the seaside town, breathing in the salty air with frustration.

The full moon sent a high beam of light dancing across the ocean as he sped by with a heightened sense of danger. Nick pressed harder on the gas pedal, seeing the villa on the hillside ahead. He desperately wanted to check in with Giovanni. The kid had better not be sleeping or lounging in the Jacuzzi. He’d explained the importance of answering the phone at the villa. With so much on the line, neither of them could jeopardize what they’d worked so hard to achieve.

He downshifted as he pulled up to the gate. Unease roiled in his stomach as he pressed his thumbprint on the panel and waited for the security gates to open.

He tried his brother’s cell again and the kid didn’t pick up. Nick hit the steering wheel in frustration. How could the villa be in total darkness? Nick ground his teeth. If Gio had invited a woman over, Nick would kick his ass and call a taxi for both of them. Gio knew better. The reputation of their agency lay on the line.

Nick had promised Jean to keep his secret, and he would always help an old friend from school. Jean was trusting that the blue diamond would be safe with him on behalf of the Paris Metropolitan Museum. No one could know the remnant of the French Blue rested in his new Pandora Safe.

He checked his hand-held monitoring device again as he squeezed through the narrow opening of the gates and proceeded uphill to the villa. No indications of any breeched alarms or a compromise on the safe. He exhaled in relief and pocketed the monitor.

The tires squealed in protest as he stopped, then set the brake and tumbled out of the car at the front entrance. Nick entered his pass code, heard the door snick open, and walked into a dark foyer.

Even the internal security lights on the generator were uncharacteristically off. He swore quietly as he bent for the Glock strapped to his ankle. He spotted the moonlight streaming through the windows in the library and moved toward the room.

The French Blue remnant would be too valuable to lose again. The jewel held great intrinsic value to the French government. At least the rough-cut blue diamond would soon, when the museum’s press release confirmed finding the famous diamond cast off. Such a miracle, to find the historical remnant in an old monastery crypt outside of Bordeaux.

Jesus, he didn’t want to be the man who lost the French Blue again.

He scanned the library and found nothing amiss, then moved toward Giovanni’s rooms in the back of the villa. Staying low in a crouch, Nick reached up and tried the hall light. Nothing. He neared the kitchen, smelling what must be left of Gio’s pasta primavera dinner, and kept moving.

He shouldn’t be worried. Every member of the archaeological dig site had orders to be silent. Jean only needed time to create a safe environment for the rare gem at the museum. Nick’s security system and the clandestine arrival of the exquisite blue diamond two days ago should give him peace of mind. Instead, his senses told him the diamond was gone.

Screw it. Giovanni!

He ran to his brother’s room and banged on the door. He tried the handle after no immediate answer and pushed through. On the floor between the bathroom and bed, Gio lay unconscious. Nick said a silent prayer of thanks as the light from the moon showed movement of the kid’s chest. He was alive.

Damn it Giovanni, wake up!

Gio groaned. Nick sniffed an expensive Cabernet on his brother’s breath and saw smudged red lipstick on his cheek. He leaned closer and inhaled something else too. Gio’s breath had a chemical tinge, mixed with the odor from the wine. Wake up, come on.

Stop…stop yelling, Nicholas. Gio’s voice sounded weak, sleepy.

He opened his eyes halfway, and Nick sighed gratefully as he pulled Gio up to sit with his back against the wall.

I need to check the safe. Take this and I’ll be right back. He put the Glock in Gio’s hands and paused as he pulled out his cell phone. Take my cell phone too…just in case. He handed off his phone and waited until Gio nodded.

The kid was tough and would recover, but the priceless blue diamond would go underground. A thief might be working for one of the many private collectors who had more wealth than ethics. The diamond would end up sitting in a private vault for the next fifty years.

At his desk in the library, he pulled out a flashlight and pressed the release for the basement door. The identification pad felt cold and sticky on his hand as he waited. Nick heard the inner machinations and the steel-reinforced door opened. He growled in confusion. There were no signs of forced entry, and no