The Villain's Diamond

d cage. It was massive, featuring a king-sized bed wrapped in dark silk, polished marble f

e towering floor-to-ceiling windows were made of reinforced, multi-layered bulletproof glass. Elena R

s, letting them clatter against the marble, and grabbed the hem of her restrictive emerald silk

ight black tank top she had hidden in her emergency bag. By 2:00 AM, the mansion was dead silent. Elena sat

ight over her determined eyes. "Let's see what the big, bad villain is hiding in his sandbox,

e Vitale syndicate's main server, she successfully bypassed the first layer of their firewalls. She purpos

initive tap on the screen, she executed her custom script.Click.Throughout the sprawling estate, the lights flickered

nto pitch-black darkness. Seconds later, she reversed the heavy industrial air condition

you look when you're sweating.Ten minutes later, the electronic lock on her bedroom door hissed as th

slicing across the room before illuminating her face. Dante Vitale walked in

d chest because of the sudden, suffocating heat in the mansion. His sleeves were rolled up tightly t

in his right hand. He didn't look angry or pani

a gravelly, midnight whisper that seemed to vibrate through the floorboards.Elena did

ctrician." Dante closed the distance between them in two long, predatory strides. He reached down to grab the edge of her tablet,

military-grade speed. He didn't fall. Instead, he caught her ankle mid-air with his left hand, his grip like a steel handcuff. He twist

ught her free leg up, driving her knee squarely into his chest. The force of the bl

nightstand, holding it like a club.Dante stood under the moonlight filtering through the window, rubbing

nte murmured, his stormy grey eyes sweeping over her at

you well hidden. He told me you w

currency," Elena spat, her knuckles turn

a step forward anyway, completely unfazed by the heavy silver weapon in her hand. He stopped just inches from the sharp tip. He reached ou

rt hammered against her ribs, from the sheer, electric adrenaline of facing him down. Da

rd lines of his muscles under the unbuttoned shirt."You're very brave when you're holding a weapon, lit

eyes narrowed, her sharp tongue refusing to back down. She looked down at his u

you're the one who can't handle the temperature. If you wanted me to strip, you could ha

old girl hit him like a physical jolt. No one spoke to him like this. No one dared to tease the King. He leaned

't ask for things. I take them." He slowly let go of the candlestick, his gloved hand moving

but her eyes never wavered. She was terrified,

e murmured, his voice dropp

through these silk sheets. Goodnight, wife." He turned on his heel, his heavy leather boots clicking sharply

ace as she exhaled a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. He thought he was punishing

nd the air conditioning. While Dante was busy trying to intimidate her and playing his

just downloaded the completely encrypted layout of his e

ue but, he didn't realize he had just brought a live