Harlequin Presents: July 2022 Box Set 2 of 2 by Sharon Kendrick

Author:Sharon Kendrick
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2022-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER ONE

ON THE FEW occasions each year when Thirio absolutely had to leave the Castile di Neve, he always returned a foul-tempered beast. There was very little of the outside world that pleased him, and being forced to take part in it was an exercise that weighed heavily on his shoulders. Until finally he could fly his helicopter from whichever city he’d been obliged to visit, leaving civilisation behind, flying over the alpine forests for which these mountainous ridges were famed, drawing closer and closer to the castle he had, for the last six years, called home.

It rose from the cliff faces like a spectre of magic. On cloudy afternoons, the turrets of the towers appeared almost to hover, free-floating miles above the ravines that fell all the way to northern Italy, and, despite the romantic beauty of the centuries-old towers, Thirio felt an affinity with the ruggedness of their positioning.

They too did not belong.

And so here they stayed, two outcasts on the edges of civilisation. It was almost impossible to remember now the parties his parents used to throw here, the way the castle used to hum with life and joy.

As Thirio brought his helicopter lower, circling around the castle to the landing pad at the rear, he saw something that made him swallow a dark curse.

A car.

Small and black, parked right near the front door to the castile.

One of the things Thirio liked most about the castle was how inaccessible it was. Sure, there was a road, but it was narrow and winding and, with the castile the natural end point of the road, tourist traffic never went past. Out here, he was completely alone. Which was how he damn well wanted it.

He’d woken in a foul mood—the prospect of needing to travel always did that—and his mood had only worsened as the day went on. All he’d wanted was to get home and shower, to wash away the memories of other people, of his past, his history, his guilt.

He cut the rotor blades but stayed in the helicopter as they slowed, trying to bring his temper under control. He expelled a long, slow breath, his nostrils flaring, then pushed open the side door. It was crisp up here, despite the fact that spring was reaching through the rest of the northern hemisphere, bringing flowers, sunshine and optimism. At the top of the world, the clouds were grey, the trees heavy with fallen snow. He stepped out of the helicopter, slamming the door and stalking towards the steps that would lead to the back door of his palace.

He didn’t know who’d dared to breach his sanctuary, but he would tell them to leave, in no uncertain terms. Thirio Skartos was not in the mood for being nice.

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