Page 17 of The Black Dragon
6
By the timehe emerged from the bathroom, the agent had come upstairs and was milling around thehallway.
“The owner and his daughter are willing to entertain all offers.” She beamed athim.
“Are they relocating?” Justin looked around at the sparse furniture, theholes in the walls indicating pictures once hungthere.
“Well, I shouldn’t say this,but…”
Sayit.
She leaned close in a conspiratorial manner. “Mr. Harrington was a well-known physician who became a recluse after his poor wife died in a car accident. It’s rumored he is on the edge of bankruptcy. His daughter has had to hold ittogether.”
Justin arched dark brows. “Oh?”
“Poor dear had to get a job, and with her being a cripple.” The woman heaved a dramaticsigh.
Ariel is not a cripple. She’s not an object of pity.A low growl grumbled in hischest.
The agent frowned. “Oh dear. Is that thunder? And it looks like such a sunnyday.”
Justin clenched his fists and closed his eyes, counting silently to ten in Latin. No compassion for Ariel.Compassion would dilute hispurpose.
Then he opened his eyes and forced his hands torelax.
Forced himself to breathe in andout.
Sedona was known for meditation for dragons and Others, but he struggled with such mental discipline. When he went quiet to channel his powers and learn self-control, his thoughts turned into furious images of revenge, not peaceful visions ofnature.
As a result, he seldom ventured to this haven for his kind. Despite the desert heat, the abundant sunshine and the energy vortexes dragons loved to channel, Sedona was a pit stop on the highway toadventure.
Self-control was a must for his quest. Justin couldn’t risk letting anyone see his desperate need to purchase Leo Harrington’shouse.
Trap his daughter. Ruin and humiliateher as he’d beenhumiliated.
Leo and Ariel would know what it felt like to play the hapless victim, relying on the mercy of a cruelmaster.
Stomach muscles tightened as he thought of Ariel’s sweet face scrunched up in anguish and horror as she realized her fate. But first he’d seduce her, sweeten thedeal.
Love her and leave her. Do you really want to abandon her as you wereabandoned as a child? Does she deservethat?
“The house is listed for $399,000, but I’m sure the owner will be agreeable to any offers,” the agentchirped.
“Four hundred,” he countered. “Cash.”
The agent’s eyes widened. “I’ll present the offer right away to the owner’s listingagent.”
“I’m in a hurry to close.” Justin thought of the money he had in the bank. Half amillion wasnothing.
For revenge, he’d pay much, muchmore.
“That might be difficult. The Harringtons will need time tomove…”
“The purchase is an investment. I’m willing to rent at a low price to the present owners for a short-term lease until they find another house. My terms will be quitereasonable.”
Damn, if that woman’s eyes widened any more, they’d pop out ofher head. “That’s very generous of you. Mr. Harrington is searching for a much more modest apartment, and this will give him somerelief.”
Until he finds out what I plan to do to hisdaughter.
