Arielle Immortal Journey (The Immortal Rapture Series Book 5) by Lilian Roberts

things will work out a lot better this time,” Larue said. Rainer caught his attempt at appeasement but did not respond.
    Rainer picked up the desk phone and spoke to his secretary. He told her to make the arrangements for him and his men. When the confirmation e-mail came, he printed the boarding passes and handed one each to Larue and Hahn. “Let's go home,” he said. “Take a couple of days off, and we’ll meet at the airport Sunday afternoon.”
     
     
    Larue and Hahn left his office as Rainer fell back on his chair and closed his eyes. He worried about this assignment. He didn’t trust Nikola. More than ever, things had to go exactly as scheduled. All sorts of emotions clouded his thoughts, and his mouth flattened into a hard line.
    He was tired. He hated his life and the loneliness that enveloped his miserable world every moment of the day, seven days a week, three hundred and sixty-five days a year.
    Panic spread throughout his body. He didn’t want to kill people anymore; he didn’t want to be the bad guy. He wanted a normal life. He couldn’t remember the last time he took a vacation with someone he loved; he couldn’t remember a person that he loved! He had vanished from his normal life at the age nineteen, turning away from his family and friends, blinded by the vast amount of money and the fast life the mafia offered. It was too late when he realized that the price he paid was his life. He couldn’t remember the last time he made love to woman he cared about. Sex was always to satisfy a need, and paid for with dirty money.
    He had loved his parents, but he hadn’t been able to attend their funeral when they were killed eight years ago. Pain shot right through his heart and his eyes welled up. He leaned back on his chair and threw his arm over his eyes. Despair covered his thoughts more powerfully than ever before. He hated himself every time these memories invaded his mind. The thought of suicide had become stronger within the last year as he guilt for all the terrible things he had done, the people he had destroyed, and the lives he had left shattered in his path grew more intense.
    He groaned, thinking there was no out from this kind of life. Even a miracle couldn’t help him now. A soft voice snapped him out of his haze. He dropped his arm away from his eyes and let it fall on the armrest.
    “I’m sorry for startling you. I knocked several times but you didn’t answer.” He opened his eyes to see Georgiana’s beautiful face looking at him with tender concern. He drew in a sharp breath and a rush of powerful emotions swept through him. She was leaning over his desk, her lips softly curved. He blinked and gazed into her green eyes for a long moment; the heat between them flared. Her eyes sparkled and her moist lips were sensuously parted.
    He dragged in a tight breath. “Hi…” he said softly, voice full of want, lust, and longing.
    “It’s almost five,” she said. “I’m getting ready to go home, is there anything you need before I leave?”
    Passion and desire made his head swirl. He fought to control his quivering body. “No…no, I don’t think there is anything,” he said, but his eyes were filled with hunger. He took another deep breath and shook his head. “Since I’ll be gone all of next week,” he said, barely suppressing a groan, “please keep me posted if something comes up.”
    She rested her gaze on his beautiful face. The heat in his eyes didn’t escape her. He slowly rose to his feet and walked around the desk to stand in front of her. He was several inches taller than she even though she was wearing high heels.
    “You do have my mobile number, right?” he whispered, and held her gaze. “I want you to call me,” he said. His words caressed her ears with raw desire.
    “I will,” she murmured, and lowered her eyes demurely.
    “What is it?” he asked softly.
    “Nothing, I’m sorry, I’ll make sure I call you if something comes up.” She turned to walk away