Book excerpt: DARK. BROODING. VENGEFUL. Talented artist Lucy Steadman refuses to be intimidated by devastatingly handsome Italian Lorenzo Zanelli. He may hold the fate of her family's business in his iron fist, but she will not submit to his more personal demands. To give in to such a man would be to lose her head - and her heart No woman has ever shunned wicked Italian tycoon Zac Delucca But sweet, studious Sally is in a world of her own, looking after her sick mother. Little does she realise her father has embezzled from Zac. Zac offers Sally an ultimatum - become his lover on demand or risk ruin Italian magnate Max Quintano is blackmailing Sophie into becoming his mistress. Sophie agrees to live in Max's luxurious Venetian palazzo - until she discovers exactly why he hates her so much...