A Forbidden Love (Eligible Billionaires Book 9) Read Free Page A

had been eclectic and artistic and, yes, sometimes a little weird, but still, not the capitalistic hot spot with hip restaurants, rehabbed buildings, and five-figure rents that the beachside town had become now.
    Ilana’s heart hurt. She closed her eyes. Her dream was dead. Demolished by her own inability to read a contract and proclivity for frugality. She should’ve known the deal was too good to be true. Shit. What could she do now? She’d put every penny of her own money, plus some of Amelia’s, into the Center. She covered her mouth with one hand. Six months. She shook her head. There was no way she could make enough money in six months to keep the space. Was there?

 
Chapter 2
     
    “When are you coming home?” Justin leaned forward and settled his hands on the conference room table. An entire country separated Devon from his three brothers, who sat in the Travati Financial offices in New York, and yet the internet connection clearly conveyed his oldest brother’s disapproval over Devon’s continued absence.
    Justin still thought of himself as the leader of the Travati family, even though the three younger Travati brothers were well past the age of needing to be led. Devon suppressed his automatic flash of annoyance. If he wanted Justin and the others to listen to what he had to say, he needed to keep his cool.
    “Your office is empty and waiting for you. Plus, the hospitality division of Travati Financial could use your magic touch. The past quarter wasn’t good,” Justin continued.
    Devon frowned. Even if he were to return to New York, he wouldn’t be running the club and hospitality division. Didn’t his brothers realize that after he testified in Sergey’s criminal trial and endured the death threats that followed, he’d never run nightclubs again?
    After a short pause, Justin glanced toward Anthony. “We’ve actually received an offer for that division. If you don’t think you’re going to come back to run it—”
    “If the offer is competitive, take it.” Devon flicked his gaze past his computer screen to the window that showcased a view of the Pacific. In the distance blue sky met ocean. A cool breeze blew through the window, carrying the scent of the sea right into his office. Devon couldn’t run nightclubs anymore. Not after his failure. How could he have been so blind? “ If I return to New York, I won’t return to hospitality.”
    Justin steepled his fingertips. “I see.”
    “You’re considering staying in California?” Anthony lifted an eyebrow.
    Devon shrugged. He didn’t feel like discussing where he wanted to live with his brothers. He’d save that fight for a different day. “I can’t do hospitality anymore.”
    Justin’s eyebrows furrowed. “Can’t or won’t?”
    Did it matter? Explaining his reasons to Justin wasn’t on the meeting agenda for today. The guilt. The shame. The facts that Devon had discovered after Sergey’s arrest by the Feds. He’d been oblivious to Sergey’s dealings until the Department of Justice had laid out their case against him. Was it the booze? The late nights? The parties for clients and investors? Or had he simply not noticed because he didn’t want to know? Interrogation by FBI agents had pierced the fog that surrounded Devon and focused a spotlight on the illegal business that Sergey Rashnikov ran out of Devon’s nightclubs. Now that Devon saw clearly what he’d become during that time, he wasn’t going back. “That lifestyle isn’t good for me.”
    Justin shrugged. “We all went through that lifestyle. The women, the booze, the drugs…we came out the other side and so did you. You have the magic touch where nightclubs are concerned.”
    “Not anymore.” He looked squarely at his brother, his tone definite. Justin always pushed, but this time, Devon pushed back. “I’m thinking real estate.”
    Leo, the second oldest and more gregarious of Devon’s two older brothers, studied Devon with his dark-eyed gaze. “What do