Betrayal

Product Description

Only New York Times bestseller Christina Dodd could bring you this series about three brothers, tormented by their pasts...

At nineteen, Noah Di Luca was Bella Terra's golden boy, handsome, confident, and untouched by the shadows that tormented his brothers...or so it seems. Driven by ambition, beautiful teenage Penelope Alonso fought her way out of the ghettos. During one hot summer, they came together in the sweetness of first love...until his past reared its ugly head and Noah walked away.

Nine years later, Penelope returns, never imagining she'd see Noah or that one glance would wake their fiery passion. As peril builds around them, Penelope has one choice: to survive, she must once again trust the man who betrayed her.Even with terror stalking through Bella Terra's streets, love may be the most dangerous choice of all.

Customers who like books by Nora Roberts and Barbara Freethy might enjoy this story.

From the Author

Only beloved author Christina Dodd could bring you the Bella Terra Deception series with the three handsome, sexy, tormented Di Luca brothers who seek justice, and sometimes, find love...

Noah's relationships were joyous, short-term and trivial. He fell a little in love with each woman. They fell a little in love with him. But his lovers knew the score, and they were never surprised when he kissed them good-bye. 

He had broken his own rule only once. 

Now, as he watched his brothers, he envied them fiercely. They had what he would never have. 

Eli, always solemn, always mature, laughed and tried to wrap Chloë in his sweaty, dirty arms while she scampered away screaming, "No! No! You're yucky!" But she didn't scamper very fast.

Rafe willingly made a fool of himself by flexing his muscles while Brooke made cooing noises and ran her fingertips over his pecs. 

Nonna laughed aloud at their antics.

And an image rose unbidden in Noah's brain. Penelope Alonso, her heavy, long, black hair hanging in a braid down her back, her exotic brown eyes peeking from beneath the sweep of long, thick, dark lashes, her full lips smiling as she watched him make a fool of himself ... for her ...

He told himself it wasn't surprising he had broken his rule for Penelope. He had been almost twenty, and still grieving over his ruined future and the inevitable loss of his own life.

More important, she had been everything he'd ever wanted: tough, proud, joyous, ambitious, hard-working, smart and brash. He supposed she hadn't been beautiful; a little short, very curvy, a quarter white, a quarter Hispanic, and half something else ... she didn't know who her father was. Not that she'd cared. Nor had Noah. Because he'd seen her, and he'd loved her, and she'd loved him back. At the end of that summer, he'd realized what a bastard he'd been, and he'd sent her away.

Noah promptly put her image out of his mind. He saw no point in remembering Penelope. She'd moved on, and he was glad. Because no woman deserved a man who kept secrets, a man who had plumbed the depths of dishonor, a man doomed to die for his misdeeds.

Thank God Penelope Alonso was the only woman who had ever tempted him, and thank God she had moved forever beyond his reach...

Readers who enjoy Nora Roberts and Julie Garwood will enjoy BETRAYAL. To read more about Bella Terra and the Di Luca brothers, visit christinadodd.com/bellaterra/

“MY GO-TO AUTHOR.”

—Jayne Ann Krentz

PRAISE FOR THE NOVELS
OF CHRISTINA DODD

TAKEN BY THE PRINCE

“Delivers sensual sizzle.”

—
Publishers Weekly

“Excitement, passion, and romance.”

—Romance Reviews Today

“Witty, adventurous, and unexpected.”

—Fresh Fiction

IN BED WITH THE DUKE

“An action-packed Victorian era romance.”

—
Midwest Book Review

“A wonderful tale of love and intrigue…a story to be savored for its colorful history, dark intrigue, and sweet tenderness.”

—TwoLips Reviews

“An adventurous romantic fairy tale.”

—The Romance Dish

THE BELLA TERRA DECEPTION NOVELS

REVENGE AT BELLA TERRA

“Once again Christina Dodd is thrilling readers with her imagination and intricate plots.”

—Night Owl Romance

“Dodd concocts the perfect blend of romance, drama, and excitement.”

—
Romantic Times

SECRETS OF BELLA TERRA

“An incredibly entertaining story.”

—Romance Junkies

“CHRISTINA DODD HAS A KNACK FOR TENSE,

HEART-POUNDING ACTION.”
—
Errant Dreams Reviews

FURTHER PRAISE FOR
CHRISTINA DODD

CHAINS OF FIRE

“The best of the series so far…unique—and edge-of-seat thrilling.”

—Romance Reviews Today

“The urgency of plot ratchets up the emotional drama, giving the story an exhilarating edge.”

—
Romantic Times
(4½ stars)

CHAINS OF ICE

“High-stakes action and high-adrenaline adventure provide the literary fuel for the latest addictive addition to Dodd’s scorchingly sensual the Chosen Ones series.”

—
Chicago Tribune

STORM OF SHADOWS

“Something for everyone who enjoys paranormal romance.”

—Darque Reviews

“A riveting new series.…The action and romance are hot! I have no idea what is next in this series, but…the suspense is killing me.”

—The Romance Readers Connection

“Fabulous urban romantic fantasy…a stupendous thriller.”

—
Midwest Book Review

STORM OF VISIONS

“The taut, suspenseful plot, intriguing characters, and a smooth, natural style show that Dodd has earned her place on the bestseller list.”

—
Publishers Weekly

“A fast-paced tale with intriguing paranormal elements, and treats them to a deliciously steamy romance.”

—Darque Reviews

“Quirky, unusual, fun, tense, surprising, sexy, and wild!”

—Errant Dreams Reviews

THIGH HIGH

“A joy to experience!”

—
Romantic Times
(top pick, 4½ stars)

“[C]harming and likable characters…an enjoyable read.”

—Fresh Fiction

“Christina Dodd is a master.”

—Romance Reviews Today

“A MASTER ROMANTIC STORYTELLER.”

—Kristin Hannah

INTO THE FLAME

“Sizzling sensuality and dark emotions.”

—
Romantic Times

“Once again Christina Dodd weaves her spell.”

—Fallen Angel Reviews

“[A] stunning tale.”

—Romance Reviews Today

INTO THE SHADOW

“Ms. Dodd has once again created an amazing novel.”

—Eye on Romance

“Another stellar book from a most talented author!”

—
Romantic Times

“Sexy and…darkly appealing.”

—
Rendezvous

TOUCH OF DARKNESS

“A sweeping saga of good and evil.”

—
Library Journal

“Readers will be riveted until the final page.”

—A Romance Review

SCENT OF DARKNESS

“The first in a devilishly clever, scintillatingly sexy new paranormal series by Christina Dodd.”

—
Chicago Tribune

“[A] fast-paced…paranormal with a full, engaging mythology.”

—
Publishers Weekly

“A scintillating and superb novel!”

—
Romantic Times
(4½ stars, top pick)

…AND HER OTHER NOVELS

“This romantic suspense novel is a delicious concoction.”

—
Publishers Weekly

“A delight.”

—
Booklist

“Sexy and witty, daring and delightful.”

—
New York Times
bestselling author Teresa Medeiros

NOVELS BY CHRISTINA DODD

Danger in a Red Dress

Thigh High

Tongue in Chic

Trouble in High Heels

In Bed with the Duke

Taken by the Prince

T
HE
B
ELLA
T
ERRA
D
ECEPTION
S
ERIES

Secrets of Bella Terra

Revenge at Bella Terra

T
HE
C
HOSEN
O
NES
S
ERIES

Storm of Visions

Storm of Shadows

Chains of Ice

Chains of Fire

T
HE
D
ARKNESS
C
HOSEN
S
ERIES

Scent of Darkness

Touch of Darkness

Into the Shadow

Into the Flame

CHRISTINA

DODD

BETRAYAL

A BELLA TERRA DECEPTION NOVEL

A SIGNET SELECT BOOK

SIGNET SELECT

Published by New American Library, a division of

Penguin Group (USA) Inc., 375 Hudson Street,

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Penguin Books Ltd., Registered Offices:

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First published by Signet, an imprint of New American Library,

a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

First Printing, April 2012

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Copyright © Christina Dodd, 2012

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Purchase only authorized editions.

ISBN: 978-1-101-57989-3

SIGNET SELECT and logo are trademarks of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

Printed in the United States of America

PUBLISHER’S NOTE

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.