The Italian Billionaire's Pregnant Bride

by Lynne Graham

  ‘You can hardly compare my cat ornaments to a world-renowned art collection—’

  ‘But it was only when I listened to your story that I appreciated how fortunate I was to be in a position to trace and buy back so much of what I lost.’

  ‘If Gareth still had my things, why didn’t he answer the letter I sent him after I got out of prison?’

  There was a slight hesitation before he responded to her question. ‘His mother probably got to it first.’

  Kathy paled and looked away from him, conscious that he was uncomfortable with anything that reminded him of her criminal record. ‘Did you actually meet Gareth? When?’

  Her question acted as a useful distraction because an unholy grin curved Sergio’s mobile mouth. ‘Last week when I went to London on business. Gareth’s mother slammed doors and ranted at him throughout my visit. He leads a dog’s life, but at least he had the courage to admit that he still had your possessions and hand them over.’

  Kathy was incredibly touched that he had gone to so much trouble on her behalf. ‘I can’t tell you what this means to me. It’s like getting my roots back. When your family’s gone, sentimental things mean a lot.’ She drew in a deep breath, her green eyes suddenly filling with determination. ‘I honestly believe that you should at least talk to your brother and hear what he has to say—’

  ‘I’m not the sentimental type.’ His tone was impatient, for it was not the first time she had tried to open the controversial subject.

  ‘You haven’t even asked me what Abramo said when he came to see me in London—’

  ‘I’m not interested.’

  ‘He feels really bad about the past and he wants to make peace with you—’

  ‘He almost bankrupted this estate and he’s down on his luck. Of course he wants my forgiveness in terms of financial support.’

  His cynicism provoked a reproachful look from Kathy. ‘He seemed sincere and unhappy and he didn’t look at all well,’ she sighed. ‘All right, I won’t say anything more, especially when you gave me such a great surprise.’

  ‘It was nothing.’ Sergio curved lean hands to the feminine swell of her slim hips to tug her closer to him. ‘Besides, I like it when you think about other people. You have a tender heart, bella mia.’

  His keen dark eyes held hers and emotion welled up inside her. Sometimes she loved him so much it hurt. Although he had grown up with many privileges he had gone through tough and testing times, just as she had. He set a high value on loyalty, for, while many of his friends had dropped away after his father changed his will, Rashad and Leonidas had demonstrated their support by standing by Sergio and backing his first business ventures.

  She understood the experiences that had given him his granite hard core, single-minded sense of purpose and cynicism. The acquisition of a wealth much greater than his own father had ever known had encouraged Sergio’s arrogant, ruthless outlook on life. Yet, when he went out of his way to do something that pleased her, Kathy recognised and appreciated how much he had changed where she was concerned. She could hardly credit that six weeks had passed since their wedding because the time had flown in. But then, life didn’t stand still around Sergio for longer than five minutes and it was now time for him to get back to his London office. The following day they were due to return to the UK.

  Kathy was reluctant to leave Italy because she had been so happy there. The honeymoon had begun with Sergio giving her swimming lessons while banning her from even sitting on the pool steps when he wasn’t in the water. He had taken her rock climbing in the Dolomites, as well, teaching her how to sail a catamaran. When she’d got seasick he had made her work through it and she had ended up having a lot of fun. She suspected that her keen sailor husband was determined to get her on board the Diva Queen, to which Kathy had taken a fierce dislike sight unseen. She was willing, however, to acknowledge that in physical terms they were both very active and well matched. He was equally convinced that she would love skiing and had already pencilled a winter break into his schedule for that purpose.

  Sergio was also encouraging her to take an interest in the charitable trust he had set up and plans had been made for her to accompany him on a trip to Africa to publicise the work being done there. In all the ways that mattered, Sergio was making space for her in his busy, energetic life and sharing his interests to a degree that she had never dared to hope he would. But he had yet to beat her at chess.

  Ella remained the centre of their world, the meeting point that continually drew them together and united them. She was beginning to realise that during the first precarious weeks of their daughter’s life she had bonded with Sergio at a level she hadn’t grasped at the time. They had so shared much and it had added depth to their relationship. Although they had had a fabulous first few days alone as lovers, Sergio had missed Ella as much as Kathy and they had brought her home to join them early.

  That afternoon Kathy cuddled Ella and tucked her into her cot for a nap. With her black hair, ever more green eyes and little button nose, Ella was super cute and sometimes Kathy had to force herself to put her daughter down to sleep. She had yet to forget the occasions when it had not been possible for her to hold her baby close.

  An hour later, Kathy was just out of the shower when Bridget phoned her to announce that Renzo had asked her to marry him. ‘Oh, my goodness, I’m so happy for you!’ Kathy exclaimed, anchoring her towel beneath her arms. ‘You did say yes, didn’t you?’

  ‘Of course I did. He’s a good man,’ Bridget said fondly. ‘He didn’t want me to tell you but I think you should know. He’s been checking out all the facts of your conviction and the court case and he’s been following up every lead for months now.’

  Kathy was astonished. ‘But why?’

  ‘He accepts that you’re innocent and he wants to help. There’s some good news, as well. A couple of silver items stolen from old Mrs Taplow’s collection were recently acquired by an antique trader in Dover. He listed them on his website and Renzo spotted them. If he can trace them back to whoever sold them, he might be able to identify the real thief.’

  Kathy frowned. ‘It’s really kind of him to take such an interest, so please tell him how much I appreciate it. But I think too much time has passed. People won’t remember anything—’

  ‘Don’t be so pessimistic,’ Bridget scolded. ‘The trader called in the police and it’s already being investigated. The guy bought the silver in good faith and he stands to lose a lot of money. Aren’t you dying to know who the thief is? Of course you are!’

  Kathy grimaced, for she had long since worked out the likely identity of the thief. Only one person had had the opportunity to lay the fake trail that had led to Kathy being convicted of a crime she hadn’t committed. But Kathy did not know how she could possibly prove the fact. Rather than burn up in self-destructive bitterness, she had chosen to get on with her life. Four years on, she had little time for false hopes and accepted that she would have to live with a criminal record to the end of her days.

  ‘Let’s hope for the best,’ Kathy responded with tact. ‘So when do you think you’ll be getting married?’

  ‘Well, we don’t want to wait long.’

  ‘I think it’s past time we let Sergio in on the secret—’

  ‘Renzo didn’t think it would be professional to admit that we were a couple before your wedding,’ Bridget shared ruefully. ‘Men!’

  ‘What secret?’

  Thrown off balance by the interruption, Kathy spun round and saw Sergio poised in the doorway. His lean dark features were grim. ‘Kathy…I asked you a question.’

  His commanding tone made Kathy redden with annoyance. Wondering what on earth was the matter with him, she made a hurried excuse and promised to call Bridget back later. She set the receiver down and moved forward. ‘Bridget and Renzo have been dating for months and he’s just asked her to marry him. That was the secret but it wasn’t mine to share.’

  Sergio regarded her closely, not a muscle moving on h
is lean strong face, his shrewd dark eyes unrevealing. ‘I had no idea that they were seeing each other, but Renzo’s private life is not my concern.’

  Her tension increased, for she could tell that something was wrong. ‘Why are you angry with me?’

  ‘I’m not angry. But I’m afraid there’s been a change of plan. We’re leaving now, not tomorrow morning.’

  Her smooth brow indented. ‘Now? Like, right now? I’m just out of the shower!’

  ‘I would really appreciate it if you were ready to leave in ten minutes,’ Sergio drawled.

  ‘But I haven’t even packed!’

  ‘The staff will deal with that. Just get dressed.’

  Obviously something had happened. Anxious now, she put on a green dress that he had admired on her a few days earlier and paused only to pin up her damp copper hair with a clip. Sergio was on the terrace talking urgently into his phone. One glance and her husband still took her breath away. Black hair gleaming in the sunlight, his classic profile in evidence, he was the living image of sleek Italian sophistication in a caramel linen jacket worn with the sleeves pushed up and teamed with pale fitted jeans.

  Kathy approached him as he switched off the phone. ‘Please tell me what’s up.’

  ‘Nothing unexpected, amata mia.’ Stunning dark golden eyes rested on her worried face. He strolled over to her and bent his arrogant dark head to crush her full pink lips beneath his.

  The erotic probe of his tongue set off an alert through every nerve-ending in her slender body. At her most vulnerable, she quivered in bewildered response. Her senses singing, she leant into the muscular heat of his tall, powerful frame. Freeing her again, he closed a hand over hers and urged her down the steps to the helipad.

  ‘You never said where we were going,’ Kathy said breathlessly.

  Sergio helped her into the helicopter. Ella was already snuggled in a safety seat demonstrating her amazing ability to sleep like a log through every interruption and noise. ‘No, I didn’t, did I?’

  The mystery was cleared up within the hour. The pilot flew out over the Mediterranean and just as the light was fading in rosy golden splendour across the sky landed on a vast ocean-going yacht.

  Fifteen minutes later, Ella was stashed in another cot in a cabin with her excited nannies in tow. Kathy joined Sergio in the dazzlingly plush décor of the main reception area. ‘So what’s going on?’ she pressed, fed up with being kept in the dark…

  ‘Leonidas has a lot of media connections. He warned me that tomorrow a tabloid newspaper is running a story on your criminal record,’ Sergio explained, his strong jaw line clenching. ‘I decided it would be a good idea to keep you and Ella somewhere the cameras can’t get near you. While Diva Queen stays out at sea, you’re safe.’

  Shock hit Kathy in a wave of physical reactions. The colour drained from her complexion and nausea upset her tummy. Feeling sick and dizzy, she sank down on the nearest seat in silence. A split second after that, other responses kicked in and they hurt her a great deal more, for she discovered that she no longer had the courage to meet her husband’s gaze for fear of what she might see there. Revulsion, anger, derision? How could she blame him for loathing the public exposure of her shameful, embarrassing past? What decent man wanted it known that his wife had once been prosecuted for stealing from a sick old lady?

  Yet there was nothing, absolutely nothing, Kathy acknowledged wretchedly, that she could do to change the situation.

  CHAPTER TEN

  ‘I’M SORRY about this,’ Kathy admitted tightly.

  ‘I believe we were both aware that this situation was on the cards,’ Sergio countered levelly. ‘But I’m surprised it’s happened so quickly.’

  Kathy had still to look at him. Coffee was served. Her heart was thumping in what felt like the foot of her throat and the sick hollowness in her tummy was refusing to abate. Oh, yes, she was sorry all right. Even though she had served her time in prison her conviction was still the equivalent of a giant rock anchored to her ankle. And it seemed that it always would be.

  But what was really tearing her apart was the change in Sergio. He was not a male who could ever have envisaged having a wife who was a social embarrassment. She could not forget that he had once tried to persuade her to change her name and move to France to escape her past. Now his forecast of public humiliation was coming true and it was a miracle that her Alpha male had yet to voice a single I-told-you-so. A total miracle, Kathy conceded miserably. His cool façade of formality could only be concealing the furious frustration that he felt he had to contain.

  ‘Fortunately, I did prepare for this eventuality,’ Sergio informed her.

  ‘Am I going to disappear at sea?’ Kathy mumbled, for in her opinion only a bigger scandal would wipe out the one about to break.

  The silence was electrifying.

  Sergio released his breath in a slow hiss. ‘That’s not funny, Kathy.’

  Kathy had rarely felt less like laughing. There was an intolerable ache of tears in her throat. Only hours earlier, she had been naively rejoicing in her contentment. In so far as he was able, Sergio had contrived to forget her prison record. But it would be foolish to ignore the fact that Sergio had conservative views on crime and punishment. He abhorred dishonesty. He was ashamed of her now. How could he not be? He was striving to be sympathetic, but she could sense his reserve like a wall inside him.

  How had he felt when Leonidas Pallis had warned him of the story about to break? The cringe factor during that conversation must have been high, she thought guiltily. Leonidas might be one of his oldest friends, but men didn’t like showing a more vulnerable side to each other and a wife who was a former jailbird could only be a source of severe embarrassment. How much shame could any marriage stand? How could he continue to respect her? For how long would Sergio overlook her past without thinking of her as a liability he could do without? He was very proud of the Torrente name and here she was dragging it through the mire. He had wanted her past to stay hidden to protect their child. All of a sudden she was seeing how events could conspire to destroy their relationship.

  Kathy made a courageous effort to pull herself together. ‘You were saying,’ she muttered in a wobbly undertone, ‘that you had prepared for this?’

  ‘Maremma maiale,’ Sergio groaned, crossing the room to propel her up out of her seat and into the protective circle of his arms. ‘We’ll get through this, bella mia. It’s a matter of damage limitation.’

  Held close and comforted, Kathy gulped back the tears threatening and nodded vigorously into a broad masculine shoulder. He felt strong and familiar and she wanted to stay in his arms for ever.

  ‘My PR team have come up with a press statement that strikes the right note,’ Sergio declared, settling her down onto a sofa. ‘It will end the speculation. Next week someone else will be the target.’

  Kathy wasn’t quite sure she understood what he was saying, but his concern for her had banished her fear of losing him and strengthened her. ‘All right.’

  His spectacular dark gaze was intent. ‘It’s not what you have done, but how you handle it once it’s in the public arena that matters.’

  Kathy gave him an uncertain nod. ‘This statement…’

  ‘I have a copy of it here.’ Sergio extracted a sheet of paper from a file and extended it for her perusal. ‘It’s standard stuff and with your agreement, it will be released to the press.’

  Kathy had only read the first sentence when her heart started to sink. It was basically an acknowledgement of her conviction for theft, a reference to the fact that she had served the sentence for her wrongdoing and the assurance that she had learned her lesson. An everyday tale of retribution and redemption.

  ‘I can’t allow you to release this to the media,’ she whispered tautly.

  ‘Public apology—that’s what it takes now. It may seem glib and pointless, but people will respect you for being honest about your past.’

  ‘Sergio…’ There was a desperate plea for unders
tanding in Kathy’s troubled gaze. ‘I am not a thief. I didn’t take that silver. I went to prison for something I didn’t do. I can’t agree to this statement being made on my behalf because it would be a lie.’

  ‘That press release will draw a line under the whole affair and take the steam out of the story.’

  ‘Did you even listen to what I just said?’

  ‘You already know where I stand on that issue,’ Sergio breathed in a driven undertone. ‘Maybe you need to forgive yourself for what you did before you can come to terms with it. But right at this moment we have something more immediate to deal with—’

  Her cheekbones flushed with annoyance, Kathy flew to her feet. ‘I can’t believe you just said that to me!’

  An expression of hard resolve was stamped on Sergio’s lean, darkly handsome features. ‘You made a mistake when you were young and you had no family to support you. Many teenagers have made similar mistakes, put them behind them and gone on to live law-abiding lives just as you have done. You should be proud of that achievement.’

  ‘Stuff the pep talk! There’s only one little problem—I didn’t make that mistake in the first place!’ Kathy fired back at him. ‘You’ve never even let me tell you what happened.’

  ‘You avoid the subject like the plague.’

  Kathy froze in surprise. She was dismayed that her desire to stay away from a controversial issue during their honeymoon had given him that misleading impression. And a heartbeat later she was furious with herself for being so craven.

  ‘Don’t treat me like your enemy. I’m trying to help you,’ Sergio spelt out grimly.

  Kathy compressed bloodless lips. ‘I know.’

  ‘Will you agree to the statement?’ Sergio demanded.

  Kathy turned as pale as a martyr at the stake. ‘No, never.’

  Sergio dealt her a forbidding appraisal. ‘This problem will run and run. It won’t go away. It has to be dealt with.’