The Mediterranean Billionaire's Blackmail Bargain by Abby Green Page B

where this ability to act so nonchalantly had come from. A part of her was completely aghast at what she’d hurled at this man by way of insult and accusation—all unfounded. But…something else was driving her.
    â€˜I had very good reason for believing that you were the father of my sister’s baby. I’d just got off a long flight, had come home to find my sister in hospital, five months pregnant, apparently abandoned by the father. I had no idea who her lover was and the only name she mentioned then was yours…She was in need of expensive medical care…How do you think I came to the conclusions I did, given how I felt?’
    Dante regarded her. She was priceless. She couldn’t even be bothered to act contrite, now that she was sure that they had at least one D’Aquanni falling for their plan. His mouth quirked. ‘Oh, I think I have an idea.’
    Immediately she felt deflated and humbled. Seeing his brother there must have been a shock to him, although, since he’d known of the relationship, slightly less than hers. Something niggled at her then but she couldn’t hold on to it, still too stunned…‘Of course you do; I’m sorry.’
    â€˜That’s three “I’m sorry”s—how many more do you think will make up for the chaos you’ve brought into my life?’ And the chaos you’re no doubt still planning on bringing into our lives…
    Alicia stood as tall as she could. ‘I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry. There. Believe me, I’m truly sorry I ever believed you to be the father, that I went all the way to your offices, to your villa…’ She had become more and more worked up with her words, the shock wearing off and felt herself starting to dissolve. She stepped back and away, her throat thick with tears. She just had to get away from him— now. ‘Just…I’m sorry, OK? I’ll get a bus home, you can go back to Italy on your plane and forget we ever met. Forget about the money. Melanie and I will look after ourselves.’ After all, we’ve been doing it all our lives…
    Dante had to fight the urge to roll his eyes and say, Oh, please. Now she was going to the other extreme and starting to seriously overact.
    Alicia couldn’t think clearly, she was too consumed with the shock after shock, too used to thinking of herself and Melanie as a self-contained unit. Her head was churning so much that she couldn’t process the information calmly, see the way forward. To see that they did have another person who had pledged to help—Paolo. She just needed to get away from Dante right now, her emotions were raw and too near the surface. He was too…too much.
    She turned and started to walk away, the car park in front of her a blur through her swimming eyes. God. She hadn’t cried in years, despite some of the scenes she’d witnessed in Africa, and here she was, blubbing every two minutes. And fainting like some wan heroine from a bad costume drama.
    A hard hand caught her arm, swinging her back. All she could see was a huge, dark blurry shape. She couldn’t speak. The next thing she knew, she was wrapped in arms so strong and so comforting that she would have believed it if she’d been told at that moment that she was in heaven. She cried for what seemed like an aeon. For herself. For Melanie.
    And for accusing this man wrongly, for not being able to say sorry with any grace because he was causing all manner of scary feelings in her belly. The tears came until her eyes were dry and her throat was raw.
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    Despite his best intentions, Dante had reacted on pure impulse and an instinct so strong that he’d had no alternative but to let it run through him. He knew her tears were part of the act— knew it. But something in her body as she’d turned away had made him pull her back, unable to let her walk away.
    He’d never held a crying woman in