The Surprise Conti Child by Tara Pammi Read Free Book Online

imagine Valentina mature enough to manage herself, much less a child at that age.”
    Alex swallowed, the utter strength of her conviction that day amazing her even now. Her parents, her only close friend, everyone had advised her to give up the baby for adoption. “I just...” She shied her gaze away, her throat thick with emotion.
    â€œTell me why.”
    Jerked by his sharp tone, she lifted her gaze. “That feeling...it’s inexplicable.”
    Something so raw and visceral flashed in his gaze that her skin prickled. Arrogant, heartless, cynical...she’d made her decision to come here based on the fact that Leandro was all those things. What if she was wrong?
    Fear pulsed down her spine. “I called your office a week after I found out. I... I was on hold for an hour. Finally, when your secretary came on, she cut me off, said you weren’t interested.
    â€œThat I shouldn’t call back.” Alex tried to keep any complaint out of her voice now however anxious she’d been then. “I called you a few more times. Got the same answer again.”
    â€œYou could have called your friend, Luca.” He spoke softly, yet it cracked through the room like a gale of wind. “You could have come back to Italy. You could have told Valentina. You could have emailed me—”
    â€œAnd what? Capitalized the subject line— I’M PREGNANT, IT’S YOURS —like some spammer!” She colored furiously. “You wanted nothing to do with me. But... I still tried.
    â€œI bought another ticket. I...thought you should know. The day before I was supposed to leave, my parents and I argued and my dad threw out his back at the store. I... I couldn’t go off in search of you then, especially when you were determined to forget me.
    â€œWith taking care of the store and him, when Isabella came... I barely had the energy to go through each day.”
    â€œAnd later?”
    How dare he sound as if it was her fault? “Later,” she said, feeling suddenly tired, “it was easier to believe that Izzie was better off without your rejection.” Easier to protect herself from the hurt he had wreaked on her.
    The one time she had taken a chance to reach for something she’d wanted, she’d been rejected. Firmly pushed back into the forgettable category again.
    There had been nothing special or memorable about her or that night for him. As if she was a mere blip in the life of another person yet again.
    A disappointment, an inconvenience, a thing with no value or feelings whatsoever.
    â€œWhy did you change your mind now?” he bit out harshly. He ran his fingers through his hair while he paced the small room like a caged animal. “Or was that your plan all along?”
    â€œWouldn’t that be perfect for you if I had some ultimate agenda? If I proved your worst assumptions about me right? That way you won’t have to take any responsibility in all this...”
    â€œ Dio, why now, Alexis?”
    It was his hoarse voice that halted Alex’s self-indulgent tirade. This was not about her feelings. This was about her baby.
    â€œI just... I was in an accident three months ago, a bad one.” Automatically, her fingers went to the scar down her forehead and his gaze moved there. Throat raw, she continued, “It made me realize...if something happened to me, Isabella would be alone in the world. My parents...” She swallowed the fact that they had never approved of her having Isabella. “They’re growing old. I can’t sleep wondering about her future.”
    Once again, silence descended, his stare unnerving her on a whole new level.
    â€œI brought her birth certificate,” she said, busying herself with the handbag. “Just tell me where and when to bring her for the DNA test, although it’ll be a huge help if it’s in New York because I can’t—”
    â€œThere’s no situation that fazes you,