Chapter 5 - ALESSANDRO DIDN’T ASK FOR A DNA TEST
He came to Liam’s apartment that night.
Alone.
That earned him one point.
Liam opened the door.
“You’re Alessandro Vitali.”
“Yes.”
“I don’t like you.”
Alessandro nodded.
“Understandable.”
“You don’t know why.”
“I can guess several reasons.”
I almost smiled.
Then Alessandro saw me.
Everything else disappeared from his face.
“How far?”
“About six weeks.”
His eyes lowered toward my stomach.
Then returned to mine.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes.”
“Have you seen a doctor?”
“Appointment Monday.”
“Do you need—”
“No.”
He stopped.
Good.
Then:
“Is the baby mine?”
Fair question.
“Yes.”
He closed his eyes.
I braced for demands.
Tests.
Lawyers.
Control.
Instead he whispered:
“Okay.”
I stared.
“That’s it?”
“What should I say?”
“I don’t know.”
“I’ve never been told I’m going to be a father before.”
His voice broke slightly.
Then:
“I am trying very hard not to say something stupid.”
Liam muttered:
“Strong strategy.”
Alessandro ignored him.
“What do you want from me?”
The question mattered.
Not:
What are you going to do?
Not:
You’re carrying my heir.
What do you want?
“I don’t know yet.”
He nodded.
“Then I can wait.”
No magical trust.
No instant romance.
Just space.
Then I showed him one photocopy from Dad’s records.
Not the originals.
The Bellatrix invoices.
He stared.
“Luca.”
“You know?”
“I know Bellatrix.”
My pulse changed.
“How?”
“It’s one of my uncle’s consulting vehicles.”
There.
Not definitive proof of theft.
But the initials fit.
Alessandro sat down.
“My father blamed Daniel Monroe.”
“Yes.”
“He may have been wrong.”
“Yes.”
“Or lied to.”
“Maybe.”
He looked sick.
Then:
“I need an independent investigation.”
I laughed.
“Run by Vitali?”
“No.”
“Outside counsel.”
“Forensic accounting firm.”
“Special board committee excluding me, Luca and anyone conflicted.”
I stared.
“You’d step out?”
“If I’m emotionally involved, yes.”
That was not what I expected.
Then Alessandro looked at me.
“And your father’s originals stay with your attorney.”
“I don’t have one.”
“You need one.”
“Not yours.”
“Agreed.”
Liam looked between us.
“This is disturbingly reasonable.”
I elbowed him.
Then Alessandro said:
“One more thing.”
“What?”
“You cannot live here.”
Liam stood.
“Excuse me?”
Alessandro immediately corrected himself.
“I mean somebody accessed Elizabeth’s employment file. If her address was attached, there is a security concern.”
“My address isn’t on that file.”
“It may be recoverable elsewhere.”
I crossed my arms.
“So what are you proposing?”
“A hotel?”
“No.”
“My building?”
“Absolutely not.”
“A security consultant of your choice?”
That stopped me.
“My choice?”
“Yes.”
We arranged it that way.
Not Alessandro’s men living outside my bedroom.
An independent licensed firm recommended by my attorney the next morning.
He paid only after the agreement explicitly stated there was no obligation attached.
Overkill?
Possibly.
After twelve years of financial betrayal—
May you like
I liked paperwork.
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