Bad Boys--Three Book Collection by Sarah Barrie

Author:Sarah Barrie
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Escape Publishing
Published: 2017-02-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 9

Alessandro stood firm, clenching his jaw as he waited for an explanation. He breathed heavily as he struggled to gain control over his growing rage. Rage at Conti for threatening the best thing that had ever happened to him.

But there was also a rising fear at the part Annabella may have played in this betrayal. He knew how the paparazzi twisted the truth but Annabella hadn’t said anything to him about meeting with Roberto, or even knowing him.

‘Ale, I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean for you to find out like this,’ she said shakily. Not exactly the emphatic denial he’d been hoping for.

‘So it’s true?’ Alessandro’s voice cracked, unable to control his disbelief.

‘No, it’s not like they’ve implied.’ She looked at him pleadingly.

When Ale had seen the headlines, the thought that Annabella had deceived him had been too great to comprehend but now, devastatingly, he could see remorse in her eyes.

‘But you did meet with Conti and embraced my enemy?’ His chest tightened at the idea of her in Roberto’s arms.

‘Yes but—’

‘It looks like you know him well, no?’ Ale struggled to control his trembling voice but sensing Annabella’s guilt, he couldn’t help but fear the worst. Instinctively, his defences were up.

‘No, it was the first time we’d met.’

‘Okay.’ He paused, clinging to this morsel of hope. ‘So you’re not making a deal?’

‘No.’ Annabella paused a moment and looked at him helplessly. ‘I mean, kind of—’

‘What? After everything I’ve told you about that family, you went behind my back and …’ Ale swallowed hard, barely able to form the words. ‘Made a deal … with Conti?’

‘Please, Ale let me explain. Roberto stopped me outside the building, he embraced me. I didn’t want him to.’

‘What do you mean? Did he hurt you?’ Alessandro said, stepping forward. The thought of Conti harming Annabella sent a sudden wave of fury through him.

‘No, not like that.’ Annabella looked down at her hands a moment, before looking across at Ale with resolved intent. ‘I hadn’t met Roberto before but I knew who he was. And when I saw him I was in a state of shock. I couldn’t move when he embraced me.’

‘Why? Did he threaten you? Because if he did I’ll—’

‘No Ale, it wasn’t like that.’

‘Then tell me, Annabella, please, what was the deal?’

‘Either I work for Conti or I leave Italy.’ Her voice broke as tears began to well in her eyes.

‘That sounds like blackmail.’

‘It is, Ale.’

‘But to blackmail you, he’d need to know something about you, wouldn’t he, bella?’

Ale’s stomach lurched at the realisation that his world as he knew it was about to unravel.

‘He does,’ Annabella said quietly. She stood still on the other side of the counter that separated them like a widening chasm. Forever expanding and pushing them further apart with each revelation.

‘So? Tell me.’ Ale paused, barely able to ask the question as the answer threatened to take her away from him. ‘What does he know?’

‘The truth about Rachel Bonaparte—’

‘Rachel?’ Ale interrupted incredulously.

‘Ale, Rachel wasn’t a traitor. Umberto Conti seduced her.

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