Page 3 of Raising His Baby (The Sartoris 2)

“This is awkward. Never thought you’d catch us, fratello.”

Romy cringed at Cason’s flippant use of “brother” in their native tongue. The storm of anger rising in him must have been apparent because his former lover scooted closer to Cason’s side, looking nervous.

Cason’s gaze flitted from Romy to her and back again. “No worries. She’s not any more important than the next one, right? Easily replaced.”

She whimpered and pouted, slapping Cason’s chest. “How could you say that, Cason? I thought I was special.”

Romy blinked at her. He’d never seen her this way. She seemed to think since Romy didn’t respond to her she might have a better chance with his brother

. He was dead wrong in thinking she wasn’t as bad as some women. It proved they were either all corrupt, or he had zero sense for choosing a good one.

“Lei non merita il nostro nome,” Cason said in a deadpan tone.

Romy clenched his right hand into a fist, but he kept it at his side. Although he hated admitting it, Cason was right. She didn’t deserve their name.

“What did you just say to him, Cason?”

His brother ignored her, keeping his focus on Romy.

Romy sighed and unclenched his fist. He spun on his heel and marched for the door. The creak of springs behind him and his ex-lover’s whine of protest told him Cason followed. At the door, Cason grabbed his arm, standing there with a sheet around his waist.

“Fratello, we’re okay?”

Romy shook his hand off. “Ma’ va te ne a fanculo.”

Cason whistled. “Ouch. I’ve never heard you talk like that. I really screwed up.”

“You could have said you didn’t think she was right to be my wife. You didn’t have to prove it.”

Cason pounded his shoulder. Romy had the feeling he was getting a little payback for Romy cursing at him. “I’ll always have your back, fratello. I have to do things my way, or it wouldn’t be me.”

Romy wrenched the door open and stormed out. If he stayed another minute he would get into a fistfight, and that wasn’t his way. He dropped behind the wheel of his car, turned the engine over, and sped out of the parking lot. All he could think to do now was to throw himself into work and forget this humiliation—and the fact that he was foolish enough to think he could take a wife without being burned.

Chapter 2

Sonya hopped on one foot a couple times and tried to fix the strap on her shoe before she lost balance. Her ankle turned and banged on the ground. Sharp pain shot up her leg, and she groaned. When she righted herself and checked the damage, she found a hole in her pantyhose and blood staining the material.

“Ugh, that’s what I get for trying to wear heels!”

She had wanted to look good for her first day of temping, hoping to secure the position with a permanent job as soon as possible. Every chance she got she had gone into the agency and practiced on the computer. She had upped her skill level and increased her typing speed by leaps and bounds. Harassing the staff every day with phone calls had borne fruit at last, and this was her opportunity. In fact, it was her who had found out about the position at Sartori Incorporated and connected her agency with the company. They couldn’t help but let her go for the temporary secretary position when they won the bid. She had no intention of blowing this chance.

She would kill two birds with one stone. First, she would impress the heck out of the Sartori management and get a permanent job. That way she could afford to take care of herself and Arron. More importantly though she could see what kind of man Romy Sartori was and insinuate herself into his good graces so she could decide whether to spring her news onto him. Nothing could have worked out better if she had waved a magic wand.

“Actually it could if he turns out to be a nice guy and believes my story.”

She hobbled to the counter, got her security badge, and continued up to the floor where she was to meet the HR woman who would introduce her to Romy.

“Sonya Davis?” the slender blonde asked, extending her hand.

“Yes, I’m Sonya. Thanks so much for the opportunity. I—”

“Never mind the gushing,” the woman interrupted. “You have one shot. We’ve gone through a handful of assistants already. Mr. Sartori isn’t in the best of moods this week, so you have to be extra patient. More importantly you need to know what you’re doing. You have plenty of experience working in a fast-paced corporate environment, correct?”

Sonya started to tell the truth, but the woman cut her off.

“Of course you do. That’s what we asked for. Now listen, Mr. Sartori will be in here shortly. He likes his coffee as hot as possible, but he wants it with extra cream and sugar. Your office is right down here and…”

She went on and on with so many details Sonya’s head spun. She had thought she would be able to wing it, but it seemed like looking after an executive of his level meant babysitting the man and anticipating his every possible need. Were the Sartoris that anal? Her stomach knotted with thoughts of the many ways she might screw up. Then she recalled Arron and decided she had to give it her all.

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