Page 67 of Pregnant and Stolen by the Tycoon

‘I must insist,’ Alessio intoned, his tone coated in titanium.

This was why he was his friend. Why Seve had trusted no one but him with the final investigation into his uncle, ensuring Lorenzo didn’t get away with any more atrocities. Alessio Montaldi was a man of many dark and dubious talents.

‘You want me to stay?’ Alessio asked once the room had cleared.

Seve sensed his friend’s restlessness. Hell, he was surprised the Sicilian had returned considering the situationhehad brewing back in Europe.

‘No. I’ll handle it from here,gracias,’ he said, despite the dreadful weight in his stomach that said he’d screwed up. Big time.

He’d emancipated himself from the dark shadows of the past. Finally.

‘We may bear the same surname, but I will never call you family. You’re out of my life for good.’

Lorenzo had had the audacity to looked shocked at Seve’s parting words. But in putting his past ghosts to rest, had he thrown his future into jeopardy?

Alessio clasped him on the shoulder. ‘Buena fortuna, friend. You know where to find me if you need me.’

He nodded but barely heard his friend leave. His heart was stuttering in his chest as he listened to the phone ring and ring andring.

The past twenty-four hours had been beyond hectic, but he’d received reports that Genie was fine. She’d chosen to stay at the cabin instead of returning to the estate.

So why wasn’t she answering?

He redialled his security, every bone in his body locking when that phone too rang endlessly. About to give up, he exhaled in relief when it was answered.

Then he was grateful for the glass wall’s support as the strength leached from his body. ‘Repeat that,’ he snapped, one hand braced against the window.

‘I’m sorry,señor. But your wife fell unconscious. The doctor is with her. We’re about to board the helicopter—’

‘What happened?’ he shouted, terror eating him alive. The urgent voices in the background made his fingers tighten on the phone and his stomach churn.

‘She was watching your press conference,señor. And she got a little distressed.’

Horror dredged harder through him. ‘Is she...is she okay?’

Genie was strong. Wilful. Highly intelligent. And utterly beautiful. But so far she’d fainted at one other key moment. When she’d discovered she was pregnant with his child. How utterly idiotic of him to believe he could make such life-changing decisions without considering how it would affect the most important person in his life.

‘Señor?’

He powered through the soul-shrivelling self-recrimination to focus on the voice seeking his attention. The doctor. ‘What’s wrong with her?’

‘I don’t know for sure yet, sir. Her vitals are a little erratic so I think it’s best she’s taken to the hospital.’

‘Where are you taking her?’

‘The private facility where the birth was to take place is best.’

‘Dios mio.The baby...’

His recklessness might have put not just his wife but his child in danger.

For eight incredible days, he’d had everything he wanted. Had he thrown it away with his recklessness?

No.Not while he had breath in his body.

‘I’ll meet you there.’

He hung up and sprinted for the door, startling the small crowd gathered outside.

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