Read Online The Infamous Italian's Secret Baby by Carole Mortimer - Free Book Online Page B

hair colour and that dimple on his chin that would one day become a cleft exactly like those of his father and grandfather. The smoothness of Toby’s brow and the long lashes that swept his cheeks were his mother’s, as was that perfect bow of a mouth with its fuller top lip.
    His!
    This beautiful child was of his loins. Of his blood.
    Bella could only stand helplessly by as Gabriel dropped to his knees beside Toby’s bed, her protest strangling in her throat as Gabriel reached out a hand to touch the little boy, the stroke of his fingers against one slightly chubby cheek so gentle, so tender, that Toby didn’t even stir.
    Her heart felt as if it were breaking, shattering, as she watched the rush of love that softened Gabriel’sharshly hewn features. As she saw that love glowing in his broodingly dark gaze as he continued to stare at his son in wonder.
    And she knew without a doubt that the last four years of sharing Toby only with her family were over…
    ‘I need a drink,’ Gabriel stated flatly some time later when he had reluctantly left his son’s bedside to return to the sitting-room, not waiting for Bella’s reply but moving to the mini-bar to help himself to one of the small bottles of whisky before pouring it into a glass and drinking most of it in one swallow. ‘So, Isabella,’ he stated as he looked across at her grimly. ‘What do you suggest we do about this situation?’
    ‘What situation?’ she repeated sharply, her stance wholly defensive as she stood across the room.
    Gabriel looked at her through narrowed lids. He had made love with this woman a little over five years ago. That lovemaking had resulted in a child. A child whose existence she had deliberately kept from him. For that alone Isabella deserved no mercy from him.
    His mouth thinned. ‘The situation that Toby, despite what you may have decided to the contrary, deserves to know both of his parents rather than just one!’
    Her throat moved convulsively, but otherwise she maintained her defensive stance. ‘As I have already explained—’
    ‘As far as you are concerned, I gave up the right to know my own child because you believe I only went to bed with you out of jealousy and spite over my ex-girlfriend’s relationship with Paulo Descari,’ Gabriel coldly repeated her earlier accusation. ‘Neither jealousy norspite were part of my emotions that night, Isabella,’ he added curtly. ‘And I certainly wasn’t feeling those emotions at the time of the accident the following day either,’ he bit out deliberately.
    Bella moistened lips that had gone suddenly dry as she sensed the leashed violence in him. ‘I didn’t suggest they were, Gabriel. You did.’
    He gave a scathing snort. ‘It is impossible not to do so considering Janine’s claims following the accident,’ Gabriel snarled. ‘The official enquiry proved my innocence in the matter. But perhaps you would prefer to believe that I am responsible for the accident that caused the death of two other men, rather than take my word for what happened that day?’
    Bella felt the colour drain from her cheeks even as she stared at Gabriel. No, of course she didn’t prefer to believe that Gabriel had deliberately caused the accident that had killed two other men. She didn’t believe it!
    Gabriel might be guilty of many things, but Bella certainly hadn’t ever believed him to be guilty of that.
    Gabriel looked at her coldly. ‘I did not cause the accident, Isabella,’ he repeated firmly. ‘That was only the hysterical accusation of a woman who took advantage of the fact that I was unconscious for several days following the crash, and so was unable to deny those accusations.’
    And that accusation hadn’t been the reason Bella had made no effort to contact Gabriel following the car crash, either…
    How could she possibly have just arrived at the hospital and asked to be allowed to see Gabriel when they had only spent a single night together?
    If Gabriel wanted to see her