A Dark Sicilian Secret. Jane Porter

will be sent packing.”

      “You can’t do that.”

      “No?” His dark gaze met hers and held for long, tense seconds. “You will be living in my home, in my country, among my family and my people. Who will stop me? Hmm?”

      She inhaled sharply. “You can’t use Joe as a weapon against me,” she whispered, her voice failing her.

      “But isn’t that what you did to me?”

      “I was trying to protect him—”

      “From me, yes, I figured that out. But Jill, what a serious, terrible, tactical error.”

      Her gaze searched his, a deep line of worry between her eyebrows. “And if I cooperate for seventeen years?”

      “You’ll remain with us, enjoy my protection, wealth and all the privileges of being part of the d’Severano family.”

      “And yet if I stand by and cooperate, you’ll succeed at turning him into one of you.”

      “You make us sound like a horde of vampires.”

      “You’re not much different, are you?”

      “According to today’s popular culture, vampires are in.”

      “Not with me.”

      “You’re anti vampire?”

      “I’m anti bullies, thugs and thieves. I’m anti predators. Anti organized crime. Anti anyone who forces other people to their knees.”

      “È gran pazzia lu cuntrastari cu du nun pô vinciri nè appattari,” he quoted, then translated the Sicilian proverb for her benefit, “It’s insane to oppose when you can neither win nor compromise.” The corner of his mouth quirked. “You’re either shockingly brave or stupid, Jill, considering you have so much at stake.”

      “A great deal is at stake. We’re talking about the life of a little boy. What we do now will impact him forever.”

      “Exactly so.”

      “Which is why I can’t just roll over, Vittorio, and pretend that who you are, and what you do, is good. Your values and morals aren’t mine—”

      He’d heard enough, more than enough, actually, and tuning out the rest of her speech, he gestured to one of his men, who then tapped the glass partition, getting the chauffeur’s attention. The driver immediately slowed and pulled off the highway onto the rain-lashed shoulder.

      “It’s a shame that we couldn’t come to an understanding, but I suppose it’s better now than later,” he said calmly, knowing he was just about to destroy what was left of her world. “I did want this to work out. I think we could have made it work. Unfortunately, I can see it’s not going to happen. So let’s make the break now and be done with it. No point in dragging the pain out.” He leaned to the side, opened the back door. “Goodbye, Jill.”

      Her lips parted with surprise. “What?”

      “Your house is just a half mile back. Not far, but certainly not comfortable in the rain. Do be careful. The pavement is undoubtedly slippery.”

      She crumpled into the seat, her expression one of horror. “Vittorio,” she protested, her voice strangled.

      She looked hurt and bewildered. Shattered. But of course she’d be dramatic. Everything she said and did was extreme. But he’d had enough of her dishonesty and distortions. He despised lies and he’d worked too damn hard to restore respectability to his family to allow anyone, much less Jill Smith with her questionable morals and secretive past, to dishonor the d’Severano family.

      “Jillian, come. Let’s be honest. How can we possibly hope to raise our son together when you dislike me so very much? I want him to be safe and loved, not torn between us. But you would hurt him. You’ve turned me into a monster and you’d try to turn him against me—”

      “I wouldn’t.”

      She was grasping at straws and they both knew it.

      “You already have. You’ve lied to me. You’ve run from me. You’ve promised to meet me and then you never showed. But then, you never meant to show. It was just a ruse to allow you to escape. With my son.” He drew a slow breath, suppressing the anger and shame he’d felt when she’d tricked him following Joseph’s birth, playing him, manipulating him for months. No one did that and got away with it. No one. Why should she? “Joseph will be one next month and today is the first time I’ve ever held him. And you call me the monster?”

      She flinched, visibly shaken, and her eyes looked enormous in her now ashen face. For a moment he almost felt sorry for her. Almost, but not quite, because she’d hurt him, humiliated him, and made his life a living hell.

      His child. His. Kept from him. Who did that? What kind of woman did that?

      He gestured carelessly, his tone one of boredom. “Do us both a favor, Jill, and step out of the car—”

      “Never.”

      “I’m going straight to the airport,” he continued as if she hadn’t spoken. “We have a flight plan in place. I don’t have time to waste.”

      She sat very tall on the seat, her slim shoulders square. “I won’t get out.”

      “Jill.”

      She shook her head. “I won’t leave him. I would never leave him.”

      “And I won’t play these games.”

      “There are no games. I promise.”

      “You made promises in the past—”

      “I was scared.”

      “And you’re not now?” he retorted, mocking her.

      Jill’s teeth were chattering again and she bundled her arms over her stomach, holding herself tightly as if afraid she’d disintegrate any moment. “Not scared,” she said from between her teeth. “Terrified. Please. Please. No games. No trouble. I will cooperate. I will make this work. I will do everything you ask. I swear.”

      His dark gaze pinned her, held her captive. “I am out of patience, Jill.”

      “Yes.”

      His voice dropped even lower. “There will be no second chances. One misstep, one mistake, one small fib, and you’re gone. Forever.”

      She was nodding, frantically nodding, and tears slid from the corners of her eye.

      He refused to care. Refused to feel anything for her. She had it coming. Every little bit of hurt, heartbreak and misery. He’d trusted her. Had cared for her. More than he’d cared for any woman in years.

      Twenty months ago he’d actually thought she was the one. The only one. The one he’d marry and cherish for the rest of his life. Which was absurd as he wasn’t the impulsive kind.

      He’d never met any woman he could imagine as his wife, but somehow he’d wanted her.

      He’d wanted to love her, protect her, forever.

      And then she ran, and lied, and cut his heart to pieces.

      “Whatever you want,” she choked, “whatever you say.”

      She was practically begging now, and he’d thought perhaps it would make him feel better. It didn’t.

      He’d never treated a woman harshly in his life.

      He’d never reduced a woman to this. Nor should he have had to.

      Vittorio could hardly look at her. Her lower lip trembled and tears shimmered on her cheeks. She made him feel like a savage, like the monster she’d portrayed him to be, but he was no monster. He’d spent his entire life healing wounds inflicted by previous generations. He’d battled to build back his father’s