Read Rome for Always (The BAD BOY BILLIONAIRES Collection) for Free Online Page A

habit of
discussing his personal life with his employees but, with her direct question,
Iyana was challenging that policy. Eyes narrowed, he studied the woman’s face. How
much exactly had she heard?
    “Uh huh,” he conceded with a brusque nod. “You heard
right.” Then he proceeded on his path to his desk. That was as much as he was
going to give. As great an assistant as Iyana was, Arie and the baby would not
be up for discussion.
    “Oh,” she said softly, “I thought so.” Still, she
hesitated in his doorway. “I’m just glad it wasn’t my mind playing tricks on
me.” Then, still looking thoughtful, she turned and walked away.
    Rome frowned. Now what the heck was that all about? But
then he shrugged and sank into his chair, and Iyana and her question were
forgotten in the mountain of paperwork piled on his desk.
    That evening Rome didn’t leave office until after eight
o’clock and by the time he got home, showered and ate he had just enough energy
left to climb into bed and crash for the night. With all the meetings he had
scheduled, tomorrow would be a long day.
    He was in deep sleep, probably drawing his second or
third gear, when the ringing of the phone had him jerking awake. He gave an
involuntary groan and reached over to grab it before it gave him a headache.
    “Hello.” His voice was thick with sleep and he blinked,
trying to drag himself back to wakefulness. He glanced at the clock on the wall.
Three-fifteen in the morning. This had better be damn important.
    “Rome, it’s your mother. I’m afraid I have bad news.”
    “Wh…what’s wrong?” A sudden fear gripped his heart and
his mouth went dry.
    “It’s your father. He’s had a stroke.”
    “Oh, shit.” The word escaped before he could stop it. “How
is he? Where is he?”
    “He’s still at the hospital. He’s conscious and the
doctor said as long as we keep him stable he should soon be on the road to
recovery.” Lily Milano gave a shaky sigh. “But he’s been asking for you, Rome. Can
you come?”
    “What kind of question is that? There’s nothing that
would keep me from Papa’s side.” As he spoke, Rome was sliding out of bed and
padding across the room to his walk-in closet. He would be home only as long as
it would take him to throw some clothes into a bag and then he’d be on his way
to Italy. His father needed him and he planned to get there as fast as his
private jet could take him.
    The flight to Italy was like torture for Rome. The plane
could not get there fast enough. As soon as they landed he hopped into the
waiting car and sped off to the hospital. There, he found his mother,  his nonno and nonna , all three of his brothers and one of his sisters. They filled
the reception lounge of the hospital’s private wing.
    He didn’t even bother with greetings. He just walked up
to his mother and hugged her. “How is he, Mama?” His heart pounding, Rome held
his mother tight, afraid of what she would say next.
    Lily pulled out of his arms and peered up at him. “It’s
okay, Rome. You can breathe now. He’s been through the worst and is recovering
now.”
    It was only then that Rome exhaled. Then he looked
around the room. “So what are all of you doing out here?” he asked. “Shouldn’t
you be with him?”
    Lorenzo shook his head. “Sophia’s with him right now. One
at a time, they said. We have to take turns going in to see him.”
    Rome regarded his brother and he could see the tiredness
in the younger man’s eyes. In fact, they all looked beat. It was obvious they’d
suffered during the last several hours, maybe as much as he had. They’d all
been doing some serious fretting for the patriarch of the family.
    “May I go in next?” As Rome asked the question he
glanced at his mother but then he looked over at Lorenzo then at Dante then
Marco. When he walked over to Nonno and Nonna they both smiled
and pulled him into their arms. He turned to look at Lucia and she gave him a
nod.
    “Go ahead,