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

Rome,” she said, her voice low and grave. “You’re
the one he wants to see right now.”
    It was another fifteen minutes before he was able to do as
his sister instructed. As soon as Sophia returned to the lounge he gave her a
hug and then he was striding down the hallway to his father’s private room. There,
he found Vittorio propped up on his pillows, his eyes glued to the iPad on his
lap.
    He came to a halt just inside the doorway where he stood
staring at the man who was supposedly at death’s door. From the look of things
his father was still quite some distance away from said door. Rome had expected
to find him on his back, looking frail and helpless. No such thing. Apparently,
Vittorio had been knocked down but he was far from out.
    Good to know.
    “Papa, are you all right?” Rome said as he walked into
the room. “And why are you using electronics when you should be resting?” He
was frowning as he approached his father’s bedside.
    “Rome, my boy. You made it to see your old man.”
Vittorio’s face broke into a broad grin. “Why that long face? You didn’t think
I’d chip out without seeing you first, did you?” Although he was smiling and
speaking cheerfully Rome could hear the strain in his voice.
    That made his frown deepen. “Papa, you just had a stroke.
That’s not a joking matter.”
    “And you always take things too seriously, Rome. Come
on.  You have to laugh at yourself sometimes.” Vittorio was still smiling but
at least he had the grace to put away the iPad.
    “No,” Rome said, still as serious as ever. “There’s no
reason to laugh, not when you almost lost your life.”
    That seemed to have the desired effect on Vittorio
because his smile wavered and then it faded altogether. “All right, all right,”
he said with an exasperated sigh. “You had to come in here and be the wet
blanket, didn’t you?”
    Rome reached for the nearby chair, pulled it close to
the bed and sat down. “Sorry, Pa. When I got the news it just…” he shook his
head, “…scared the hell out of me. Don’t get me wrong. I’m glad you can look
back and laugh at this but when the news hit me all I could think was…I don’t
want to lose you.” He reached out to take his father’s hand. “You’re a tough
old bull but you’re my father. I can’t help but worry about you.”
    Vittorio squeezed Rome’s hand. “Thank you, my boy, but
no need to worry this time. They say it’s a mild stroke so I’ll live.” Then he
grimaced. “The problem is, I’ll have to take these cursed pills for the rest of
my life.”
    Rome squeezed back. “You do what you have to do to stay
alive and stay strong. We want to have you around for a very long time.” Then
he gave a low chuckle. “You’re not done getting grandkids, you know. You’ve got
a lot to live for.”
    Instead of agreeing with him Vittorio gave a hrumph then
pulled his hand away and folded his arms across his chest. “Grandkids,” he
said, the laughter gone from his eyes. “And you’ll be the next one to give me a
grandchild, right? The only thing is, it won’t really be yours. It will be one
foisted on you by that woman you picked up back in the States.”
    That made Rome sit back in his chair. He thought he’d
put that argument to bed. He couldn’t believe it was enough to put fire in Vittorio’s
eyes. He shook his head. “Let’s not talk about that. Right now you need to
focus on your recovery. The last thing you need is to get upset-”
    “I’m already upset,” Vittorio spat. “Who knows? Maybe
it’s this darned baby thing that put me in the hospital. Why the devil did you
have to go pick up a woman saddled with a baby that isn’t even hers?”
    Rome sucked in his breath, the words like a slap to the
face. Vittorio had crossed the line with his stinging remark but Rome would not
respond, not just yet, not when his father was lying in a hospital bed just
barely recovering from his stroke. Fighting to control his anger, he