RossellinisRevengeAffair

by Rossellini's Revenge Affair (lit)

  “Lana, my dear, this serves no purpose. Don’t hurt yourself any more.” Tom Munroe looked grey and worried.

  “I deserve to know.”

  Raffaele stood and looked down at her. “Deserve to know?Non c’è problema . How I met Kyle—through business. Three years ago I started to look for an investment project here in New Zealand to diversify my business interests, he had been assisting me in my endeavours. How Kyle met Maria—it is simple—I introduced them.”

  Lana flinched as if he’d struck her.

  “You?”

  “Si, and I’ve never regretted anything more.”

  Lana pressed her fingers to her temples. The nightmare that was now her life was spiralling out of control—it couldn’t get any worse than this, surely. Raffaele Rossellini knew about the baby? He was the baby’s uncle? As far as she was concerned he was welcome to Kyle’s child. The irony that she was expected to be the unborn babe’s guardian was altogether more than she could bear.

  “It’s yours,” she managed between lips that didn’t seem to want to move.

  “What?”

  “The baby. It’s yours. I don’t want it.”

  Tom raised a hand. “Now hold on a moment, Lana, Mr Rossellini. We’re not talking about a piece of land here. We’re talking about a child—an as yet unborn child. Let’s not be hasty.”

  “What is stopping me from having the child? It’s clear she is unwilling to be its guardian,” Raffaele argued.

  “I will have to consult with a Family Law specialist. The situation itself is a difficult one. In general, under New Zealand Law, even as next of kin you would have to make application for a parenting order.”

  “Then do it.”

  Lana’s skin chilled at the driven iciness in Raffaele’s tone.

  “I cannot take your instructions, sir. As Lana’s counsel it would be a conflict of interests. I can however recommend you to one of my esteemed colleagues,” Tom said evenly, his eyes severe in his face. “But you have to be aware, the legal process is slow. If Lana cannot—or will not—assume guardianship, the child will become a ward of the State until your parenting order is processed.”

  “My sister’s child will not disappear in your State system. Not while I have breath in my body.”

  “And then there’s another possibility.” Tom steepled his fingers and fixed Raffaele with a challenging gaze even Lana had never seen him use before.

  “Tell me of this other possibility.”

  “Lana could change her mind and contest the order. After some thought, she may choose to keep the child, raise it on her own.”

  “Why would she do that? She is not only unwilling to care for Maria’s baby, she is unfit to do so. She has no means at her disposal.”

  “Stop talking about me like I’m not here. I’ve given you both my answer. That’s the end of it.” Clutching her bag to her aching chest, Lana rose unsteadily to her feet. She couldn’t stand their debate a moment longer. Turning on her heel, she fled the room. She had to get out of there and as far away as she possibly could. She ignored Raffaele’s driver as he moved to open the car door for her. She ignored the shout from behind.

  Her feet ate up the distance on the pavement as she half ran, half stumbled along—oblivious to the curious stares of passersby. Finally she reached an oasis of grass and trees away from the prying eyes of stranger before her legs gave out beneath her. She slumped onto a park bench, uncaring of the moss that grew on the weathered wood and the rough edges of the seat that caught and snagged at her clothing.

  A giant sob welled up in her chest and fought past the gasping constriction of her throat. Her eyes slid shut as hot tears scalded her cheeks and she gave into the overwhelming anguish that shredded every cell in her body with unrelenting talons. As hard as she had run, no distance in the world could save her from the unspeakable truth of Kyle’s perfidy. Another sob rose, hard on the heels of the first, and tremors of shock ricocheted violently through her as she gave in to the irrevocable certainty her life had turned into a gaping hole so deep and so dark she had no idea how she’d ever climb out.

  Through her grief she heard the fast clip of footsteps as they approached on the path behind her. It could only be one person. Lana swallowed hard, fighting back the urge to scream at him to be left alone, and forced the tremors to cease through sheer will. She raised a shaking hand to dash the moisture from her cheeks and opened her eyes, focussing on the imprint of the peaceful scene of the park in front of her and on the sounds of birds chattering—on the wind teasing through the leaves in the massive ancient puriri trees and the distant hum of traffic.

  Raffaele slowed his approach, fighting to get his anger under control. How dare she reject Maria and Kyle’s child the way she had. The news that she was the baby’s guardian had come as an unexpected ripple in his plans—and had forced him to reveal his relationship to Maria far earlier than he had intended. It went without saying that further investigation was necessary to be certain the position Munroe had stated was indeed correct. What kind of woman abandoned a parentless child? She was everything he’d thought, and worse. But whatever he had discovered about her, Tom Munroe had one thing made painfully clear. She was the one person who could smooth the path to his goal. His fledging plan to woo, destroy and discard Lana Whittaker would require revision.

  His vow to his sister was a brand across his heart. One way or another, Lana Whittaker would agree to help him, then he would find a way to make her pay for the devastation she’d wrought on his family.

  “Lana,” he called softly, watching carefully as her body stiffened and her shoulders squared. “That is quite a run you managed.”

  “Please, don’t. Don’t try and make this funny.” The words dripped like icicles in the chilly air. She stood slowly to face him.

  “I agree. It is not a matter for joking. Why did you run away?”

  “What else would you have me do? Stay in Tom’s office and hear all about my duties as guardian to Kyle’s baby? The baby he had with hislover? Your sister! You’re no better than Kyle was. It’s clear you condoned their affair and now you expect me to help you? Well it stops here. Now.”

  Unadulterated vitriol stained her words. Raffaele reached forward to grasp those firmly set shoulders of hers but restrained himself from giving them the shaking she so richly deserved.

  “You would visit the sins of the father against the child?” He fought to keep his voice low and even.

  “I cannot be that baby’s guardian. Only a monster would expect such a thing of me.”

  “Of course you can. You’re a strong woman, you can do anything you put your mind to. Look at how you’ve coped with the past few days. Any one else would have been destroyed by what you’ve faced.”

  “But this hasn’t happened to just any one else, has it? It’s happened to me.”

  “You will learn to cope with this also.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous. How could I—even if I wanted to? As you so rightly pointed out back there, I have no home, no money. Even the clothes I’m wearing right now are what you bought for me. Everything, even my underwear!”

  Beneath the line of her jacket he caught a glimpse of that very underwear she’d referred to. Underwear he’d personally chosen this morning. His body roused to life as he remembered the texture of the lace and imagined it caressing her skin. Imagined removing it and replacing it with his hands, his lips, his tongue.

  Dio!She was a siren. Even he, with his agenda towards her, was not immune. How many other men had she ensnared this way?

  “Lana, I can help you. If you accept interim guardianship of the child I will waive Kyle’s debt and provide you with an income as well as meet all the expenses of care for the baby. Once guardianship is mine I will settle a cash sum upon you. You’ll be free. Free to start over.”

  “Why? Why would you do that?”

  “You would not understand.”

  “No. You’re probably right. I don’t understand your motives just as I’ll
never be able to understand how my husband could’ve lied to me for so long and how I never knew. Or how he could betray me with another woman the way he did. We were happy together!”

  Raffaele firmed his lips. She lied so easily it roused an even deeper anger in him. Did she really think he didn’t know the truth?

  “I’m sorry, Lana, for your loss and for the pain you’ve been given.”

  Raffaele fixed his gaze on a statue in the centre of the park. Asking her forgiveness tasted like ashes in his mouth but he had to convince her to fulfil her duties. If she didn’t, who knew what government agency would make decisions about Maria’s baby until he could take care of it himself.

  Her response was barely audible. “So am I. I’m sorry Kyle ever met you or your sister.”

  The wind picked up a little and Lana wrapped her arms about her, as if to ward off the cooling air. Overhead, fat dark grey clouds threatened to burst and drench them both. Big fat spots of rain started to fall. Lana shivered under their onslaught yet, if anything, seemed to be unaware of the escalating intensity of the rain.

  “Lana?” She didn’t acknowledge him.

  Lana remained frozen in grief and shock. When would her husband’s capacity to deceive stop flaying her inside? It hurt too much. Everything hurt too much.

  “Lana!” His voice commanded, breaking through her reverie. “We must go.”

  He took her arm and together they marched briskly to where his driver hurried toward them, an unfurled umbrella in his hands. They completed their journey to the hotel in damp silence in the close confines of the vehicle, parting in the sitting room of Raffaele’s suite to go to their rooms to dry off and get dressed. Lana was relieved to discover her other clothing had been returned, and hung—none the worse for yesterday’s wear—in the wardrobe. She reached for them, then decided against it, choosing instead to wrap herself inside one of the hotels thick navy and silver monogrammed robes.

  The phone rang in the other room and Raffaele’s deep voice vibrated through the closed door as he answered. Lana sank onto the bed, she had no desire to eavesdrop on his call, nor any desire to be anywhere near him right now. Tomorrow she’d get up, get dressed and get out of here. Somehow she’d get some money.

  About fifteen minutes later he knocked on her door.

  “I must go away tonight, however I will be back by mid-morning tomorrow. I want you to stay here and consider my offer once more. When I get back tomorrow, we can discuss matters between us further, perhaps find some terms you will be agreeable to. Please feel free to charge whatever you need to the room—clothing, shoes, meals. Whatever you need.”

  “I’ll be gone by the time you get back.”

  “I would like you to reconsider your position about the child.”

  “That won’t be necessary.”

  “He or she deserves a home, as much as you do.”

  “Don’t compare my position to the baby’s. They’re not the same. The State agency will ensure it’s placed in a home. That’s a lot more than I have right now.” Her words hung in the air. Even to herself they sounded harsh and self-absorbed, but somehow she had to pull the frayed edges of her life together and that did not include bringing up her husband’s illegitimate child.

  “But you could have it all. Everything. I would see to that.”

  “No. I will not care for his bast—”

  The cruel word she’d been about to say was lost in the sudden possession of his lips upon hers. Of the strength of his fingers as they raked through her hair, cupping the back of her head. His skin still smelled of fresh air and raindrops—the scent intoxicating, natural, enticing. Desire blazed with wild demanding heat from deep inside her. She parted her lips against the pressure of his, tentatively stroking her tongue against his lower lip then scraping her teeth subtly against its slick surface and drawing the tender skin into her mouth to suckle it softly. A shudder racked his body and his fingers tightened in her hair. He groaned against her mouth and her body liquefied at the tug of his free hand on the tie of her robe, then the heated flare of his fingers across her hip pulling her hard against him.

  He was rock hard and she flexed her hips against the ridge of his arousal that pressed between them. She gasped at the jolt of need that spiked between her thighs, letting go of his lip. Burning desire flared and pooled deep in her belly. His hand slid around to her bottom, cupping the warm globe of flesh and pulling her rhythmically against him. His lips played across her cheek, to the hollow at her neck behind her earlobe and a shiver of sheer want sent goose bumps over her skin as his tongue stroked against the sensitive spot.

  “Is your need for revenge on your husband so great you would visit it on an orphaned child? Think about it, promise me. I will make it worth your while, that I promiseyou .” His low, uneven demand shocked her back to awareness, to what she was doing and with whom.

  She spun out of his grasp, grabbing the edges of her robe and drawing them about her tightly. Her heart pounded in her chest, her skin tingled where he’d touched. Through lips still swollen from his kiss she finally managed the words. “There’s no point. I won’t change my mind.”

  Raffaele flung her a searing look before reaching to collect a small overnight bag from the floor. “We will discuss this further tomorrow.”

  “I won’t be here!”

  But her words fell on deaf ears as he pulled the front door closed behind him, his control perhaps even more lethal than if he’d slammed it in his wake.

  There wasn’t enough money in the world to make her agree to what he suggested. She thought of the marriage she’d unequivocally lost. The money, the trappings of their luxurious life, they’d all been nothing to her in the face of the reality she and Kyle couldn’t bear a child of their own. And nothing, apparently, to Kyle also.

  She’d failed. Lana pressed her hand against her stomach, her barren womb, her fingers clenching into a tight fist. She couldn’t do it. She just couldn’t.

  Early the next day Lana straightened the collar of her blouse in the reflection of the mirrored walls of the elevator speeding to the floor where she worked. She examined her features carefully. No one would guess by looking at her that she stood in all she possessed. If nothing else, she still had poise. A poise she’d allowed Raffaele Rossellini to shatter in his wake last night. Her hand rose to her face, her fingers to her lips.

  He’d been angry both times he’d kissed her. And yet, despite the restrained power she’d felt in his body he hadn’t hurt her. Instead, he’d enticed her, awakening her body. Making her feel things she knew she shouldn’t be feeling and yet, conversely, felt she had every right to. She’d been scorned by her husband for another woman. Was it so wrong to want to rebuild her shattered confidence, her diminishing self-esteem, with a man who obviously found her attractive? Even a man who had his own agenda?

  She pressed her fingers against the soft tissue of her lips, reliving the pressure of Raffaele’s kiss. A charge of want spiralled through her body. Yes, he made her feel like a woman—alluring, feminine. With those kisses he’d begun to bridge the gaping chasm where her heart had been shattered, her trust destroyed.

  It was too soon to feel this way for anyone, let alone a man like him. For goodness sake, her husband had been buried only a few days! What on earth was she thinking? And yet, she knew deep down that Kyle had been gone from her far longer than the month he’d been away before the accident that had stolen his life. She knew it, but was she ready to accept it?

  The elevator door sprang open and like an automaton Lana stepped out onto the familiar floor where she’d worked for the past three years. All of yesterday afternoon she’d tried to get through to Frank Burnham, the chairman of the charity she’d worked with—he still hadn’t returned her calls by this morning. Maybe he was simply being considerate of her bereavement. At least she hoped that was so. This job, with its small stipend, was the last financial bastion she had left.

  “Mrs Whittaker? What are you doing here?” Katie, the receptio
nist, rose from her station, her hands fluttering like startled doves at her side.

  “My job, Katie. I still need to work.”

  “Lana, what a surprise!” Frank Burnham’s voice boomed down the corridor.

  “Surprise, Frank? Surely not. I left you a message saying I’d be at work today.”

  “Now, you don’t want to rush into these things. Why don’t you take some more time?”

  “I don’t want anymore time. I need to get back into my work, to get busy again.”To make some money , Lana prayed silently. The pay she’d received while on bereavement leave was frozen in her and Kyle’s joint account.

  “Perhaps you should step into my office.”

  A cold sense of foreboding swirled around her with ghostly fingers. While Frank’s voice had been genial, there was something in his eyes that was anything but. In his office, Lana watched as he shuffled papers on his desk, clearing his throat several times.