The Di Sione Secret Baby (The Billionaire's Legacy 2)

‘What?’

Rahim stood before her, still in his jacket, his hair spiked in all directions, like he’d run his fingers through it many times. ‘You’re carrying my child.’

‘So?’ she squeaked, her mind scrambling past the visual wallop he packed just by being him.

Eyes turned a burnished bronze blazed at her. ‘Marry me.’

Numbly she shook her head, the few words she’d managed so far the extent of her vocal ability as she tried to absorb what Rahim had just asked of her. She was still shaking her head when he reached forward and cupped her jaw.

‘If you have arguments, speak them now.’

Hysteria bubbled up inside her. Frantically, she tried to pull herself together, speak the words that would restore sanity. ‘I can’t.’

His grip tightened. Imperceptibly. But she felt it. And she saw the cold withdrawal in his eyes before he freed her.

Turning, he strode to the bar set on the far side of the elegant living room, and poured a shot of amber liquor. Throwing it back, he rolled the side of the glass over his lips before he set it down with a sharp click.

Slowly he strolled back to her. Despite the steady, unhurried pace, Allegra’s spine tingled with dread.

‘Are you prepared to lose everything you’ve spent your life building without due consideration?’ he enquired casually, his balled fists sliding into his pockets.

‘What are you talking about?’

‘I’m talking about your foundation. Your freedom.’

Ice-cold fear climbed into her throat. ‘My freedom?’

‘Once the disappearance of the box is discovered, you can be assured charges will be brought.’

Allegra gasped. ‘You said you didn’t give a damn about the box,’ she muttered through frozen lips.

A hard light momentarily gleamed in his eyes. ‘I don’t. But there are others who do. It wasn’t just a personal possession you stole. Before my mother died, she expressed a wish to have her collection made a national treasure, to be displayed in the Dar-Aman National Museum upon her death. My father could never bring himself to honour that wish.’ His face tightened for a moment before his features neutralised. ‘As Dar-Aman’s ruler, the collection is now mine. I’ve had my hands full with other matters of state to get it done. But my mother’s wish is one I intend to honour in the coming months. The theft of such a treasure is an offence punishable by a lengthy prison term.’

Panic clawed through her. ‘And how does marrying you change my fate?’

He shrugged. ‘As my queen you’d have to answer to no one. The box can be my wedding gift to you. Marry me, and your grandfather need not lose his precious keepsake. Your foundation will continue to thrive, free from the scandal that could see all your hard work turned to dust overnight. My people won’t have to suffer the consequence of the scandal of an illegitimate child. And most importantly, our child won’t suffer the stain of being called illegitimate. He or she will be my true heir, with an unchallenged birthright.’

The calculated way he enumerated his wishes chilled her soul. On the one hand, she knew he was offering her personal salvation and a safe start to her child’s life. And yet, looking at him, seeing no softness in Rahim, her heart dropped to her stomach.

Was this to be another failure to add to her ever growing list? In the hours since Rahim had left her alone, she’d tried to convince herself she could do this alone, if need be. After all, millions of women had succeeded, hadn’t they? But now Allegra realised that she hadn’t really believed herself. What she’d hoped for was a sign that Rahim would be willing to undertake this journey with her, not out of duty but because a part of him, no matter how small, wanted this child too. Looking at him now, fresh doubts flooded her.

Her parents had provided legitimacy and the occasional bout of twisted affection and nothing much else. Allegra knew the fierce glow that burned within her each time she thought of the child growing in her womb was a different emotion to what she’d experienced as a child. It was even different from what she felt for her siblings.

It was deeper, and fiercely intense. One that she would lay down her life to protect.

But would it thrive in an atmosphere filled with recrimination? Like her parents, would that love eventually become distorted once she accepted a ring from a man she barely knew? A man whose sole reason for being here was duty?

‘Allegra.’

She looked at Rahim. ‘Was this why you left? To make this cold and calculating plan?’

His face hardened further, drawing a shiver from her. ‘Our marriage won’t be cold and calculating. Only the planning and execution of it.’

‘Is that supposed to reassure me?’

‘You’re a pragmatist, Allegra. Same as I. We are faced with a situation and we have to find the best way forward. This is the only way forward.’

No mention of love. No mention of hearts and roses. Allegra told herself it wasn’t what she’d expected anyway. She didn’t fool herself for a moment into thinking Rahim would feel the same newly discovered love she felt for the baby growing inside her.