The Irresistible Royal Read online

  ‘Fine. I’ll tell you about your father.’

  Chloe crossed her arms in front of her chest and stared at her mother through narrowed eyes as she wondered what sort of madness the woman would spout next.

  ‘When you got all the publicity through the court case you won, I claimed you publicly as my daughter. Your biological father—you resemble him strongly by the way—remembered me. He did some research on you and realised your date of birth meant you could be his child. He contacted me.’ She brushed at the sleeves of her long, flowing pink top.

  ‘You’ve waited this long before telling me?’

  ‘I had my reasons.’

  Heaven help them all. ‘Well?’ Chloe demanded. ‘Who is he?’

  Lidia laughed. ‘I’ll tell you on one condition.’

  ‘Oh for God’s sake.’

  ‘Invite me to Rico’s christening.’

  ‘No.’ This toxic woman wasn’t coming anywhere near her son, or her husband’s family and friends. About to spin on her heel and march right out of Lidia’s suite, Chloe spotted an envelope on the coffee table with her name on it. As she swooped on it, Lidia also made a grab for it.

  ‘Give that back.’

  ‘It has my name on it.’

  ‘That doesn’t make it yours.’

  ‘I say it does. The law would agree,’ she asserted. Ripping the envelope open as she darted behind the sofa and away from Lidia, Chloe scanned the single sheet of paper within.

  It looked official, with the letterhead of Judge Patrick Sean Mulroney.

  The letter was addressed to Princess Chloe Esposito.

  ‘This is definitely mine.’ The next words she read almost felled her where she stood. ‘I’m not sure where to begin, except with the truth. Lidia has confirmed you’re my biological daughter.’ Heart pounding, she looked at Lidia in shock. ‘My father’s a judge?’

  For a moment, Chloe didn’t think Lidia was going to respond. In fact, it was highly likely the heat from the older woman’s naked loathing and resentment would incinerate her on the spot.

  ‘Yes, he’s a judge,’ Lidia all but spat out. ‘He was a bloody barman when I met him. It seems he tended bar to get himself through law school.’

  It was unbelievable she’d chosen the same profession as her natural father. Chloe couldn’t wait to meet him.

  Did he want to meet her?

  ‘Through his work and investments, he’s now a disgustingly wealthy man,’ Lidia continued. ‘He’s paying for this suite.’

  ‘Oh God. Please don’t tell me he’s going to be your next husband.’ Surely not. Surely the man would have more sense now.

  Lidia’s features crumpled and for a second she looked pathetically tragic. ‘He wants to meet you. I said I’d arrange it. This suite for a month was my price.’

  ‘Of course, there had to be a price.’ Chloe was itching to leave and read the entire letter.

  Lidia drew herself up straight and the supercilious expression settled upon her features once more. ‘Run along and meet your father, darling. I won’t even need a month in this hotel before I snare my next wealthy husband. The corridors of this place are full of sinfully rich men. In fact, I’m having dinner with Sheikh al Sh’ahabibdi tonight.’ She tossed her head again. ‘I don’t need you. I’ve never needed you.’

  Folding the letter up, Chloe placed it in safely her handbag. ‘Goodbye, Lidia.’ This woman’s words couldn’t hurt her anymore. Hopefully she’d marry the sheikh and be spirited off to the Middle East so Chloe never had to deal with her again.

  The second she got in the lift, she read through the letter. Judge Patrick Sean Mulroney wanted to meet her.

  Five minutes later, she was in the back of the limousine that Marco had put at her disposal and the chauffeur was heading back to Marco’s home—their home. Unable to wait to share her news with her husband, she phoned him, even though she knew she was probably interrupting an important business meeting.

  ‘Marco. I know who my father is. I’ve got a letter from him.’

  ‘What? How? I haven’t been told any of this.’

  After Chloe explained everything and read the letter out to him, Marco cautioned her, ‘This isn’t some sort of trick of Lidia’s, is it?’

  ‘I don’t think so. It looks legitimate.’

  ‘Where are you now?’

  ‘On my way home. We’ve turned into Bayswater Road.’

  ‘Cara. I’m on my way home, too. I’m on Curzon Street, so I’m not far behind you.’

  ‘Really?’

  ‘I delegated one of my staff to represent me at the last two meetings of the day and thought I’d come home early.’

  ‘That’s fabulous. I’ll show you the letter as soon as you get home.’ She was still clutching it in her hand, not wanting to put it down for a second.

  ‘See you soon.’

  Elation bubbled through Chloe. It didn’t matter that Lidia was so revolting. Chloe had a father who loved her and another father who wanted to meet her. Most importantly she had Marco and Rico, and while Marco still hadn’t said the words she most wanted to hear, that didn’t mean he didn’t love her. She loved him and hadn’t uttered those three little words either.

  The absurdity of keeping silent about loving him struck her.

  She and Marco had become so close. It was time to trust him with the truth of her feelings.

  When the chauffeur stopped the vehicle in front of the house, Chloe didn’t go in. She decided she was going to walk down the long driveway and meet Marco at the gate. She couldn’t wait another second to tell him how much she loved him.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Everything in Marco seized up as he saw the whole scene play out in slow motion.

  Chloe was running down the driveway toward him. She held a piece of paper up and waved at him.

  ‘Stop,’ he yelled, even knowing he was inside the car and she’d never hear him.

  Thinking fast, he flashed his headlights on and off at the delivery van that was travelling too fast from the service entry and about to turn onto the main drive in front of their home.

  Noooo. It would never stop in time.

  This couldn’t be happening.

  There was nothing else he could do from here.

  Chloe was smiling at him.

  He pounded his fist on the horn of the car and accelerated hard, as though he was going to run into her, to try to get her off the driveway. He saw the look of confusion on her face a split second before the delivery van rounded the corner and slammed into her.

  Screeeeech.

  Thud.

  ‘NO.’ Marco slammed on his brakes and screamed in denial as he watched the corner of the van hit her. She was thrown up in the air.

  Smash.

  His heart shattered as dramatically as the van’s windscreen as he watched her body land against the glass and bounce forward.

  The van came to a stop and Chloe’s limp body flopped down on to the driveway. The piece of paper she’d waved at him floated down slowly through the air and came to rest on the driveway a few feet away from her still form.

  Marco was barely aware of the agonised, grief-stricken howl emerging from the tightness in his chest and out through his mouth as he killed the engine of his car, threw the door open and sprinted toward her. Everything that happened next was a blur.

  Chloe’s crumpled body.

  A car door opening.

  A man speaking frantically. ‘She came out of nowhere.’

  ‘I’ll call an ambulance.’

  ‘Your Highness, don’t move her.’ Strong arms—two men either side of him, holding him back as he reached out to take his wife in his arms. ‘She may have spinal injuries, Prince Marco. We have to wait for the ambulance.’

  He looked up half-dazed at his security guards and wondered where the bloody hell they’d been when they should’ve been keeping his wife safe.

  Blood on Chloe’s neck.

  No movement. Not even the vaguest fluttering of her eyel
ids.

  ‘Step back, Your Highness,’ a security guard urged. ‘I need to check her pulse.’

  Blood trickled down Chloe’s cheek from a gash near her temple.

  Shocked voices.

  His security team formed a ring around the scene.

  ‘She’s still breathing.’ The guard’s words barely penetrated Marco’s mind.

  ‘The bloody truck was going way too fast.’

  The dreadful words ricocheted around and around in his head as the scene replayed in his mind and he relived the helplessness of watching Chloe being hit. If only he’d been a few minutes earlier. If only the car had been another sixty metres down the road, the truck would’ve collided with his vehicle.

  A siren wailed. The sound grew louder and louder.

  ‘Let me go,’ he growled.

  He shook off one of his security team, but his bodyguard stood directly in front of him. ‘Your Highness, you’re in shock. You mustn’t try to move her.’

  ‘Keep him away,’ the head of security ordered.

  There were flashing lights as the ambulance arrived. They cast their light onto Chloe’s face, making her skin seem an unearthly pale blue.

  Two paramedics went to her side. A security guard spoke to them in hushed tones, then he stood up and came to Marco and placed a hand on his arm. ‘You can go in the ambulance with her, Your Highness.’ He spoke each word slowly. He must’ve realised his voice was being processed by a brain that was dull and foggy.

  ‘Will she...?’ Marco couldn’t breathe. He couldn’t talk. A huge, tight ball of emotion lodged in his chest, making it impossible to do anything more than gasp for air.

  ‘She’s in the best hands, Your Highness.’ The guard gripped his arm tighter. ‘We’ll follow behind and see you at the hospital.’

  Three hours later, the surgeons were still operating. Chloe had sustained severe internal injuries as well as a blow to the head.

  Gabriel and India had been in Paris about to head home to Santaliana. Gabriel had his pilots file a flight plan for London instead, and they were at the hospital within two hours of Marco calling them. Now they waited with Marco in a room outside the operating theatre. Marco’s parents and his brothers would be arriving shortly to lend their support, but there was nothing anyone could do at this stage. There was nothing to say.

  Fear gnawed at Marco’s insides. As time stretched, the gnawing became great chunking bites that left him hollow.

  ‘How did it happen?’ Chloe’s father had asked when Marco phoned him.

  ‘She was hit by a delivery van right in front of our house.’ As he’d processed it, he realised there’d been nothing her bodyguards could’ve done. It’d been a freak, unpredictable accident, the product of one unsafe, speeding driver. How could the men guarding her have even suspected such a scenario when Chloe was on home ground and supposed to be safe? ‘My assistant has organised a private flight so you, Pedro and Maria can get here as soon as possible.’

  ‘Just... how serious is it, Marco?’

  No matter how hard he gripped the phone and gritted his teeth together, Marco couldn’t keep the traumatised emotion from his voice. ‘It’s... serious.’

  ‘You tell my baby... girl... I’m on... on my... way.’

  Every word from Luis that caught on a sob or shudder of breath made the tears burn again in Marco’s eyes. He couldn’t say goodbye to Luis. He disconnected the phone and reached for a handkerchief.

  Chloe had to pull through this. Rico was being cared for now by their housekeeper, but their son needed his mother and Marco needed his wife.

  The door of the waiting room opened and the surgeon entered with a grave face.

  ‘Prince Marco. King Gabriel. Queen India.’ He acknowledged them all before he addressed Marco. ‘Your Highness, Princess Chloe has been transferred to ICU. There was a lot of internal bleeding needing to be stemmed. Her left kidney has been damaged. We need to do more tests before we make a decision as to whether we need to remove it. We’re not sure about the function of her right kidney. If we need to remove the left one, she may need a transplant.’

  Marco didn’t hesitate. ‘I’ll have a compatibility test. If it’s suitable, I’ll donate one of mine.’

  The doctor nodded. ‘It’s early days, but I’ll keep it in mind.’

  ‘When can I see her?’

  ‘Your Highness, the princess sustained a head injury in the accident. There’s increased pressure inside her head due to swelling. To decrease the pressure, we’re keeping her on a controlled dose of barbiturate drugs. This will decrease the blood flow to the brain; the blood vessels will narrow, which will decrease the amount of space occupied by the brain and the pressure inside her head. It’s important to relieve the swelling to minimise brain damage.’

  He could barely compute the words. Everything in him screamed in denial, but he forced out the question, ‘How likely is it that she’s suffered brain damage?’

  ‘We’ll know more in the next few days.’

  India took his hand in hers and held tight.

  ‘It’s called an induced coma,’ the doctor explained. ‘She’ll be taken off the drugs gradually as her condition improves and then she’s expected to regain consciousness. For the moment, however, she has a tube hooked up to a mechanical ventilator to manage her airways and breathing.’

  Fanculo. His vision blurred. Tears spilled out from his eyes and tracked down his cheeks unchecked.

  This couldn’t be happening. He couldn’t lose Chloe. The despair was the worst he’d ever known.

  ‘However,’ the doctor went on, ‘she’s fairly battered and bruised. Her face is swollen and she looks like she’s been in a war zone, so you should prepare yourselves to see her looking that way.’

  It took an enormous effort to pull himself together. ‘Thank you for all you’ve done so far.’ He shook the doctor’s hand.

  The doctor nodded again. ‘We’re doing everything we can to make sure she pulls through this. I’ll check in on her over the next few hours. I’ll be here tonight on call, so I won’t be far away if I’m needed.’

  The comment had Marco looking at his watch as the doctor departed. It was already early in the evening. This would be the first time his son had been bottle-fed. Chloe had been adamant she’d breastfeed for at least the first six months. Grief sideswiped Marco again, and as he sucked in a shuddering breath, Gabe’s arms went around him and he gave him a quick hug.

  ‘Hang in there, my friend. Chloe won’t give up. You have to hold on to that hope. Hold on to the knowledge that she’ll be in there fighting with everything she’s got.’

  ‘I need to see her. I need to let her know I’m here.’

  ‘She’ll know,’ India said. Tears streamed down her face as well.

  ‘Just be prepared when you see her. The doctor’s tried to prepare you for the shock. She’ll have a lot of tubes and monitors,’ Gabriel warned. ‘She’ll be there but seem as though she isn’t.’

  ‘At least the surgery is over.’ Although he made it a statement, Marco looked to his friend for reassurance.

  India touched Marco on the arm. ‘Marco,’ she said gently but firmly, ‘have faith it’ll be okay. You two have been through way too much already.’ Her voice cracked and she moved away, hugging herself with her arms as she tried to work through her own shock and grief. Gabe was instantly at her side, giving her comfort.

  Marco needed to be with Chloe, giving her comfort. He let out a deep breath. ‘I was on my way home early. I planned to take her and Rico to Tuscany for the weekend.’ He clenched his fist as his hand started to shake. ‘She’d been to see Lidia and found out the identity of her biological father. She was so excited. God, if only I could’ve saved her.’

  ‘Don’t beat yourself up over this accident, Marco,’ India urged. ‘It won’t help Chloe. It’ll only tear you up and Rico needs you to be there for him now.’

  ‘Chloe will be there for him again soon,’ Marco insisted.

  ‘Yes, but for n
ow she can’t be,’ India said smoothly. ‘You’re going to have to divide your time between home and the hospital. Gabe, we’ll extend our stay won’t we, so I can be with Rico whenever Marco’s not?’

  ‘Absolutely.’ His friend’s reply was immediate. ‘We’re here for as long as you need us, Marco.’

  ‘Thanks, India, but I’m not leaving Chloe’s side.’ He was so thankful for his friends. ‘Mum and Dad will help with Rico too. You’ll all stay at my place.’

  ‘Of course we will,’ Gabe assured him. ‘Although I think we’d all like to know that one of us at least is here at the hospital with you as well. Khalid and Sabihah send their love. They’d be here too if they could. Khalid will come as soon as possible.’

  Marco knew that. Although their premature baby was doing well, they were concerned it was too soon to fly the distance to London and he understood that.

  ‘I’ve tried calling Dev and Mackenzie, but haven’t been able to reach them.’

  ‘Thanks, Gabe.’

  ‘Your Highness?’ One of his security team knocked at the opened door. ‘Your wife’s mother heard about the accident on the news and is at the front of the hospital demanding to see her daughter.’

  ‘You definitely don’t need this. I’ll deal with the woman,’ Gabe said as he drew himself up to his full height and looked his most formidable. ‘It will be my great pleasure to ensure she doesn’t contact Chloe again.’

  ‘I almost feel sorry for the woman,’ India said with a knowing smile.

  A nurse came into the room. ‘Your Highness, I’ll take you to your wife now.’

  ‘Marco, talk to her,’ India urged. ‘My parents were both doctors and I remember them telling me that a lot of patients in comas can hear what’s going on around them.’

  He squeezed India’s hand. ‘Thanks, India.’

  ‘Stay positive,’ Gabe added. ‘India will go back to your place to be with Rico. I’ll deal with Lidia, then I’ll stay here in case you need me.’

  Although his lips parted to thank Gabriel, his throat completely closed over. No amount of willpower could prevent the tears from stinging his eyes.