‘Lili? What the hell was Adam talking about?’
She swallowed but couldn’t seem to make her mouth or tongue work. Ironic really, considering that she’d been about to reveal her beating heart to this man only moments ago.
Cassian was shaking his head. ‘That stuff he was talking about…you having another name…being kidnapped…’ He stopped and a light seemed to dawn in his eyes as he said almost to himself, ‘I remember that. It was about eight years ago…the daughter of some businessman in Rome was kidnapped for a few days…’
Lili wished she could fully appreciate the fact that her father had just been calledsome businessman.
Cassian looked at her. ‘Was that you?’
Lili had a brief fantasy of running out of the hotel and far away but Cassian was like a solid wall between her and freedom. A voice mocked her,since when have you felt free? She knew when. The moment this man showed her how she could feel free again. A helpless sob of emotion was climbing up from her chest but she pushed it back down.
Miserably, she nodded.
Cassian’s eyes went wide. ‘What the hell, Lili? Is that even your name? What did he call you? Lara?’
There was noise from behind them, a sound of rushing, a voice. ‘That’s her there! Lara Bagiotti, the kidnap heiress! Married to Cassian Corti!’
Cassian looked over Lili’s head and cursed. He took her arm in his hand and walked them out of the hotel. Lili’s dress swirled around her legs but she was barely aware. Somehow, miraculously, Cassian’s car appeared in front of them and they were in it and he was driving away at speed.
And then, within minutes, Lili was back in the apartment and Cassian was pulling off his bow-tie and undoing a button on his shirt. His jacket was gone. Her head hurt. She sank down into a chair.
Cassian was pacing back and forth. He stopped and put his hands on his hips and said, ‘Explain.’
Where to start? Cassian started for her. ‘Is your name even Lili?’ He cursed. ‘Are we legally married?’
Lili forced herself to stand. ‘Yes, and yes. I was baptised Lara Bagiotti but I changed my name legally to Lili Spirenze when I left home.’
‘Why?’
‘To put distance between me and my family.’
‘And that was you? The girl…the heiress who was kidnapped?’
She nodded and swallowed. ‘Yes, that was me. That’s why… I have issues with being touched…or in crowds.’
Cassian was shaking his head. ‘Why didn’t you tell me about this?’
‘Because I find it painful to talk about. I prefer to forget about it.’
He made a scathing sound. ‘Seems like that was going really well for you.’
Lili’s chest hurt. She couldn’t blame Cassian for reacting like this. It was a lot to take in. But she wanted to assure him of one thing at least. ‘Wearelegally married, I’m not pretending to be someone I’m not.’
‘Aren’t you?’
That winded her. As did the way Cassian was looking at her. As if she was a stranger. A cold breeze skated over her skin even though it was unseasonably warm for late spring. The lack of emotion was far too painfully reminiscent of her parents.
‘I admit that I was hiding, or taking refuge, but I wasn’t pretending to be someone else. This is me.’
‘You should have told me as soon as you knew we would be married. This is going to be all over the press tomorrow. If not already.’
Lili put a hand to her head and sat down again. She looked at him, insides twisting. ‘I’m sorry about that…but there’s no illegality here. Or scandal, really. I’m just the girl who was kidnapped and who changed her name.’
‘And cut herself off from her family. Do they even know you’re married?’
She shook her head. ‘Not unless they’ve seen it in the press. I haven’t been in touch with them since I left home.’
‘What on earth did they do that was so bad?’
