The Greek Tycoon's Tarnished Bride (Men of the Zodiac) Read Free Page B

is a copy of the death certificate and…if not exactly an official will, Yannis ’ s wishes if he should die.”
    Erica took the pieces of paper with shaking hands and checked the date. “This was the day before I was due to go for the first pregnancy scan. He ’ d said he ’ d try to get over for it once he ’ d seen to some family business. He said he was so excited…”
    “He would have been,” he replied, his tone grave.
    “But he never came and ever since I just assumed he ’ d been lying to me.”
    “And now you know the real reason why. I ’ m sorry, but he never abandoned you like you must have thought he did. He wasn ’ t like that. He…he just couldn ’ t. He was no longer with us. Yannis asked me to look after you both.”
    She folded her arms across her body and glared into his impassive but beautiful face. “So what took you so long?”
    “I only found out you both existed a week ago. It took months for the lawyers and court system to establish who was the ultimate heir after the atrocity in Athens. The entire male line was obliterated at that wedding. And the Frangos dynasty only recognizes the males as legitimate heirs. There was a lot of groundwork to do.”
    “Is that kind of sex discrimination even legal these days?”
    “I have no idea, but Nick is the nearest male relative left alive.” He took a deep breath and looked out the window at the rain now lashing down outside. “His mother and sisters kept Yannis’s room like a shrine until it became clear he was where the trail stopped. They couldn ’ t bear to go through his things themselves, so I offered to help and found that .”
    Erica followed his gaze to the bundle of documents he had laid on the kitchen table. “ I don’ t suppose he ’ d ever thought about a proper will, not being so young and healthy.”
    “I guess not, but clearly the news he was to become a father did force him to take at least one practical step. He left us guidance. The Frangos women are not contesting Nick ’ s right to inherit once his claim has been verified. They are respecting Yannis ’ s wishes.”
    She was suspicious at the edge to his voice. “Verified?”
    “DNA test.”
    Erica frowned as her brain whirred in different directions. “So Nick has aunties and a grandmother who are interested in him?”
    He loosened the top button of his coat, and she caught a glimpse of the pewter-colored tie he ’ d been wearing in the club. That garment alone should have made her suspicious about why he was there on his own. Watching her every move. “More than interested,” he said, his tone lightening. “They ’ re desperate to meet him and guide him into adulthood when he will assume control of his legacy. They are devoted to him already.”
    “What is this legacy?”
    Tito shrugged, and the movement of his shoulders made her notice how broad they were. “Cash, investments, property…the Frangos Empire currently provides thousands of Greek families with jobs and incomes. It ’ s important all this is protected in these hard economic times.”
    “Nick is only just over a year old! He can ’ t possibly—”
    “There are trustees to look after his interests and care for the businesses until he is old enough to take control. And that won ’ t be before he ’ s twenty-one. ”
    It was starting to feel like there was a plan set out for her son that she had no part in, and she didn ’ t like the feeling at all. “Trustees? Like who?”
    “The family court in Athens appointed the most appropriate people, and I am one of them. In fact, I have the privilege of being asked to take complete charge of all this on the others ’ behalf. I have their complete trust.”
    So this impressive-looking Greek had more than just physical power. “But I ’ m his mother. Have I no say?”
    He shook his head and looked away, his voice dropping to barely more than a whisper. “You were not married to Yannis, so I ’ m afraid not.”
    “Marriage isn ’ t