Page 5 of ‘I Do’ for Revenge

Yes.A Gavia was a Gavia. It hadn’t just been Vito’s family that Umberto had decimated, it had been countless others. When Vito had looked into his practices to build his case against him, he’d found even more heinous acts committed against people.

But Flora hadn’t just behaved like a cold-hearted Gavia. She hadn’t come to him cajoling or begging or crying or looking for sympathy. She’d been angry. Confused. Bewildered. And she’d looked genuinely upset when he’d told her about his family.

Vito told himself he’d be an idiot not to suspect it had been an act. An attempt to salvage what she could for herself.

You are not a nice person.

Vito had never claimed to benice. He’d stopped being nice right around the time when his mother had slipped away, her body ravaged by illness. That had been the moment when he’d set his sights on making sure that Umberto Gavia would one day pay for his actions.

And that day had come. He hardened his heart. Flora Gavia would be fine. She had a huge inheritance from her own parents—her father had been Umberto’s brother.

But he hadn’t been involved in the family business, so why punish her?

Vito pushed that aside. Her father might not have been directly involved, but she’d been brought up by Umberto since she was a child. She was practically his daughter.

No doubt he’d see her at a social function soon, looking for a replacement husband. Or, she’d have returned to join her uncle wherever he’d sloped off to.

She would be fine.

The Gavia family hadn’t survived for generations without brass necks, and, as Vito had told Flora, he hadn’t decimated Umberto Gavia as much as he could have. The man was badly wounded financially and socially, but he could return if he worked for it.

Vito knew that Umberto was essentially lazy though, so he didn’t expect to see him around any time soon.

As for Flora... Vito had to admit reluctantly that he would be intrigued to see her again. The Flora who’d just accosted him here in his office had shown a far more intriguing side of herself. If Vito had met that woman before today...he might have felt very differently about leaving her standing at the altar.

But he had. And now it was done. He could move on. He picked up his drink and threw what remained of the whiskey down his throat. But somehow, this time, the glow of satisfaction felt a little dulled and a distinctly acidic aftertaste lingered in his mouth and stomach for a long time.

CHAPTER TWO

Six months later, Rome

‘VITALE!WHERETHEhell have you been?’

Vito forced a smile at the man who’d called at him. He made his way through the crowd of Rome’s most monied and exclusive people in one of its oldest and most venerated hotels.

There had just been a charity auction at an annual fundraising event and people had paid eye-watering sums for things like yachts and Caribbean islands, all without batting an eyelid.

He used to take this scene for granted, but lately...he’d been finding such displays of wealth tedious.

A woman’s hand landed on his arm. He looked down. Long perfect nails. Blood red. Perfectly tanned skin. The ubiquitous diamond bracelet. His nose wrinkled at the perfume. Too heavy. He looked up and registered a model whom he vaguely knew. Beautiful. Stunning. He waited for a beat.

Nothing.

He took her hand and lifted it from his arm. Her eyes widened. Immediately incensed. Vito moved on towards the man he knew. ‘Roberto,ciao—’

At that moment, there was a loud crash, what sounded like a hundred glasses breaking and shattering. Vito looked around and saw the back of a waitress. She was bending down and trying to deal with the tray that had just fallen, spilling its contents of glasses.

He didn’t take in much detail apart from her black skirt and white shirt. Brown/golden hair pulled up into a bun. A space had formed around her as if people were repelled by the scene. Something about that irritated Vito. He went over and bent down, picking up the larger pieces of glass.

She immediately said, ‘Oh, please don’t, I’ll get into even more trouble.’

Something about her voice made him go still. He looked at her and even though her face was turned away, there was something about the curve of her cheek and jaw that made him stare.

As if aware of him staring, she looked at him. He saw her eyes widen and the colour leach from her face.

Flora Gavia.

Vito frowned, trying to take in what this was. Flora Gavia, an heiress, member of the hated family, dressed as a waitress at an event.Notdressed as a socialite.

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