Page 4 of His Vow
A chair scrapes against the wooden flooring, bucking behind my father as he stands, and my cousin jumps beside me. I turn to face Gio and smile.
It was his genius suggestion to make it a secret ballot, effectively removing our father’s coercion tactics. Many he’s subjected us to over the years, and his version of emotional bullying.
“I want it noted that I am against this proposal.” My father’s face has turned beet red, and he bangs his fist on the table, the sound reverberating around the walls.
“Father, please sit,” Gio asks in a tone that leaves no room for argument. My eyes track between the two men. Gio’s show of strength through calmness ratchets Father’s temper a degree or two higher, but he retakes his seat.
He can carry on and bluster as head of our family as much as he wants, but the board has voted, and even he is powerless to go against that.
“Antonio and I will proceed with the contracts and report back to the board next month with progress,” Gio says, glancing around the table at each man and woman, our uncles, aunts, and cousins. “Should we move on to the next agenda item?” he asks, facing our father.
“There is nothing further to discuss. This board meeting is closed,” he bellows, rising again and, this time, striding to the door and leaving.
The door slams shut behind him with abang, and a collective sigh of relief fills the air. Silently, the others rise one by one and leave until only Gio and I remain.
“So that went well,” I joke.
Gio’s face is anything but amused. His mouth had pulled into a firm line and his eyes narrowed. “I don’t think we’ve heard the last on this.”
His ominous words wipe the smug smile right off my face; he might be right.
But that’s something for another day, because Lucia messaged late last night, asking if I could meet her in Capri for the weekend.
Our friendship is as important as the relationship I have with my brothers, so nothing would stop me from dropping whatever I’m doing to be there for her, in the same way I know she would for me. It isn’t often, and there’s always a reason behind the random invitations.
After a quick message to my PA, my meetings for tomorrow have been rescheduled to my already long list of meetings next week. It’s a small price to pay if Lucia needs to talk.
“I have to go,” I say, closing my laptop cover.
Gio’s brows rise. “Where?”
I haven’t had a chance to tell him I won’t be returning with him on the jet to Florence.
“Capri,” I reply. “I’m meeting Lucia.” I have my own villa there not far from the family one, although it’s only my brothers and Lucia who know of its existence.
“Is she okay?” he asks, knowing that when Lucia and I meet, it’s usually planned into my calendar weeks in advance.
This last-minute invitation is rare, but she’s just extricated herself from a six-month relationship that was doomed from the beginning. When we last spoke, she sounded upset but insisted it wasn’t over the breakup, so there must be something more going on.
My friend has a smile so beautiful it could light up a room at night, but lately, she appears to have hit the dimmer switch, and I need to know why.
My gut churns with anger when I think about her asshole ex. I only met him once, and that was enough to know he didn’t deserve her. She’s my best friend, and sometimes I think I know her better than she knows herself. The vulnerability she wore as a young girl has always called to my protective instincts.
“She’ll be fine,” I promise my brother.
Out of the corner of my eye, I catch Gio’s nod. He’s been an observer to my friendship with Lucia long enough to know not to ask any more questions.
“A long weekend in Capri sounds pretty damn good after the week we’ve had,” Gio muses, and I feel guilty at leaving him to return to Florence to start work on the new contracts.
“Sorry, bro,” I say, but it’s impossible to deny the smile that works its way across my mouth in anticipation of seeing my friend.
Lucia is the only woman I can spend hours talking with or sitting silently next to. A reflection of her easygoing nature or my poor choices when it comes to the women I date. Maybe even a combination of both. Everything is just easier with her.
I shoulder my packed bag, then head toward the door, giving Gio a tap on his arm as I pass. “See you in Florence in three days.”
Again, his only response is a nod. We had a minor win today with the board vote, but as he said, we need to be prepared for what comes next. Because with our father, there’s always something that will come next.
And these few days away may be the last for a long while.
