Page 60 of His Fantasy Bride (Things To Do Before You Die)

“You said Gabby is family and yet you took advantage of something like that and got her to do your sordid little spying job for you.”

“She was happy to.”

“Of course she wasn’t happy to. She needed the money desperately and you used that. Fucking bastard.”

This time he stood up, reached across, dragged Luca to his feet and thumped him again. The blow had more force and knocked Luca out of the booth. Unfortunately, Vito still had hold of his shirt, and he was dragged down after him as they both crashed to the floor.

Vito had never been in a fight before. Now, seemed a good time to have his first. He released his hold and came up on his knees. Drew back his fist—

“Hey, hold it.” Luca held up his hands palms out. Blood was trickling from his nose, and that made Vito feel good. He wanted more.

“I’ve already apologized to Gabby. I would have given her the money, anyway, but it gave her something to do.”

“Bastardo.”He got to his feet and took a step forward. He was going to kill the bastard.

“Whoa. Easy, boy.” Luca still sounded amused, and the blood in Vito’s veins boiled. “Well, at least we’ve established one thing.”

His eyes narrowed. “And that is?”

“You do still care about her.”

Of course he cared about her. You couldn’t turn feelings off that easily. Or rather he cared about some construct of a woman who didn’t exist. “The woman I care about isn’t real. You made her up.”

“Gabby’s about the realest person I know.”

What the hell was Scarlesi doing? The scotch was fogging his mind. “What do you really want?”

“Right now? To get out of here. You do realize you just started a punch up in the Savoy, and I’m betting the barman is calling the cops.”

Vito forced himself to relax and then glanced around. The place was quiet and it was early, but the few customers were all watching them, as were the staff. He lowered his arms and took a step back. Getting arrested right now would not be a good idea. Maybe they should go somewhere quieter, andthenhe’d beat the shit out of Scarlesi. “Let’s get out of here.”

They came out on to the street and Luca turned to him. He’d grabbed a napkin off the bar as they exited and was dabbing the blood from his face. He looked at it in disgust. “I can’t believe I let you get that second punch in.” He dabbed again. “I need a drink. You?”

He still had no clue why Scarlesi was here. And he wanted to know. Wanted to hear more about Gabby. Pitiful or what? “Why not?”

Ten minutes later they were seated in a somewhat less fancy bar, this time at a table with a bottle of scotch between them.

Vito swallowed his first and then refilled both glasses. “So, you do realize that this whole vendetta thing is pathetic? Fucking pathetic. Like we’re some sort of mafia families and our honor is at stake.”

“Isn’t it? Your grandfather drove mine out of Sicily.”

“For Christ’s sake, it was nearly sixty years ago, and both of them are dead now.”

Luca grinned. “That’s what Theresa said to me.”

“At least all the Scarlesis aren’t complete idiots. Present company notwithstanding.”

“Everyone’s got to have an interest. I grew up with my grandfather telling me tales of the old country. It broke him, having to leave. Maybe I was doing it for him.”

“Get a life.”

Luca laughed. “Theresa said that as well. And I’m thinking about it.” He gave an exaggerated sigh. “If only Gabby will give me a chance. Another chance,” he added slyly.

It was as though he was trying to piss Vito off. Or maybe trying to make him accept something—his feelings for Gabby were far from dead. Just the thought of Luca setting a finger on her made him want to kick the other guy in the balls so hard he’d never think about sex again.

He didn’t want to talk about Gabby just then. Thinking about her confused him.

“Do you even know what started the whole vendetta thing?” His grandfather had never told him. Just that he’d broken the partnership, left Scarlesi with nothing, then made sure the man would never work in Sicily again. In the end he’d had to leave in order to provide for his family. That was all he knew.

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