Page 62 of His Fantasy Bride (Things To Do Before You Die)

“What is my brother doing here at this time of night?” Theresa asked.

Then another voice. “Let us in, Gabby.”

Vito.

Vito and Luca. Together. Outside her door. Well, Theresa’s door actually. She looked at Theresa. “Should we just go to bed?”

“We love you, Gabby.”

Luca again. She couldn’t even imagine those words coming out of Vito’s mouth.

“They’re going to upset the neighbors,” Theresa muttered.

“Fair Gabrielle, let us in…”

“My brother is such an ass. Just wait here.”

She followed Theresa and peered into the hallway as she answered the door. When she opened it, Vito fell inside and Theresa had to step back. He picked himself up, brushed himself off, and looked up. His gaze caught hers and he went still.

Luca followed him inside, and the connection was broken.

“What the hell do you two want?” Theresa said. She sniffed the air around them. “Shit, the pair of you are pissed.”

Gabby was sobering up fast. This was pretty surreal. Vito and Luca in the same room. She peered at Luca—his nose was swollen—it looked like someone had punched him. Theresa must have come to the same conclusion. “Have you been fighting?”

“He”—Luca waved a hand to where Vito stood still staring at Gabby—“hit me. Twice.”

“I’ve no doubt you deserved it, but why?” She shook her head. “Don’t bother with the explanations; I’m sure they wouldn’t make sense. What the hell are you doing here?”

“We’ve come for Gabby.”

She perked up at that. “What do you want me for?”

“You must choose between us. If you don’t, then we will fight to the death.”

Theresa turned to her. “I vote we kick them out and let them get on with it.” But her eyes twinkled. “Do you want that wine yet? I could really use a drink right now.”

No, she didn’t. She wanted her brain clear. Unfortunately, that was wishful thinking, and she could make absolutely no sense of any of this. Except that Vito was here and he was beautiful. And for some reason he’d punched Luca, which sort of hinted that he felt something. But what?

Actually, it might not mean anything about her at all. He probably hated Luca, as well. Probably not as much as he hated her—Luca hadn’t pretended to care.

But then, why was he here?

He was swaying slightly and put out his hand to the back of the sofa for balance.

He caught her glance again and shrugged. “Sorry,” he muttered. “I’m not sure how I got here.”

She was; this was Luca’s doing, but why? She peered over Vito’s shoulder, to where Luca stood, balanced against his sister. “Well,” he said. “Time to choose. Just remember I knew you first.”

She didn’t even bother to answer.

“I’m going to take him home,” Theresa said, pointing a finger at her brother. “Are you okay with…?” She nodded at Vito, who was still upright, though his eyes were closed, and he was swaying gently.

She waited until the door closed behind them, and then turned to Vito.

“Come on, sit down before you fall down.”

She led him around the sofa and pressed gently against his chest until he collapsed backward. He grabbed her hand as he fell.

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