Page 51 of ‘I Do’ for Revenge

Flora said quietly, ‘I think when something has been drummed into you from when you’re so young...it’s hard to let it go.’

‘He didn’t see you, Flora. He never appreciated who you really were. You deserved so much more, and you have a lot to offer in whatever field you choose to go into.’

Flora looked at Vito, feeling emotional. That was one of the nicest things anyone had ever said to her.

He saw her.

The knowledge of that was so seismic and so overwhelming that she had to focus on his physicality to stop her mind from spiralling out of control.

This close she could see the deep fiery gold depths in his eyes. The long lashes. High cheekbones. A fierce swelling of love and emotion swept up inside her. Terrified she might say something before she could stop herself, she pressed her mouth against his, trying to transmit all the emotion she was feeling without revealing herself.

He accepted her kiss and opened to her, letting her explore him as he’d done her a thousand times by now. All at once familiar and wholly new. One of his hands moved to the bare skin of her hip and waist, revealed by the cut-out of the dress. He caressed her there, sending her pulse skyrocketing. Flora welcomed this physical distraction from the emotion. He wouldn’t thank her for that. She drew back after a long drugging moment to pull air into her lungs and brain. She looked down. She still felt dangerously emotional and seized on something to defuse it. ‘Let’s go dancing.’

Vito arched a brow and he moved minutely, leaving her in no doubt about how he was feeling right now.

Hard.

‘I’d be quite happy to stay in.’

Flora was tempted but she was also afraid she’d reveal herself. She stood up from Vito’s lap. She gestured to her dress. ‘I think this deserves an outing, don’t you?’

Vito scowled. ‘I’m not sure if I want anyone else to see you in that dress.’

Excitement sizzled along Flora’s veins. She loved his possessiveness. ‘I’ve only ever been clubbing that one night...’ She trailed off, remembering what had happened, when Vito had brought her back here and made love to her for the first time. It felt as if years had passed and it felt like yesterday.

Vito stood up and took her hand and said, ‘Very well, then, let’s go out, but I can’t promise that I’ll last long.’

Flora thrilled at that. Within minutes they were in the back of Vito’s chauffeur-driven car and heading into the city. Flora took in people strolling along pavements, enjoying the balmy evening. Lovers hand in hand. Families with small children, eating gelato.

For the first time in her life, she felt really, truly free. And hopeful for the future, in spite of the inevitable heartbreak she faced. She’d weathered storms before. She would weather this.

Would you? Really?

For a second, a sense of utter desolation washed through her at the thought of never seeing Vito again, except in magazines or on TV. The kind of desolation she’d only felt once before, after losing her family.

‘What is it? You look like you’ve seen a ghost. Have you changed your mind?’

Flora shook her head. She needed distraction now more than ever. She looked at Vito. ‘I’m fine.’ Impulsively she added, ‘Thank you.’

‘For what?’

‘For looking out for my interests when you had no incentive to do so.’

He shook his head. ‘I had every incentive, after what I did to you. You deserve it, Flora. You deserve to live the life you inherited.’

‘Still... I’m your enemy’s blood and you’ve forgiven me, that’s a lot.’

‘I’m your enemy’s blood and you’ve forgiven me...’

Flora’s words resounded in Vito’s head as he led her by the hand to a roped-off VIP booth in the nightclub. They’d unsettled him. Made him doubt himself for a moment, and his instincts to trust Flora. Made him wonder if he was being a monumental fool to have believed she was as pure and kind as she seemed.

After all, her social reputation was now restored and she would receive her full inheritance, making her a very wealthy woman in her own right. Would she have achieved this without Vito? Not likely—he was the only one with the ability to turn the screws on her uncle.

Had she orchestrated this whole affair? Vito had to force himself to remember that it was him who had spotted her at that hotel. The hotel owned by him. What were the chances that she would be serving at an event there?

Irritated with himself for allowing seeds of doubt to take root, he ordered a bottle of champagne. He watched Flora looking around, taking in the club and the glamorous clientele. Strobing lights painted everything a rainbow hue of glittering colours. She was smiling, and in this light Vito could almost convince himself there was a satisfaction to it, as if she’d done what she’d set out to do.

He shook his head. Paranoia didn’t suit him. It made him feel out of control. He reminded himself that, even if Flora had set out to regain her inheritance through Vito, it was no less than she was due. He wasn’t wrong about her cutting ties with her uncle—there had been no contact between them and her uncle’s reaction to having to hand over Flora’s inheritance had been vitriolic to say the least.