The man who kidnapped your dear fiancée from beneath your nose.“Family.”
Matthew scrolled through the email. From his slackened jaw and bouncing eyes, he must have read the message twice. He stumbled back in disbelief. “This can’t be real. Gemma wouldn’t… she’d never treat me like this.” A hollow laugh burst from him. “This is a sick joke, right?”
Strange how this man held such deep faith in Gemma. Miss Galo, like anyone, wielded the capacity to betray. “What she wrote is true.”
A harsh breath escaped his nostrils. “No. No. I spoke to her before my flight out. She and her bridesmaids headed out sightseeing. She’d even mentioned their plans to meet with her father for a small bachelorette dinner.” His thumbs punched away on his phone. “She wouldn’t run off and marry someone without talking to me first. Something is wrong.”
The urge to hit the guy tingled my knuckles. “What do you think you’re doing?”
He placed the phone to his ear. “I’m trying her number again.”
This dragged out longer than I expected. “Like I said, she’s too embarrassed to do this face-to-face. She won’t answer your calls.” I fished the engagement ring from my pocket and handed over the small diamond. “She wanted you to have this back.”
He lowered the device, his gaze shooting from the ring to me. “Who are you? Why do you have her ring? This isn’t right. Where is Gemma? If you don’t tell me where she is, I’m calling the police.” He fumbled with his phone, no doubt to search the local emergency service number.
My cell buzzed, and I extracted the device.Right on schedule, Lucio. “Gino’s calling.”
Gemma’s father appeared on the screen. “Pronto, Gino. I’m here now with Signore Campbell. Perhaps you can explain your daughter’s email.”
Matthew spared me a suspicious look as I flipped the screen, his features easing into relief at the sight of Gemma’s father. “Gino,” his voice trembled with rising concern. “Please tell me this is one big joke.”
“It’s not a joke.” What threats had Lucio used to coerce Gino into our scheme? His life? His daughter’s? Either way, the old man told Matthew what we wanted him to say.
Matthew’s shoulders slumped, but then tensed. “But… why? Why would she do this?” His voice cracked, the sound raw. “I will not accept my ring until I speak to her in person.” A flicker of doubt furrowed his brows, and he peered at the ground. “I mean… maybe I…” he uttered, speaking to himself, his eyes unfocused and darting. “Did I push her too soon? She wanted to wait another year, but I… I was impatient. I wanted us to start our life together.”
“Stop, Matthew.” Gino’s voice rose another octave, his desperation a living entity.
“She knows how much I love her, how badly I wanted a future with her. When we last spoke, she was excited about the wedding! We were confirming bookings!” He paced a few steps, his hands clenching and unclenching. “Our families are here, Gino! Everyone is expecting a wedding. How could she betray me like this?”
“She never meant to hurt you.” Gino’s voice trembled with emotion. “She refuses to face you.”
“Gino, are you sure she told you this herself?” He paused in his pacing, his gaze searching the screen for any sign of hope. “Is she there with you? Can I please speak to her?”
“Gemma will be fine once you leave. Leave now, Matthew. Gather your parents and return to Australia. There will be no wedding.”
I ended the call and pocketed the phone.
“Hey!” Matthew frowned, throwing his hands in the air. “Why’d you hang up? I was talking to him!”
“I’d love to stay, but I have better places to be.” I didn’t bother keeping the grin on my face.
He raked both hands through his short, blond hair. “Call Gino back.” Tears now pooled in his eyes. “I need to speak to Gemma. Let me talk to her, please. I need to hear this from her. I mean…” He huffed and flung out his arms. “Who’d she marry? Who is this guy?”
Suppressing a grumble, I tapped into my pictures and displayed the one image guaranteed to silence him once and for all. “Me! She married me.” I shoved the phone in his nose.
Color drained from his face, and he inspected me in a whole new light.
“I believe we’re finished here, Mr. Campbell.” I flicked him his engagement ring, the jewelry tinkling to the floor. Without a backward glance, I proceeded to the revolving doors and waved for the valet.
With Signore Campbell forgotten, nothing hindered my plan.
Chapter 3
Gemma
A jackhammer pounded in my head, each blow pulsing at my temples. I opened and closed my eyes against the relentless pressure. Hangover?One, two, three… I counted the cocktails from the night before. How had I ended up this way when I drank more water than alcohol? The ceiling captured my full attention, ceasing my foggy thoughts. A floral-textured, unfamiliar ceiling. I bolted upright, my windpipe tightening.
What happened last night? The Piazza, my small bachelorette dinner, my father… I smothered my gasp. Papa had slumped against the table, out cold. “Papa? Papa, are you here?”
