The duke sheâs never forgotten...
When Gemma Rizzo applied to become pastry chef at the gorgeous Italian castello where she grew up, she never expected to get the job. But neither did she expect to find that her new boss was silver-eyed billionaire Vincenzo Gagliardiâthe man who left her brokenhearted!
Her first instinct is to run, but when Vincenzo finally reveals the devastating truth of what caused him to flee eleven years before, Gemma must decide if she can trust the haunted man she never stopped loving...
The Billionaireâs Club
Meet the worldâs most eligible bachelors...
by Rebecca Winters
For tycoons Vincenzo Gagliardi, Takis Manolis and Cesare Donati, transforming the Castello di Lombardi into one of Europeâs most highly sought-after hotels would be more than just a business venture; it was a challenge to be relished!
But these three men, bound by a friendship as strong as blood, are about to discover that the chase is only half the fun...as three women conquer their hearts and change their lives forever.
Return of Her Italian Duke
Available now!
And look out for Takisâs and Cesareâs stories, coming soon!
CHAPTER ONE
Castello di Lombardi, ten years ago
AT TWO IN the morning, Vincenzo Gagliardi, newly turned eighteen, quickly dressed in jeans and a hoodie he pulled over his black hair. The long sleeves covered the bruises on his arms. He could feel the welts still smarting on his back and legs as he slid his pack over his shoulders. Then he looked around his room one more time, glancing at the bed.
A vision of Gemma, the woman whoâd been entwined in his arms there the night before, wouldnât leave his mind. After the pleasure theyâd given each other despite his wounds, and the plans heâd envisioned for their future, it killed him to think he had to leave her at all. But the difficulties with his father made his flight necessary. Worse, he couldnât tell her where he was going or why. It was for her own protection.
Once his father, the acting Duca di Lombardi, started looking for him, heâd interrogate everyone, including Gemma, and he would be able to tell if she was lying or not. If the girl heâd grown up with from earliest childhood knew nothing about his disappearance, then his father would sense it and have to believe her.
Arrivederci, Gemma, his heart moaned. Ti amo.
Making sure no one saw him, he hurried through the fourteenth-century castello to Dimiâs room in the other tower. His cousin had left his bedroom door open. Closer than brothers, theyâd been planning Vincenzoâs disappearance for a year.
Dimi was waiting for him. âYouâre late and must go now! Iâve been watching from the parapet. The guard with the dog wonât be walking past the entrance for another seven minutes.â
âThis is it, cousin. Rememberâwhen Iâm established in New York, Iâll contact you. Look for the phone number through an ad in the help wanted of Il Giornoâs classified section. Be sure to call me on a throwaway phone.â
Dimi nodded.
âIt wonât be long before you turn eighteen. Iâll wire you money so you can join me. And as soon as I reach my destination, Iâll phone our grandfather so he wonât worry.â Both boys were the grandsons of the cancer-stricken Emanuele Gagliardi, the old Duca di Lombardi, who no longer could function and verged on death.
His cousinâs eyes teared up. âChe Dio di benedica, Vincenzo.â
He tried to clear his throat. âGod be with you, too, Dimi. Promise me youâll keep an eye on Gemma.â
âYou know I will.â
Vincenzo hated this situation that took him away from her, but there was no going back. He thanked his cousin for his sacrifice, hating their gut-wrenching separation and the horrible position heâd been put in. But they both agreed the danger was too great to do anything else.
As they hugged hard, Vincenzo realized that he could barely see through the tears. The deep well of shame and pain because he hadnât been able to protect his mother was something he would have to carry for the rest of his life. Gemma was better off without him.
Because of Dimiâs loyalty, no one would ever know where heâd gone. This was the way it had to be.