Scandal and the Runaway Bride (Heirs to an Empire 1)

She lifted her chin. “I’m unpacking.”

William lifted one eyebrow and she would swear his eyes twinkled with amusement, despite his stern expression. “An unorthodox method.”

She wouldn’t laugh. She was too vulnerable right now to attempt to share any sort of camaraderie with him. “I’m sorting.”

He bit down on his lip and looked down, and she started to smile, before quickly wiping the expression away.

“William, have you seen my mobile? It’s not in any of my bags.”

His gaze caught hers again. “Ah. That explains the mess. As a matter of fact, yes. I have it.”

“Oh, thank goodness. Could I have it back, please?”

“Not quite yet.”

She blinked. “I beg your pardon?”

He had the grace to look uncomfortable. “Look, Gabriella, the last thing we need is for you to post on your social media or something. Our PR department is looking after this. Our job is to lie low for a few days while they control the messaging. That means not being online.”

Gabi clenched her fists as she stared at William. How had she ever thought him the fun brother? Stephen was somber but he wasn’t stuffy or bossy. But William...this was infuriating! Who did he think he was?

“Then tell me that. Do not confiscate my phone like I am a disobedient child. I demand you give it back to me.”

“So you can text your sister or parents? Do you have any idea how leaks happen?” He ran his hand over his hair. “I like your sister very much. She seems like a sweet girl. But she could get your family out of its financial bind by selling this story to the tabloids.”

Gabi’s mouth dropped open for a solid five seconds. And when she spoke again, her voice trembled with barely contained outrage.

“I don’t know how your family does things, but that would never happen. I would trust Giulia with my life.”

“And yet you didn’t trust her with the truth yesterday.”

Gabi sat heavily on the bed, the fight gone out of her, at least for the moment. Deep down, she didn’t blame William for being cautious. She had given him no reason to trust her. And yet...this was a most uncomfortable situation. Why should the two of them be at odds? They could work as a team, couldn’t they? It didn’t have to be a battle royale.

William finally moved from his spot by the door and came further into the room. He pulled up a small footstool and sat on it in front of her, resting his elbows on his knees. “I’m sorry,” he said on a sigh. “I know I’m being harsh. I just...”

He sighed again, and Gabi got the feeling he wanted to say something but was holding off. “You just what?”

“I would do anything to protect Stephen. And that means this going to plan. He’s been through enough.”

“If you mean his relationship to Bridget...”

Hazel eyes caught hers and his mouth thinned. “You know.”

“Of course I do.” She kept her voice soft and even. “Stephen and I are friends, you know. At least we were. Until I panicked.”

“Are you prone to panic?”

“Not really. I’m not prone to lying, either, so yesterday was a choice. I could lie to the world, but then I’d be lying to myself, too. And I couldn’t live with that. So I panicked and I ran. I’m not proud of it, but here we are.”

“Indeed.”

“You’re very loyal to your brother.”

“I owe him a great deal.” He smiled faintly. “I was on my way to being a big disappointment when he stepped in. I literally owe him my life. So yeah...you being angry that I took your phone isn’t really going to shake me that much.”

She should be mad, but the way he spoke about Stephen was so moving she couldn’t hold on to her anger. She had no idea what Stephen had done, but clearly it was something huge. All the knowledge did was make her feel worse about what she’d done. Stephen hadn’t deserved any of it. She should have spoken up sooner.

Except there’d been the afternoon when they’d walked around the Baresi villa, soaking in the sun. He’d told her then about his parents’ love story, about how his father’s death had affected them all, about how the indomitable Aurora Germain Pemberton was grieving. He’d been grieving, too, so much. As a friend, it was hard to refuse him comfort in that moment. A few weeks later he’d visited her in Italy and had presented her with his plan.