When She Falls (The Fallen, #3)(13)

“You look pretty,” he says begrudgingly.

I grin. Affection’s never come naturally to Vince, but he tries with his sisters. “Thanks. You’re looking sharp yourself.”

The setting sun glints off the sleek clip he’s got on his tie. I study his flawless profile—he’s chiseled, with bone structure to die for. His brows are drawn. He’s worn that severe expression since he was a kid, but now that he’s a full-grown man, the severity is underscored with something more deadly.

I wonder if he’s had to get his hands dirty in Switzerland, or if he’s still feeding his superiority complex by limiting his illegal activities to pushing money around.

Vince is capable of violence just like any man in our family, but he’s never liked the mess that comes with it.

It’s one of the reasons he left New York.

Papà wanted him to work his way up the organization by starting as an enforcer—a position Vince immediately deemed to be below him.

So my brother concocted a different career plan. He got into one of Papà’s bank accounts and started investing the Garzolo fortune by pretending to be our father. He traded over five million dollars before he got caught.

He’s lucky his schemes turned a profit. Papà was furious, but when he saw the new balances, he simmered down.

That’s how Vince ended up getting permission to go and keep growing our investments abroad.

He drags his thumb over the face of his watch. “It’s good to see everyone together. Vale looks happy.”

“Of course she’s happy. She’s in love.”

“She picked a good man to fall in love with. One powerful enough to keep Papà from dragging her back home.”

“You make it sound like it was some calculated move on her part.”

He shrugs. “Who says it wasn’t?”

“You can’t be serious.”

“Listen, she’s smart for doing what she had to do to make a better life for herself.”

“Ah. Of course. That’s what you did.” Vince was twenty when he left, and that was five years ago. He built his own kingdom an ocean away. I wonder who he’ll hand it off to when it’s time for him to take over the family business in New York.

Papà isn’t getting any younger, and Vince is his successor. Eventually, even his finance skills won’t be enough of an excuse to keep him away.

The day Vince returns and takes over the family is going to be a good day. If my brother had been in charge, I believe the war with the Riccis may have played out very differently. Papà is a tough guy. He lacks subtlety and restraint.

Vince is the opposite. He’s a schemer and an out-of-the-box thinker. Violence is always the last resort with him.

He shrugs again. “Haven’t regretted it for a single second. I could never live with Papà breathing down my neck.”

“Some of us don’t have the luxury of just disappearing for a few years.”

Now his attention is on me. “He’s lucky to have you, Gem. Very lucky. He raised three selfish kids, and one selfless daughter.”

“Vale isn’t selfish. She did what she was told in the beginning.”

“And now you’re doing the same,” he says, his gaze dropping to my ring.

“I don’t have to explain it to you. You know how bad things could get.”

Vince came back for the funerals. He stood by Papà’s side with that grim expression on his face. Tito, our cousin who died, was his close friend. They grew up together.

“You’ve always taken it upon yourself to fix things.”

“Have I?”

“Have you forgotten how you’d call me every Saturday morning for years after I left to ask when I’d be back?”

“I was just checking in,” I grumble.

“You were doing what Papà was too proud to do. Did he ask you to do that? I’ve always wondered.”

“No.”

Vince’s lips curve into a knowing smirk. “You did it just for a chance to earn his praise. He would have heaped it on you if you’d managed to convince me to come home.”

My cheeks heat. It’s embarrassing because it’s true. Back then, I’d have done anything to earn Papà’s approval.

But I’ve grown up. At least, I like to think I have.

I’m not marrying Rafaele for Papà to tell me what a good daughter I am. This is so much bigger than that.

I’m doing this for my family.

I tuck a strand behind my ear. “Whatever.”

He snickers. “Anyway, tell me about your future husband. Vale seems to already hate him.”

“Don’t tell me you’re also going to try to convince me I don’t have to marry him.”

“I’m not going to convince you of anything. I don’t agree with Vale. You should marry Rafaele.”

“How well do you know him?”

“We had a few meetings after he began working with Papà. Despite his reputation, I don’t think he’s the kind of guy who would mistreat his wife. I asked around. He’s had women around him, and there haven’t been any complaints.”

“You looked into him for my sake?”

“Do you think I’d leave my sister on her own? Yeah, I looked into him.”