جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 40

‘I have nothing for you.’ She sobbed, ‘I feel so selfish after all you gave me over the holidays. I can never thank you enough for your hospitality.’ Anna’s mother enveloped her in yet another maternal hug, she had been very tactile as had all of Anna’s relatives, they were a typical loud, loving Italian family and included Gabriella in everything. ‘Child your gift to us was reminding us of the true spirit of Christmas, that we are Blessed and because of that we must give a little back to those in need at this time of family and friends. You came to church and you worshipped with us, that is all the thanks we needed Gabriella.’ She was

Gabriella frowned at the elderly man, ‘Why would she light another candle, surely it was not for Giovanni after all he had done to her?’ The elderly man sighed and took the pretty English girl's hands in his he had an instinctive feeling that his next words would affect her deeply.‘No, baby girl not for that monster but for his little boy. Giovanni had been married briefly to another woman one he had met while he was travelling in the USA after Angelina and Carlos declared they wanted to be exclusive leaving him in the cold. He had got her pregnant the first time her slept with her that was why he had done the decent thing and put a wedding ring on her finger. He had not loved her nor had she loved him but they were Catholics and he was from the old country where outdated practices like marrying because the woman got pregnant still occurred. The poor woman had die

She dragged her into the hallway and handed her an envelope, when Gabriella opened it inside was an invite to the Gala. She looked at the other woman in astonishment,‘Is this for real?’Jacinta placed her hand on the younger woman’s arm,‘Yes, Cinderella, you shall go to the ball. The Organiser like to include local businesses so a few of us got these invites.’Gabriella could not stop the tears filling her eyes,‘Why? Why would you give this to me?’‘I am too old for these fancy dances, but you Gabriella, you are young and beautiful this kind of event is made for someone like you.’She hugged her and Gabriella sniffed loudly,‘Come, I have another surprise.’She led her into her private quarters and hanging on a cupboard door was the most beautiful dress Gabriella had ever seen,‘For you.’Jacinta smiled sadly,‘I never got to wear it. You know my story, my Alfredo he died before we went to a similar ball all those years ago. I think it is your size and it should be worn by a pretty

Gabriella paid her bill and left the hotel the same night, Jacinta was distraught and begged her to explain what had happened but she shook her head and hugged her,‘Thank you for everything you did for me. I have left the dress hung up in my room, it is very beautiful I only wish I could have done it justice. Forgive me but it is better that I leave now and that you know nothing I do not want to put you in any danger. I will go home, there is nothing else here for me’She was close to tears as she got into the taxi with her small case and a holdall, Jacinta was openly crying,‘Goodbye, little butterfly but I fear running away will not help you, if he is half the man I think he is he will come after you.’A couple of hours later Dante’s men knocked on her door, they explained who they were and asked for Gabriella she was furious with them for scaring away the beautiful young woman and snapped angrily at them,‘I might have known you people would have something to do with it. She's go

He barely got it moving before his strength gave out and he collapsed again, his back was weeping from the whipping he had been given so she made him climb into the driver's seat and she pushed it. She would never know where she got the strength, desperate times called for desperate measures she thought as she closed her eyes and pushed it into the road. Jumping in next to Dante neither said a word as he fired the engine and raced off towards the port, he knew someone with a small boat willing to take them over to the mainland and recited the number so she could call him on the tiny phone she had sewn into her bra. Once they reached the port his contacts rushed to help and they found themselves in the cabin of a small yacht heading for the mainland. An hour later they were escorted into a blacked-out SUV that drove them through the Italian countryside until they came to a large secluded farmhouse deep in the heart of Italy. His people helped them out of the car and she was horrified t