Page 151 of Bene

She really didn’t.

Not anymore.

“You can’t be like her,” Cara replied simply, “because she couldn’t love, Vanna, and she never once tried to help when she only wanted to hurt.”

“Thank you.”

Before Cara could respond, she heard Gian say inside the office, “Have her come in, son.”

Cara nodded toward the door with one of those knowing smiles. Bene came out into the hallway, his gaze darting between his mother, and Vanna. He offered her his hand, and she didn’t hesitate to take it. Vanna took in the people in the office—only his father, and brothers. Downstairs, she knew the women and kids were keeping busy. A part of her wanted to be down there. If only because it was easier to be a coward.

“Sit,” Cara said, joining them before she went to stand behind her husband where he currently sat at the large desk dominating the room. “And then we can all go downstairs and find out what that delicious smell is.”

“Sit,” Bene urged.

She let him lead her to the chairs opposite to the desk. He took one, and she took the other. She kept her hands folded at her middle, but Bene reached over to grab onto her jittery leg, the press of his palm against her jean-clad thigh more than enough to settle her nerves before he removed his touch.

Yes, she wanted it back.

Still, she kept quiet.

Now was not the time.

It was only once everyone had settled into their spots that Gian decided to speak, and Vanna was a bit grateful for that because she certainly didn’t have the first clue how to begin. A part of her still wondered what she was even doing here.

Why did they let her be in their home?

After everything?

“Let’s start from the beginning,” Gian said, “and Vanna, I suspect that starts with you. Don’t leave anything out, hmm?”

She took in a deep breath. “Sure.”

“Whenever you’re ready, then.”

Gracious.

Kind.

Respectful.

All things the Guzzi family seemed to encompass, and even in the face of someone who had only intended to hurt them, they still offered her those things first. It wasn’t lost on Vanna, and if anything, their silence as she talked, explaining how this had all come to be, made her feel more guilt than she thought was possible.

It was okay, though.

She deserved it.

She took it.

“There are a lot of ways I would like to spend my first day home with my wife after everything,” Gian said, his expression neutral as Vanna finished, “but this certainly wasn’t one of them, no offense.”

She nodded. “None taken.”

“It seems we have a lot to clear up, oui?”

God.

If Vanna could shrink into the office chair, and never be seen again, it might be the better option than the way she felt right then with Gian Guzzi sitting across the room from her. Not because he made her feel uncomfortable, but after an hour of admitting every single one of her secrets to the man, and all the shit she had done to him and his family … well, Vanna had never felt more ashamed.