Desired: Love in London Series 3: New Adult Romance Read Online Free

together.
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    A short while later , Beth arrived. She brought food and the girls sat at the table eating noodles whilst Mia merely picked at her plate.
    After lunch was cleared away, Beth gently spoke to Mia. “From what I’ve heard, it doesn’t make sense. I really think you should speak with Gino to find out what’s going on.”
    Mia sighed. She seemed to be doing a lot of that today. “Maybe. He did say he wanted to explain. Maybe I should hear him out… and then …and then, I can get closure and move on.”
    Beth’s eyes filled with tears. “Mia, can you tell us more about Gino? How long have you known him?”
    Mia sat back in her seat, reflecting on their past. “Well, I met him for the first time when I was about nine. Nico had brought home a lot of friends for a weekend at our villa in Lake Como. They were all loud and brash and I desperately wanted to join in the fun, but Nico kept telling me to go away.” She smiled. “I guess a nine year old tagging along would cramp their style, being the fourteen year old teenage boys that they were. Anyway, I remember the first time I saw Gino…he was coming out of the pool and I was hiding behind a bush, giggling whilst watching them play with the water guns. I had my swimming costume on, ready to go and join in, just in case Nico would let me.”
    She looked away thoughtfully as the memories flooded through vividly. Both Amber and Beth were silent, nodding and waiting for her to continue. “So somehow, Gino spotted me and I froze because I was scared he would tell my brother and then they’d all make fun of me or something. I was about to run away when he called out to me and told me to stop hiding.” She smiled. “He was so kind, he let me join in, gave me his water gun. Nico grudgingly allowed me to play, whilst also teasing Gino for playing with a nine year old. He looked after me all afternoon and I was so proud to be included in the gang.”
    She paused and took a sip of her water, a wistful look moving across her features. “That was the best summer because Gino frequently stayed over and he was always so nice to me. Even at age nine, I remember how drawn I was to him and his beautiful grey eyes, which pulled me in even back then. God, I must have been like a puppy.” Mia’s tone changed and she frowned. “Following that amazing summer, unfortunately something happened and Gino was never the same again. Sure, he was still nice to me, but he became very introverted.”
    Amber exclaimed. “What? Why, what happened?”
    Mia lowered her voice. “Very sadly, his mother died. Rumour had it that she was murdered.”

3
    “ W hat ? Murdered?” Beth looked at Mia in shock, a deep frown crossing her delicate features as her hand flew to her mouth.
    “Si, but like I said, it’s just rumours. Let me explain properly. Gino’s mother was English, his father is Italian and was and is still a very powerful and wealthy man. We don’t know the details, but when they were younger, Gino used to confide in Nico that his parents were always fighting. A couple of times, he even overheard his father threatening to kill his mother.”
    “Oh no, how terrible!” Amber looked sadly at her friend. “So, what happened?”
    “Well, we don’t really know the truth, or I guess for that matter, never will. The story was that she was coming back home late one night with his driver, who apparently lost control of the car. The strange part is that the driver walked away with only a few scratches, yet she died at the scene.” She shook her head, shrugging her shoulders.
    “Oh my God.” Amber was stunned. “But why would they think he was responsible?”
    “Well, like I said, we knew they weren’t getting on. From what I understand, and rumours once again, but people whisper that he’s connected with some underground thugs. Since her death, Gino withdrew away from his father, but I really don’t know all the details. Nico never told me if Gino confided in him — in