Page 106 of Useless Love

“It wasn’t your Uncle.”

“What? How do you—”

“I just know. But go take care of your Uncle. I’m rescuing Gaia.” Without letting me respond, he hangs up.

I shove my phone in my pocket angrily. As rude as he is, I’m relieved. I believe the guy really does care for my sister, so I know he’ll do what it takes to get her back to safety. So now that I don’t have to worry about that, I can focus completely on my mission.

I grin, fingering the gun in my purse.

Carmine

I feel like a lit fuse as I gather my men and prepare to attack my old man. Organizations like ours have codes and rules, but I’m certain that everyone will side in my favor if I kill my father. The bastard has been scheming and won’t fucking accept when he’s defeated. And now he’s taken my wife, making good on his fucking threats a few weeks ago. He’s dead, and I’ll deal with the consequences later.

But I’m also pissed at myself. I had finally tracked his location last night and was about to leave, when my princess paid me a surprise visit. Her eyes were bloodshot and she looked like she hadn’t been sleeping, so I put my plans on hold to comfort my wife.

Now this happens.

Fuck. I shouldn’t have waited to take out my old man; Gaia would be safe in my arms right now. Instead, I’m scrambling to save her and almost run into the fucking car in my boxers.

“Carmine!” Christopher calls from the front door. “Put on fucking pants! And I’m driving. You’ll crash in this state.”

Running a shaky hand through my hair, I run back into the house, pulling on a t-shirt and slacks. When I return to the car, Christopher snatches the keys from me. Then we’re speeding off with more of my men following close behind.

Fuck. How is this happening? After Gaia ran away from me, I vowed to never let that happen again. I should’ve trusted my instincts and kept her close to me, not let her return to her family during a dangerous time like this. The Bencivengas are weakened right now; Gaia is safer with me. Why didn’t I keep her with me?

I pull out my phone to direct Christopher. That day after getting my wife back at the church, I demanded she share her location with me. Thank god I did, because the map is showing me exactly where she is.

It’s no fucking coincidence her tiny dot on the map is going towards the warehouse where our informants said my old man has been hiding. You die today old man.

Christopher and I have hunted useless mother fuckers before. This one is completely personal, so it helps to have a level head next to me—mine is currently a mess.

I glance at him. “If I arrive and Gaia is dead, I swear nothing will contain me. Take care of my mother and Carla.”

Christopher looks worried. “Chill man. I’ve never seen you like this., You—”

“Skip the pep talk,” I bark, “Gaia and I have been fucking like rabbits. It’s too early to know for certain, but my gut is telling me my kid is already inside her. Gaia might be pregnant; it’s not just her the old man would be killing.”

“Shit,” he says, breaking every speed limit as we drive.

Princess, please hold on.

All I keep thinking, as we beeline to this warehouse in Queens, is: What if Gaia dies without knowing that I fucking love her? Damn me for not saying it already. I almost said it last night while she slept in my arms. I was this fucking close but chickened out. I know she loves me back so I don’t understand why it’s so hard to say it. Too many people I loved have died, so maybe part of me is scared that if I tell her, she’ll succumb to the same fate. But now look where we are—she could die either way. Why didn’t I just tell her?

“Drive fucking faster, Chris,” I demand.

“Us wrapped around a tree isn’t going to help your wife.”

I clench my jaw.

My phone rings so I answer it quickly.

“Hey,” a woman says. For a moment, I think it’s Gaia, but the voice is too edgy, too resentful.

“What do you want, Ari?”

“I have some extra men, so where should I send them to help you?”

I snort. “I got this.”

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