Page 53 of Useless Love

“As my sister, no. But as someone who is privy to information about business, yes. Decide right now because there’s no going back.”

She sits on my couch and takes a long time to think, finishing her muffin. Finally, she takes a breath, “I accept. I want to be involved in business. I swear not to tell anyone, unless you order me to.”

I lift an eyebrow. “Perfect response.”

She grins. “I’ve been eavesdropping for a lot of years.”

“I figured.” I sit at my desk and fold my hands. “I’ve taken control of the family. Father is alive, but all of his loyal men are gone. He has no power.”

She stares at me, her mouth open. “Wow. So…are you making a move on the Bencivengas? I mean, I don’t want you to. I like Arianna.”

“No, I’m not making a move. I just…something is off. I need you to watch Arianna at school and report anything strange.”

“Like what?”

“If she doesn’t act like herself. And I need you to tell me whenever you see her twin, Gaia. Then report to me how Gaia acts. Understand?”

Carla grins. “I like being a spy.”

“You’re not a…” I study her happy expression. “Fine. You’re a spy. Now go to school and get to work.”

“Yes, Boss,” she says, jumping to her feet.

I laugh.

Before she leaves my office, she says casually, “If you’re looking for someone to help when Christopher is busy, you should ask that new guy.”

I furrow my brow. “Why? Sammy?”

“Yup. I heard a conversation that someone raped his wife and he’s looking to get even. You help him with that issue and he’ll be loyal and trustworthy.”

“Smart, girl.”

She smiles and then leaves.

I give Sammy a call and we have a long conversation. A mere hour later, my men have found the bastard that raped his wife and I let Sammy have fun. And now, I have a completely loyal soldier.

“First order of business,” I tell Sammy when he’s in my office later. “I want details on Gaia and Arianna Bencivenga. I want to know what activities the twins participate in. Where they eat, and frequent, and with whom. I need everything you can find from before the war, during , and after. Can you handle that?”

“Yup. Anything else?”

“I need to know if both Bencivenga twins attend Carla’s university. If you can only get information on one, have someone follow the twin who doesn’t attend the school.”

“Done.”

After Sammy leaves, I rub my temples. While Sammy and Carla are doing their jobs, I’ll try to get some information myself. Time to visit my princess.

Gaia

I finish swimming at my University’s pool and head to the locker room. That’s when I notice a text from Carmine from fifteen minutes ago: I’m outside, princess.

Oh, no.

Victoria told me all about Carmine running into the real Arianna yesterday at breakfast. It sounded bad, so I was hoping to avoid him some more. Give him time to forget the incident or hope he got too busy with work to think about it. But he’s here now?

I quickly change and towel dry my hair, then I rush outside. I see the familiar black SUV in the parking lot. In front of it is Carmine, looking like he belongs in a boardroom, not on a college campus.

I approach slowly, trying to smile and look normal. “Um, hi. What are you doing here?”

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