Page 59 of Useless Love

“Uh-huh. And what am I thinking?” Before he can spin the story, I angrily add, “I watched that man kill my Luca. Don’t fucking tell me he isn’t Sal Gaudino’s man.”

Agostini averts his eyes. “Just like you, I have a plan to keep us all safe. Obviously, we can’t depend on your father.”

I tighten my grip around my glass. Did he not hear me say that man killed Luca? “Well, I hope your plan doesn’t involve Luca’s killer. I poisoned his drink. He’ll be dead before he gets home.”

“You d-din’t!” Uncle Agostini motions to his men to go after the killer who just left. Then he looks at the whiskey I gave him and sets it down.

He’s right to be nervous. I was tempted to poison his drink too. I don’t tolerate backstabbers. I walk around with vials in my purse at all times. It’s about time I got to use one.

“There must be something off with your fucking hearing, old man,” I say. “That man killed my Luca! You think I’d just let him get away?”

Visibly annoyed, Agostini snarls, “You just killed the only man I could use to communicate with Sal Gaudino.”

“Lucky for you, I’ll marry into the family fairly soon.”

That got his attention. “How is your little plan going? I thought Gaia would have already gotten Carmine to announce a wedding date.”

I finish my lemonade and set the glass down. “I gave her some help. There should be an announcement soon.”

Skeptical, he looks me over. “If you helped Gaia, then announcing a date is probably the farthest thing on Carmine’s mind.”

My face twists in anger. “What the fuck does that mean?”

My annoying Uncle laughs. “Know your limitations, dear. Nobody in their right mind wants to marry you. I’m sorry. You’re smart and pretty but your personality repels men. Any many would want to marry Gaia. You, however…” He laughs again.

I glare at him. I hate this fucking family sometimes. “Listen, old man. Yesterday, I ran into Jr. Gaudino and had a pleasant…chat. Now I hear the wedding will happen soon. That’s all thanks to me.” And yet, no one has given me any credit yet.

“Yesterday?”

“That’s what I said. Are you deaf?”

He smirks. “Well, now things make sense.”

I sigh and wait for him to continue. This family loves talking in fucking riddles instead of getting to the point.

Finally, he says, “What you say ‘helped’ only made Carmine suspicious. Just a bit ago, he confronted his father and placed him under house arrest. He’s suspicious of the marriage arrangement and thinks someone is playing him. And Sal’s guard who you just killed, was telling me that Carmine has seized control of the organization. He hasn’t made an official announcement. It’s strange that after he spends time with you, things start falling apart. But that’s your curse, my dear.”

I grind my teeth. How doesn’t he know Carmine wasn’t already planning to take over? Why is everything always my fault? All I did was flirt with him a bit, yet somehow that’s destroying things?

I’m going to get this fucking family to respect me someday soon, because this shit is getting old.

“You come here and ruin my plan,” Uncle says, “after ruining your own.”

“Fuck you,” I bite out. “I was with Carmine for half an hour. I didn’t ruin shit. You’re being dramatic.”

He laughs at me again. “I guess you’re just lucky that your father has nearly promised Gaia to Mariano Satta. When you cause a feud with the Gaudinos again, at least we’ll have backup.”

Satta, huh?

I’m done listening to this asshole, so I leave his house. I was hoping to get some comfort here, but that was a stupid idea.

My phone buzzes, so I check the message. Gaia again. I’m about to ignore her, but her message makes my stomach drop: You’re not planning to hurt Carmine, are you?

Fuck. Why would she suspect that? Did Father plant that idea in her head? He’s the only one I can think of that might suspect I would do that. But I think it’s what he secretly wants. If not, why not talk to me about it?

He goes on and on about peace, and yet he’d be happy if the Gaudinos were all dead before I birthed any of their children. Maybe he’s fine with either option—me birthing their babies or them being dead. Either way, he’s not stopping me, so I see it as him giving me the option.

And the option I want is to kill Carmine.

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