Page 106 of Angelo

She'd been trying to be a good woman, too. Sadly, their sense of morality had forced them to settle on a far less desirable solution. Her grandfather would pay the price for it.

Alessandro cleared his throat. "Elyse?"

"Yes?"

"I appreciate everything you have done to try and save me."

She could sense that something was amiss. "But?"

His eyes darted toward his phone. "I was talking to Valentina just now."

"Uh-oh."

Why hadn't Valentina tried to call her as well? Elyse promptly checked her phone. Fuck, Valentinahadtried to call her earlier as well. What was going on?

He advised quietly, "Tell your grandfather not to take any action yet."

"What?"

"Our plans may need to be modified again."

"Why?"

"Do you know why Valentina has been struggling to take down Bartolo and Carmine?"

Elyse gazed at her husband, anxiously awaiting his response.

"It is because Carmen has been working against her this whole time. Valentina just confirmed that her mother was the one who brought Bartolo and Carmine to Palermo."

Knowing Carmen's treacherous, shortsighted tendencies, Elyse wasn'tsurprised by this news, but it also didn't make much sense to her. "What does Carmen gain from sabotaging Valentina?"

After all, the more powerful Valentina became, the better off Carmen would be, right?

Alessandro sighed. "My stepmother has despised me ever since I sent her to Salemi. When Valentina chose to work with us, she felt betrayed by her daughter."

It seemed that Carmen was choosing to be a petty bitch instead of a smart one. "How do you know Valentina isn't lying? Maybe she's working with Bartolo and Carmine alongside her mother."

"I believe in Valentina. For now. If my stepsister wanted to take us down, she would not have warned me about Carmen this early on. She was the one who suggested sending her mother back to Salemi. It is her way of showing that she stands with us."

"She really sent Carmen away?"

"Sì."

"For how long?"

"Valentina has no intention of bringing her back this time."

"Damn."

"As you can see," Alessandro pressed on, "our battlefield has shifted yet again. Carmen has compromised Valentina’s potential in the De León clan. She is not in prime position to take down Bartolo and Carmine on her own. I will need to step in before their influence can no longer be contained."

Dread buzzed inside Elyse. "You better not be suggesting what I think you're suggesting."

"I could save Benedetto from his fate as well."

"Don't be a hero," she pleaded, "not now. Otherwise, my efforts to protect you will be in vain. My mother has convinced my grandfather to go in your place. Let him be the hero for once."

"Your efforts were not in vain," her husband argued quietly, "you have redeemed your grandfather in your mother's eyes. Is that not what every man wants? To be looked upon favorably by the women he cares about most?"

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