Page 80 of The Sweet Life

“How can I not? I’m the one who brought him into this family. I married the man.” She turned away and wrapped her arms around her waist. “And he’s putting everything we’ve built together at risk.”

Cami got off the counter and came to Gia, putting her arm around her. “We won’t let him do that. I won’t let him. If Sage can’t shut him down, I’ll pay him off.”

Eva joined them, and they ended up in a group hug. “Cami’s right. James said the same thing.”

“No,” Carmen said, slapping the mallet against her palm. “He does not get a single dime of your hard-earned money, or James’s, or any other member of this family’s. If Sage can’t make him go away with his tail between his legs like the rabid dog he is, I will.” She looked at Cami. “I don’t remember the movie. Tell me more about how they killed the culo.”

Sage and Willow walked into the kitchen. Sage frowned. “What’s going on?”

“You got here just in time,” Gia said. “Your nonna is plotting to kill Aaron.”

“Please do not tell me that. I’m an officer of the court.”

Willow covered her sister’s ears. “You can tell me. How are we going to get rid of him?”

“Poison,” Carmen said, holding up her phone. “I googled. They used belladonna, and we’ll need witches too, but ones who actually know what they’re doing. This family did not. Do any of you know any witches?”

“Oh,Practical Magic. We loved that movie, and the book,” Willow said, lowering her hands from Sage’s ears. “And there’s a coven right here in Sunshine Bay. I’ve interviewed them forGood Morning, Sunshine!I can call them if you… Why are you all looking at me like that?”

“Because this is not a movie or a book. This is real life, honey. We’re not murdering anyone,” Gia said, making big eyes at Willow in an effort to remind her she was talking about her sister’s father. No matter how despicable he’d turned out to be, Aaron was still Sage’s dad.

“Sage is totes okay with it, Mom,” Willow said, putting an arm around her sister. “Aren’t you, babe?”

“No. I’m not okay with you talking about killing Aaron, even if he is a snake,” Sage said, her gaze taking in all of them. “No more joking about this.”

“I’m not—” Carmen began.

“Yes, you are joking, and it ends now, Nonna. I know you’re all upset, and you have every right to be, but I’ve got this. And Mom, this isn’t on you. It’s on him. And Willow is right too. Does it suck that Aaron has turned out to be a snake in the grass? It totally does. But I didn’t have a father in my life growing up, and I grew up happy and well loved. I don’t need one now.”

“Sage is right. I didn’t have a father either, and we had an awesome childhood.” Willow bumped her sister with her hip. “But it’s kind of nice having one now, especially a dad as wonderful as Flynn.” Willow’s gaze moved to her, and Gia wanted the floor to swallow her whole. “You should get on that, Mom.”

“About that family dinner,” Gia said, her cheeks flushed. “Is it on or not?”

“It’s totally on,” Cami said.

Gia caught her sisters sharing a grin and groaned. “No way. Flynn and I are over. Don’t you dare stick your noses where they don’t belong. I mean it.” She put her hands on her hips, giving them both her bestolder sisterlook. “I’m serious. This isn’t a joke. People’s feelings are involved, including Flynn’s other daughters.”

Her family completely ignored her, and she knew this because, as soon as Flynn walked into the restaurant with his father three hours later, Cami looped her arm through his andturned to wink at Gia. Flynn must have caught the exchange. He glanced toward the table where she sat with Sage and Aaron and his lawyer, who’d arrived fifty-five minutes late for the meeting. They’d walked through the door just two minutes before Flynn.

Flynn’s eyes narrowed at Aaron before coming to rest on her. It was the first time she’d seen him since the night at the farm, and her body came alive with want and need.

But she didn’t think he felt the same. His eyes didn’t warm with amusement or desire, and his lips didn’t curve in a smile. All she got was a polite nod of acknowledgment. She wanted to tell her sister not to waste her time. There was no going back now even if Gia was willing to once again put her heart on the line.

She glanced at Aaron, who met her gaze with a smirk, as if he knew they were over, as if he thought he’d played a part in their breakup. Thinking back, she wondered if he might be partially to blame for how she’d reacted to seeing her sister with Flynn, for her running away to Boston and holing up in a hotel with a mini-bar and movies.

She straightened—sitting tall in the chair with her shoulders squared—and looked Aaron in the eye, hoping he could read her silent message.You’re going down.

He glanced at their daughter, and Gia saw it, a flicker of doubt in his eyes. She imagined that his lawyer—a man Sage was acquainted with—had shared their daughter’s reputation as one of the best divorce attorneys in the state.

They’d already done the introductions. Watching Sage exchange pleasantries with the other lawyer had made Gia smile. This was a side of her daughter she rarely saw, and shewas looking forward to seeing her in action. They might not be able to literally murder Aaron, but Gia prayed Sage would figurately eviscerate the man.

Ten minutes later, Gia was ready to plunge the butter knife into Aaron’s heart. “That’s a lie! You abandoned your family when you followed my sister to LA. We never discussed going into partnership with my mother and Eva. You hated them, and they hated you!”

“I’d suggest you get your client under control, Ms. Rosetti, or I’ll be obligated to call the police to ensure my client’s safety. I’m sure you would prefer that we don’t file for a restraining order against my client’s wife.”

“I am not his wife, and if anyone needs a restraining order, it’s me! He’s been stalking me and my family for months.”

Flynn approached the table, placing a heavy hand on Gia’s shoulder. “Is there a problem here?” he asked, deftly removing the knife from her hand and pocketing it, earning a grateful smile from Sage.

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