Page 22 of And Twice as Twisted (Agostino Crime Family #4)

“Miss—” She smiled and laughed at my expression. “Sienna.” Evelyn pulled me in for a hug, forcing me to swallow past my emotions. “Thank you,” she whispered.

“Not needed.” I squeezed her hand and then turned to the group. “As you all know, Evelyn’s contract expired once she graduated. I am assuming all of you would like a moment to say goodbye to our beloved intern.”

A few faces turned to me in shock and I couldn’t even look at Evelyn, afraid her sadness would break me.

That was the thing. I’d put her rapist in jail—ensuring he was absolutely miserable while there—with a promise that she could intern with Energia .

Nothing else was discussed, even if I did see incredible things in her future.

One glance at Al, and I took note of how he appeared as though he was either going to be sick or murder me.

“No one wants to say goodbye?” Amy, my lead attorney, stepped to my side, addressing the crowd. “Very well. Evelyn, it has been a pleasure to watch you grow and I wish you nothing but the best on your future endeavors.”

Evelyn smiled through her tears, maintaining her grace, and embraced us. Al moved towards me, clearly pissed, but I shook my head at him.

I wasn’t done.

“Well, if no one else has anything to add before we say goodbye to our intern.” And then it clicked, the realization morphing everyone’s face. “Evelyn, I’d like to formally offer you a full-time contract to become part of my legal team.”

Amy drew the document from her bag, but before she could hand it to the girl, Evelyn screamed a resounding yes . “Hey! I raised you better than that!” Amy laughed. “Read the contract before agreeing!”

She was engulfed in more hugs and congratulations as Alexei and I stepped away from the group. Once the excitement calmed down, Al wrapped his large arms around her.

“Didn’t see that coming,” Alexei muttered, watching Al smile at Evelyn.

“Ditto.” I crossed my arms over my chest, planning to make the man’s life a living hell until he acknowledged his feelings. He was my best friend after all—that was my job.

“Ready?” Rocco motioned for us to exit, as Al said goodbye once more, before shouting, “Sienna!”

Alexei went to grab my arm as a gun went off in the distance. The attendees on the sidewalk ducked, screaming and running from the threat. But as chaos erupted, Alexei and Rocco disappeared in the masses and I had no idea where the threat was coming from.

“Sienna!”

I turned to run towards Rocco’s voice. Then I saw it, my mouth parted, and I screamed for him to get down.

Rocco dropped without a second to spare, the bullet just missing its target.

“Rocco, are you—” My vision was cut off as something was thrown over my head, thick muscles pinning my arms down and carrying me away.

I screamed and fought, but the man was too large and able to quickly subdue me.

I was unceremoniously tossed into a vehicle and the force as it sped away threw me back into my seat.

A renewed sense of fight kicked in and I attacked.

But a slap across the face had my mind whirling and allowed my captor to overpower me again.

By the time the car came to a stop, I was unsure how I hadn’t thrown up yet.

Once more, arms were wrapped around me until I was thrown over a shoulder, my bound limbs hanging uselessly at his back.

Then I was dropped into a chair with a grunt, and the makeshift blindfold was quickly removed from my face.

Gio’s irate expression met me at eye level. “Who touched her?” he asked the man at my back.

“I’ll find out and handle it.”

Seemingly pleased by that answer, Gio helped me to stand.

If I was going to die, I’d do it as Sienna Agostino, CEO and fashion icon.

I had never been more pleased that I’d changed into a bright-red Fendi silk Mindi dress.

The front had buttons down the center and there was a high slit at my rear.

And, of course, the look was paired with diamond-strapped, red-soled stilettos.

“Even more gorgeous than I remember.” He motioned around the room. “Welcome home.”

“Gio, water…”

He cut me off and ignored my request with a wave of his hand.

“Wh-what? Why?”

“Your beauty is unparallel, Sienna. But that haunting fire deep in those blue eyes makes you radiant.” He kissed my hand.

“Your years of forced submission have come to an end. We will have all the power now.” He picked up the large pendant necklace that sat on the swell of my breasts, turning it over and over in his hand.

“And if I don’t want it? Then what?” I shook my head, clearing the fog. “I’m tired of everyone making decisions for me.”

He sat back in silent contemplation. “Sienna, that is why I picked you. You’re perfect.

We want more than what our families have dictated for us.

” He leaned forward, his elbows on his knees.

“We were meant to lead. We were meant for so much more than what we’ve been offered, more than New York fucking City. ”

“You’ll give me the world? Everything Lucky’s stolen from us?”

His chest puffed out with pride.

“How the hell did you build this empire? And so quickly?”

“I am an entrepreneur. It’s a skill.”

I pressed him, asking a few more questions, but his answers were riddles.

“Stand.”

Before I could comply, he pulled me from my seat and started patting me down. When he glanced up at me, confident I wasn’t wearing a wire, I laughed at his audacity. A mob daughter knew better than to snitch.

Plus, where would I hide it in this dress?

“Sorry.”

We reclaimed our seats as he spun a tale of deceit, corruption, murder, and abduction. He laid out every part of it for me. It was sickening to watch him smile and happily recollect all the pain and devastation he’d caused without a hint of remorse.

Got you, bitch.

A chill ran down my spine and unease settled into my gut. He wasn’t going to just whisk me away and start somewhere new. No. Gio wanted all of it. He wanted the city, and here I was, fixing the crown he placed on my head. I’d made this bed and I was going to lie underneath the fine silk.

“Boss! We got company,” someone shouted into the room, and the butterflies in my belly became erratic.

“ Qui non va niente, ” I muttered and Gio laughed.

His grin was malicious and unhinged. “Don’t worry, my queen, I’ll protect you.”

“They’re here for me.” I twisted against my bindings, finding them loose. “And after all this time, they still don’t realize I don’t need them to save me.”

Gio faltered when gunshots sounded outside.

They’d always underestimated me. Each one of them. I’d planned, plotted, and schemed all along—I was going to conquer the world. I didn’t need them to save me. I was far more capable of saving myself.

I was Sienna-fucking-Agostino, and I wouldn’t lay on my goddamn back and let someone have their way with me.