Page 39 of And Twice as Twisted (Agostino Crime Family #4)

SIENNA AGOSTINO

I had to be dreaming.

I rolled over and the scent of Apollo surrounded me.

I stretched my limbs, wincing at the delicious pain that overcame my muscles and clenched my thighs.

Our little escapade in the rose bushes was his way of apologizing.

Then the time in the shower and once again against the bathroom counter were my punishments.

But I was certain there was much more to come. I didn’t care.

I love you held no meaning. Not anymore.

I wasn’t so na?ve as to believe happily ever after existed after all this time.

Not for us. I didn’t need those words. Those lies.

They were immaterial when it came to a real relationship between two people.

I didn’t want a romanticized love story.

I wanted real. I wanted the raw emotions. The agony and the pain.

Apollo and I weren’t going to ride off into the sunset on some white horse. I was going to yell, curse, and push his buttons just because I could. And when he had enough, he’d punish my body and I’d enjoy every delectable second of it.

No, I didn’t need the words. I needed the actions.

And his more recent ones told me everything I needed to know.

His heart beat constant and strong under my palm.

It beat for me and his son. I knew nothing about us was going to be easy, but that’s what made life worth living.

As long as he stopped fighting this thing between us.

I showered quickly, lost in my own thoughts of what today would bring.

Octavia was coming home. All because of Nikolai’s dedication to his nephew and Alexei’s dedication to me.

Then there was Persephone. She was some sort of avenging angel.

The sort this fucked-up world needed and she’d kept her promise to me.

However, something told me she knew more than she was letting on…

I straightened my hair and pulled it into a high ponytail.

My smokey eyeshadow made my eyes pop and I added two diamond rings to each hand.

I chose a strappy pair of blood-red soles with black metallic studs on the toes.

My Dolce & Gabbana maroon and black lace bodycon dress fit me like a second skin, but the high slit on the thigh allowed me to move with ease.

I slipped on a few mandatory accessories and headed downstairs.

I refused to appear anything other than immaculate and posed, while knowing my reputation preceded me.

My heels echoed against the marble foyer as I entered the kitchen.

“Little overdressed, aren’t we?” Alexei looked me up and down, clearly entertained.

“As if there is such a thing, Alexei,” I fired back before bending at the waist and placing a kiss on Sal’s head. He was seated in his highchair as I moved towards the island, stopping when Apollo tugged me to him.

He gripped my face between his palms, dropping a hand to my lower back and pinning me against him. He stroked my cheek and placed a tender kiss on my lips. It was soft yet somehow made my knees weak, threatening to crumble to the floor. I smiled at the feel of his arms around me.

And then he ruined it.

“Go change.” The background noise around us died as everyone waited for my response.

“As if one night would somehow make me listen.” I kissed him once again and made my way to the bacon on the counter. “Honestly, Apollo, it’s like you don’t even know me.” I laughed a little louder than necessary to drive my point home.

I was not. The One. He knew better than that.

“Morning.” Mila walked into the room and Marco stopped moving, his eyes glued to the Russian doll in a silent stare down.

This wasn’t good.

This girl was one toy my brother didn’t need to be playing with. Luckily, his stomach took that moment to turn and he barreled out of the room—no doubt purging his liquid dinner. I looked to Al, who rolled his eyes before glancing at the girl curiously.

Nikolai watched his niece, his face deceptively blank. “Shall we go over the plan once more?” He motioned for us to enter the family room.

A mixture of Russian and Italian enforcers lingered in every corner, all here for one purpose while creating an alliance no one anticipated. Their plan was simple but mine was just that… mine .

The cars would pull up and I’d step out and motion for Octavia. Once she was safely tucked in our SUV, I’d open fire on every motherfucker within range.

“I’m serious, Sienna. Stick to the goddamn plan.” Lucky’s tone held no room for argument and I was in too good of a mood to respond. Or listen.

“Are you going to be a good boy for Nonna?” I cooed at Sal, laughing when everyone cringed at his excitement. “That’s my boy.” I kissed his head and inhaled his sweet baby scent.

“You’ll be the man of the house until we return.” Apollo stepped to my back, his voice soft but no less commanding as he spoke to our son as if the infant could understand him. “That’s a serious job, but I know you can do it.”

Sal seemed to stare at him, as if somehow absorbing the weight of his father’s words. My son was smart, too smart for his own good. I could only hope it didn’t get him into trouble one day.

“Hello. I’m staying behind, remember?” Marco scoffed while wiping at his mouth with his sleeve, but the room started to empty as everyone headed to the front door, ready to bring Octavia home.

“Answer my call.” Nikolai held Mila’s wrist. “First ring. I want to know you’re safe, and if anything goes down, I want you prepared.”

The girl nodded, her eyes wide and innocent, and it tugged on my heartstrings.

She’d been swallowed by a world too cruel for her, destined for ruin from the start.

Alexei told me her story, all the horrific details of their childhood.

The man carried a guilt unlike any other for leaving his baby sister behind.

I was about to pivot on my heel when something about Mila’s body language caught my attention.

The moment Nikolai left and she was free of familial eyes, her posture shifted and she popped a hip.

That sweet, submissive demeanor was gone as she tossed a piece of gum in her mouth and flipped her hair over her shoulder with a smirk that told me more than her demure words ever could.

Who was this girl?

She turned to look at me, her eyes cold and dead as though they could stare straight through me before her glare landed on my brother. She watched him exit the room with something similar to mischief—but far darker—dancing behind her pupils.

I met our men outside the compound, Mila and Marco following to see us off.

“Be safe, do you hear me?” My mother leaned in to kiss me with Sal firmly planted on her hip.

“ Prommeti, Mamma.” I kissed her cheek, then Sal’s, before heading to Apollo’s car.

Until Mila’s cry had my—and everyone else’s—head spinning in her direction as she stumbled into Marco.

She was gripping his lapels, my brother doubled over and groaning.

At first it seemed innocent, but then I got a good look at his face.

Oh, no.

“What the fuck?” Marco shoved away from the girl, Nikolai and Alexei charging his way. “You little bitch.” He lunged forward but not before our Russian allies stepped in front of him.

“What is the meaning of this?” Alexei hissed while Mila threw herself into his arms.

“He… he….” She wiped at the tears streaming down her face. “He too close. I no see. It an accident and he yell.” Her broken English only added to that look of innocence.

“ Chto on skazal?” Nikolai asked, his eyes never leaving my brother even as I tried to step between them.

My mom had disappeared inside with Bella and the boys. Apollo pulled me back, tugging Marco to his side in an attempt to alleviate the tension. But it didn’t matter. The moment Mila opened her mouth, every Russian gun cocked in unison.

“On nazval menya russkoy shlyukhoy,” she cried into Alexei’s shoulder as he started shouting to his men.

“You called her a Russian whore?” Apollo asked, his eyes flaring with the question as he directed it at my brother.

“Fuck no! She ran her mouth. All I said was—”

“Enough. We don’t have time for this,” Lucky interrupted, stepping to the side with Nikolai before speaking in hushed tones. The discussion was obviously heated, Lucky’s arms animated, but somehow we were able to avoid bloodshed.

Marco growled as Mila practically ran past him into the house. He waited a beat before slowly following after her.

What the hell was going on with my brother?

Everyone separated and piled into the cars, heading off to their respective locations in order to get my sister back in one piece.

The ride was as silent as it was tension filled, which did little to ease my frayed nerves. Octavia was the biggest part of my heart, a part that had been gone for far too long, and I desperately needed her home. Lucky and Al rode in the front of the armored SUV with Apollo and me in the back.

I was missing something. Some small detail. And none of it sat right.

Was this a setup to kill us all? Was Octavia even alive at this point? Or was the plan always to kill her in front of us?

“Breathe.” Apollo wrapped his arms around me, giving me some of his strength when mine waned.

“Sienna…” Lucky stared at me through the rearview mirror, his eyes glued to mine in silent warning.

“I know what I have to do,” I assured him. I didn’t need the constant reminders.

“Then do it.” My brother was a piece of work. He might have been the king but he wasn’t mine. New York could be damned for all I cared. I was only here because my son deserved a father and I deserved my own form of happiness.

“This is it. I know what you’re thinking, so don’t,” Apollo whispered in my ear before tilting my chin up and forcing me to look him in the eyes. “I need you safe.” He kissed me slow and sweet, with a tenderness I wasn’t prepared to receive.

“I just want her home.” I bit down on my cheek to stop the sob from escaping. “And for whoever took her to pay.”