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

SIENNA AGOSTINO

“ Y ou will be home for dinner,” my mother ordered over the phone, but I was barely listening.

He was going to be there.

I wasn’t weak, nor was I stupid. I’d become resigned to the fact that I was never going to get what I wanted from him. So now I was going to hold my head high, steady my feet in my red-soles, and become the fucking queen of Philadelphia.

Maybe.

Romano had been amazing since the day I met him—through contracts, murder plots, and my confessed love for another man.

He was still so patient with me, when there was absolutely no reason for his kindness.

As the Philadelphian Don, he could very easily call my father on the engagement and force my hand. But he didn’t.

I needed to rid myself of these irrational feelings for Apollo. For a man who didn’t deserve me. Even if it felt like I’d ripped my heart out and left it in that hospital room.

I hung up without a word to my mother.

“What part of you’re fired did you not understand?” I questioned the man behind me.

I was standing in my office, overlooking the city I used to love so much, which was now nothing more than ash from the fire that destroyed everything I’d cared about.

My head was pounding and my mouth was dry; the coke and whiskey were dissolving but one hell of a hangover was left in their wake.

I slept in my office, wearing the Balmain sheer-panel bodycon dress from last night.

“If you’d answered your phone, I wouldn’t have had to hunt you down.” Ander—I mean Alexei barked.

“Funny how I never noticed that Russian accent before.” I tossed a glance over my shoulder, glaring at him. “Judas.” And I only wished my tone was as biting as the rage I felt.

“I was trying to protect you when I learned what my family was doing. I was never a part of it.”

I laughed, leaning my forehead against the floor-to-ceiling windows.

“You fucking poached me, Sienna!” he attempted to counter.

“Sienna.” Rocco stalked into the room with a slight limp from the accident. “Do you need anything ?” He stared at Alexei as he emphasized the word.

I thanked him but declined. Alexei was my problem. I needed to handle him.

“How’s the leg?”

I could tell Alexei’s question burned Rocco, his glare showcasing his disdain as the enforcer pivoted on his heel and exited the room but not before slamming the door.

“Listen Ander—shit, Alexei. Whoever the fuck you are.” I didn’t turn around. “I don’t want to hear whatever lies you tell your pillow before you drift off to a nice, remorseless sleep.”

“Goddamn it, Sienna.” His hands gripped my shoulders, spinning me to face him. “I tried protecting you the entire time!” He released me and turned away, giving me a chance to really look at him.

It was almost comical how much he had changed now that his true character was on display.

Proudly boasting his Bratva persona. He was in a full suit, including a tie, something he wouldn’t be caught dead in previously.

He even looked Russian now—there was no other way to describe it. If you knew, you knew.

“I don’t want to hear it. Any of it.” Enough tears had been spilt for all the lies and betrayals. I had nothing left. “Leave.”

I walked to my desk and sat behind it, staring at my emails but not really paying attention to anything in particular.

For the first time in my entire life, things were falling down around me.

I used to see it coming, but now it broadsided me, forcing me to sit amidst the damage it created.

A phoenix rose from the ashes, while a miserable excuse for a woman like me burrowed inside them.

“Are you listening to me?”

“Not really.” I sat back, rubbing my irritated eyes.

“I thought you’d want my help finding Octavia.” He turned towards the door, stopping when my stapler hit the wall next to his head.

“Don’t you fucking say her name,” I screamed, releasing my pain, anger, frustration at the closest target in sight. “Why would I want your help, huh? You and your fucking Russian assholes probably took her!”

One second, he was across the room. The next, he was looming over me. I was forced back in my seat, staring up at him and daring him to do something. Anything. A sick part of me wanted the pain, wanted him to lash out verbally and physically. But he didn’t rise to my challenge.

I wanted to rip someone apart, but there was no one worthy enough. No one who would satiate my rage until my sister was found.

As much as his presence enraged me, I knew Alexei was working tirelessly to bring Octavia home.

She was last seen at Bella’s funeral , getting into a car with an unknown security detail.

And then she vanished. We had nothing on her, not a single sighting since the moment they pulled out of the parking lot.

Lucky was apparently exhausting all possibilities, but every lead came up empty.

Without Octavia… without Apollo… Sienna was nothing. I was an empty, tarnished shell.

“Your brother is worried about you,” Alexei interrupted my pity party.

“The king has time to worry about little old me? How darling of him.” I walked over to the newest addition to my office, my beautiful cherrywood bar.

“Seriously?” Alexei shoved to his feet and snatched the whiskey from my hand. “You’ve lost clients, you’re drinking in the middle of the day, and passing out in clubs at night! Blyad', Sienna!” That’s it.

“Get your traitorous Russian ass out of my goddamn office! You’ve already been fired!” I tossed back my drink, hating that the sweet burn of the whiskey was already gone.

“I will find her, Sienna.” He stared for a moment longer before turning and leaving.

Once the door closed behind him, I collapsed onto the floor.

Crawling over to the window, I leaned my back against the wall and stared at the city as I continued to drink, watching the sun go down over the horizon.

I was a total mess, obliterated and depressed.

I couldn’t get a handle on anything and allowed the booze to drown out the voices in my head.

“Go away!” I yelled when someone knocked, a bottle of whiskey later.

“Miss Sienna,” a small voice called out around the door. “I… I’m sorry. I just wanted to give you this.”

“Evelyn! Please, I’m sorry,” I muttered or maybe slurred. “Come. In.” I hiccupped out the words. Evelyn Campbell, my little protege, was a quick rising asset in my legal department.

“I’m sorry to bother you. I just…” She stepped closer, looking down at me with nothing but adoration. “Here.”

I took the paper from her hand, and after a few minutes of concentration, I could finally make out the words. It was an invitation. I swallowed back the tears it invoked.

“I’m graduating and would love it if you could come. I know you’re really busy and all, but I wanted to ensure you got the invitation. I wouldn’t be graduating at all if it weren’t for you and everything you’ve done. And I—”

“Evelyn.” I stopped her nervous rambling. “First, I am beyond busy with the many, many things an important CEO like me has on her plate.”

“I understand. I just—”

I cut her off. “I wasn’t done. I am very busy… clearly .” I waved at my drunk ass sitting on the floor. Snatching her wrist, I pulled her to the ground beside me. “I will never be too busy to celebrate all your hard work.”

We smiled at each other as I poured her a glass and we sat back, watching the sunset side by side. Then we cried together, over another glass of whiskey, discussing all the men who had done us wrong.

“I hope I’m not out of place here, but you’re the strongest woman I know and whoever did this to you… well, I know you’ll make them pay.” She gave me a sinister grin, and I couldn’t help the choked snort-laugh combo that left me.

“Sienna!” Al shouted, his heavy footsteps stomping off the elevator.

“I meant to tell you your bodyguard said he was on his way.” She smiled sheepishly. It hadn’t escaped me that Evelyn had developed a little bit of a crush on my big-ass best friend.

“Can you please tell him I am on a call and will be out shortly.”

She nodded, placing her glass on the bar and squeezing out the door, as I watched the cars below.

Normal people finishing their workdays and heading home to their uncomplicated families.

Exhaustion swept over me. Placing my forehead against the cool glass, I shut off my mind and eyed the building across from mine.

Lights were turning off and people were leaving for the night.

Curiously, I looked to see if there was someone as pathetic as I was in that building too.

“Are you kidding me? That’s the fucking dress I told you to take off last night!” Heavy footsteps charged towards me.

“I don’t like you like that,” I mumbled, as his large hands reached out and pulled me to his chest.

“Please, like I’d ask to look at what’s practically falling out of this scrap of fabric.” He jostled me around. “Basically incest in a thousand-dollar dress.”

“More like two thousand.” My stomach sloshed with each step.

Placing me on my feet for a second, Al straightened my dress and then threw me over his shoulder. He spoke softly to Evelyn, confirming she had a ride home before walking into the elevator.

“If you’re gonna puke, you better warn me,” he grunted.

“Then put me down. This doesn’t feel good.” A descending elevator was painful enough, but this position made it ten times worse.

A second later, I was on my feet and tucked into his side as he attempted to get me out of the building without everyone staring. “Sit.” He tossed me into his car with little care for the jostling, and my stomach continued to jar with the sudden movement.

“Take me… to… my apartment.” I curled into a small ball, my ass on the floor and my head resting against my arms on the seat.

“Nope. Compound.” The car lurched forward as he pulled away from the curb. “Mommy’s orders.”

“Alvin. No. Not doing this. Not tonight.” Everyone needed to back the hell off me.

“Sienna, you just need to put all this behind you. He isn’t going to leave the family, so you might as well get over it.”

Because it was that goddamn easy!

“I’m astounded that I’ve never realized how much of a prick you really are.

” I kept my face pressed across my arms. “I almost died thanks to him. My father is in agony over Octavia’s disappearance, knowing it’s his fault.

Add my brother’s bullshit into the mix, and it sounds like a terrible fucking dinner party. No thank you.”

“Grow up, Sienna.” He sighed, as if I were the problem.

“Run along and do your master’s bidding, lap dog. I was stolen, beaten, stabbed, and almost died because the man I love has a past. Now he’s treating me like a pariah. I’m sorry that I can’t just wake up and act as if Apollo cutting me out of his life is so simple!”

“Sienna!” His anger didn’t come close to my own.

“Hey, Al?” When he looked down at me, I smirked. “Fuck you.” And then I proceeded to throw up the entire bottle of whiskey, and the remnants of my lunch, all over his front seat. I barely heard the sounds of him yelling over the noise of me purging my soul.

If it were that easy, don’t you think I’d heal myself? Se solo.