Page 41 of And Twice as Twisted (Agostino Crime Family #4)

M y heart raced as I thought about seeing my family once again. I wasn’t the same girl who was taken from them. If they only knew who I was now and why I was coming back, they’d hate me. I hated me.

I was beyond thankful to be coming home but also didn’t want my darkness to touch them. I was damaged, no more their prezioso piccolo bambino . My innocence was shattered, stolen from me, and in its place, a monster was bursting from the seams.

He’d stitched me up like his own little doll, using me to plot and scheme behind everyone’s backs. And I hated that I had to follow his lead. I hated him. But most of all, I hated myself.

“Do as your told, little doll.” I watched the car pulling up to us, doing my best to ignore his heat radiating against my side.

“Yes,” I muttered in reply but the clearing of his throat had me speaking louder. “Yes, sir.”

“Good.” He patted my leg, and I was so used to it I no longer pulled away from him.

A part of me longed for his touch. For the tenderness he rarely showed me.

The other part was disgusted that I allowed myself to believe any of the lies this monster told me.

The car got closer and closer, matching the beats of my heart.

This was it. This was the moment I’d die, betray my family, and bury my lies alongside me.

His two men in the front spoke into their radios, alerting the rest of the team of our arrival. He’d promised me so many things and in that same breath took them away. I hated that this had to be done but understood there was no other way either.

I used to think my family was untouchable, that our strength was unmatched. I was wrong, so wrong. It was all a facade that came crumbling down around me years before I realized what was happening. I was living in my own perpetual nightmare, a shell of the human being I thought I was.

“Go.” His words were short, clipped. “Now, Octavia.”

I swallowed around the lump in my throat and opened the door, the wind kicking up and forcing a shiver down my spine.

My sister stood in the distance, looking as formidable as ever.

She seemed happier, a glow about her that made me question several things.

I knew about my nephew. They kept me abreast to the updates on my family—one of the many forms of torture I’d endured.

And I so badly wanted to meet him, but it wasn’t a luxury I deserved.

I glanced over my shoulder once more, staring into the eyes of the man who ruined me, his team watching my every move. A growl from the back seat had me turning my back on him and taking a step closer. I leaned into the door.

“I know what I’m doing. We had a deal.” My voice sounded stronger than I felt, and his pleased smile had my heart beating a little faster in my chest.

God, I was pathetic.

“We do, little doll. Hurry up before I change my mind.” He eyed me in a way that told me exactly what he was thinking. I slammed the door in his face, the metal barrier doing little to diminish the sound of his booming laughter.

With each step closer to my sister, I felt myself lighten.

The door opened behind me and my steps faltered, knowing all hell was about to break loose.

My brother, Al, and Apollo stormed from the car, charging towards Sienna with their eyes on me.

I could hear the gun cocking at my back and knew his men were also at the ready.

I turned and glanced over my shoulder, and the bastard was smiling back at me.

“You wanted your revenge and you got it. You promised me this,” I yelled at him.

Many emotions ran across his face and I knew this was where I’d meet my maker.

This was where he’d destroy my family with one pull of the trigger.

And he was a dead eye behind the sights, never missing a single target.

My family was shouting and moving closer.

I knew he’d aim for my sister first. He knew how much she meant to me.

“I changed my mind.” I paused midstep at the sound of the first shot, my body jarred by the blowback.

Pain. That was all I felt. My family started firing as more of his men emerged from the tree line and I was dragged to the car.

He’d told me time and time again that he wanted to ruin me, my family, my name.

He’d build me up just to break me down. But he promised to leave my mother and my two nephews alone, if I just followed his orders.

It broke my heart but he forced my hand.

So I agreed. Before he killed me.