Page 5 of And Twice as Twisted (Agostino Crime Family #4)

SIENNA AGOSTINO

“ S top sulking.” Two words. That’s all I got. Several weeks had passed since I threw up in his car, but Al was still barely speaking to me.

“I’m not.” I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms.

He liked to pretend he didn’t dry heave the entire way home.

I did destroy his fancy new Audi, and I am pretty sure he’ll never be able to drink whiskey or eat salami again.

He wanted me to buy him a new car, but I told him he could get fucked.

I did, however, tone down my drinking and spend all my time split between work and the gym.

And finding Octavia.

Her second call since her disappearance turned all my focus to finding her. It was Octavia, for all intents and purposes. It was my baby sister on the other end. I knew the resigned, submissive tone that started the call. But by the end, she was unrecognizable.

“Sienna, please stop looking for me,” Octavia whispered into the line.

“Octavia! Oh, God! Where are you?” I rambled on, kicking off my heels and running for my office door.

“Sienna!” she barked and the confident, angry tone stopped me in my tracks. “You don’t get it. I don’t want to be found.” Gone was the meek and mild sister I knew, and in her place was someone who sounded… a lot like me.

“What’re you talking about? Octavia, tell me who took you and where you are?” I sobbed at the end, unable to hold it back as Alexei and Al darted towards me.

“Sissy, please,” she whispered. “I love you. No matter what happens, please remember that. But I need time to heal… from…” Her words died in her throat.

“Octavia, I will help you,” I urged.

“No one can help me but myself. Move on with your life, Sienna. One day I will be fine. One day I will come back. Until then, take care of yourself and be happy. Even if that means leaving the family, the life.”

“Octavia, please.” My voice cracked. I needed my sister, and I hated how she sounded so sure of her choices.

“I’m fine, Sienna. Or… at least I think I will be.” Her tone was empowered until she whispered the last part. “I won’t be weak anymore.”

“Little doll, end it,” a deep voice commanded in the background, almost recognizable but not quite.

“Who the fuck is that? Let me talk to the bastard—”

“Doll! Now!” His command sent me over the edge, while my sister’s matching tone halted my rage.

“Enough, Sienna! I love you, but back off. I’m not as weak as you all think.” And then the line cut out.

We hadn’t heard anything else and I couldn’t trace the signal. Whoever had her was smart, or had the funds to ensure someone intelligent was on his books. If I was going to find her, I was going to need help.

That bitter truth tasted pretty salty on my lips.

“Yes,” Alexei answered on the first ring, but I couldn’t speak. This was harder than I thought. “Sienna. Open the door.” A knock had me dropping the phone and reaching for the knob instead.

“How the hell did you get in here?”

Alexei casually rested his shoulder against the doorframe.

“Seeing how you’ve been working out, I won’t lie to you and risk being on the receiving end of your knuckles.

” He squeezed my toned arm. “Lucky asked me to find Octavia and this is the best place for me to do that.” He stepped back, obviously concerned over my response.

“Then why isn’t she found?” I turned on my newest red-soled heel and stomped back to my desk. “And my brother doesn’t run my company, by the way.”

“Will you tell me about the call?” He appeared amused by my deepening scowl.

“You motherfucker. You tapped my cell?” I sputtered but stopped when he didn’t say anything, motioning for him to get to work.

We spent the afternoon reviewing everything he had on my sister’s disappearance.

It turned out he was able to trace her movements throughout the city for a short time until all circuits were shut down.

At once. It was as impressive as it was infuriating.

Twenty minutes was all it took for every trace to turn up empty.

“They must have left the city. The blackout included the private sector of JFK.”

I rubbed at my temples. “Maybe. I don’t know.” I sighed, mentally fatigued.

“Let’s stop for the day.” Alexei closed his computer. “We can continue this weekend, wherever you want.”

You could only burn the candle at both ends for so long before nothing was left. Till the fragrant scent was reminiscent of burnt flesh and tears.

I slipped into my jacket as we walked into the lobby. I opted to not discuss my weekend plans with my Russian friend. Alexei had lost the ability to comment on my life the moment I’d learned his true identity.

The elevator doors were just closing when Farrah, my secretary, shouted, “Have fun in Philadelphia.”

I kept my gaze forward, stepping into the elevator. “Sienna. Iisus Khristos. ”

“Not your concern, Alexei .” I accentuated his name and closed my eyes.

“Stop calling me that.”

“Isn’t it your legal name?” The doors opened and I didn’t wait for an answer, walking to the front entrance as two of Romano’s men flanked my sides.

They took my bags, motioning me towards the SUV idling at the curb.

I smiled at the line of armored cars that surrounded the vehicle.

Romano was taking my safety seriously after my last attempted trip to his city.

“Sir, back, please.”

I glanced over my shoulder and froze. Alongside one of Romano’s men was Apollo.

The rest of the world faded away as we stared at each other.

The stitches were gone while the twisted strings left a barely visible scar on his tattooed neck, with the bruises and cuts now a distant memory.

Silence stretched between us and the city disappeared.

We were lost in each other’s gaze, far removed from our current predicament.

Apollo ignored Romano’s team. Then, slowly, he turned to look each man in the face.

Memorizing them. He knew who they worked for. Knew where I would be going with them.

My heart raced as a moment of guilt spread through me. The skin across my chest blossomed red and my face heated. There was no reason for me to feel this way, but beneath the weight of his gaze, I felt it all.

Suddenly Rocco was at his side, whispering in his ear, and a second later, Apollo disappeared into the crowd. “I’ll handle it,” Rocco said into his earpiece, waiting for me to enter the vehicle.

“Ma’am.”

I turned towards the guard and slid inside, where the men reported to the remaining transports, and we took off into the city traffic. I closed my eyes and tried to breathe through the panic and guilt that had settled on my chest.

I had nothing to feel guilty about. His choices forced me to make my own.

“Traffic is light, ma’am. We should arrive in less than two hours.” The same guard spoke to me from the front passenger seat and introduced himself as Romeo—Romano’s right hand.

Staring out the window, my eyes burned with unshed tears. Why now? Why would he show the moment I decided to take my life back?

It didn’t matter. It was over and there was no going back. Too many years. Too many tears.

As we approached an accident scene, my heart lodged in my throat. Everything around me turned to white noise as my ears pulsed, sweat broke out across my skin, and my stomach turned violently.

Romeo twisted in his seat. Grabbing my wrist, he pressed his thumb against my pulse point. “Deep, slow breaths.”His command allowed me to focus on his voice as he gave me random facts about Philly. After a few minutes, and seemingly satisfied with the rhythm, he released my hand.

“How long have you been with Romano?”

Romeo was an attractive man, roughly in his early-thirties, with thick dark-brown hair and jade-green eyes.

He had a playful disposition and a smile that melted your heart with two proud dimples on display.

He’d been with Romano for several years, following him from the streets and becoming his right hand when he took over.

He claimed Romano was earnest yet demanding—he treated those he cared about like royalty.

I didn’t bother to ask about his enemies because I’d already heard the stories.

Romano’s rise created a power struggle, one he’d climbed over countless dead bodies to win.

“Wow,” I muttered, staring at the city skyline now looming on the horizon.

“It’s not New York, but sometimes change is just what the doctor should’ve ordered.” Romeo pulled his phone from his pocket. “Romano wants you to head directly to dinner if you’re not too tired, ma’am.”

“Whatever the boss wants.” A heaviness lifted from my chest as things fell so easily into place.

We stopped outside a nondescript brick building. The armed cars in the front and rear of us cleared the sidewalk before I stepped out. There was nothing fancy or appealing about the place, just a glass door next to a simple sign .

Romeo opened the door for me and offered a hand. “Welcome to Fetta di Paradiso , home to Center City’s most sought-after desserts.” He placed my arm in his and escorted me into the building.

The moment the doors opened and I smelled the scent of fresh cakes, pies, and other baked goods, I understood why it was called slice of heaven . The outside was boring, but the interior was opulent with white marble floors, gold display cases, and large chandeliers with diamonds.

“Pick whatever you like. The boss will be here shortly.” Romeo disappeared as the additional security details spread throughout the room.

“ Parli Italiano, bella? ” An older, round woman appeared from behind the case, smiling at me as I nodded. “ Cosa posso portarti?”