Page 26 of Bittersweet Endings (Agostino Crime Family #6)

CARMINE RAGETTI

M y little doll was trying so hard to act like we were done. I’d officially stopped giving a fuck and knew where I’d end up once this was all over. In New York, packing her up and bringing her back to Cali. By force if needed, but I had a feeling with a little cajoling, she’d come willingly.

Instead of claiming her beneath me, I was stuck in meetings, trying to force out JP, and I was dog tired.

The room reeked of sweat, stale smoke, and bloodlust. Matteo sat across from me, silently rolling his unlit cigarette between his fingers.

Lorenzo’s leg bounced, restlessly, his jaw tight with barely-contained fury.

Around us, the air was thick. Oppressive with the weight of men who wanted to kill, needed to kill, and were being denied that satisfaction.

“Torched buildings, bodies buried, and still the old fuck won’t come out of hiding,” Matteo growled, the cigarette shaking in his grip. “How much more destruction do we have to cause before he has nowhere left to hide?”

Lorenzo scoffed. “The rats are running in fear. The city’s drowning in the chaos.” His eyes met mine, dark, expectant. “And yet… he’s still breathing.”

A chair scraped harshly against the floor as one of our men leaned forward. “We lost two last night,” he growled. “JP’s loyal scum put a bullet between their eyes before we even knew they were there.”

Rage simmered in the dim light, twisting in our guts and tightening our fists.

I slammed my palm down on the table, hard enough to make the glasses jump. “We’re fucking done. We need to make a fucking example. Show this city that loyalty to JP means dying screaming.”

A sick hunger settled in the room, the kind that only blood could satisfy. The men here weren’t just looking for vengeance; they were starving for it. The violence had become its own beast. It had taken on its own life, and we were all feeding off it.

I let out a slow breath, forcing the fury to settle into something sharper. Deadlier. My fingers tapped against the table, steady and deliberate. When I spoke, my voice was calm, but it carried the promise of something so much fuckin’ worse.

“No more chasing. No more waiting for him to slip.” I leaned forward, letting the words slither between my teeth.

“Lock down the city. No air, no exits. We take out every last asshole loyal to him. We tear their throats open and leave them where he’ll see them.

Fuck the news. Fuck the cameras. Let’s end this. ”

A low murmur of approval rippled around the table. Feral. Ready. And yet, underneath the hunger, underneath the bloodlust, my thoughts drifted again.

Octavia.

Even if we put JP in the ground, she wouldn’t be safe. Not from me. Not from what I had to become to end this. And that? That was the next real fucking problem.

The doors burst open, one of my men stumbling inside like a dying animal, his shirt soaked with blood. His hand was clamped around his arm, his fingers slick where they pressed against the gaping wound. He barely made it past the threshold before his knees buckled. Lorenzo caught him.

“It’s him,” he choked out. “JP. He’s outside.”

The words were gasoline on an open flame. Every head snapped towards the door. The air lethal.

Matteo shot to his feet so fast his chair crashed to the floor. “Tell me you’re fucking joking.”

My guy shook his head, sucking in a breath through clenched teeth. “He’s got the whole goddamn street locked down. He’s calling you out, Carmine. Says it’s time to end this.”

A slow, burning heat spread through my chest. I pushed back from the table, rising to my feet with a calm I didn’t feel. He wanted to call me out. Then I’d answer. “Well, let’s see if the old bastard is man enough to finish what he started.”

The table squeaked as it was shoved aside, and my entire crew approached the door.

Outside, the city stood still. The street was crawling with JP’s men, bodies lined up like tombstones, guns in hand, ready for war.

But at the center of it all, standing behind their protective shield, was the man who had ruined my life.

The man who’d plagued my childhood like a sickness.

The man whose shadow I had spent my whole life trying to burn away.

I stepped out, Matteo and Lorenzo at my sides, my own men moving in behind us. A breath of silence passed between us. The night heavy and thick with death.

JP smiled like he had been expecting me all along. “There he is,” he said. “My boy. ”

The words hit like rusted nails hammered into bone. “You don’t get to call me that.”

JP sighed. “Still so angry.”

“You want this to end?” I snapped. “Then step out. Face me like a man.”

“And deprive my men of a show?” He gestured to the armed figures at his back. “I’ve got an audience now, Carmine. Wouldn’t be right to disappoint.”

Matteo’s fingers twitched towards his gun. Lorenzo was as still as death. Every single one of my men was waiting for my order. Waiting to rip through these bastards like wolves tearing through flesh and chomping on bone.

“You let Ma get wrapped up in your shit,” I said. “You used her, and then you let her die.”

JP’s smile faltered. Just for a second. “She was never supposed to get caught in the crossfire,” he said, quieter now. “But sometimes…” His fingers curled into a fist. “…innocents get hurt.”

A slow, sharp rage curled through me like barbed wire. “Bullshit,” I snarled.

JP’s expression darkened. “You think I didn’t love her?”

“I think she’s the only person you’ve ever loved besides yourself,” I replied.

A flicker of something passed over his face, some shadow of regret, but it was gone just as fast as he covered it with something crueler.

“You don’t know shit, Carmine,” he said.

“You think this is all black and white? You think I’m some villain in your little fucking story?

” He stepped forward. “I built this empire. I made this city bleed for me. And what have you done? Nothing but throw a tantrum because Mommy didn’t make it out alive. ”

That one cut deep. Deeper than I wanted it to. But I didn’t flinch. Didn’t blink. “This only ends one way.” I braced myself. “With you dead.”

JP exhaled like I’d disappointed him. Then his lips curled.

“That’s a mistake, son.” He smirked at the look on my face.

“You think you can threaten me? You think you hold all the cards?” He chuckled.

“I’ll kill you here, and then hop the next flight to New York.

Give your brothers a new mommy. Only I’ll make sure she suffers for your sins. ”

A slow, burning silence fell over the street. My hands clenched at my sides. My heart pounded against my ribs, but my voice was deadly calm. “You signed your fucking death warrant.”

JP’s smile didn’t waver. “Guess we’ll see.”

And just like that, all hell broke loose.

Gunfire ripped through the street like thunder cracking the sky. Men dove for cover as bullets tore through bodies, shattering glass, punching holes into the pavement. I ducked behind a parked car as one of our men went down screaming. His blood spraying across the asphalt.

Matteo was already firing, his face twisted with fury, while Lorenzo moved with ruthless precision, cutting through the bastards in front of him like they were nothing but cattle. I raised my gun, aimed, and put a bullet through the skull of the first motherfucker at the end of my barrel.

He dropped instantly. Another rushed me. I turned, pressed the muzzle against his gut, and pulled the trigger. He choked on his own blood as he crumbled to the ground.

The fight was chaos. Bodies hitting the pavement. The sharp crack of gunfire. Men cursing, screaming, dying. But JP… he was slipping away. I saw the panic on his face. He thought he was going to storm in here and take us all down. The bastard was finally realizing he shouldn’t underestimate me .

Through the haze of bullets and blood, I caught a glimpse of him, retreating like the coward he was. He moved fast, his men covering him as he disappeared into the night.

I roared, putting a bullet between the eyes of the bastard who tried to stop me from following, and surged forward. But a strong grip yanked me back.

“Carmine!” Matteo’s voice cut through the madness. “He’s gone.”

I wrenched free, my breath coming out in ragged gasps. JP had escaped. Again. It didn’t matter how many bodies we put in the ground tonight. He was still breathing. Still out there. And that meant this war wasn’t over.

***

Back at the warehouse, the aftermath settled around us like a bad hangover.

Blood dripped from my hands—some mine, some not.

Our men moved around, patching up the wounded and dragging away the dead.

The place reeked of sweat, smoke, and death.

We had lost good men. But my brothers were still standing. That had to be enough.

Matteo sat next to me, rolling his shoulders, still buzzing from the fight. He exhaled sharply and nudged me with his knee. “He threatened Octavia.”

I didn’t flinch at the mention of her name. “Lucky better protect his sister, then.” For once, I wanted to add but didn’t.

Matteo sighed. “You’re afraid going after Octavia makes you look soft.” He shook his head. “But you know what’s actually weak? A man too scared to take what he wants.”

I flicked my lighter open, the small flame illuminating the blood on my fingers before I brought the cigarette to my lips. I inhaled deep, letting the smoke settle in my lungs.

“They haven’t been able to protect her yet. Why would it suddenly start now? ”

Matteo was right. JP wasn’t done. This war wasn’t over. And Octavia… she was in more danger than ever. The Agostinos couldn’t protect her, and AJ couldn’t handle it alone anymore.

I pulled out my phone, staring at the name on the screen before pressing call. Lucky picked up on the first ring. I took another slow drag of my cigarette before exhaling.

“What’s up, baby devil?” I asked. Octavia needed to be protected. And I’d tear apart the entire fucking world before I let JP get his hands on her. Which meant it was time I called a fuckin’ truce.

“The fuck you want, Ragetti?”

I smirked, exhaling a slow stream of smoke. “Nice to hear your voice too, asshole.”

Lucky let out a sharp laugh, but there was no humor in it. “Unless you’re calling to tell me goodbye because you’re taking a leap off the Golden Gate, I’m not interested.”

“Tempting, but nah.” I grinned. “You’d miss me.”

“Fuck off.” He waited. “Better make it quick. Some of us actually know how to keep our shit together without setting the whole goddamn city on fire.”

There it was. The same old song and dance. “That’s real fucking cute coming from you, considering I remember the last time you got your hands dirty—oh wait, you let other people do that for you, don’t you?”

Lucky scoffed. “At least when I clean up a mess, it stays clean. You, on the other hand? You’re like a fucking tornado, tearing through everything and expecting someone else to sweep up the pieces.”

I barked out a laugh. “And that someone’s usually you, huh?”

“I swear to god, Carmine, if you?—”

“Relax,” I cut him off, still grinning. “I’m not calling to bust your balls. Well, not just to bust your balls. I actually need something.”

Lucky went dead silent for a second. “Oh, this is rich. You need something from me ?”

“Yeah, yeah.” I took another hit off my cigarette, letting the words settle. “As much as it fucking kills me to extend an olive branch… If I don’t, it’s Octavia who’ll get hurt.”

That shut him up. For about two seconds. Then Lucky’s voice came back, sharp and pissed. “Goddamn it, Carmine. What the fuck did you do?”

I chuckled. “Nothing I wouldn’t do again.”

Lucky was breathing hard, like he was trying not to punch something. “I knew you were gonna drag her into this shit.” He paused. “You never planned to let her go, did you?”

“I didn’t drag her into anything.” My jaw tightened. “JP did.”

Lucky swore under his breath. “You dragged her into it by stealing her in the first place.”

“If I didn’t take her, JP would’ve. And she enjoyed her time much better with me.” He started shouting into the phone, and I cut him off again. “Stop. I meant JP would’ve raped, tortured, and killed her.”

He sighed. “You know, if I ever get my hands on that old fuck?—”

“He’s dead,” I said flatly. “That’s the plan, cazzo .”

Lucky let out a humorless laugh. “Well, at least one of your brain cells is still functioning.”

“Go fuck yourself.”

“Eat shit.”

I grinned again, but it faded as my mind circled back to the real problem. “JP’s threat was clear. He wants Octavia. And as much as she’s gonna hate it, I need you to lock her down until this is handled. ”

Lucky was silent for a moment. “You really think I’d let anything happen to her?”

“No, not intentionally,” I admitted. “But she’s a stubborn pain in the ass, and you and I both know she’ll run straight into danger if she thinks she can help.”

Lucky groaned. “Fucking hell.”

“Exactly.”

“Is this you callin’ a fuckin’ truce or something?” he asked. I wasn’t sure how to answer. “Pops told me about your uncle. Sounded like a solid guy.”

Acid furled up from inside my gut. “He was. The best.”

“I’m… sorry for your loss.” In our world, that was as good as a truce.

“Thanks.” I paused. “I have no interest in New York. I just want her safe. And I think I have a way to solve all our problems.”

Lucky exhaled, frustrated as hell but already resigned. “Fine. But if she kills me for this, I’m haunting your ass.”

I smirked. “Yeah, yeah. Just keep her safe.”

“You better end this shit, Ragetti.”

“Oh, I will,” I said, flicking my cigarette away. “One way or another.” And then I hung up.

It was time to finish what JP had started.