Page 27 of Bittersweet Endings (Agostino Crime Family #6)

OCTAVIA AGOSTINO

T he glow of my laptop screen illuminated my desk as I adjusted my posture and forced a smile.

Across the Zoom call, Sybil looked as polished as ever—thick-rimmed glasses perched on her nose, her signature all-black attire somehow entrancing and not morbid.

Her whole aesthetic was a vibe, and I loved the direction we were taking her marketing.

“So, we’re agreed then,” she said, tapping her pen against her notebook. “Two in-person signings. One in New York, one in Chicago, and a virtual event on release day?”

“Exactly,” I confirmed, jotting down a note for myself. “And we’ll have the announcement ready to go by Friday. The marketing department is finalizing the graphics now.”

Sybil nodded. “This all sounds fantastic, Octavia. I really appreciate how smooth this transition has been. I know signing with a new publisher can be a risk, but you and Library Mouse Publishing have made it feel effortless.”

I smiled at the name. Call it cheesy , but I loved it. It actually sounded prettier in Italian. Topo Di Biblioteca. With everything happening around me, I’d already started to research an Italian sector, to give me a chance to escape this place.

I opened my mouth to respond, but a sharp voice in the background cut through my focus.

“No, that’s not what we agreed to,” Rocco snapped from across the apartment. “You’re not going to screw me over on this. She’s going to be pissed. Al, what makes you think I can’t handle this?”

I clenched my jaw, willing myself to tune it out. I could hear him pacing, the agitation crackling through his words.

“Octavia?” Sybil’s voice pulled me back to the computer screen.

I blinked and forced another smile. “Sorry, what was that?”

“I was just saying thank you. For everything,” she said warmly. “I feel really good about this launch.”

“Me too,” I replied, hoping my voice didn’t betray the tension winding through my shoulders. “I am so excited to be a part of your journey. And thank you for trusting me. What you’ve sent over on this new series, I am in love.”

That got an honest smile out of her. “Me too.” We discussed a few more logistical items before she said, “All right, I’ll let you go. Talk soon.”

The screen blinked to black as the call ended, and I let out a slow breath as Rocco’s voice cut through the silence again. I stood just inside my office door, my fingers curled around the frame.

“I told you, Al, I’ve got it handled… She’s fine. No one’s getting near her.”

My stomach tightened. This was about me. I stayed still, my breath shallow, as I strained to hear. Why couldn’t anyone call me to talk about me?

“No,” Rocco snapped. “I don’t care what he thinks. I know what I’m doing.” A pause. “Lucky needs to back off. I don’t answer to him. Not yet.”

Yet. The word settled in my chest like a stone.

I wanted to believe Rocco was on my side—my gut told me that he was. He’d been at my side for years, a steady force, my shadow in moments when I felt alone. This wasn’t about blood. This was about loyalty. It was about power. Rank. Obligation.

If my brother forced his hand, Rocco would listen. You didn’t betray your future boss.

And no matter how much respect Rocco had for me, no matter how long he’d known Lucky, that respect was rooted with something else. Something stronger. Something undeniable.

Fear. Even if he wouldn’t admit it. My brother was smart, ruthless, and deadly. Add that to his position of power and never-ending banking account, and you’d be dumb to try to go toe-to-toe with him.

I swallowed hard, stepping back before Rocco could see me standing there. I had no intention of asking him about it. Because I already knew the answer.

I didn’t move.

Rocco’s voice dropped lower, but the sharpness didn’t leave. If anything, it cut deeper.

“You think I don’t know that?” he bit out. “That I haven’t thought about every angle? Jesus, Al, give me some credit.” He punched something. “I. Was. Fucking. There. In fucking California. I saw them. Saw him with her.”

I couldn’t hear what was being said on the other end of the line, but I could tell from the way Rocco’s grip tightened on his phone that Al wasn’t just pushing back. He was questioning him. Questioning his judgment. His sanity.

Rocco let out a rough, humorless laugh. “You think I’m losing it?

You really think that?” A pause. Then a softer, deadlier, “ Because I’m telling you right now.

I’m the only one thinking straight.” I could almost cry as he battled against il famiglia for me.

“She will run. If we do this, we might all lose her for good.”

I exhaled slowly, my fingers curling tighter. I knew what they were worried about. Me. Carmine. But what would make me run?

Rocco had been through hell. Dark, ugly places that left scars. Some visible, some buried so deep you’d never see them. Not unless you knew where to look. And Al, Lucky, the whole family… they thought those ghosts still had a hold on him.

Maybe they did. But I also knew this: Rocco wouldn’t lose control. Not unless it was to protect me. Even standing up for me told me he was a lot more focused than the rest of them.

“I know what’s at stake.” His voice was quieter now, but no less fierce. “I know the rules. I know my place. But if you or Lucky think for one second that I’ll stand down when it comes to her, you’re out of your goddamn minds.”

My breath hitched. Al must have said something then. Maybe attempting to reason with him, but Rocco wasn’t having it.

“She’s not just a job,” he said. “Octavia is my family too.”

I swallowed hard. Because I did know. And that terrified me. For once, I felt like I had someone legitimately in my corner, and they didn’t want something from me for it.

Silence stretched, thick with whatever Al was saying. I could hear Rocco’s pacing again, the controlled tension in his breath.

“You think I’m reckless? I’ve given my entire life to this family, Al. I will fucking protect her.” Another pause. Another sharp breath through his nose. “But if you’re asking me if I’ll let anything happen to her, I will punch you in the fuckin’ face next time I see you.”

I felt it then, the shift in his tone. A shiver ran down my spine .

“Yeah,” Rocco muttered. “That’s what I thought.”

His footsteps stopped. I pressed myself tighter against the doorframe, hoping he wouldn’t turn towards me, wouldn’t catch me eavesdropping.

Then, his voice softened. Not weaker, just different. But I couldn’t make out his words. “Fine. I’ll do it.” He sighed. “Only because I don’t want to be the reason she gets hurt if the worst happens.”

I barely had a second to move before I heard the click of his phone shutting off. My pulse jumped, and I took a careful step back, ready to slip away before he saw me.

Too late. Rocco turned, his gaze landing on me. His expression shifted, his frustration melting into something unreadable. “How long have you been standing there?”

My mouth went dry. I could lie. Pretend I hadn’t heard anything. But we both knew better. “Long enough,” I said.

His jaw tensed. “Octavia.”

“Whatever they’re telling you to do, you don’t have to listen to them.” My voice was steadier than I expected. “I won’t be a part of whatever they want.”

He let out a slow breath, rubbing a hand down his face before meeting my eyes again. “Yeah, well,” he murmured. “That’s not really up to you.”

I should’ve been angry. Should’ve told him to back off. But the truth settled deep in my chest, heavier than I wanted to admit. Because whether I wanted it or not, Rocco wasn’t going to back down. His future Capo gave an order and he was going to force my hand.

I folded my arms over my chest. “What does Lucky want?”

Rocco exhaled, like he’d been waiting for the question. “He wants you at the compound.”

I narrowed my eyes. “For how long? ”

“Until it’s safe.”

Safe. That word meant nothing coming from my family. Safe was a lie they told people when they were about to lock them in a cage. And my entire life had been spent locked in a cage. Where I’d been beaten down, assaulted, and left dying from the inside out.

I shook my head. “Not happening.”

Rocco sighed. “Octavia.”

“No.” I squared my shoulders. “What if I say no?”

His jaw tightened. His eyes darkened. “Then I was told nothing was off the table to ensure I got you there.” The distant off-putting look that consumed him gave me pause.

A chill crept up my spine, but I didn’t let it show. “You going to drag me out of here, Rocco?” I challenged.

He didn’t answer right away. Just stared at me, his gaze calculating. “I don’t want to,” he said finally. “But I will if I have to.”

My pulse spiked, but I didn’t back down. “And what exactly am I being locked away for?”

He hesitated. I caught it instantly.

“Tell me.”

His lips pressed together, the muscle in his jaw ticking. “It doesn’t matter.”

“The hell it doesn’t,” I snapped. “You expect me to just go along with this, no questions asked? Give me something, Rocco. What’s the threat?”

His silence was damning.

I laughed, but there was no humor in it. “You really don’t know, do you?”

His eyes flickered with something. Frustration, maybe even embarrassment, but it was gone just as fast. “All I know is that it’s serious,” he said. “And it’s not up for debate. But be honest, Tave. We both know what it is. It’s either Peiro, that asshole, or his dad.”

I flinched, then tried covering it with a scoff. “ Not up for debate? That’s rich. You want me to drop everything, let myself be locked away like some fragile little doll. Those days are behind me, Rocco. Especially when I don’t know why.”

“Those are my orders.” The finality in his tone hit me like a brick. And anger was rippling up my throat.

Orders. It didn’t matter what Rocco thought. Didn’t matter what I thought. Lucky had decided. And when Lucky made a decision, it didn’t change.

My fists clenched at my sides. “This is bullshit, Rocco.” My lip trembled. “I didn’t ask for this.”