Page 28 of Bittersweet Endings (Agostino Crime Family #6)

He studied me for a long moment. When he spoke, his voice was softer but unwavering. “No, you didn’t. But that doesn’t mean you get a choice.”

I hated the way my chest tightened. Hated the way the reality of it all pressed in around me.

Because I wasn’t stupid. If Lucky wanted me at the compound, it meant something was coming.

Something bad. And I had a feeling I wouldn’t like the answers when I finally got them.

So I didn’t fight. I just followed orders.

Even if it made me physically sick to go back to that house. Even if everything inside me told me I wouldn’t be safe there. I went along anyway.

***

The car ride to the compound was suffocating as my mind raced in circles. I sat stiffly in the passenger seat, staring out the window as the city and my thoughts blurred around me.

As much as I wanted to lash out, I kept my mouth shut. Rocco didn’t deserve it. He’d been protecting me and advocating for me. Not following this demand would cause him issues. And I couldn’t do that to him .

My fingers twitched with the urge to grab my phone, to call Carmine and demand answers. Was this because of him? Had he done something, or was it his father?

The thought had me clenching my teeth. I wanted to scream, to curse them all out. If they thought I would roll over and play the part of the obedient little sister, they were sorely mistaken.

The compound loomed ahead, its high iron gates swinging open as we approached. Rocco pulled through, and my anger surged hot and fast. By the time the car rolled to a stop, I was ready to explode.

I threw the door open before Rocco could say a word, shoving it hard enough that it nearly bounced back on me.

My heels hit the pavement, and I stormed towards the entrance, my pulse pounding in my ears.

I barreled through the doors, not caring who was watching.

Not caring how many of Lucky’s men stood around eyeing me warily.

“Lucky!” My voice rang through the main hall. “You wanted me here. And I’m here! Come out and tell me what the big issue is!”

I heard the shuffle of movement, the murmurs of his men around me. Then, finally, my brother stepped out from one of the rooms, his expression calm.

I saw red. “You arrogant, overbearing son of a bitch,” I seethed, storming towards him. “What the hell is this?”

Lucky raised an eyebrow, completely unbothered by my rage. “Nice to see you too, Octavia.”

“Don’t,” I snapped, pointing a finger at him. “Don’t act innocent. You had me dragged here like some prisoner, and I want to know why.”

His gaze flickered past me to Rocco, who had followed me in and now stood quietly behind me. His arms crossed as he leaned back against the door, watching Lucky—not me .

I took a step closer to my brother, my hands clenched at my sides. “Tell me what the hell is going on.”

“ That family has made their final threat against us. They want you. And they can’t fucking have you,” Lucky growled. “Go the fuck upstairs because you’re not leaving until I get them handled.”

Then he walked off like it was nothing, like I hadn’t just stormed in screaming at him in front of his men. Like I didn’t matter.

The guys still lingering in the hall murmured amongst themselves. I couldn’t make out their words, but I didn’t have to. I knew exactly what they were saying. They were loving this. Loving the way their boss handled business—how he handled me.

I turned on my heel and stormed up the stairs, ignoring the heat of their stares on my back.

By the time I reached my room, my pulse was still pounding.

I slammed the door behind me, but it didn’t make me feel any better.

Pacing, I pressed my hands against my temples, trying to force the chaos in my head into something that made sense.

How the hell was I going to get out of this?

This family. This life. I was over it. All of it.

Over being Lucky’s little sister. Something to be protected, controlled, locked away whenever it suited him. Over being a pawn in the war I didn’t ask to be brought into.

I was stronger than all of them. Because I’d survived worse than this. And one way or another, I was getting out.

The sharp ring of my phone cut through the thick silence of my room. I froze mid-pace, my breath catching as I pulled the device from my pocket. An unknown number. My fingers hovered over the screen. Every instinct told me to ignore it. But I didn’t .

I swiped to answer, pressing the phone to my ear. “Who is this?”

For a moment, all I heard was breathing. And then…

“It sounds like we have a common enemy.” A slow, deliberate voice. Smooth as silk, laced with something that sent a chill racing down my spine. A chuckle. “I think we both want revenge—on my son and your family. Does that sound right?”

I swallowed hard. “What do you want?”

A pause. “You,” was all he said, and ice filled my veins. “And to make them all suffer for what they’ve done. To us.”

My breath caught. I didn’t answer. I couldn’t. Because deep down, a part of me knew this was only the beginning of a new game. But at least now I had the chance to control the board.