Page 3 of Bittersweet Endings (Agostino Crime Family #6)

She nodded. “You seem… Are you okay?”

And there it was.

Clenching my jaw, I tried to stop the tears from burning the backs of my eyes. My chest heaved with so much I wanted to say, to scream, to confess. But as usual, I swallowed it back.

What else was I supposed to do?

“Kill me, Sienna. Now. Because I cannot handle being away from him. It’s like the broken pieces he collected and put back together are obliterated now. And if you don’t kill me, he is going to force me to turn against you all. More than I already have.”

I shook my head. “Yes. Thanks.” I started climbing the stairs. “Just tired. I’ll talk to you later.”

I moved as fast as I could so I wouldn’t be forced to see anyone else. Closing my door, I slid the lock in place and pressed my back to it as I allowed the tears to finally slide down my face. They were trying, but they weren’t listening.

My cell phone started ringing on my desk, snapping me out of it. I wiped at my cheeks, my head congested from lack of sleep and too much thinking. I was exhausted. A number I didn’t know flashed across the screen. I answered it anyway.

“Hello, little doll.”

I froze to the spot.

“Miss me, babe?” He chuckled.

“Screw. You.”

“That’s my girl. There’s that fire I’ve missed.” He sighed. “Miss that dirty mouth wrapped around my cock. That tight throat swallowing my head, sweet tears pouring from those icy eyes.”

Goddamn it. And goddamn him.

“Yeah. On my knees. Just for you. Because your cock is obviously the highlight of my day, and I can’t go another second without it.”

His silence told me he wasn’t expecting that response. Good .

“Please, sir. May I have your cock?”

His heavy breath came across the line. “Oh, little doll.” He started laughing. “You want it?”

“You know what I really want?” I whispered. “I want your cock in my mouth and your blood on my hands.” I paused. “You shot me, Carmine.” It was barely audible.

“Charming. Do you talk to your father like that too?” He laughed harder. “I should’ve made you swallow my cum. Then sent you home to kiss daddy with it on your breath. And besides, you’re fine. It was a flesh wound.”

“Why’re you calling me? You let me go.” I hated how badly I wanted him to tell me lies .

I miss you. I want you. I need you. Please, just lie to me.

“You know why I’m calling.” The deep timbre of his voice sent a thrill between my thighs.

“I told you I’m not giving you anything,” I hissed. “I won’t let you hurt my family anymore.”

“Pity. I thought you were smarter than that. Little Salvatore upstairs, asleep in his crib. Pity if something were to happen to him.”

I gasped as my eyes darted towards the window. “I’m not helping you. Don’t like it? Come and get me. But leave my family alone. You got what you wanted, Carmine. You proved you’re stronger. That we’re not untouchable.”

“I didn’t have to prove anything, Octavia.” He got stern. “Your father finally confessed his sins and now my uncle is owed blood. Give me. What I. Want.”

“No.” I hung up and flopped onto my chair.

I couldn’t breathe. I hadn’t realized I’d been crying again until the salty tears landed on my lips. He wasn’t going to stop. Not until he broke us all.

Little Salvatore asleep…

Jumping to my feet, I threw the phone as I slammed open my door. The hallway seemed endless as I charged towards my nephew’s room. Terror settling into my bones.

Sienna stepped into the hall with Apollo at her side, both watching me dart past them. I opened the door, my glare landing on the man standing next to the crib.

“Motherfucker!” I shouted, jumping on his shoulders.

My sudden attack surprised him enough to get him to the ground. But he quickly rolled me onto my back as I swung at him.

An enraged face loomed above me one second, recognition settling into my gut before he was ripped off me. Apollo pinned the guy to the wall, demanding answers while Sienna grabbed a crying Sal and sprinted from the room.

“I remember you,” I whispered. “At the warehouse… Carmine… You.”

A sinister look melted over Apollo’s demeanor. “I’m going to slice you open nerve by nerve. I will ensure that I make every scream that leaves your throat a symphony—a masterpiece. You should’ve known better than to betray this family.”

“How many more of you are at the compound?” I asked, but our intruder just leaned over and spit on the floor at my feet.

“The human body has roughly 360 joints.” Apollo gripped the man’s wrist, twisting it with a pop. “That’s one.”

Apollo dragged him down the hall. I followed slowly, too attuned to the chaos to walk away. With a heave, Apollo threw him down the stairs. And the bastard landed at the bottom. Right in front of my big brother’s feet.

“What is the meaning of this?” my father questioned, stepping out of his office at the sound of the thud .

Apollo dusted off his sleeves, recounting what happened, and Lucky twisted his neck to glare at me. “How’d you know he was in there?” my brother asked, suspicion lacing each word.

“Vet your men.” I heaved. “I’m sure he’s not the only one.” I turned to leave before throwing over a shoulder, “And just so you know… I’m not one of them.”

Needing air, I went out the front door. This was the only home I knew. I’d always loved it outside—the gardens, the stables, hundreds of acres of open space. But now, as I stared up at the facade, I loathed it.

These walls were supposed to protect me. Instead, they held all my secrets. Shrouded me in so much pain.

I headed for the gardens, watching as my brother’s men came around the corner and flooded inside. Stopping short, one of them turned to stare at me. Then he raised a finger to his lips and winked.

Carmine wasn’t going to win. These assholes weren’t going to hurt my family.

“You were good to me, AJ. It’s the only reason I’m not screaming my head off.” I kept my voice low. “Leave now or I add you to the death tally.”

He didn’t answer at first, just looked me up and down. “You look good, Octavia. Safe. Strong. That’ll make him happy.”

“Yeah, right,” I scoffed. “He’d rather have me broken and bleeding.”

AJ shook his head. “It’s not safe outside these walls, Octavia. I mean it. Carmine’s father thinks?—”

My resolve snapped. “Fuck JP! And fuck your boss! This is your last warning. Leave. Now.”

He raised his arms in surrender before backing off and turning on his heel. Then he walked away from the house with his phone to his ear. A minute later, a car pulled into the driveway, and right before he got in, another man came running from the stables and hopped inside with him.

I glanced back at the house, my heart aching because it beat for a man who didn’t deserve it. And I was just as traitorous as it was because I wanted to go back to him.

In that moment, I made a decision. If I wasn’t here, they’d be able to move on. And Carmine would get nothing out of me.

Placing a hand on my chest, I felt the slow beat tapping against my palm. It’d only felt like he’d broken it to pieces, but he hadn’t. I was stronger than that.

I had to be.