Page 36 of Bittersweet Endings (Agostino Crime Family #6)

OCTAVIA AGOSTINO

“ I s Rocco okay?” I asked, Carmine’s only answer a faint nod.

I had to swallow back the unwanted shiver. The way Rocco had destroyed a dozen armed guards like a man possessed. By the time JP knew what was happening, the men outside were dead and blood was all over the inside of the plane.

The weight of it all settled on my chest. The fact that I was still here, that this was happening, felt surreal. A part of me was numb—a small part. But the rest of me was alive, burning with the need to end this.

Even worse, the pulse between my thighs only heightened. Sitting in front of his father, all I could think about was Carmine between my thighs. Once this was over, the high would end, but my body was primed for him.

“You got me. Now, what do you plan to do with me?” JP sneered.

After decades of control, men like JP spiraled when they lost it. He knew he wasn’t going to survive this, but deep inside, he couldn’t face that.

Men like him didn’t die. And certainly not at the hands of a woman.

I turned my gaze to Carmine. “I’m sure your son has a lot of plans for you. After three decades of your bullshit, I’m betting he will be very creative too.”

JP’s eyes flicked between us. “So this bitch speaks for you?”

I couldn’t stop myself. I laughed and it came out harsh, almost manic. “I’m not just some bitch, JP. Haven’t you figured that out yet? You’re the one who called me a queen.”

Before he could respond, I moved. The gun in my hand swung and with all my strength, I slammed the butt into his head. His body jerked and he cursed, slumping back into his seat. Stunned.

For a second, he just sat there, blinking at me in disbelief. But the anger in his eyes didn’t waver, while my hand stayed steady on the gun, the cool metal comforting in a way I couldn’t explain. Even as my heart pounded against my chest.

My father’s biggest flaw had been his overprotectiveness.

It left me open to those closest to him.

When they thought they were protecting me, I was at someone else’s mercy.

That wasn’t the case here. JP didn’t give a single fuck about Carmine.

The only joy he found with his children was hurting them.

This wasn’t my moment. It was Carmine’s.

JP groaned, but the dazed look on his face wasn’t enough. Carmine deserved to see him broken, to see him suffer the way he had as kid. Carmine had wrapped a hand around the neck of each of my demons, ending them with a flare only he possessed. He’d wanted me to have my peace.

It was time I returned the favor.

“Your reign is over. The moment you raised a hand to your children, you showed how weak you were. When you killed your brother…” I said, and Carmine sat up straighter.

“…you showed how dumb you were. Now it’s time you paid up for all those stupid decisions.

” I pivoted in my seat. “You set me free from my nightmares. It’s your turn now. ”

Carmine gave me that panty-melting smirk of his right before he pulled me in. Our lips connected and the world melted away before he quickly released me and smiled at his father. “You’re nothing but a man who’s spent his life pretending to be king of something, but look at you now? Pathetic.”

JP tried to pull himself upright, but Carmine didn’t care.

“Now, let’s see just how far you’re willing to crawl, to beg for mercy, because you won’t get it from me.”

“Do your worst, son, ” he growled.

“We will.”

JP rolled his eyes.

“Matteo. Lorenzo. All clear. Come in,” Carmine called out, and JP flinched, barely, but it was there.

His other sons walked into the plane, taking in the mess. Carmine stood and punched his father in the face. His hands clenched into fists at his sides as he looked down at the man slumped in the seat. His brothers approached, silent but ready to follow whatever Carmine decided.

“I want him gone,” he said. “Take him back to Cali. We end this there. In front of everyone. Let them see what happens when you cross a man like me.”

Lorenzo saluted. “Back to Cali. Put him on ice.” He chuckled before moving towards their father, who was groaning weakly.

The older man’s eyes were unfocused, disoriented. He blinked past the confusion and glowered at his youngest son.

Lorenzo’s smirk widened, his hands working quickly to tie their father up. “You got it... Capo ,” he said as he dropped to his knees in front of JP. “I’ll tie him down like the dog he is.”

JP muttered something incoherent, as he tried to fight. Lorenzo grabbed him by the shoulders and dragged him upright.

Carmine didn’t smile or laugh. He just stared at his father, barely paying me any mind as I squeezed past him. I nodded at Matteo as I moved, his hand on my shoulder making me pause. We didn’t speak, but the slight squeeze and tilt of his head were all the thanks I needed.

My family burst into a collective sigh of relief as I exited the plane. Lucky was the first one to reach me. Without hesitation, he pulled me into his arms, squeezing the life out of me. His grip was tight, as if he were afraid I might disappear if he let go.

“God, you’re a fucking idiot, Octavia,” he grumbled into my hair. “What the hell were you thinking? What if we didn’t get here in time?”

I shoved him back and rolled my eyes. “When are you going to learn that I can take care of myself?” The sound of feet shuffling behind us made me turn and I smiled. “I had Rocco.”

Lucky’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t argue. He just shook his head, his eyes scanning me like he was still trying to process the fact that I was standing in front of him. Until he was shoved back and I saw my father.

I rushed into his embrace, the familiar strength grounding me. His scent, the warmth of his chest, it was like a shield. So much bad had happened over the years, but he’d tried to protect me the best he could. After seeing how JP was to his sons, I understood that now.

“I got him, Papa.” I could feel my breath shudder as I spoke. “It’s done. It’s finally over.”

My father held me tighter, his grip unyielding. There was no need for words between us. He knew I’d done it. What it meant. His secret was officially buried. No one would know what part he’d played in the cover-up of Sal’s murder.

The doors to the plane closed behind me as he asked, “You did this all for me?”

I shook my shoulders. “Not all for you.”

“What about me, little doll?” Carmine’s deep voice reverberated at my back.

“Octavia, let’s go.” Lucky went to tug on my arm, but I stepped aside to look at Carmine.

“Hey, little doll.” He smirked down at me.

“What’re you doing? This is your chance?—”

He pulled me against his chest. “I should’ve killed him two fuckin’ decades ago. He can wait a little longer. Besides, my brothers won’t let him go anywhere. And I think we have a few things to talk about, don’t you?”

Lucky went to open his mouth, and my dad slapped him on the back of the head. My brother glowered and said something under his breath but turned to get into the car.

My father stepped forward and extended his hand. “I’m sorry for your loss,” he said to Carmine.

“I’m not.”

“I meant your uncle. He was a good man. He knew exactly who you’d become.”

They shook hands, almost calmly.

“And he was right. Cali is in a better place now.” My father glanced down at me. “Take care of everyone better than he did. Better than I did.” He smiled sadly before following my brother.

They all sped off so that it was just the two of us now. Me and Carmine. As the plane started to taxi down the runway, I found myself lost over what to do next. The wind kicked up, tugging at the loose strands of my hair, and Carmine dug his fingers into the nape of my neck .

The sun was setting, casting a warm glow across the sky. The sort of colors that just seemed to calm you. Everything felt right in that moment, like the world had finally decided to give me a break.

But then, something shifted inside me. I’d spent so long wrapped up in the chaos of it all—the betrayals, the revenge, the blood—that I couldn’t recognize this feeling.

Peace, maybe? Or maybe it was just the silence after a storm. When people stayed inside because the damage had been done. But through the windows, the clouds were still dark and heavy.

I felt... shy. And I hated that. Hated how it made my chest tighten. How it made me want to pull away from him. Even after everything we’d been through, I felt exposed.

I shifted slightly, pressing my palms against Carmine’s chest. I didn’t know why I felt so uncertain suddenly. Why it felt so strange to be here with him. Like maybe I wasn’t ready for this. Whatever this was.

Carmine didn’t say anything at first. He just kept holding me, his grip tightening slightly, as if he could sense the shift in me.

“You okay?” he finally asked, his voice low with the edge of concern.

I nodded, even though I wasn’t sure if I believed it myself. “Yeah... I think so.”

He hummed softly, the sound vibrating through his chest. “You won’t be when I’m done with you, little doll.” He lifted my chin and forced me to look at him. “What the hell is the matter with you? Taking off like that?”

“I had things to do.” I shrugged, but I couldn’t hide my smirk.

He paused—silent and thoughtful—before giving me a delicious grin. “You’re going to pay for that, little doll.”

I could feel the sincerity in his words, and my body twitched with need. But the shyness lingered, creeping into the quiet space between us. And for the first time in as long as I could remember, I didn’t know what to say, what to do next.

“You got me all alone,” I murmured, “now what do you want to do with me?”

Carmine’s eyes darkened with a flicker of something intense. He didn’t answer right away, his lips curling into a small, almost amused smirk. But just as he opened his mouth, a figure limped into my peripheral. “Jesus Christ,” he grunted. “Gonna fuckin’ kill someone just to get you alone.”