Page 42 of Ruined By Blood (Feretti Syndicate #2)

T he moment my father's unconscious body disappears through the door with Alessio and Noah, I stand frozen in my father's study. My legs feel weak, like they might give out any second.

Mother turns to me, her eyes wide and alert in a way I haven't seen in years. The gun trembles slightly in her hand before she sets it down on the desk. Her movements are still shaky, maybe from the pills they were giving her.

Before I can talk, Enzo crosses the room in three long strides. His hands cradle my face with surprising gentleness considering the violence I just witnessed. His thumbs brush over my cheeks, his eyes scanning my face as if memorizing every detail.

"You're safe now," he murmurs, and then his mouth claims mine.

I feel the remnants of his rage melting into something else entirely while he is kissing me. My hands grip his wrists as I lean into him, drawing strength from his solid presence. When he pulls back, his forehead rests against mine for a heartbeat.

"I should leave you with your mother."

His eyes flick to my mother, who stands watching us with tears streaming down her face.

With one last look at me, he strides from the room, closing the door behind him with a soft click that seems to echo in the sudden silence.

My mother and I stare at each other across the space that separates us. Her face is thinner than I remember, her once-vibrant eyes shadowed with all she's endured.

"Sienna," she says again, her voice breaking. "My beautiful girl."

Something cracks open inside me. I cross the room and fall into her arms. She feels smaller than I remember, but her embrace is just as fierce. We cling to each other, her tears dampening my hair as mine soak into the fabric of her blouse.

"I'm so sorry," she whispers against my temple. "I'm so sorry I left you with him. I tried to get us away. I tried so hard."

"I know," I choke out, remembering our failed escape attempt. "I know you did."

She pulls back just enough to cup my face in her trembling hands. "Every day, I thought of you. Even though the fog of whatever they were giving me made it hard sometimes. I never stopped fighting to come back to you. "

I see the truth of it in her eyes—the same determined spirit that helped her survive all those years in that place.

"When they kept me drugged, I would focus on your face," she continues, her thumbs brushing away my tears. "I would recite your birthday, your favorite color, the way you laughed when you were little. I was so afraid I would forget something important about you."

"I never forgot you either," I tell her, my voice cracking. "I kept your camera. I took pictures of empty places because they reminded me of how I felt without you."

A fresh wave of tears spills down her cheeks. "I'm so sorry for all you've suffered. For everything he did. For not being able to protect you."

I wipe at my tears, trying to catch my breath. My head is spinning with everything that's happened. It feels like I'm standing in the eye of a storm, this brief moment of calm before whatever comes next.

"What are we going to do now?" I ask, my voice small but steadier than I expected.

Mother brushes a strand of hair from my face, her touch still gentle despite the years of captivity. "First, I need some days to heal from the drugs they've been giving me. Doctor says it will take time for everything to clear my system."

She glances around the study, at the mahogany desk where my father built his empire of pain. "Then I need to understand what's been happening all these years."

I shudder, looking at the door that leads to the rest of the house. "I don't want to stay here. I can't spend another night in this house."

My mother's eyes soften with understanding. Her hand finds mine, squeezing it gently. "Oh, sweetheart, I don't think Enzo would let you stay here one way or another."

Something in her tone makes me look up. There's a knowing smile playing at the corners of her mouth. The first hint of the mother I remember from before everything went wrong.

"I saw how he looked at you," she continues, brushing her thumb across my knuckles. "How he touched you. That man would burn this house to the ground before letting you spend another night under its roof."

Heat rises to my cheeks. "He saved me. In every way possible."

"I can see that." She tucks another strand of hair behind my ear. "And he found me for you. He is the reason we get to have this conversation now."

Mother's expression turns serious. "Sienna, I need you to know something. What you've been through... what Henry did to you..." Her voice breaks, and she has to take a deep breath before continuing. "None of it was your fault. None of it."

Fresh tears spill down my cheeks. "I know that. Now I do."

She pulls me close again, and I breathe in her scent—different from what I remember but still unmistakably her. "We're going to be okay," she whispers against my hair. "It won't be easy, and it won't happen overnight, but we're going to be okay."

I wait outside the study, giving Sienna and Charlotte the privacy they deserve. My back is pressed against the wall, arms crossed over my chest as I try to quiet the storm of emotions raging inside me. The past hours have been a hurricane.

My knuckles sting where they connected with Sterling's jaw.

Worth it.

The door opens and Sienna emerges, her eyes red-rimmed. For a moment, she just stands there, taking me in. Then she runs toward me.

Her body crashes into mine with enough force to push the breath from my lungs. I catch her, arms wrapping around her waist as she buries her face against my chest. She's trembling.

"Mom's staying here," she mumbles against my shirt. "She needs time to recover, to understand everything that's happened. But I can't—" Sienna pulls back just enough to look up at me, her eyes piercing straight through to whatever soul I have left. "I can't stay in this house another minute."

I cup her face in my hands, careful of the bruises that bastard left on her skin. "You don't have to. From now on, you stay with me."

My thumb traces the outline of her bottom lip.

"You're mine, Sienna. Only mine."

The words hang between us, heavy with meaning. In my world, claiming someone isn't done lightly. It means protection, devotion, blood spilled without hesitation. It means she becomes my priority above all else.

To my surprise, Sienna laughs. A bright, genuine sound I've rarely heard from her. It transforms her face, erasing the shadows Sterling carved into her soul.

"Yours," she agrees, rising on her toes. "I think I have been since you found me by that fountain."

Her lips meet mine, soft at first, then with growing urgency.

I break away reluctantly, resting my forehead against hers. "We need to leave now."

"Now?" Sienna's fingers tighten around my arms.

"Sterling's people are still loyal to their paychecks. Some might decide to be heroes when they realize he's gone." I tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. "Your mother has Alessio's men for protection. We need to get you somewhere safe."

Understanding floods her eyes. She nods once, resolute. "Let me say goodbye first."

While Sienna returns to her mother, I step outside to where Alessio waits by our cars. Sterling lies unconscious in the back of a black SUV, secured with zip ties.

"Take him to the warehouse on Fulton," I instruct, keeping my voice low. "No one touches him until I get there. I want him awake for what comes next."

Alessio's expression darkens with anticipation. "I'll make sure he's properly welcomed."

Sienna emerges from the house. Whatever passed between mother and daughter has given her strength. She walks toward us with purpose.

I guide her to my Bentley Continental, opening the passenger door. She slides into the leather seat.

"You okay?" I ask as I start the engine.

"Better than I've been in years." She looks back at the house as we pull away. "How did you do it? Get someone inside my father's security? "

The engine purrs as we pass through the iron gates.

"Noah." I shift gears smoothly. "He knew a guy who specializes in placing security personnel with families like yours. High-end bodyguards for people with something to hide."

"And my father hired him just like that?"

"Not exactly." I glance in the rearview mirror, watching Sterling's house grow smaller. "We created an opening first. Two of your father's regular security team had unfortunate accidents."

"You killed them?" Her voice holds no judgment, just curiosity.

"One car crash, one food poisoning. Both alive but needed some days off." I take the turn onto the main road. "Noah's guy came highly recommended by another client of Sterling's. Your father needed men quickly."

T he drive back to our mansion passes in comfortable silence. Sienna's hand rests in mine on the center console, her fingers occasionally tightening as if to reassure herself I'm still there. I don't push for conversation. After everything that's happened today, we both need this moment of quiet.

As we pull through the gates, I notice Sienna's shoulders tensing slightly.

"What is it?" I ask, glancing at her profile.

"Nothing." She shakes her head, then reconsiders. "Just... last time I left here, I didn't think I'd ever come back."

I squeeze her hand. "This time, you're not leaving."

The mansion looms ahead, lights blazing from every window. Someone must have alerted them we were on our way. As we approach the front entrance, the massive oak doors swing open.

Lucrezia and Zoe burst out onto the steps before I've even cut the engine. Lucrezia's face is a mixture of anxiety and relief, while Zoe stands slightly behind her.

I help Sienna from the car. The moment Sienna's foot touches the first step, Lucrezia breaks free from her restraint and rushes forward.

"Thank God," she breathes, throwing her arms around Sienna in a fierce embrace.

Sienna stiffens momentarily but then melts into the hug, her arms wrapping around my sister's slender frame.

"You're okay," Lucrezia whispers against Sienna's hair. "You're really okay."

I step back, giving them space. Zoe approaches, laying a gentle hand on Sienna's shoulder once Lucrezia releases her.

"Welcome home," Zoe says, her voice warm with genuine feeling.

"Let's get inside," I say, noticing Sienna's exhaustion. The adrenaline that carried her through the confrontation with her father is wearing off.

Damiano appears in the doorway, his expression grave. He exchanges a silent look with me.

I guide Sienna into the foyer. "Go with Lucrezia and Zoe," I tell her softly. "I need to speak with Damiano."

Her eyes dart between us, understanding immediately. "About my father."

It's not a question, but I answer anyway. "Yes."

Sienna straightens her spine. "I should be part of that conversation. "

"Not tonight," I say firmly. "Tonight, you rest. Tomorrow, we'll talk about everything."

She looks ready to argue, but Lucrezia links arms with her. "Come on. We'll get you settled in Enzo's room."

Sienna hesitates, then nods, allowing herself to be led toward the stairs. As they walk away, she glances back at me. "Don't be long?"

"I won't," I promise.

Once they've disappeared up the staircase, I turn to Damiano. His face has hardened into the mask he wears for business.

"My office," he says simply.

I follow him down the hallway, past the formal dining room where we'd had our ill-fated family dinner just before Sterling's men attacked. The memory of Sienna being taken from me sends a fresh wave of rage through my body.

Damiano closes the office door behind us and crosses to the bar cart in the corner.

"Sterling?" he asks, pouring two fingers of whiskey into each glass.

"Alessio has him at the warehouse." I accept the drink but don't sit. The energy coursing through me won't allow it. "No one touches him until I get there."