Page 45 of High Stakes

“Fallon!” Her words die out as Rocco stabs her in the neck with a sedative. Sienna clutches her neck and then stares at her fingers. Her fear is palpable even from this distance. Sienna wobbles on her feet, and Rocco catches her while Fallon loses it and lunges toward Rocco, attacking him.

“You asshole, what did you do? What did you do to her!” Fallon shrieks while Rocco tries to dodge her fists, smacking into him. Milo grabs her, but Fallon clutches Sienna’s pajama top, refusing to let her go.

“No, Milo. It’s Sienna, he’s…”

“I know. He is not hurting her.” Milo tells her. I wander closer while Fallon is glaring at Rocco, who is clutching Sienna.

“I would never hurt her!” Rocco exclaims.

“You just stabbed her and knocked her out!” Fallon snaps.

“She ran when she learned her father was marrying her off again, she panicked!” Rocco says, and Fallon reluctantly lets her go and turns her gaze to me.

But my gaze is on Rocco, who is watching Sienna like she is the most precious thing.

“Take her back. We’ll see you in the morning. Make sure she doesn’t escape again,” I warn Rocco while Fallon gapes at me in horror.

“You’re not going to help her?” Fallon pleads with me.

“She is not my issue. What her father does with her is not my business.” Yet my eyes go to Rocco, catching his reaction, and he doesn’t seem happy about it.

“Issue?” I ask.

“Of course not…” he says, I can tell he wants to say something but doesn’t, so until he does, I won’t be interfering, though it is making me wonder if he has grown attached to her since he is the one looking after her.

“Please tell me you haven’t fucked her. Her father will have your head,” I remind him.

“You should know me better than that, Leone; I haven’t touched the girl; no one has,” he says, staring down at her in his arms.

“Ensure you don’t. I don’t need added drama right now,” I tell him, and he nods, wandering off. Fallon, not happy, stalks off inside.

“Leone?” Milo urges, falling in step with me.

“Until he asks, I am not getting involved.”

“But you will if he asks?” Milo says, and I glance at him.

“He’s family,” I answer, and that is all the confirmation Milo needs.

Sixteen

Fallon

My mind is reeling, knowing Sienna is alive. I thought for sure Leone had sold her off to the highest bidder or gave her to his men to do as they pleased with. But now, seeing her, I wonder if it is the latter. However, Rocco didn’t look like he was trying to hurt her.

Entering the foyer, I am about to demand Leone let me see her when Milo ushers me up the stairs toward our room, his grip firm on my arm. My mind races with thoughts of Sienna, my only friend in this twisted world, that’s if she forgives me after what I did. I stomp away from Milo and Leone, shaking off Milo’s harsh grip and feeling their eyes on my back. Milo’s voice follows, glancing at Leone with a look that tells me he’s treading carefully. I want to apologize to her. “Can I see Sienna?” The words tumble out, I’m unable to stop them, despite knowing the answer I will receive.

“Not unless Leone says so,” Milo answers, and I grit my teeth to bite back cursing them both out, knowing it will get me nowhere to argue with them. Our house runs on Leone’s rules; his moods dictate our lives, which is infuriating. Milo catchesup to me, his hand falling on my lower back as he leans closer. “Don’t ruin his mood, Cara. You don’t want to end up back in the basement.”

My anger and frustration bubble up inside me at the thought, a fierce, hot wave that doesn’t recede even as I enter the bedroom.

“Fallon!” Milo snaps at me when the door hits the wall. Milo snatches my arm, jerking me back toward him. “That wasn’t necessary. I know you want to see Sienna but be patient; she is safe with Rocco.”

“Why was she trying to run if she is safe?”

He grits his teeth. “Because her father has already arranged someone else for her to marry. She doesn’t want to marry. That is all I can tell you. I shouldn’t have even told you that!”

“What?” I ask, horrified. What is it with these men thinking they can just force people to marry? “But…”

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