Page 58 of Bittersweet Endings
“You.” His laugh was soft, almost seductive. “I want all of you, little doll.”
“Fuck you, Carmine,” I hissed. “I’m not some pawn… Some chest piece you can...”
“You’re not a game,” he said, the softness slipping into something more dangerous. “You’re my weakness, Octavia. No matter how much I hate it, it’s the truth.”
“Then let me go.”
“No.” His voice was quiet, almost a whisper, but it cut through the air like a blade. “Because no matter how far you run, no matter how hard you try to resist, youwillcome back to me. And no one will keep you from me.”
I felt the pulse of his words in my chest, and for a second, I hated myself for it. But I couldn’t stop it. “What’s changed? What happened to wanting my family’s secrets? Why, all of a sudden, do you want to declare that I’m yours?”
“I’ve always had that claim, baby. Now I’m just speaking it out loud.”
Men argued in the background. Shouting erupted, followed by gunfire as a door clicked closed.
“Carmine, where are you? What is happening?”
“You’re right. You’re not a game. You’re the whole damn battlefield.” He paused. “And if you hadn’t noticed, I’m in the middle of my own battle, babe.”
I squeezed my eyes shut, gripping the phone so hard my fingers ached. “I can’t keep doing this,” I whispered, almost to myself. “I can’t push you away, then pull you back. I shouldn’t be worried about you.”
“I know, Octavia. But you’re gonna do it anyway. Because you’re mine. I’ll see you soon, little doll. Once I end all this shit over here, I’m coming for you.”
And then, he hung up on me. I was met by silence as my heart pounded in my ears. My chest tight with irritation, longing, and anger. None of it should be there.
I hated him. But more than that, I hated myself for still needing him. For believing everything he just said. And for my heart swelling with desire at his promise of coming back for me.
There was something inside me—something darker and far too familiar—that pulled me towards this man. I didn’t want to be weak. I didn’t want to let him control me. But every minute, every second without him…
It felt like I was drowning in a past I could never escape.
Becauseheset me free.
At the same time, he was never going to let go of me, and I knew—I knew—I couldn’t stop this. But what was even odder was the rapid turn of events. The resolution in his tone told me he was adamant about his decision.
Carmine was handling the west, and when he came to the east, no one would be able to protect me from him.I wouldn’t fight him either. I wouldn’t allow anyone to get hurt trying to protect me.
I was already too far gone.
Chapter Eighteen
CARMINE RAGETTI
My little doll was trying so hard to act like we were done. I’d officially stopped giving a fuck and knew where I’d end up once this was all over. In New York, packing her up and bringing her back to Cali. By force if needed, but I had a feeling with a little cajoling, she’d come willingly.
Instead of claiming her beneath me, I was stuck in meetings, trying to force out JP, and I was dog tired. The room reeked of sweat, stale smoke, and bloodlust. Matteo sat across from me, silently rolling his unlit cigarette between his fingers. Lorenzo’s leg bounced, restlessly, his jaw tight with barely-contained fury.
Around us, the air was thick. Oppressive with the weight of men who wanted to kill, needed to kill, and were being denied that satisfaction.
“Torched buildings, bodies buried, and still the old fuck won’t come out of hiding,” Matteo growled, the cigarette shaking in his grip. “How much more destruction do we have to cause before he has nowhereleft to hide?”
Lorenzo scoffed. “The rats are running in fear. The city’s drowning in the chaos.” His eyes met mine, dark, expectant. “And yet… he’s still breathing.”
A chair scraped harshly against the floor as one of our men leaned forward. “We lost two last night,” he growled. “JP’s loyal scum put a bullet between their eyes before we even knew they were there.”
Rage simmered in the dim light, twisting in our guts and tightening our fists.
I slammed my palm down on the table, hard enough to make the glasses jump. “We’re fucking done. We need to make a fucking example. Show this city that loyalty to JP means dying screaming.”
