Page 89 of Bittersweet Endings
For a moment, I could’ve sworn I saw something raw flicker in his eyes. Something desperate and unspoken, something so unlike him. But then it was gone.
I swallowed hard, refusing to back down. “You don't get to do this,” I said, my voice quieter now but no less certain. “You can’t just come back and expect things to go your way.”
“You’re wrong,” he murmured. “They’ve never gone my way. Not in my entire life. I’ve never felt like I had anything that was completely mine. I was always protecting everyone else from JP. Told I deserved fuck-all in life. And now, I’m done. Because you’re mine, Octavia. And I’m not leaving without you. Without both of you.” His palm rested flat against my belly, and I jumped.
I wanted to push him away, but the words lodged themselves deep in my chest, twisting my insides. I hated that I wanted to believe him. “What happens when you decide to throw us away again?” I whispered.
“You’ll be fine.” He smirked like it was fuckin’ hilarious to use my own words against me.
The weight of the emotions hit me like a tidal wave. Crashing over me with such force I couldn’t do anything but let them. Maybe it was the rage that had been building up inside me. Or maybe it was the hormones, but the tightrope I’d dangled on broke.
Carmine reached for me, and in that instant, I screamed, thesound coming from deep within my chest. My hand dove into the bag at my side. My fingers closed around the gun, and before anyone could react, it was pointed at Carmine.
Rocco froze, his eyes wide and his hand on his weapon, while Carmine took a step back. His palms raised in surrender. “Octavia, what the fuck are you doing?”
I didn’t care. I couldn’t care. I wasn’t shaking because I was afraid. I was shaking because I was frustrated.
“This isn’t a game, Carmine!” I shouted until my voice was raw. “My heart isn’t a fucking chess piece. You can’t control me like one of your toys! My love andour babyaren’t pawns to tip over on the board! We aren’t something you can own!”
My breath hitched as his gaze darkened. I could see the realization in his eyes. He finally saw I wasn’t going to tolerate his antics. He tilted his head, the devilish smirk I knew so well creeping back into his expression. But it twisted in a way that sent a chill down my spine.
“I do know ownership well, baby,” he said, his voice like velvet but sharp enough to slice through me. “And I own every part of you.Every fucking part.”
I took a step back, the gun still pointed at him, my chest heaving with the emotions I couldn’t seem to control.
“But,” he added, almost tenderly, “I do love you, Octavia. And I’m making this right. We’re starting a family... together. In California. Now put the gun away before you get us both killed or locked up.”
The way he said it made me falter. The certainty in his voice, the quiet command that somehow seeped into my bones. Everything I wanted was right in front of me, but that drove me into a panic.
I breathed out slowly, my finger still twitching on the trigger. I didn’t pull it. Not yet. “Why do you do this to me, Carmine?” Iwhispered. “Why do you make me feel like this? Like I’m nothing without you?”
He didn’t answer right away. Instead, his gaze softened. “Because you’re everything, Octavia,” he said. “You’re everything. You’remyeverything, and I won’t do this without you.”
And like a dumb bitch, I believed him. I looked at Rocco and he saw it too. He nodded before walking back inside with his phone to his ear.
Carmine tugged me forward, kissing me soft and quick. “Now, I meant what I said. Let’s go before the cops show up and your brother has me locked away.” He grinned, guiding me towards a car idling down the block.
Lorenzo leaned casually against the hood, a smirk playing on his lips as we approached. His eyes flicked over me, taking in every detail. The second he saw the slight shift in my stance—my hand protecting my belly—his grin deepened.
“Well, well,” he drawled out. “Look at you, knocked up and all. Never thought I’d see the day, but here we are.” His eyes bounced to Carmine, then back to me. “Guess that’s one way to tie someone down, huh?”
I didn’t reply, just shot him a look that said more than enough. His grin faltered, only for a moment, before he pushed off the car and straightened.
“That better not be contagious,” he grunted. “I don’t want her near any women I’m fucking. Got it?”
I stared back at him. “Not everything’s about your dick, Lorenzo.”
He raised an eyebrow, clearly unbothered by my words. “It better not be,” he said.
Carmine’s hand came down hard on Lorenzo’s head with a loudthwackthat left the latter blinking. Surprised but clearly unfazed.
“Shut the fuck up,” Carmine muttered before he stepped towards me, offering a hand. I took it without hesitation.
Carmine helped me into the back while Lorenzo climbed into the driver’s seat and revved the engine. As we pulled away from the curb, I could feel my stomach twist. I should have called my parents. Told them about the baby and California, Carmine and me.
Carmine must’ve seen the worry flash across my face, because his hand found mine. Giving it a soft squeeze, he brought it to his lips and kissed my knuckles. “Don’t worry so much,” he said. “I’ve already handled it. I’ll make sure your family knows what’s going on.”
I couldn’t help the small sigh that escaped my lips as I sat back. The city blurring around us.
