Page 46 of Bittersweet Endings
“California.”She was going to lose it.“I will be safe with Rocco.” I paused. “And Marco.”
The silence was palpable as my sister took it all in. A deep breath and I knew it was coming.
I adjusted the phone against my ear, trying to keep my voice steady. “Sienna, I told you this trip is important for my career.”
Sienna huffed on the other end. “Why now, Octavia? Why do you have to gonow?”
I closed my eyes, exhaling through my nose. “Because I won’t continue to live my life in the shadows. I have a chance at building something good.”
“I’m not asking you to stay in the shadows. I’m asking you to stay in New York!” Her voice rose louder. “Cali… you want to waltz into their playground like it’s nothing?”
My grip tightened around the phone. “I know what I’m doing.”
“Oh, do you?” she snapped. “Because last I checked, Carmine was looking at you like you were a five-star meal, and you still think this is a good idea?”
I bit my lip, ignoring the way my pulse had kicked up at the mention of his name. “Carmine is the enemy,” I reminded her.
And myself. And my body. Although it wasn’t listening.
“Exactly,” Sienna seethed. “And you’re walking straight into his territory.”
I didn’t respond. Because I knew she was right. I knew this wasn’t just a work trip. It was a risk. A gamble. But it was one I had to take. For my career and for the damaged part of my heart.
“Can’t you meet them like… between? Or fly them to New York?”
Oh, Sienna. How frustrating she could be, but I loved her for it.
I’d expected her to lose her cool even more. Instead, there was just the sound of an angry breath. Then she sighed.
“Marco knows, got an invite, and is going before I even know about it?” she scoffed.
I hated that it made me smile. That she missed me.
“Well, we have dinners, events, and a few other things to attend. None that your husband would be happy about, and I can’t afford the bloodshed.”
“Now! Now she wants to party! Why am I being punished?” She went off on a tirade she’d been saving for years. Waiting for me to go through this phase so she wouldn’t be alone. “And now you go out with ourwhoreof a brother!”
A knock on the door made me pause. I quickly said goodbye with a promise of a night out when we returned, then went to answer it. I opened the door slightly, but it was pushed all the way open as Marco stormed inside.
“Do you think the west coast women will fall at my feet like the east coasters? Do you think they’ll put out?”
I couldn’t help it. I burst into a fit of laughter. Leave it to my brother to be a committed player. With the constant war between the two coasts, he’d never ventured that far west. And he was going to make the most of the opportunity.
“I’m sure for you, they will.”
Marco grabbed my hand and spun me out. “Sis,” he said, glaring at me. “You’re not going out with me if that’s how you’re going to dress.” He frowned at my jeans and Vans, then tried to throw a coat over my black lace crop top. My hair was piled into a messy bun, and I had on my thick-framed black glasses.
“Stop it.” I slapped his hands away and opened the door to call for Rocco. “Marco, it’s a six-hour flight. You’ve got my agenda. Once we get to the hotel, I’ll dress for dinner and a night out.”
“Fuckin’ right you will.” He slung an arm around my shoulder and ushered me into the hallway that was lined with my father’ssoldatos. “Make these assholesworkfor their ranks!”
“Jesus Christ,” Rocco muttered as Marco talked a mile a minute in the elevator, to the car, and all the way to the airport. “The flight’s been cleared,” he added, motioning for me to board the private plane.
Once in our seats, the hostess smiled as she handed out drinks. Marco immediately turned on the charm, making her giggle.
I snapped my fingers. “Stop it.”
The hostess nodded, her face red, and disappeared.
