Page 49 of And Twice as Twisted
Once again, someone looked at me as a possession.
I didn’t wait for security as I walked through the dining room. My head held high, even if my insides were screaming. What the hell just happened? It almost seemed like a threat, but in the same breath… like he was trying to tell me something about my sister.
How did he know she didn’t want to come home?
“Your father told me.”
I jumped, realizing I’d asked it aloud.
“Your father needs more help than he’s telling you.”
“What aren’tyoutelling me, Romano?” The car came to a stop in front of the compound several minutes later, security lining the front of the house. “What was the point of this dinner?”
“I enjoyed the company.” He got out and walked around to my door. “Until next time.” He kissed my hand before climbing back into the car and I watched it pull down the drive.
As if in slow motion, I turned on my heel with my clutch in my hands and floated into the house. Security opened the doorand I drifted inside, ignoring everyone as I continued up the stairs to my room. I closed the door lightly and went through the motions of getting ready for bed.
Romano wasn’t at all what he appeared. I kept replaying the conversation over and over, coming up with more questions than when I’d started.
What the hell was up Romano’s sleeve?
Tonight was the last straw. The single thread that broke me and made my plans transparent. My family wanted me gone? Well, they’d won. I’d finish what I needed and then I’d disappear.
I had a confession to make.Nobody owned me.And damn if that realization didn’t feel good.
Chapter 16
SIENNA AGOSTINO
It was funny how, at first, my family had all but forced me to leave. But now that I was planning to go on my own accord, they feigned sadness. As if they assumed they could dictate the specifics.
The dinner a few weeks ago was the last time I’d talked to Romano. Whenever my father asked, I changed the subject. I had nothing to say.
What could I tell him? He asked me a bunch of prying questions about you and the family? That you should start a war off a gut feeling?
Alexei and I had come up with the plan. We’d squared away most of the pending deals and prepared my team to handle the rest. I had one last client I was going to meet for dinner before it solidified everything on our to-do list. The new client wanted to sell a patent for a state-of-the-art security system he’d created. I was going to meet with him this evening, then tomorrow Alexei and I were gone. My family knew I had plans, but they didn’t know the details. It wasn’t their place to worry about me anymore. I’d hired a COO to runEnergiaand had a secured channel they could use to contact me. But that was it. I wanted to be a ghost as we worked to bring Octavia home.
I’d done my part. Apollo was released with time served, after my heartfelt testimony deeming him a hero. Bella told me the first thing Apollo did when he got out was search for me. But I’d been hiding at Nikolai’s compound in New Jersey. Alexei’s uncle was back in Russia, handlingBratvabusiness, and allowed me refuge.
I only spoke to Bella, who kept me apprised of Apollo’s continued unraveling. It was so hard to breathe. I needed him like I needed air, but the pain of our separation was going to be my cure. He went through bouts of anger that were pointed at everyone but himself. If it wasn’t at me, it was my family forhidingme. My father and brother would eventually get him back under control and he could return to their side. And I would get some peace. Maybe even find a new Apollo—a less toxic version—to settle down with.
Now that was comical. Goddamn sadbutcomical.
“Where are we?” I asked my driver. I was so lost in my own misery that I hadn’t noticed we were on the side of the road. It was raining, an absolutely miserable night that matched my miserable mood. I couldn’t make out much besides the trees to our right and the dreary, darkened clouds looming above.
“Where are we?” I asked my driver. I was so lost in my own misery that I hadn’t noticed we were on the side of the road. It was raining, an absolutely miserable night that matched my miserable mood. I couldn’t make out much besides the trees to our right and the dreary sky looming above us.
I was forever cloaked by the dark cloud that followed me.
Usually that thought was metaphorical, but now it was physical as the car was pelted by a sudden flood of torrential raindrops.
“Sorry, miss, engine problems.” My driver slid out of the car before I could respond. The hood raised and blocked my view of the road ahead of us. Pulling out my cell phone, I startedchecking emails before an odd noise caught my attention. Dread settled into my gut, but I swallowed back my nerves and opened the door, stepping out into the storm. In more ways than one…
“Everything okay?” I shouted as I approached the front of the car.
“Sienna.” My name was called out from behind me.
Haunted. Distant. Andfuckingangry.
