Page 52 of And Twice as Twisted
Gio… He… I… I was…
I couldn’t even think the word. Four letters had never held so much power over me before.
“Sienna, don’t cry. Please.” The pain in my father’s voice was messing with my spastic emotions and I couldn’t handle it. “I’m sorry for everything. I swear I won’t fail this family anymore.”
His sincerity gave me pause. I blinked past the tears to take in the shattered man before me. My father was gone and a shell of the powerful man was left in his wake. All his past sins hadcome to haunt him, wreaking terror on his children, wearing on his shoulders, and embedding shrapnel into his soul.
“I promise. I am going to get down on my knees and make peace with God. I will move heaven and hell to right all my wrongs for you and Octavia.”
“We don’t need your prayers to save our souls. Just find her.” I gripped his hand.
“Sienna, I need you to go to Philly.” My jaw dropped as he continued to urge, “I mean it, Sienna. Leave. Pick Romano.”
“What the hell does Romano have to do with this?” I winced, shifting in the bed as my abdomen pinched with pain.
He glanced at my hand on my stomach, the truth coming to the surface. “Did… Did Gio?” He couldn’t speak the words either, yet he expected me to show strength by admitting the truth.
“The wicked won’t ever rest, not with the taste of blood still lingering on their lips. There’s nothing sweeter…”
And now I sounded like Apollo, with my pretty words and hidden meanings.
“Sienna, Romano is a good man. Leave New York and live a life where you can be happy.”
I stared into the eyes that matched my own, except his were devoid of everything.
“I’ve been brokering a deal for your protection.” Life. Extinguished.
“Let’s not pretend like this isn’t the end.” Sienna Agostino was gone and someone more powerful would rise in her place. “Another city. Another made man. Another travesty against me. Let me go, Daddy.”
“Romano will take—” He started but I cut him off.
“It’s my choice!” I hadn’t realized I was shouting until my brother stormed into the room, watching us both closely.
“Sienna, calm down,” Lucky chastised me, and his blatant disrespect did me in.
“Calm down? You… You want me to calm down?” I licked my lips, enjoying how their expressions twisted with shock. “Yourbrother-in-law raped me and you want me to calm down?” I laughed harder.
“We’re a family, Sienna. We will get through this together.” Lucky lifted his palms, approaching me like I was a wounded animal.
“Octavia is missing and doesn’t want to come home. Gio. Gio hurt me. And you thinkwe’llget through thistogether?” I laughed until I was gasping for air, drawing the attention of a group of nurses. “I vote we set fire to this family tree because we’re all fucked.”
The doctor pushed into the room, with several nurses, and ushered my family out. One of the nurses came to my side, whispering that someone needed to speak with me alone—a young woman. I was scared she meant Bella, but I swallowed back my panic and nodded.
Once the hallway was clear, the door opened, and a blonde pixie stepped inside. “Hi.” Persephone smiled and I was in awe of what I saw.
She was beautiful. No one could deny that. But gone was the wild, vacant eyes and crazy mannerisms. She was calm, seemingly at peace. She’d been locked away to heal, but I didn’t anticipate this level of tranquility. She smiled down at me like she could read my thoughts before reaching for my chart.
“Why would they have you on so many antibiotics...” She dropped the paperwork, her mouth open but nothing coming out.
“Yeah,” I muttered, my chin quivering as I attempted to school my features.
“Don’t. Don’t you fucking dare,” she scolded. “This is onhim. You do not feel sorry for yourself.”
It took a moment for me to calm down and listen to what she was saying. She didn’t give me the details but the shared experience seemed to bond us. When I looked into her clear-blue eyes, I saw the truth. I would survive this.
“You look good,” I said honestly.
“Thanks. Mental health is a bitch when you aren’t taking care of it,” she scoffed. “I wanted to tell you that you don’t have to worry about being charged. John is protecting you. Your name won’t be tied tohisanymore, not even in death.”
