Page 53 of And Twice as Twisted
“Thanks.”
She squeezed my hand. “No, thank you, Sienna. You took away all the things that went bump in the night for me.” Her sad smile nearly broke me. “Just wish I’d gotten to him before hetouchedyou.”
“I’m sorry too. I should’ve ended the game earlier.”
She shook her head at me, wiping away a tear. “Listen. I think I know where your sister is. Innocents don’t deserve to be hurt in someone else’s game. Once I know who we are dealing with for sure, I’ll tell your brother.”
“Tell me first,” I spit out quickly. “I’m leaving. Disappearing. But when you find her, I’ll bring in reinforcements.”
She nodded after a moment before asking, “How is Apollo?”
As if he could hear us, he stood on the other side of the glass, his spine straightening just as Dom Moretti walked up. I took a deep breath, causing Persephone to glance over her shoulder.
“Don’t worry. He’s happy he’s gone. We each have our own scars from Gio Moretti, his brother included.”
Dom gave her a panty-dropping grin, beckoning her to his side. Apollo was staring at me, ignoring everyone else in the room. I had an image of the old Apollo, the one who was clothed in an expensive suit and watched me with a feral, yet calm intensity. After everything, our two biggest moments were born from our biggest setbacks—his swim in the Hudson and my rape.
The doctor walked in again, and Persephone smiled and patted my hand. “Once I confirm the details, I’ll give you first dibs.”
I continued to stare at Apollo on the other side of the glass, the only thing separating us. The bile rising in my throat belonged to him. I was so tired of being here. My whole life I’d been held back by irrational love and a false perception ofwhat if.
I hated him.
Something caught my attention and I turned back to the doctor. “I’m sorry. What did you say?”
I was tired. Spent. Exhausted.
I didn’t think this night could get any worse. Life seemed to have a way of fucking me, but it couldn’t get me off. The doctor loomed over me for a few more minutes before I pretended to fall asleep while ignoring Apollo wandering to my side. I had nothing to say and didn’t want to hear his bullshit.
It was too late and too many things had broken us. The decision had already been made for me to go, but now it was cemented in place. No one could protect me from him… only me.
And that meant leaving. As soon as the doctors released me, I was escaping this hell and following my exit plan.
Disappearing.
Chapter 17
ROMANO BIANCHI
Where the fuck is she? She’s ruining everything…
Chapter 18
APOLLO DELUCA
“Will the defendant please rise,” someone commanded but I barely registered their words as I followed the motions. “In the light of Miss Agostino’s testimony, the prosecutor has dropped all charges.” The judges gavel pounded the counter, the sound reverberating in my mind.
My attorney turned to look at me. “Honestly, I was betting 60/40 you were leaving here with a set of permanent bracelets.” Her amusement was at my expense.
“Great.” I flexed as they removed my cuffs.
“You realize it was all Sienna, right?” The sound of her name on my attorney’s lips forced me to glare in her direction. “Even after whatever you did to her, that girl isstillloyal.” She turned on her heel and strutted away.
Loyal. Sienna was loyal to a fault.
“She’s right, you know.” Bella caught my attention as we stood in front of the courthouse. “Siennaisloyal. To you. To this family. Sound familiar?”
There was that word again.
