Page 59 of And Twice as Twisted
Persephone was working to negotiate a meeting spot. Once that was determined and we confirmed a date and time, I was the point person. I was supposed to bring Octavia home and avoid all-out war. They thought I’d be the calm in the anticipated storm, but I planned to teach them a lesson for hurting my sister.
Once we’d updated my family, I pivoted on my heel and marched out of the room as quickly as I’d entered. Marco stood to the side of the house smoking a cigarette. I could smell the alcohol on his breath at a distance. Several Russians in suits circled an idling SUV, their conversation ending the moment we approached.
When the rear car door opened, I watched my brother’s jaw drop, his cigarette falling from his lips and hitting the ground. “Well, fuck me…” Marco muttered the moment his eyes landed on the girl presently stepping onto the gravel path.
“Come,malyska.” Nikolai made his presence known and his men parted like the Red Sea. “Mario invited us to stay whileeverything is being settled. We’ll go retrieve our belongings from the hotel now.”
I nodded and smiled at Alexei’s sister. “Do svidaniya,”she said as she promptly followed her uncle.
Uh-oh…
My brother’s face gave nothing away, but something told me the gorgeous Russian doll had his full attention. Before I could ask him about it, Marco turned on his heel and hightailed it inside, leaving me alone with the man who still haunted my dreams… and starred in my nightmares.
“You look good.” His voice at my back sent goosebumps down my spine.
“Eat your heart out.” I tried to hide my body’s natural reaction to his presence but knew that I’d failed.
“I’ll save that for the monster I left in the woods.”
I spun so quickly I had to catch myself from snapping a heel. “He already ate mine.”
“And it was delicious.” Apollo pulled me close, inhaling my scent as if he didn’t recognize me. “Tell me who touched you.”
“Don’t think for one second that my return hasanythingto do withyou.” I thought I was maintaining my composure, holding my own against the beast in my midst, but his crazed smirk told me I needed to run. “Have a good night,” I threw over my shoulder.
He called out my name, and something in his voice gave me pause. I stared at the darkened sky before slowly turning to him, my expression giving nothing away.
“There’s a darkness inside me but it’s also what draws you to me.” He stepped closer.
And I swallowed back the weakness threatening to overtake all rationality. Instead of crumbling, I held on to my anger. “The fuck does that mean?” I rolled my eyes. “Stop talking infucking riddles. I used to think it was attractive. Now it’s just exhausting.”
“It means…” His jaw clenched as he gestured between us. “This. Us. We’re toxic.”
“Okay? And?” My walls immediately began to rise.
“Toxic or not, you’re mine. I need this.” He took another step forward. “Crave this.” He ran a finger down my throat, to my breasts, before pulling me in for a kiss—one that whispered his deepest, darkest sins.
I moaned into his mouth, feeling his arousal against my stomach. I wanted him to drop to his knees. To thank God or praise the devil for my return. And while that fantasy was not in any conceivable future for us, Iwouldwatch him fall… with a perfectly timed blow to his balls.
“You lost your privilege of taking without asking.” I spat on his hunched form, much like he’d done when he called me a whore. “Don’t make it a habit.” Then I sauntered inside the compound with my head held high.
“I deserved that,” he grunted in reply. “Fuck.”
“Trust me, I deserve worse,” I said to myself.
Hello. My name is Sienna Agostino, and although I’d lost a valuable part of myself to a man who didn’t deserve it, I was back. My strength was an integral part of the story I was weaving. I wanted Apollo Deluca to fall at my feet of his own accord, and if he chose not to, then I’d make him regret it.
“Good to see you.” Lucky pulled me in for a hug the moment I stepped inside. “Are you staying here tonight?”
“Sienna…” Bella’s soft voice drew my attention to the stairs. My beautiful sister-in-law stood before us like a goddess wrapped in a white silk gown. She looked demure, yet radiant with a new glow to her skin. But I couldn’t help but laugh at the oversized baby hanging from her arms. “Come meetyour nephew. Nico.” She continued down the stairs, and Lucky immediately rushed to her side.
“This. Came out of you.” I gestured to the infant, the rest of the family laughed, and I finally felt at ease.
For as tiny as Bella was, especially when compared to my brother, she was dwarfed by their oversized son. He was big for his age, with impossibly long legs and a thick body. But it was the blue eyes that caught your breath—eyes that were far too aware for such a little baby. He looked at you as though he was somehow staring through you and into your soul. Nico was going to run New York one day, and I already pitied anyone who stood in the kid’s path.
I reached forward, and those blue-steel eyes appeared to glance between my face and my hands before the infant finally outstretched his little arms.
“God!” I shuffled him from side to side to get a good grip. I wanted this. I wanted someone to look at me the way my brother looked at his wife.
