Page 68 of And Twice as Twisted
“I know what I have to do,” I assured him. I didn’t need the constant reminders.
“Then do it.” My brother was a piece of work. He might have been the king but he wasn’t mine. New York could be damned for all I cared. I was only here because my son deserved a father and I deserved my own form of happiness.
“This is it. I know what you’re thinking, so don’t,” Apollo whispered in my ear before tilting my chin up and forcing me to look him in the eyes. “I need you safe.” He kissed me slow and sweet, with a tenderness I wasn’t prepared to receive.
“I just want her home.” I bit down on my cheek to stop the sob from escaping. “And for whoever took her to pay.”
“I know and they will. But there’s a right way to do things.” The gentleness of his touch didn’t match the threateningundertone of his words. “Get her, get in the car, get out. That’s it.”
The car pulled into the meeting spot and a chill went down my spine. A Cadillac SUV was already parked at an angle, waiting for us. I sat forward in my seat, knowing I couldn’t see through their tinted windows but needing eyes on my sister anyway. I could feel my nine digging into my hip, like a silent reminder that I needed to be the one to end this. My palms itched. I wiped them on my thighs to avoid doing something stupid before the time called for it. My thoughts were racing a million miles an hour and I could barely breathe, let alone think.
“Sienna.” Apollo’s harsh tone had me turning in his direction. He was watching my face almost as if he could see inside my head.
Who was I kidding? He definitely could.
“Don’t,” he annunciated the single word but there was so much more behind it.
Though I couldn’t help but goad him. “Don’t what, Apollo?” I huffed, crossing my arms over my chest and glaring at him.
“You thrive on the chaos. As much as I do if not more. I accept it. I accept you as you are, as you accept me. But now is not the time. We have a son to consider. This isn’t just about us anymore.”
My arms dropped to my sides. I hated to admit it but he was right. Even if I refused to acknowledge it aloud, choosing to stare out the window again instead.
“You’re mine. At first, I thought it started when you spread those pretty little legs for me. But maybe it’s always been that way. Now let’s get this over with and go home to our son.”
My chin wobbled, my heart stalled, and my damn core clenched all at the same time. I nodded, unable to articulate what it meant to hear him finally say these things to me.
“About fucking time,” Lucky muttered, earning himself a punch to the shoulder from Apollo.
“Jesus, she’s silent. Tell her that shit more, will ya.” Al grinned from the front seat, and I slapped the back of his head.
“Go get her.” Apollo kissed me again before leaning over to open the door.
I stepped out of the car, the potential crime scene laid out in front of me. The Russians were hidden in the tree line surrounding us. The open space was vast, and the cheerful sounds of birds chirping would’ve made it beautiful if not for the promise of blood thickening the air.
I had no idea how I was going to get out of this without pulling my gun. I tugged my dress down a little and closed the door. No more than two hundred yards away was a black SUV. The windows were tinted but if I squinted hard enough I could see two men in suits in the front seats.
Who were they? Did I know them?
It didn’t matter. Once I got Octavia back, they were dead.
As I continued to stare, plot, and wonder, the door finally opened and my sister’s chestnut brown hair blew in the breeze. She stepped out alone and it took everything I had in me to keep myself from running to her.
The nine concealed at my thigh was burning a hole through my skin and my fingers itched to draw it and aim. The woman in front of me looked like my sister, yet not. Something was different, but I couldn’t put my finger on the change. She took a tentative step forward, leaving the car door wide open, only to stop and look back over her shoulder.
I inched closer, unsure what it was she was saying to whoever was in the driver’s seat. My hand slid to my waist as I felt the heat of all the weapons trained on me.
“Octavia, come here,” I shouted over the wind swirling around us.
“A moment, Sienna,” the voice of a stranger responded. Gone was the soft-spoken, sweet little sister of mine. In her place was someone demanding and loud, someone I didn’t recognize. Her tone was clipped and I still couldn’t hear what she was saying, but her demeanor had shifted, her eyebrows drawn and her jaw clenched with obvious irritation.
“You wanted your revenge and you got it. You promised me this,” she shouted into the car.
“Octavia!” I called out when she retreated towards the vehicle once more. She said something, slamming the door the next moment. “Octavia!” I tried again.
She kept moving, slowly and calmly walking towards me. Her head held high, with a confidence I didn’t understand.
Who was this girl?
