Page 11 of Ruined By Blood
I crack my knuckles, a habit from childhood that surfaces when I'm agitated. "No. First time I saw her was at the bar. She stood out—nervous, uncomfortable in her own skin. Then some prick showed up, calling her his 'property for the evening.' Something felt wrong, but she left with him. Next thing I know, I'm finding her half-dead behind our fountain."
Damiano's jaw tightens. "Property?"
"Yeah. Had to stop myself from breaking his fucking jaw right there."
"And we have no ID? Nothing?" Damiano asks.
I shake my head. "She's terrified. Won't talk."
"Romano said she shows signs of long-term abuse," Damiano says, tapping his fingers on the desk. "Someone's been hurting her for a while."
"She was drugged and beaten on our property, Damiano. Our fucking territory."
Damiano's phone rings, interrupting our conversation. He glances at it and answers with a curt, "Alessio."
I watch his expression change as he listens, eyes narrowing. He puts the call on speaker and places the phone on his desk.
"Repeat that," Damiano commands.
"Henry Sterling's men are all over the casino," Alessio'sdeep voice fills the room. "They're looking for his daughter. Disappeared last night. The description matches your mystery woman."
My blood turns cold. Henry fucking Sterling. Even in our world, that name carries weight—and not the good kind.
"Sterling's daughter," I repeat, remembering the blonde woman's terrified eyes. "You're sure?"
"Positive," Alessio confirms. "I recognized her from the security footage you sent. That's Sienna Sterling. Only child of Henry Sterling. Word is he's offering a substantial reward for her return."
"Sterling's into human trafficking, weapons, drugs—all the shit we don't touch," Damiano says, rubbing his thumb along his lower lip thoughtfully.
"And apparently beating his own daughter," I add, rage coiling in my gut like a viper.
Zoe's face pales. "That poor woman."
"Find out everything about both of them," Damiano orders Alessio. "And I mean everything."
"Already on it," Alessio responds before Damiano ends the call.
My brother turns to me, his expression grave. "Be careful, Enzo. Sterling's not someone to fuck with lightly."
"Neither am I," I say, already moving toward the door. "Now that I know who she is, she'll talk."
I make my way back to the guest suite, determination fueling each step. She needs to understand that her silence isn't protecting her anymore. Whatever she's afraid of, I need to know so I can fight it.
When I enter the room, she's standing by the window, tension visible in every line of her body. She turns at the sound of the door, eyes widening with apprehension.
"Your father is looking for you," I say without preamble.
Her face drains of color. She takes a step back, her legs hitting the edge of the bed.
"Henry Sterling." I continue, watching her reaction carefully.
A small sound escapes her—something between a whimper and a gasp. She wraps her arms around herself as if trying to disappear.
I move closer, careful to keep my movements slow and unthreatening. "I need your name."
She looks up at me, tears filling her eyes. For a long moment, she says nothing. Then her lips part, and in a voice barely audible:
"Sienna. My name is Sienna Sterling."
