Page 22 of Ruined By Blood
CHAPTER 9
Ifind my brother in his office, staring at an array of paperwork spread across his desk like a battlefield map. He looks up when I enter, dark circles under his eyes betraying the weight he carries as Don.
"Any news yet?" I ask, cutting straight to the point.
Damiano shakes his head, leaning back in his leather chair. "Nothing concrete. Sterling's gone quiet, but his people are moving. We know he's looking for her."
"And Cortez?"
"Back in Mexico for now." He runs a hand through his hair. "But that's not why I called you in."
Something in his tone sets my jaw on edge. "What is it?"
"I've been thinking about this situation."His eyes meet mine, that familiar steel I've known since we were boys. "Having Sienna here... it puts our family at risk. Especially Lucrezia."
My blood heats instantly. "So what? We throw her to the wolves?"
"I didn't say that." His voice remains calm, measured – the voice of the Don, not my brother. "But I have to consider our family first. Always."
"You've seen what they did to her. You know what Sterling and Cortez are capable of."
"Which is exactly my point." Damiano stands, matching my intensity with his own controlled power. "I won't risk something happening to our family while we're protecting Sterling's daughter. Especially not after what happened to Lucrezia."
Rage and guilt tangle in my chest, and for a moment I want to put my fist through the nearest wall.
But he's right.
Fuck.
I take a breath, forcing the raging thoughts to organize themselves. "The country house," I say finally, the idea forming as I speak it. "Remote enough to stay hidden, defensible perimeter, away from the family but still on our territory."
Damiano studies me, weighing the suggestion. "You'd need to be there with her."
"I know."
"You'd be isolated, vulnerable if they find you."
I meet his gaze. "Let them try."
My brother's expression softens slightly. "You hardly know this girl, Enzo."
"I know enough." The image of her wounded body lying in the gardens flashes through my mind, followed by theresignation in her eyes when she spoke of being someone's property. "Nobody deserves what they did to her. What they planned to do."
Damiano nods slowly. "The country house could work. I'll arrange extra security measures, rotating patrols. How will you convince her to go with you?"
That's the question, isn't it? The girl barely trusts anyone, least of all me.
"I'll figure it out," I say.
I nod firmly at my brother. "I'm doing it tonight. Before Sterling gets any closer to finding her."
"Are you sure about this?" Damiano asks, his expression unreadable.
"I'm sure." I turn and leave.
The walk to Sienna's room feels longer than usual. Each step echoes my thoughts—is this protection or something else? Something I can't afford to examine too closely.
I knock twice before entering. She's sitting by the window, knees pulled to her chest, staring at the garden below. She startles when I step inside, her body tensing like a cornered animal.
