Page 58 of Ruined By Blood
He shoves me toward a chair and tosses me a towel he was holding. My hands shake violently as I try to wrap it around myself. Water from my hair runs down my back, making me shiver—or maybe that's the fear.
"Who sent you?" Enzo demands, eyes never leaving my face.
My throat closes as I realize—my father found us. Somehow, he found us.
"You know who," the lead man says, removing his mask to reveal a face I recognize. Jackson. One of my father's security team. "Mr. Sterling wants his daughter back."
"She's not his property," Enzo says through clenched teeth.
Jackson laughs. "Tell that to Cortez. He's paid a deposit already."
Shame burns through me. Even now, naked and terrified, I'm just merchandise to them—a transaction, a business deal. I curl into myself, trying to disappear.
"Look at me, Sienna," Enzo says suddenly.
I force my eyes up to meet his. Despite the blood on his face, despite being bound and surrounded by armed men, his gaze is steady and certain.
CHAPTER 21
Blood trickles down my temple, hot and metallic. My hands are bound behind my back, zip ties cutting into my wrists. I fucked up. Simple as that.
Damiano warned me this morning.
But I got lazy. Distracted. By her. By the fucking card games and truth or dare and that damn kiss that's still burning on my lips.
Now Sienna stands trembling in nothing but a towel, pale as death, while these bastards point guns at her head. And it's my fault.
I scan the room, taking inventory. Four men total. The one gripping Sienna's arm hard enough tobruise, plus the two holding me, and another by the door. Standard security team muscle, not cartel. Sterling's men, not Cortez's.
"Hey, dickhead," I call to the one who holds Sienna, keeping my voice casual despite the rage boiling under my skin. "What's the holdup? You got her. Take her and go."
His eyes flick to his watch. "Shut up."
"Waiting for orders?" I press, working my wrists subtly against the restraints. "Or maybe waiting for Sterling himself to show up? That's it, isn't it? Daddy dearest wants to collect his property personally."
The fucker tightens his grip on Sienna, and she whimpers. Something snaps inside me.
"Touch her again and I'll tear your fucking throat out," I growl.
One of the men behind me laughs. "Big talk from a guy whose brains I could paint on the wall."
I ignore him, keeping my eyes locked on the man in charge as it seems.
Sienna's eyes dart toward the door, a hint of desperate calculation in them. She's thinking about running. I shake my head slightly, trying to warn her off. These fuckers are jumpy, fingers too eager on triggers.
She doesn't see me.
Sienna suddenly twists, jerking away from him with surprising strength. For one breathless second, she's free, lunging toward the hallway.
"Fuck!" he snarls, lunging after her.
His hand shoots out, fingers tangling viciously in her wet hair. He yanks backward with brutal force. Sienna's head snaps back, her bare feet sliding on the hardwood as he drags her against his chest.
"You need to behave yourself," he hisses into her ear, twisting her hair tighter until tears spring to her eyes. "OrI'll have to hurt you. Your father said to bring you back alive—he didn't specify what condition."
Something dark and vicious rises in me.
I start laughing.
