Page 64 of Ruined By Blood
"Yes." There's no doubt in my answer. "He's not getting her back. Not while I'm breathing."
Damiano steps behind his desk, shoulders set in that familiar stance—the Don, not just my brother—as he studies me with calculating eyes.
"You should know," he says, his voice dangerously calm, "we're officially at war with Henry Sterling now."
I nod once, accepting this as fact rather than revelation. "Good."
"Good?" Damiano raises an eyebrow. "We're talking about a man with international connections, government officials in his pocket, and a reputation for destroying anyone who crosses him."
"I'm aware." My voice comes out like gravel. "And I don't give a fuck."
Damiano watches me for a long moment before the corner of his mouth twitches. "I saw how you handled Jackson," he says. "What you did to him after he hit her..."
I don't respond. We both know what I did. The sound of bones breaking under my hands. The blood. The promises I whispered in his ear before I sent him to a far worse fate than quick death.
"That's when I knew," Damiano continues. "Sienna's family now."
Something shifts in my chest at his words. Not surprise—I'd already decided to protect her with everything I have—but the weight of his acknowledgment solidifies something I hadn't fully articulated, even to myself.
"She is," I say, the words feeling right as they leave my mouth. "And I will have blood for what was done to her. Sterling's blood."
Damiano nods, accepting this as both declaration and promise.
"Once she tells us the full truth, we'll plan our next moves," he says. "I've already increased security at all properties. Alessio's mapping Sterling's holdings and movements."
I stand, ignoring the pain shooting through my side. "How the hell did you know we were under attack? Your timing was..." I shake my head, remembering the moment they burst through the door. "If you hadn't shown up when you did..."
Damiano's expression hardens. "After what happened to Lucrezia, I had the system installed. Silent alarm that pings directly to my phone if any exterior doors or windows are breached at any of our properties."
"Fuck." I run a hand through my hair.
"I tried calling you first," he says, accusation edging into his tone. "Multiple times. You didn't answer."
I think back, remembering the buzzing of my phone while I was researching Sterling's background. "I was tracking Sterling's movements online. When it started ringing, I figured it was Noah with updates."
"Next time, answer your fucking phone," Damiano says, but there's no real heat behind it. He knows better than anyone how I operate when I'm focused.
"If there's a next time, I won't need the rescue," I promise darkly. "I underestimated Sterling. It won't happen again."
Damiano circles his desk, coming to stand directly in front of me. He places a hand on my shoulder, his grip firm.
"We'll end this," he says with quiet certainty. "But we do it smart. Together. You, me, the whole family."
I nod, grateful for his calculated approach to balance my rage.
"For now, we keep Sienna close," he continues. "Protected. And once she's ready to tell us everything..."
"Then we burn Sterling's empire to the ground," I finish.
Damiano's mouth curves into a cold smile I recognize well—it mirrors my own.
"Starting with whatever he values most."
CHAPTER 23
The bathroom vapor clings to my skin as I step out of the bath. Water had turned cool fifteen minutes ago, but I couldn't bring myself to leave its embrace.
I wrap a towel around myself, surprised by how exhausted the simple movement leaves me. My fingers tremble as I reach for the clean clothes Zoe left earlier.
