Page 85 of Ruined By Blood
I glance around wildly, trying to formulate a plan.
"I have to turn myself in," I whisper, more to myself than to them. "It's the only way to stop this."
I have to act. Now.
CHAPTER 29
The alarms blare through every corner of the mansion, a shrill warning that our perimeter's been breached. I position myself at the front of our defensive line, Damiano to my right, Alessio to my left. Our men spread out in practiced formation. We've drilled for this scenario countless times, though never expected Sterling would be bold enough to attack our family home.
My finger hovers near the trigger of my gun, blood roaring in my ears. Every nerve ending stands at attention, my body primed for violence
A deafening explosion rips through the air, and the front entrance door shatters inward. Splinters and dust cloud the air, but no one rushes in. The silence that follows ismore threatening than gunfire—they're waiting for us to make the first move, to expose our positions.
"Don't fire until I give the order," Damiano murmurs, his voice barely audible.
I adjust my grip, muscles coiled tight like springs. The adrenaline surging through me demands release, but years of discipline keep me in check. We hold our positions, the only sound our controlled breathing and the distant wail of alarms.
Then a voice cuts through the tense silence.
"The Feretti brothers, I presume." The voice is calm, almost conversational. "Mr. Sterling sends his regards."
I scan the entrance through the dissipating dust, catching sight of a figure standing just beyond the shattered doorway, hands raised non-threateningly despite the chaos they've just caused.
"Mr. Sterling would like to end this without unnecessary bloodshed," the man continues. "We're not here for a war."
"You have a fucking strange way of showing it," Alessio growls beside me.
The man chuckles, a hollow sound devoid of humor. "Consider it... knocking loudly. We needed your attention."
"You've got it," Damiano replies, voice deadly calm. "Now state your business and get the fuck off my property."
"It's quite simple." The man takes one small step forward, hands still raised. "Return the girl to her father, and we leave without harming anyone. No blood shed, no further damage to your... lovely home."
My jaw clenches so hard my teeth might crack. The fucking audacity to come here, to our territory, our home, and demand we hand over Sienna like she's a piece of property.
"Is that what Henry told you to say?" I call out, unableto keep the lethal edge from my voice. "That we should just hand her over, and everyone walks away?"
"Those are his exact terms," the man confirms. "Simple exchange. The girl for your safety."
"Get the fuck out of our house," I snarl, the gun steady in my hands despite the rage coursing through me. "Tell Sterling if he wants to talk terms, he comes himself. Like a man."
The messenger's expression hardens. "Mr. Sterling suspected you might be difficult about this. He wanted me to remind you that while your family is formidable, even you can't fight a war on multiple fronts."
"Is that a threat?" Damiano's voice drops to that dangerous whisper that usually precedes violence.
"It's a reality," the man replies. "The girl has become an unnecessary complication in your lives. Return her, and this ends tonight."
"You're all fucking dead," I start to say when a voice cuts through the tension like a blade.
"Stop!" Sienna's voice rings out from behind me. "Stop this right now!"
I whirl around to see Sienna standing in the hall, her face pale but determined. Zoe's gripping her arm, trying to pull her back toward the safe room, but Sienna yanks free.
"What the hell are you doing?" I hiss, moving to intercept her. "Get back?—"
"They want me," she says, her voice steadier than I've ever heard it. "They'll take me and leave without harming anyone else. That's what you want, isn't it?" She directs this last part to the man at our shattered doorway.
"That's exactly what we want, Miss Sterling," the man agrees, a smile spreading across his face.
