Page 77 of Bittersweet Endings
“You’re fuckin’ dead, you?—”
One of JP’s men slammed a gun against Carmine’s temple, and he dropped like a ton of bricks. I gasped, taking a step towards him when JP grabbed my arm.
“Calm down. He’ll be fine. I’ve hit him harder than that plenty of times.” JP laughed, without a shred of concern for his son.
I shook my head. “I always protect my family, but I am done paying the price for them.”
JP tucked a loose curl behind my ear, whispering again. “Like I said the cost of freedom is steep. Save their lives and get your own version of freedom. With me.”
I gulped, knots forming in my stomach.
“Come with me now or I kill them all. They’re outgunned and outnumbered, Octavia.”
My decision was going to cost my family so much. More pain. More burden. And once again, they’d think I gave up on them. But I wouldn’t allow them to die tonight. I’d survived so much already. I could survive this too.
“You will walk calmly at my side, with your head held high. You will smile at your family and tell them to back off,” JP instructed under his breath.
I had to decide.Now.
I looked down at Peiro, and something caught my attention. I had to make a move. Stumbling over his corpse, I landed on his body, quickly shoving the item up my skirt and into the knife band around my thigh.
JP crouched forward, acting charming and waiting on my answer. So I took his outstretched hand and decided for the last time I’d protect them. I’d claim that throne and the power that came with it. And as he pulled me out of the kitchen and towards the front door, I ignored Carmine suddenly shouting my name.
As I faced my family head-on, their confusion and anger settled inside me. They had been right not to trust me. It was written across all their faces as I marched past them. JP’s men held them at bay, and as I got into the car, I said nothing.
I didn’t look back either.
Chapter Twenty-Four
CARMINE RAGETTI
Istood on the lawn. My hands clenched into fists, blood drying on my knuckles, and my head pounding. I barely felt any of it.
The house still had people moving about, but I was at a loss for what was next. She’d walked out.Walked. And slid into his car without hesitation. No fight. Like it was the easiest fucking decision she’d ever made. Head held high while she looked at us likewewere nothing.
I turned to Lucky, fury burning in my veins. “What the fuck is your sister doing?”
He scoffed, appearing as pissed as I felt. “How the hell should I know?” He gestured towards the empty street. “Maybe shehasofficially lost her damn mind.”
“Lost her mind?” I snarled. “There was zero hesitation. What did you do? Because she seemed content as fuck to leave.”
Rocco’s phone rang. “Who the fuck is this?” He turned and walked away from the group.
Lucky threw his hands in the air. “You think I don’t knowthat? You think I haven’t been watching her unravel for months?” He glared at me. “Or maybe you haven’t noticed, because you were too busy getting into her pants. Fucking with her head!” He shoved at my chest. “Ever think it’s your fault? Asshole!”
I took a step towards him, barely holding back the urge to knock his teeth in. “Careful how you talk to me,prick.”
Lucky laughed. “Oh, fuck you, Carmine. You’ve lost her too.”
My teeth ground together, rage crawling up my throat. “She didn’tchooseanyone. She made a deal with a devil worse than you.”
Lorenzo stepped forward with a smirk. “I mean, credit where it’s due… She’s got a fucking talent for making the mostbatshitchoices possible. Gotta admire the commitment to the chaos.” He turned to me. “Who knows? Maybe she’ll stab him like she stabbed you.”
I didn’t flinch. I didn’t blink. I just raised my fist and punched my brother square in the jaw. I didn’t give a fuck that the Agostinos watched or that Lorenzo was family. Lucky laughed, and without thought, I turned and swung at him too.
Men on both sides of the lawn pulled their guns and started shouting as Lucky landed on his ass. But he quickly stood, raising his hand for his men to step back.
“You get one, Carmine. That’s it.” He rubbed his jaw and straightened his sleeves. “And it’s only because you killed that asshole in there.”
