Chapter 5
Sofia
Tension filled the car, so thick that not even the sharp blade of a knife could cut it.
Miles’ face was set in a permanent scowl as he glared at the road ahead, his hand clenched tightly around the steering wheel.
We’d been in the car for nearly thirty minutes, and he hadn’t said a single word as he drove me home, an entourage of the Wolfe’s bodyguards surrounding us.
He hadn’t even uttered a syllable about the wedding being brought forward. If it hadn’t been for Riley spilling the beans, I wouldn’t have known.
Too aggravated by his mere presence, I glared out the window, trying to ignore the way his scent filled the small space between us.
There was no point in trying to convince him to speak to Papa and push the date back; it was abundantly clear that we couldn’t have an adult conversation without it descending into a war of words.
Besides, I’d only be delaying the inevitable.
So much for my month of grace. The miracle I’d been hoping for needed to happen soon, otherwise it would be too late. Deep down, though, I knew no miracle was waiting for me.
My fate was sealed.
The world outside flashed by, people going about their day, and completely oblivious to the helplessness churning inside me.
My entire life had been leading to this point; I’d always known I was destined for an arranged marriage.
It’d happened for my mom, for my grandma, and so on, but as I grew up, that day seemed like it would never come.
I often wondered if Papa was using the threat of an arranged marriage to keep me under his control.
Most mafia daughters were married off as soon as they turned eighteen, but with every birthday that passed, and no announcement of whom I was to marry came, I couldn’t help but hold onto a little pang of hope that maybe I’d get to choose a husband for myself.
When I turned twenty-one and still no marriage proposition was presented, I took a risk and secretly dated, wanting to experience some sort of normality for once in my life.
If you could call secret liaisons dating.
Owen had been employed to work as a guard at the house, and while all the other guards pretended like I didn’t exist, Owen actually noticed me.
It started with him always saying hello whenever he was on his rounds, turning into flirtatious winks, and eventually culminating in him speaking to me one day while I read by the fountain in the garden.
After a few weeks had passed of us meeting up while he was on his rounds, he finally kissed me, but honestly? There was no spark. I should have stopped things then, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy his attention.
Of course, it was soon after my marriage to Miles was agreed, and even though I’d tried to break it off with Owen, he refused to listen and started pushing me to sleep with him, something I absolutely couldn’t do if I didn’t want to disgrace my family.
When I insisted we were over, Owen turned nasty, threatening to tell Papa all about us.
He even said he was going to lie to Miles and tell him that I'd lost my virginity to Owen, and that we were in love.
I suppose he got his punishment when he received a bullet to the head after hand-delivering Riley and me to the men who kidnapped us.
Lost in memories of the past, I didn’t realize where we were until Miles turned the car into the entrance to my home and stopped at the gates to speak to the guards stationed there. Once they saw who was in the car, they waved Miles through, and my stomach lurched as we started up the driveway.
I wasn’t ready to face Papa.
That was an understatement. It would have been better to deal with Miles taking me back to Hollows Bay and telling me I wasn’t allowed to leave again than deal with Papa’s wrath.
The only reason I didn’t swallow my pride and beg Miles to turn the car around was because my gaze landed on the one person in the world I needed to see more than anyone.
Rafe stood next to Papa as Miles brought the car to a stop, the two of them wearing matching emotionless expressions on their faces.
“Rafe,” I cried, launching myself from the car and into my brother’s arms, craving his safety and warmth.
He wasn’t just my twin, he was my best friend, too. From a young age, we had always been inseparable, but come the day after tomorrow, I wouldn’t even be living under the same roof as him.
“Are you okay?” He pulled back to gaze down, a worried frown creasing his brow.
“I am now,” I whispered, a lump of emotion clogging my throat.
“Raphael, take your sister to her room. I’d like a word with Mr. Wolfe alone,” Papa said, his tone cool.
I met his eyes, subtly gulping at the fury blazing in them. Maybe it was a good thing I’d be married in less than two days; God only knew what Papa’s punishment would have been.
Clasping my hand in Rafe’s, I took several steps, desperate to be alone with my brother, when I stopped and spun back to face Miles, feeling the need to say…something. But the words stuck in my throat at finding Miles’ gaze fixed on where I was clutching Rafe’s hand, and disgust curling his lips.
Weird. It was almost as if he didn’t like seeing my hand in Rafe’s.
“I guess I’ll see you soon,” I said meekly, forcing the words out.
His eyes snapped up to meet mine as he schooled his features. His only response was to nod his head once in my direction.
“Come on, Sofe,” Rafe said, tugging my hand and pulling me away.
The hallways of our home were deserted as Rafe led me to my bedroom. I had no doubt that the household staff were running around like headless chickens, preparing for the wedding they thought they had another month to get ready for.
I didn’t get to have a say in where I would be getting married; Papa decided for me. It was our family tradition that the wedding would take place in the bride’s family home, and for the past few months, the house and the grounds had gradually been undergoing a grand transformation for the big day.
All it meant for me was that wherever I went, there were constant reminders of my impending doom.
As soon as we were in my bedroom, Rafe spun me around and gently shoved me against the closed door, a panicked look on his face. “What really happened?”
“What do you mean, ‘what really happened?’”
“Miles told us that you guys were on a date and were ambushed. He said that Gus had tried to intervene and ended up catching a bullet.”
I was pretty certain my jaw hit the floor. “He…what?”
“Yeah, Miles was adamant that’s what happened. But Dad didn’t buy it, especially with the way you two acted outside, it was like you couldn’t stand looking at each other.”
Rafe pulled me away from the door and led me over to my bed, still clasping my hand as the two of us sat. He stared expectantly, but words failed me as I tried to process the strange turn of events. Why on earth would Miles lie to my papa? Not to defend me, of that I was certain.
My brother’s gaze burned into me, his eyes darting all over my face and arms as if he was checking for injuries.
“I’m fine, honestly,” I sighed, squeezing my eyes closed as I confessed my sins. “I asked Gus to take me to Bar Forty-Four and someone attacked me.”
“Dammit, Sofe,” Rafe snapped, making me flinch. “You promised me you wouldn’t leave the house while we were away.”
“I know, and I’m sorry. I just…needed to get out, Rafe. I couldn’t breathe stuck here without you.”
His stern features softened as he released my hand to wrap an arm around my shoulders.
“I’m sorry, Sofe. I just can’t stand the thought of someone hurting you.
You were damn lucky Miles was there.” He paused before adding, “What exactly was he doing at Bar Forty-Four? I mean, how did he even know you were there?”
I shrugged. It was a question I’d asked myself time and time again on the drive home, and yet I still had no clue. The only person who could give me the answers was the one person I didn’t want to speak to, no matter how curious I was.
“You know he went ape shit at Dad, right?” Rafe said, smirking.
“Accused him of not taking your safety seriously, and that we were all incompetent buffoons. That’s why he demanded the wedding be moved.
He told Dad that the only way he could be certain that you were in safe hands was if he protected you himself. ”
I gaped at Rafe. Surely we weren’t talking about the same Miles Wolfe? The man who called me a selfish brat and accused me of only caring about myself?
No, it couldn’t be.
Before I could form some sort of coherent response, a sharp rap sounded at the door, and Papa strolled in uninvited. He wore the same expressionless look as he’d worn when I arrived home, giving nothing away. “Leave us, Raphael,” he barked, leaving no room for argument.
Sympathy flashed in Rafe’s eyes as he gave me a final, fleeting glance on his way out. When the door closed behind him, Papa held his stern gaze on me for a few seconds before his lips thinned, and he began slowly pacing the floor with his head bowed.
His customary posture when he was debating whether someone should live or die.
Anger radiated off him in huge waves, and when the silence between us became too much, I couldn’t help but break it. “I’m sorry, Papa,” I started, my voice meek. “I know you’re mad about the bar, and Gus-”
“You think I didn’t know about your little visits to that dive?
” Papa snapped, interrupting my pathetic excuse for an apology.
“I’ve known about you singing there for the last few years, Sofia, don’t make me out to be a fool.
” He sneered, and my gaze dropped to the floor, unable to look at the disgust etched on his face as he continued.
“I allowed you to keep going back because it kept you occupied. Kept your mind off things while I found you a suitable husband. But that will change now. You will no longer go to that place.”
I sank my teeth into my bottom lip to stop it from wobbling. I’d been ignoring the little voice telling me that I would never sing at Bar Forty-Four again, not wanting to acknowledge just how much it would hurt to lose the only thing I had in my life that was for me.
Papa began his pacing again, his brows furrowed as if he was deciding on what to say next. I waited patiently for his scolding to continue, even though every part of me wanted to run from my room and never return.
“You know, when your mother told me she was pregnant with twins, I hoped we would be having two boys. But when you were born and the doctor put you in my arms, I realized just how important you were.”
That should have softened the blow he’d just delivered by effectively telling me that he didn’t want me, but I heard the undertones in his voice, and sure enough, he didn’t disappoint when he continued.
“Daughters in our world have important roles. They have their uses. They can make or break unions between families.”
He stopped his pacing short of where I sat, glumly staring at the floor.
“The Wolfes have an impressive hold over Hollows Bay. Did you know they own the biggest contract with organizations in South America for the import and export of firearms? That’s without mentioning how well-organized they run their drug market.
With them as our allies, our family business will thrive.
But we could lose our liaison before it even begins if you fuck this up for us. ”
I squeezed my eyes closed, trying to ignore the hurt in my heart. What Papa was saying shouldn’t have come as a surprise to me; he’d always made it clear what my purpose in life was, but hearing him speak so coldly about my existence drove the knife in deeper.
“I won’t mess it up, Papa,” I replied, keeping my head bowed.
“No, you won’t,” he replied softly. “You won’t mess up because you’re going to do the one thing to ensure the union doesn’t fail.”
My head whipped up, a heavy lump of dread settling in my stomach. “What…what do you mean?”
Annoyance curled his lips. “I mean a child, Sofia. You will have Wolfe’s child. It’s the only way we can ensure our family and theirs will never be at war again.”
Without thinking, I stood, fueled by panic. “But, Papa. I don’t want-”
He closed the gap between us, rage flashing in his eyes and silencing my words of defiance.
“I don’t give a damn what you want, Sofia.
You will do this for our family. You will seduce Miles once you are married, and you will let him fuck you whenever he wants until you fall pregnant, do you understand? ”
Any form of response caught in my throat as I battled to stop tears filling my eyes. How could my own father be asking this of me? And so callously. I always respected my father, no matter how much he ignored my existence, but at that moment, all respect went into the gutter.
“Papa, please-” I forced the words out as the first tear slid down my cheek.
“I asked if you understood?”
I couldn’t bring myself to reply. I didn’t want to agree to what he wanted from me.
I always knew that I wouldn’t have a say in who I lost my virginity to, and that one day, it would be expected of me to give my husband children. I just…didn’t think it would be so soon, nor with someone who could barely stand to be in the same room as me.
“I’ll take your silence as confirmation that you understand,” Papa hissed, taking a step away from me.
“But just so we’re clear, Sofia. I’ll be wanting proof that you and Wolfe consummated your marriage.
I expect to see blood on the bedsheets the morning after your marriage, or believe me, there will be hell to pay. ”
My cheeks flushed, embarrassment joining the party of emotions already coursing through me.
But my father wasn’t done dropping bombs on me yet.
He turned to leave my room, pausing at the door to face me once more.
“Rafe loves you very dearly. He’ll do anything for you.
I only hope that the sentiment is reciprocated. ”
My brows shot up, disappearing into my hairline as I gaped back at Papa, comprehension dawning on me as I met his eyes. He’d hurt Rafe if I didn’t do what he wanted of me.
After what seemed like a lifetime, Papa stormed out of my bedroom, the door slamming with a resounding thud. The second I was alone, my knees buckled and I collapsed to the floor, tears cascading like a waterfall down my cheeks as helplessness consumed my entire being in one gulp.