Chapter 3
CHAPTER 3
GRAYSON
M orning came with harsh sunlight streaming through a gap in the curtains. I woke first, momentarily disoriented before registering the warm weight of Sofia against my side. Her dark hair was spread across my chest, her face peaceful in sleep.
I allowed myself a moment to simply look at her, committing the details to memory—the softness of her face, the slight part of her lips, the curve of her shoulder where the sheet had slipped down. I didn't care that her eyeliner and mascara had smudged on her face, or that traces of her lipstick were smeared from our kisses.
I'd had my share of women over the years, but none had affected me the way Sofia did. It wasn't just the physical attraction, though that was undeniable. There was something about her spirit, her fierce independence coupled with an underlying vulnerability she tried so hard to hide.
We'd awoken a few times throughout the night to have more fun, and it had been everything I could have wanted and more.
A perfect night with a stunning woman.
Sofia's eyes fluttered open, confusion clouding them briefly before she relaxed. "Morning," she murmured, her voice husky with sleep.
"Morning," I replied, fighting the urge to kiss her. We'd agreed to no strings, and morning-after intimacy definitely counted as strings.
She seemed to read my thoughts, because she sat up, clutching the sheet to her chest. "What time is it?"
I reached for my phone on the bedside to check it. "Just after seven."
"I should get back to my room before people start waking up." She ran a hand through her tangled hair, avoiding my gaze.
"Sofia." I waited until she looked at me. "It will be fine. No one will know if we don't say anything."
"I know, sorry." She sighed before a small smile touched her lips. "Last night was... it was good."
"Just good?" I raised an eyebrow, trying to lighten the sudden tension.
It worked. She laughed, the sound warming something inside me. "Fine. It was amazing and fun. Happy now?"
"Over the moon." I sat up with a chuckle, letting the sheet pool around my waist. "But if you're having regrets?—"
"I'm not," she interrupted, then sighed. "I just... I don't want things to be awkward. Especially with Meredith and Leo."
I nodded. "They don't need to know. This was no strings, right?"
"Right." She hesitated, then leaned forward to press a quick kiss to my lips before sliding out of bed. "I need to pee."
I smirked, watching as she rose from the bed, admiring her breathtaking body in the morning light. She disappeared into the bathroom, leaving me with my thoughts.
I fell back against the pillows, running a hand over my face. One night. That's what we'd agreed to. So why did it feel like I was already breaking that promise in my head?
The toilet flushed, followed by the faucet running for a little too long, and then the bathroom door swung open, revealing Sofia with a towel wrapped around her.
"I looked like a wild raccoon, sorry," she said with a grimace, clutching the towel tighter. She had indeed tidied up her makeup.
"You looked fine, still do," I said, finding delight in how she averted her gaze, her lips pulling up in the corners.
"I'm starving. Guess the cardio got me good."
I chuckled as I pushed myself up from the bed. "Why don't I grab us something from the buffet downstairs? Save you having to face the walk of shame in yesterday's dress right away? You can shower while I'm gone."
"That's... actually really thoughtful." Her mouth finally spread into a small smile, although she was averting her gaze from my naked form. Like we hadn't just spent the night fucking like horny teenagers.
"I have my moments." I pulled on my pants and reached for my shirt. "Coffee?"
"Black with one sugar. And anything with carbs. Lots of carbs."
"Coming right up." I finished dressing and grabbed my room key and phone. "I'll be back in ten or so.”
The hotel corridor was mercifully empty as I made my way to the elevator. Most wedding guests were probably still sleeping off last night's celebration. The elevator doors opened, and I stepped inside, pressing the button for the lobby.
As the elevator descended, I checked my phone, my mind still on Sofia.
Today, we'd start acting like nothing had happened.
But something had, and I didn't really want it to end.
I closed my eyes, battling with what I wanted and what was right until the elevator doors dinged.
The breakfast buffet was already set up in the hotel's dining room, with only a handful of early risers helping themselves. I grabbed a plate and loaded it with pastries, fruit, and a couple of croissants before heading to the coffee station. It didn't take long before I was headed back to the elevator, unable to squash the excitement of returning to her, and the slight unease that she may have left my room while I was gone, opting to flee before it got weird.
Was getting her breakfast too much? We were friends as well, surely this wasn't overstepping.
As I waited for it the elevator to arrive, my mind drifted back to a conversation I'd had with Leo years ago—the first time Sofia's name had come up between us.
"You're sure?" Leo's voice was tense as he paced my office. "She's Savoca?"
"As sure as I can be without asking her directly." I handed him the file I'd compiled. "Her father was Antonio Savoca, the family head. He was killed in that supposed territory dispute years ago."
Leo flipped through the pages, his expression darkening. "And now she's best friends with your sister."
"They met at college," I explained. "I don't think Meredith has any idea about Sofia's background. Hell, I'm not even sure Sofia knows about us."
"She knows." Leo closed the file. "The question is, how much? Is that why she's friends with Meredith? As an in?"
I leaned back in my chair. "From what I can tell, she cut ties with her family after her father was killed. Her mother went back to Italy, and her cousin Marco took over operations and moved them to Vintmere."
"Still." Leo's jaw tightened. "It's too close for comfort. The Savocas have never been friendly with us."
"What do you want me to do? Tell Meredith she can't be friends with her? What lie would I give that doesn't reveal who we are?"
Leo shot me a look then sighed heavily. "You know your sister better than that. She'd just dig her heels in, wouldn't she?"
He wasn't wrong. Meredith's stubborn streak was not one to be questioned.
"So we confront her," I suggested. "Make sure she's not using Meredith to get information. She doesn't know anything anyway. Scare her off perhaps. Watch her at first, see what we're dealing with."
Leo nodded, but his expression remained troubled.
"What is it?" I pressed.
"I met her once. Sofia." He set the file down on my desk. "It was at a charity gala here, right before her father was killed. Several of the various families attended. She was with him."
"Did you speak with her? Get a feel for her?"
"It was brief. I doubt she even remembers unless she were to run into me and make the connection." Leo moved to gaze out the window. "But I remember thinking she didn't look happy to be there, like she didn't belong. She looked... trapped. Reminded me of so many other mafia women, ones who were forced into it or used as alliance bridges with marriage."
"Maybe that's why she cut ties, she didn't want to be a part of it. Could mean she's no threat."
"Just keep an eye on her," he said finally. "For Meredith's sake."
I nodded, but as Leo left my office, I found myself looking at the photograph in the file again. Sofia Savoca, fifteen years old, standing beside her father at some family function. Her smile didn't reach her eyes.
Trapped.
Leo's assessment echoed in my mind as I moved to a more recent photo of her, at nineteen years of age. Just who was she? And was befriending Meredith just a coincidence?
The elevator dinged, pulling me from the memory. I stepped inside, balancing the coffee and breakfast plate carefully. The doors closed, and I leaned against the wall, suddenly exhausted.
Sofia Savoca. The woman I'd watched for over a year before we'd confronted her, and a strange alliance/friendship had formed in order to protect Meredith from the truth.
The woman who'd slipped under my defenses. The woman whose family history made her both familiar with and forbidden in our world.
No strings attached. The promise made me clench my teeth.
When I returned to the room, the shower was still running, and I set her breakfast down on the coffee table.
I stilled as I noticed the bathroom door was slightly ajar.
Had she left it open as an invitation? My cock swelled at the thought, and I found myself heading over.
One way to find out.