Chapter 11
CHAPTER 11
SOFIA
I chewed my lip as I stared at Grayson's message on my phone screen, the same one I'd been mulling over for the past fifteen minutes, opening and closing it as I paced my living room.
Please call me. It's important.
My thumb hovered over the screen. Part of me wanted to ignore it since I'd already told him I was okay, but Meredith would be here soon. Better to handle this conversation now than have her walk in during the middle of it.
I had a feeling it had to do with my own mess, and not something to do with his sister, which was normally the case when he said it was important. And for my own mess, I really didn't want to get him involved.
I took a deep breath and hit the call button before I could change my mind.
He answered on the first ring. "Sofia, finally. Are you okay?"
His voice sent an unwelcome flutter through my chest. I closed my eyes, trying to ignore it.
"I'm fine."
"Okay, then what the hell is going on? I heard Ernesto is in the city. And Marco's dead? Jesus, Sof. I’m sorry. But now there's talk about some marriage alliance with the Ference family. Sofia, please tell me what's happening. I'm worried about you."
I sank onto my couch, suddenly exhausted. "I wanted to grieve the loss of my cousin alone. That's why I didn't tell anyone, not even Meredith until today."
"I'm sorry about Marco." His voice softened. "But why is Ernesto here? What does he want from you? Please, Sof… you're Meredith's best friend, I need to know these things."
My lip quirked at how he added Meredith in at the end, like an afterthought. She wasn't the reason he wanted to know, and I knew that.
My free hand drifted to my stomach, my fingers pressing lightly against the flatness that would soon change if I allowed it. My throat tightened as I battled what felt right and what was logical.
"He came to see me. Said I need to think of the family. That he might need my help." I kept my voice steady despite the tremor threatening to break through.
"Help with what exactly? This marriage alliance? Are you the one they want to marry off? I hear Juan Ference is in town, we know he's a bachelor."
So he knew about it all then, or enough of it. He was right on the money, but I knew confirming that was only going to turn this into a bigger mess. I needed time to figure things out first. To decide what to do.
"I don't know anything about a marriage alliance. Ernesto has a daughter, though. Maybe it involves her," I lied. I wondered if he could hear the falseness in my voice. I'd learned a long time ago how to lie well, so I doubted it.
"Are you sure?" He didn't sound entirely convinced to my surprise. "Tell me the truth, Sof."
I gritted my teeth, hating the guilty sickness settling in my gut. "I don't know what to tell you, Gray. Ernesto didn't mention anything like that to me. He just said there's some things in regard to my father's will and Marco's that I will be required for," I forced myself to sound casual, indifferent. "Look, Meredith will be here any minute. I should go."
"You'll reach out once you learn more?" The concern in his voice made my chest ache, but I squashed it down.
"Of course."
"Sofia, you do know if you need anything—anything at all—I'm here. You just need to ask."
I swallowed, wishing I could ask, that he could set me free from this iron cage closing around me, that he could make all of this go away.
But he couldn't. He couldn't help me right now, no one could.
"I know. Thank you," I whispered, meaning it more than he could know but accepting it was not an option. "I appreciate that."
I ended the call and dropped my phone onto the cushion beside me. Tears threatened, but I blinked them back. I couldn't afford to break. I needed to stay strong. To get through this.
The doorbell rang a few minutes later, and I dragged myself up from the couch, checking the security feed on my phone just to be safe. Meredith stood on my porch, a bottle of wine in one hand and what looked like a bag of takeout in the other.
I managed a small smile as I continued to the front door to let her in. I paused before it, forcing my smile to reach my eyes before I tugged it open.
"Figured you could use another night to chill out," she said, holding up the wine and food. "Thai from that place you love and a bottle of—" She stopped mid-sentence, her smile fading as she looked at me, her brows knitting together. "What's wrong? Did something else happen?"
Of course she was seeing right through me. She had a terrible knack for it.
I stepped aside to let her in, closing the door behind her. "That obvious, huh?"
"You're wearing that forced smile." She set the food and wine on the entryway table and turned to face me, arms crossed. "What's going on?"
The concern in her eyes broke something in me. I'd been holding everything in for days, trying to handle it all alone. But this was Meredith—my best friend, the only person outside my mother who loved me for me. Sure, she didn't know the horrific details of my past, but I doubted she'd let it change how she felt.
She'd accepted Leo, after all.
"There's… a few things I need to talk about. With someone, anyone. I've been trying to manage it on my own, but I can't." I picked up the wine and takeout, needing to do something to keep my composure. I carried them into the living area and set them down on the coffee table, Meredith right behind me.
"Okay." She moved to sit on the couch, patting the spot beside her. "Let's hear it. We've got this."
I managed a weak smile as I sat down, wishing it was that easy. Her willingness to help was always welcome, but I wasn't sure if there was a thing she could do right now except listen, allow me to voice it all and come to terms with the absolute hell that had become my life in a matter of days.
"You were on your honeymoon. And honestly, I didn't want to bother you. Finding out about Marco… It hit hard. Marco was... he was the good one. He let me walk away from the family business. He protected me. He was like a brother to me growing up, the big brother I didn't have." A smile touched my lips as I remembered times when we were younger. When life was not so dark and tainted with blood. At least, it hadn't been for me. He was older, so he would've seen it by then. The men always got involved younger than the women.
Meredith took my hand in hers. "I'm so sorry, Sof. I know the whole thing was…" She let her words trail off, unsure what to say. It hadn't been accidental, it'd been murder, and that was never an easy thing to grasp. It wasn't some freak accident or illness, it was cold-blooded manslaughter.
"I don't know the details exactly, just that he was killed after a dinner. I don't even know if he was shot, if it was quick or not." I swallowed, hating the emotions welling up inside me. "I couldn't go to his funeral. I wasn't invited because it would cause too much of a stir apparently."
"Oh Sof, I'm so sorry." Meredith squeezed my hands, her face full of hurt and sympathy.
"I wish I could say that's the worst of it." I closed my eyes, shaking my head with a scoff.
Meredith was quiet, allowing me to form the words.
There was so much more she didn't know, I just needed to figure out how to say it.
"My uncle Ernesto told me I was needed back with the family, that they needed me," I started, focusing on our joined hands as she drew in a sharp breath. "He told me why, what he wants from me. I didn't want to do it, then he showed up at the hospital yesterday, saying I had to. He even had Juan Ference there."
"Juan Ference?" Meredith's grip tightened. "Who is that?"
"He's the eldest son of the Ference family, a rival family of the Savocas in Vintmere. They were here too when the Savocas were here."
"Okay…" she said slowly, as if she was trying to connect the dots.
The words stuck in my throat for a moment, but I forced them out, needing to get it off my chest. "Ernesto wants me to marry him. Juan, I mean. As part of an alliance between our families."
"He what?" Meredith's voice rose to a near-shout. "That's insane! He can't just—it's not the fucking Middle Ages! He can't marry you off like some pawn in a chess game!"
"Apparently he can." I glanced out the window overlooking the garden, the weight of it all lifting just a little from finally sharing it with someone. "The Ference cartel has been pushing into Savoca territory. Ernesto thinks this marriage will prevent all-out war, especially now that the Savoca head has died. It's the perfect time for a rival family to make a move."
"That's not your problem!" Meredith's face flushed with anger. "You left that life. You built something new. They can't take that from you!"
"They can and they will, you know that, Mer." I kept my voice steady, watching how her face fell. She did know how these families worked, especially now. "Ernesto made it clear this isn't a request. If I refuse, people will die. People I care about."
"He threatened you? Or just in general because of a war on the streets?"
"Both." There was no point pretending he hadn't threatened those I loved here, because he had.
"No. This… this is bullshit." Meredith shook her head as if she could make it untrue. "Leo can help. The Donatis have connections, resources. They can sort this mess out."
I shook my head. "No. Getting them involved will only start a different kind of war, Mer. It would start exactly the kind of bloodbath Ernesto is trying to avoid. It's one life versus dozens. The logic makes sense."
"One life?" Her face tightened, the anger evident. "Your life, Sofia! Your freedom! That matters!"
"Does it matter more than all the people who would die in a war between these families?" I asked quietly. "Because that's what we're talking about. Real people with real lives. My niece, Marco's daughter, who's three. His wife, Cara. My aunts, Caterina and Julia, my cousin Bianca. Then the Donati family. I don't want any of that blood on my hands. I don't want people dying in my name."
Meredith's face twisted into one of despair and pain. She looked exactly how I felt. Lost and broken, unable to see a way out. "It's not fair."
"Life isn't fair," I said as I slumped into the back of the couch. "We just learn to play with the cards we're dealt."
"I'm so sorry, Sof. We'll figure this out. There has to be another way."
I took a deep breath, knowing I had to tell her the rest. The part that made everything infinitely more messy.
"There's one more thing," I said quietly. "Something that's making all this even harder."
Meredith's face dropped with disbelief. "What do you mean? What could possibly make this harder? Do I even want to know?"
I met her eyes, steeling myself. "I'm pregnant."
"What?" Her eyes were wide as she stared at me like I'd just grown a second head.
Well, in a way, I was growing something.
"I found out yesterday at work. I was treating a pregnant trauma patient, and realized I was late. I got bloodwork done since it’s only about two to three weeks since conception.”
Meredith shook her head as she process it. "Pregnant? To who? When? Why didn't I hear about it?" She furrowed her brow, realization dawning. “Was it at my wedding? Or a few days before?
Now came the kicker, and I readied myself.
"Your wedding night. It's Grayson's."
* * *
"My brother? You're pregnant with my brother's baby?" Her voice rose an octave.
"It was just that one night, after your wedding. We used protection, I think, but..." I gestured helplessly. "Nothing's foolproof. I think we may have done it in the morning without protection.”
"Holy shit. Holy fucking shit." Meredith's wide eyes moved across the room as she leaned back, comprehending what I'd just shared. "Oh my God. You're the wedding woman," she whispered as she finally looked back at me. "The one he wouldn't tell us about."
"Yeah."
"Does he know?"
I shook my head. "I just found out myself. And now with everything else happening..." I trailed off, the enormity of my situation crashing down on me again.
"Sofia, you have to tell him."
"And say what exactly? 'Hey, Gray, remember our one-night stand? Surprise, I'm pregnant! Oh, and by the way, I'm being forced to marry a rival cartel leader'?"
"This is beyond fucked up."
"Which part? It just happened?—"
"Not you and Grayson, God, no, everything else. Honestly, I had a feeling there was more there, but didn't realize you guys were going to act on it," she said, managing a smile for a moment before it dropped. "But… this is a real mess, Sof. I don't even know where to start."
"Exactly…" I muttered as I leaned forward, dropping my head into my hands. "I don't know what to do, Mer. If I tell Grayson, he'll try to stop the wedding. He'll put himself in danger. If I don't tell him..." My voice broke. "If I don't tell him, I'll be married to Juan Ference while carrying another man's child. A man who would not take it well if he found out. I could get rid of the child, do my duty to the family and protect everyone, but the thought of…" my voice cracked, and I swallowed as I touched my stomach. "And running isn't an option. They'll hunt me down. I don't know what to do. I've barely had time to come to terms with the fact I'm pregnant."
"I don't know either," she said softly. "But I do know one thing." She squeezed my hands as tears began welling in my eyes. "You need to tell Grayson. This baby you're growing—it's a part of you both."
The memory of that morning not all that long ago surfaced in my mind. Meredith coming over after being with Leo. I'd given her the morning-after pill, feeling guilty but knowing it was the right thing. It wasn't the right time then, and she hadn't known what to do or how to feel.
But this was different. I was already pregnant. It wasn't about backup protection anymore. I was growing a living being inside me.
"I know," I nodded, a tear escaping despite my efforts to hold it back.
For years, I'd accepted that my makeshift family—Meredith, her family, my coworkers, my friends—would be enough. I'd convinced myself I didn't need the traditional family I'd secretly longed for. Now, faced with this unexpected reality, I felt torn apart.
And then everything else on top made me want to curl up in a ball and hide from the world.
"But if I choose not to have it, it makes everything easier. To some extent, anyway," I muttered. Meredith didn't know who Juan Ference was, and I wasn't about to tell her the man I was promised to could potentially kill me. That was another can of worms that we didn't need opened in this moment.
"But Gray should know, don't you think? I mean, it's your body, and your choice… but he's my brother too, and I know he'd want to know, to at least be there…" Meredith looked so torn and uncomfortable now, and guilt chewed at me. I was asking her to potentially keep this from him, something huge. She wanted to look out for us both, and she was struggling.
"Gray could probably help, somehow, if you tell him," she said, but her tone lacked confidence. She didn't know how he could help either.
"How can he possibly help?" I shook my head, knowing it was futile.
Meredith was silent, lost for ideas and words, as one would expect. At least I wasn't alone in feeling the despair and hopelessness. It was selfish of me to find comfort in that.
"Is it bad," I whispered, "that a selfish part of me wants to keep it? To have family again?" I sighed, knowing it was silly, but I couldn't shake the feeling. "I want to give my child a better life, something away from the horrors I grew up with. But because I'm their mother, they'll already be a part of that world. And with Grayson as the father…" I couldn't avoid it no matter what. My child, if I kept it, would be born into this life, into a family that was full of danger.
Meredith shook her head slowly. "I don't know what to say, Sof. I don't know what the right thing to do is. Only you can make that call." She paused, squeezing my hands again. "But I truly believe Grayson should know the truth."
Tears spilled freely down my cheeks now, but I nodded. She was right. Grayson would be devastated if I made this decision without him. We'd made this growing life together, I couldn't take that away from him. Although, given the circumstances, many would believe I should.
But I couldn't. Deep down, I wanted him to know. I wanted to keep this child.
"I think I will," I said, wiping at my face. "Tell him, I mean."
"Will you call him?" Meredith asked carefully.
"I'll invite him over. But I think..." I took a deep breath. "I think I should do this alone. Have this talk with him one-on-one."
"Are you sure?" Concern laced her voice.
"Yes. He might feel weird having his sister present, considering..." I gestured vaguely between us.
Meredith rolled her eyes but pulled me into a tight hug. "I'm glad you called. It's a tough situation, and definitely not one you should handle alone."
"I'm not alone." I managed a small smile. "I have you."
"Always. No matter what happens."
I closed my eyes, letting myself be held. For just a moment, I allowed myself to imagine a different life—one where I wasn't trapped between duty and desire, between my past and my future. A life where I could tell Grayson about our baby without fear. A life where we might even have a chance.
But that wasn't the life I had. And wishing wouldn't change reality.
"So," Meredith said as she pulled back, wiping at her eyes. "My brother knocked you up at my wedding. That's one for the scrapbook."
I let out a startled laugh. "Only you would find humor in this situation."
"If I don't laugh, I'll cry. Or possibly commit murder." She gave me a watery smile. "Because I have no idea what else to do."
"Get in line." I reached for the takeout bag she'd brought. "I think I need food before we plot any homicides, and before I have this conversation with him."
"And wine." Meredith reached for the bottle, then stopped. "Wait, you can't drink."
"Another joy of pregnancy." I sighed. "More for you, I guess."
"The universe really has it out for you, huh?" Meredith said light-heartedly, and I sighed.
We needed to try to make light of it where we could, or it'd crush us.
We ate in silence, and I could feel Meredith trying to come up with ideas beside me. But by the time we were done, neither of us had any new answers for this mess.
"This sucks, Sof. I hate not being able to help," she muttered as she stared hard at the unopened wine bottle.
"Just listening and being there has helped more than you know," I said softly. "But I'm going to call Gray now, do this immediately. Like ripping off a band-aid.”
"I can wait until he arrives," she offered. "Make you a hot chocolate or something?"
I nodded, grateful for her presence, even if just for a little while longer.
The doorbell's sharp ring cut through the moment, and Meredith stood quickly. "I'll get it."
"No, wait." My tone was sharp, and Meredith hesitated as I checked my security feed.
My stomach plummeted at the sight.
Ernesto was on the front porch.
"It's my uncle."
"We can pretend we're not here. Maybe he'll leave?" Meredith whispered, but I shook my head.
My car was out front, he'd know I was here.
"Head out the back door, Mer. I don't want you involved in this, please," I said as I rose from the couch.
"Sof—"
"Please. I'll be fine. He's just wanting to talk about the engagement," I assured her. It was the most likely reason, although coming here unannounced was rubbing me the wrong way. Then again, the entire situation was unpleasant to say the least.
"I don't want to leave you with him," Meredith said as she gently grabbed my arms.
"I'll be fine, I promise." I held her gaze steady, wanting her to leave. I didn't want him to see her and know just how important she was to me.
Those green eyes were torn as she stared back at me, but then she nodded.
"Fine, but I'm not going far. Jackson said he was parking in the street, I'm going to go wait in the car with him. You call me or text me, keep me updated. I'm not leaving the area," she said firmly, and I nodded, knowing there was no point arguing. Especially not when my phone started ringing, Ernesto's name lighting up the screen and making my stomach knot.
I gave her a quick hug, waiting for her to head to the back door before I snatched up the takeout food containers and discarded them on my way to the front door.
I took a deep breath, forcing my expression into something neutral as I opened it. I couldn't let Ernesto see my fear.
"Sorry, I was having a nap, had a long day at work and just missed your call," I lied, "Please, come in."
"Hospital work is tiring I imagine," Ernesto said as he stepped inside, his tone bordering on sarcastic, but I let it go.
"Can I offer you something to drink?" I asked, falling back on the hospitality drilled into me since childhood.
"Vodka. On the rocks," he replied, following me to the living room.
I moved to the kitchen, my heart thundering but my hands steady as I poured his drink. I handed it to him, remaining standing as he settled onto my couch, arching a brow at the wine bottle I'd left there.
"I need to know you're definitely on board with this marriage arrangement," he said without preamble, swirling the ice in his glass.
"I'm still in shock," I admitted, which wasn't a lie.
"Juan Ference will be making his engagement announcement soon," Ernesto said, his tone clear that this wasn't up for debate. "You're expected to see him tomorrow for the in-person proposal. He has a ring."
Tomorrow.
My heart lurched into my throat, and I spotted my phone on the coffee table lighting up with Meredith's name. Why was she calling so soon?
Please don't come back inside.
Ernesto's expression hardened as he caught my gaze. "Remember what we discussed, Sofia. The people you love. Your job." He took a sip of his vodka. "If your workplace learned who you really are, you'd never work there again."
"This marriage will take me away from it all anyway," I countered, finding a spark of defiance despite the heaviness of it all. "I'll be expected to go with Juan back to Vintmere."
"Perhaps Juan will allow you to continue working in a hospital there," Ernesto said. "You could still visit your friends. I can make sure it's part of the marriage agreement."
The marriage agreement? Right, this was a contract of sorts, so there'd be something written up that was binding for both families.
How sweet.
My mind was fixed on the baby growing inside me now though, how I needed to get a handle on this as well.
The doorbell rang again, dragging my gaze away from Ernesto. I didn't want to grab my phone and get any closer to him than necessary. Besides, Meredith had called, so perhaps she was checking on me despite my desire for her to leave.
Why couldn't she stick to her word this once? To actually go and not put herself at risk?
If he threatened Meredith, the Donati family would get rid of him.
I shoved that selfish, dark thought aside. It'd lead to a war and too much death, but did the thought of Ernesto disappearing tempt me? Yes.
I excused myself, keeping my movements slow and measured. I pulled the door open, ready to hiss at Meredith to get away from here, only to freeze when I found Grayson standing there.
"Are you okay?" Before I could answer, his gaze shifted past me. "I know your uncle is here."
So Meredith had likely been trying to give me the heads up. Now I wasn't sure what was worse.
"Now isn't a good time," I said as I glanced over my shoulder.
"Sof, I need to know what's going. You're keeping things from me, just tell me the truth," he said as his eyes met mine once more.
"I'll call you later, okay?" I said in a sharp whisper. "I need to figure all of this out."
His eyes searched mine, and whatever he was looking for, he found. His mouth set in a grim line as he sighed.
"I'd like to speak with Ernesto."
"Gray, no, please. Just go." I tried to block his entry, but then I felt an unsettling presence behind me, and my stomach dropped.
"Who is this?" my uncle asked, his voice deceptively pleasant.
Grayson held my gaze for a moment while I tried to beg him to leave with only a look.
"I'm her boyfriend," Grayson answered smoothly, a charming smile spreading across his face as he extended his hand. "Grayson Cassaro. It's a pleasure to meet you, sir."
I stared at him, stunned, but quickly schooled my expression. What the hell was he doing? I wanted to shove him away from here, to yell at him for being such a dumbass. My boyfriend? What the actual fuck was he thinking?
Not to mention giving his real name. Did he think this was some power move?
"I was unaware Sofia had a partner of any kind," Ernesto said, shaking Grayson's hand with visible suspicion. "Unfortunately, it will need to end."
Grayson's smile faltered. "Excuse me?"
"I believe my niece has much to tell you," Ernesto replied, glancing at me with a cold smile. "Especially regarding her upcoming engagement."
Fucking prick.
My stomach twisted as Grayson's eyes widened slightly, but he didn't comment.
"I'll collect you tomorrow for the engagement, Sofia," Ernesto said, moving past us and stepping through the doorway. "Wear something appropriate."
The door closed behind him with a soft click that somehow felt like a gunshot. Grayson turned to me, his expression masked. That bothered me more than if he was evidently annoyed or upset.
"We need to talk," he said quietly.
My heart sank, knowing this was the time I had to share everything. So much for inviting him over and figuring out my words. I was going to have to do it right now. Everything was happening too fast, spinning out of control. I'd planned to tell him about my pregnancy on my terms, but now I had to explain everything—Ernesto's threats, the forced engagement, and our child growing inside me.
"Yes," I agreed with a defeated sigh. "We do."
I led him to the living room, feeling like I was walking to my own execution. The weight of all my secrets and my own past pressed down on me, making it hard to breathe.
Time to jump into the fire.