Chapter 14
CHAPTER 14
SOFIA
I stood in my father's basement, the concrete floor cold beneath my bare feet, chilling me to the bone. Sixteen years old with a gun in my hand, nothing new, although this time, this time it felt heavier than usual. My father's voice echoed from behind me, his hand on my shoulder.
"Do what needs to be done, Sofia. Show me you're worthy of your name."
Bryce knelt before me, hands bound behind his back. His sandy blond hair fell across his forehead, and those blue eyes that had looked at me with such passion just days before now shimmered with tears.
"Please, Sofia. I love you. It wasn't what you think."
My father's fingers dug into my shoulder. "He betrayed you. Used you. Fed information to the Malatestas. About us. About you."
My hand trembled and the gun wavered, emotions rolling through me like a storm.
"I trusted you," I whispered to Bryce.
"Sofia, baby, please ? —"
"Do it," my father commanded. "Protect this family."
I squeezed my eyes shut, holding my breath as I pulled the trigger.
The gunshot cracked through the basement, making my heart lurch in my chest.
When I forced my eyes open, Bryce's body was slumped forward, blood pooling beneath him. I dropped to my knees, reaching for him and turning him over.
But it wasn't Bryce anymore.
Gray's green eyes stared up at me, empty and unseeing. His handsome face was slack, a bullet hole centered in his forehead. Blood trickled down his temple.
I screamed, clutching his lifeless body as pain and despair tore through me.
"Well done, daughter." My father's voice came from behind me. "You're living up to your name. Wisdom through bloodshed."
I turned to look at him, and to my horror, my lips curled with a mind of their own, until I was grinning. Pride swelled in my chest at his approval despite the screaming in my mind.
But my father's face shifted, morphing into Uncle Ernesto's weathered features.
"The Savoca way," he said, stepping closer.
I held Gray's head in my lap, feeling his dead weight there as I stared up at Ernesto.
I couldn't move as my uncle pulled a knife from his jacket, frozen as I held Gray, shielding him with my body.
The breath left my body as Ernesto plunged the blade into my back, the pain a blend of fire and ice as he buried it deep, twisting it as a sob escaped my lips.
"For the family," he whispered as he knelt down. "Always for the family."
I jolted awake with a gasp, jerking as someone held me.
Ernesto.
"No!" I cried out, sweat beading on my forehead as I flailed.
"Sof! It's me, you're okay!"
Gray's voice pierced through my confused mind, and I ceased my fighting, drawing in steadying breaths as his arms tightened around me, solid and warm and alive. His breath tickled my neck as he pulled me closer against his chest.
"What's wrong? What happened?" he asked, stroking my hair soothingly as I focused on where I was.
The nightmare receded, leaving me trembling in his embrace. The weight of his arms around me, the steady beat of his heart against my back—it grounded me. I was safe. We were safe. For now.
A small smile touched my lips despite the lingering horror of the dream. He was still here. He hadn't left me in the night.
Gray pressed a gentle kiss to my shoulder. "Sof? Talk to me."
I exhaled slowly, trying to push away the image of his lifeless eyes. "Just a nightmare."
He sighed, hugging me tighter and nuzzling his face into my hair. The tenderness of the gesture made my chest ache.
"Do you want to talk about it?" he asked softly, his fingers threading through my hair and making my skin prickle in a welcome way.
"No, not really," I admitted. This was unfamiliar territory for me—waking up with someone who actually cared.
I'd never had a real relationship before. There had been casual flings, short-term encounters that satisfied physical needs without emotional entanglement. I'd convinced myself that was all I could ever have. My family background made anything more seem impossible.
And then there was Bryce.
My throat tightened at the memory. Not just from my nightmare, but the real memory behind it. The young man, only a year older than I was, whom I'd murdered on my father's orders. To prove myself worthy of the Savoca name, to prove my loyalty.
I'd fallen for him in school, given him my virginity, whispered secrets against his skin. Only to discover he was being used by the Malatestas—a rival family of ours in Ironstone, one that the Donatis had also had issues with after my family had left. There was belief they possibly were the ones behind my father's death ultimately, but they'd never claimed it. They were smarter than that. We’d never found out who had ultimately been behind his death.
Bryce had taken my heart, claimed to love me, and all the while, he'd been a rat.
So I'd killed him, even as he'd begged me not to.
I would never know if he'd truly loved me. But his death had been the catalyst that eventually drove me from my family. I'd pursued nursing, desperate to balance the badness I'd dealt by saving lives instead. To give back what I'd taken in a way.
"It's pretty early, but it's morning. Are you hungry?" Gray's question pulled me from the dark well of memories.
"Too worried to be hungry." I stared at the ceiling, reality crashing back. "I'm supposed to go with my uncle today for the proposal."
Gray sighed heavily, his breath warm against my skin. "I know. I wish I could say you don't have to, but we need the time we can buy with it." His hand slid to rest protectively over my stomach. "Breaking an engagement is easier than a marriage. Better than you turning down the proposal and putting yourself at risk. As long as you'll be safe there."
"I'll be as safe as can be. Can't go killing the bride-to-be before the wedding to forge the alliance," I said with a scoff. Neither party would be that stupid, and especially not in Donati or Malatesta territory. This city wasn't theirs, and they weren't about to forget it.
He shifted behind me. "I wish I could go with you, I don't like this at all."
I rolled over to face him, taking in his stubbled jaw and sleep-tousled hair. Even rumpled from sleep, he looked unfairly handsome. "I know you want to be there for me, to help, but this isn't your fight, this is my family."
Gray cupped my face, a smirk spreading across his face. "Sof, shut up." His tone was gentle despite his words. "We're in this together now, whether you like it or not."
I managed a small smile at this, finding comfort in him right now. I didn't want to do this alone, even though I didn't want anyone else to get hurt because of me.
But like he'd said, I couldn't make those choices for those around me.
His smirk faded into a soft smile as his thumb brushed over my cheek
"You know, Sof, I knew you were what I wanted long ago. Finally having you at the wedding sealed it for me. I tried to fight my feelings until now, but I won't anymore."
I blinked, staring at him, completely lost for words as my heart skipped several beats. He wanted me and had feelings for me for a long time? More than just our one night, more than some passing thing? Sure, I'd always been drawn to him too, but...
He pressed a kiss to my forehead. "I'm going to order some breakfast for you, I'm just going to run to the bathroom."
I watched him head into my ensuite, my mind reeling. Before I could process his declaration, my phone buzzed on the nightstand. I grabbed it, my stomach dropping when I saw Ernesto's name.
Of course. Perfect timing, as always.
"Hello?"
"I'll be coming by within the hour to collect you." His voice was cold, businesslike. "Be dressed appropriately. You'll want to make a good impression for Juan Ference." With that, he hung up before I could respond.
Fantastic.
"Fuck." I closed my eyes, massaging my temple before I slid out of bed. Gray needed to be gone before he got here. I'd get this out of the way, and then I'd see what Gray and Leo thought was a good way to deal with this mess. I shoved down the sickness that rose at the idea of them getting involved and putting themselves in harm's way. I knew better than to think I could stop them.
But it sure as hell didn't mean I had to like it.
The toilet flushed, followed by the tap running, and then Gray was opening the door, his focus on his phone. "So, I'm thinking there's this breakfast place nearby, maybe some eggs benedict?—"
"You have to leave," I said with a sigh, cutting him off. "Ernesto will be here in an hour."
"You really think he'll come inside the house? I can just stay upstairs," he said as he pocketed his phone. "I'd rather be here for you when you get back."
"If he sees you?—"
"It's going to be okay," he said with a certainty I wished I could feel. "My bodyguard and driver are parked down the street. I'm not going anywhere. I want to be right here when you get back, and I'll make sure I have a better idea of what our next steps are." He took the few strides to stand before me, his hands gripping my shoulders gently. "For now, go along with it all. Say nothing about any of this, or the baby. I will figure it out."
"I wouldn't dream of saying a word." The thought of mentioning my pregnancy to Ernesto or Juan made my skin crawl. "And okay."
"I'll make you coffee and some toast if you want to shower or begin getting ready."
I nodded, grateful for his calm demeanor right now. I was doing my best to be the same way, but I didn't feel like it inside. "Thank you."
I turned and headed straight for the bathroom, my thoughts a tangled mess as I turned on the shower. The hot water did little to wash away my worries, but I did my best to steady myself and compartmentalize once more.
Since when had I lost the ability to keep things together easier? Maybe it was the pregnancy. I was going to blame that. I’d always been good at keeping my shit in order, something I’d learned to do long ago. Lately though, it felt like I’d lost the ability to handle anything.
By the time I emerged and wrapped myself in a towel, my mind had settled, focusing on the task at hand. I began curling my hair into soft waves, staring at the oddly composed woman in the mirror. This was me, able to play the part I had, to be who I needed to be in order to survive.
I could do this.
A knock on the door startled me.
"Can I come in?"
"It's open."
Gray appeared in the doorway with a mug and a small plate. "Coffee and toast, as promised."
I took a sip of the coffee, frowning slightly at the taste. "This tastes different."
"It's decaf, thankfully, you had some at the back of your pantry." He leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed. "Safer for the baby."
I rolled my eyes but couldn't stop the smile that tugged at my lips. "Of course you'd think of that."
Having him care for me like this was foreign territory. Sweet. Comforting. I liked it more than I wanted to admit.
I took another sip and bit into the toast, but my stomach immediately revolted. The nausea hit without warning. I barely made it to the toilet before emptying what little I had in my stomach.
Gray was right there, holding my hair back with one hand and rubbing soothing circles on my back with the other.
"I don't know how I'm going to do this," I groaned, resting my forehead against my arm.
"You've got this," he said firmly. "You're strong, Sofia. Stronger than you realize."
I nodded weakly and stood to rinse my mouth out and finish curling my hair. Somehow, I managed to finish the toast and coffee before brushing my teeth. Gray watched from the doorway the entire time, cocking his head as I applied foundation, trying to hide the dark circles under my eyes. Sleep had not been my friend lately.
The doorbell rang just as I was applying my lipstick. My hand froze, the tube hovering near my mouth.
Gray stepped up behind me, our eyes meeting in the mirror. He pressed a kiss to my shoulder. "Everything will be okay."
And for some crazy reason, I believed him.