Chapter 21
CHAPTER 21
SOFIA
I lay in the hospital bed, watching Gray sleep in the uncomfortable chair beside me. Despite everything, I felt a strange calm. The bleeding had stopped hours ago, and the cramping had subsided to almost nothing. Our baby was still with us—still fighting despite barely being more than an idea forming in my stomach.
The door opened quietly, and Leo stepped in, his eyes immediately finding Meredith's sleeping form on the couch before settling on me.
"Hey," he whispered, moving closer. "How are you feeling?"
"Better," I said softly. "The doctor says everything is fine, that the little one is still there and growing."
His face softened with the slightest touch of relief. "Good. That's good." He glanced at his watch. "I came to take Meredith home. She needs to shower and get some real sleep."
Meredith had dozed off, her head at an awkward angle that would surely leave her with a stiff neck. I felt a rush of gratitude for my best friend, who hadn't left my side through any of this. Nor had Gray.
"What about everything else?" I asked, unable to stop myself.
Leo's expression tightened slightly. "The movement Roman and his team reported has settled for now. There were meetings—both families gathering their people. We're keeping an eye on everything."
I nodded, trying not to let the anxiety build again. "Thank you."
"You don't need to thank me." Leo's voice was firm but gentle. "You're family now. We protect our own."
Family. The word held such weight right now. For years, I'd run from what family meant to me—obligations, violence, control. But now, with Gray, with the Donatis, with the tiny life inside me, family meant something different. Something I wanted to fight for.
Leo gently woke Meredith, who immediately looked to me with concern.
"I'm okay," I assured her. "Go home with Leo. Get some rest."
She hesitated, but eventually nodded. "Call me if anything changes. Anything at all."
"I promise."
After they left, I watched Gray sleep a while longer before drifting off myself. The night passed in broken segments—nurses coming in to check vitals, adjust monitors, ask questions. Gray woke for each interruption, his eyes instantly alert, uneasy and on edge before recognizing where we were.
When the sun's first rays filtered through the blinds, we both stirred awake as Lisa came in for one final check with Dr. Kenner.
They did another ultrasound, and Dr. Kenner was smiling.
"Good news," she said cheerfully as she checked the screen. "The bleeding has completely stopped, and your numbers look good according to Lisa. Everything’s looking good inside, your little one is still growing inside. The subchorionic hematoma should resolve on its own, looks like it just gave us a scare. We’ll need you to do a few follow-ups to make sure it does fix itself. We’d like to stay ahead of it. But now, you can be discharged whenever you're ready.”
"Thank you, Dr. Keener,” I said, relief washing over me as Lisa grinned as well. “Thank you both.”
"Just doing my job, and taking care of one of my own." Dr. Kenner smiled warmly.
"Take care of yourself and that little one, Sof. I can't wait to meet them and share all our work stories," Lisa said with a chuckle.
I chuckled as well and nodded.
After they packed up and left, I turned to Gray, who was already standing and stretching.
"You didn't panic," I said softly, having been thinking on the one particular issue for a while. "When I was bleeding... there was blood, but you didn't have an attack."
Gray paused, nodding thoughtfully as he pondered it. "It was different. It was yours—and our child's." His voice softened. "I couldn't fall apart when you needed me. Something just... clicked into place."
The easy explanation made my heart swell. He'd overcome it in the moment for us. I doubted it was something that was cured or completely fixed, but it was still something important. He'd done the same when Meredith had needed him, when he couldn't afford to crumble.
"Thank you," I whispered, reaching for his hand.
He leaned down, pressing his lips gently against mine. "Don't thank me for that."
I kissed him back, savoring the warmth and solidity of him. When we pulled apart, I squeezed his hand.
"I'd really love to go home now."
Gray nodded, his thumb stroking over my knuckles. "Home it is."
* * *
Gray helped me get settled on the couch, propping pillows behind my back with such tenderness that my eyes wanted to water. Damn hormones messing with my emotions.
The hospital discharge had gone smoothly, and now I was under strict orders to rest.
"Are you comfortable?" he asked once I was settled with a blanket draped over me.
"I'm fine," I assured him, though the worry lingering in his eyes told me he wasn't convinced. "Really. The doctor said everything looks good."
He nodded just as his phone rang. Gray glanced at the screen, then at me. "I need to take this."
I watched as he stepped into the kitchen, his voice low. That was never a good sign. So much for being relaxed and comfortable. He returned after a few moments, pocketing his phone.
"What is it?" I asked, wanting him to get straight to the point.
He sat beside me, taking my hand in his. "Canzio and Maria are coming by. Leo and Meredith too."
"What? Why?" A flutter of anxiety rippled through me. Something must have happened, something new. The Ferences or Savocas were up to something.
"It's for a good reason," Gray said, squeezing my hand. "It's important, but you don't need to worry. It's nothing bad, I promise."
"Right, I feel like worry is my middle name now," I muttered, trying to read him. What could it be then? Surely not some sort of baby shower surprise or something. It was far too soon for that. Maybe they just wanted to be here for me, but honestly, I just wanted to be alone for a while, maybe just with Gray.
I just needed some quiet.
"Rest, we've got time. They'll be here within the hour," he said, and I sighed.
"Easier said than done."
He chuckled before moving closer and wrapping an arm around my shoulders.
"Close your eyes, Sof. Just focus on this moment, on us, on how we're alive and well. Everything else will work itself out, I promise," he said as he kissed my temple.
I wanted to do that, but I also knew things didn't just happen. We made them happen, and I'd been thinking a lot about what I needed to do in regard to protecting everyone. I needed to take things into my own hands.
But right now, I was exhausted from my broken sleep and stress, and closing my eyes for a short while wasn't going to hurt.
* * *
I awoke to Gray shaking my shoulder gently.
"Hey, beautiful, they're here, I'll go greet them and give you a minute to wake up properly, brush your teeth if you want to or something," he murmured.
I groaned, nuzzling into him again, not wanting to face anyone just yet. Just a little more sleep, that was all I wanted.
He kissed the top of my head once more, and I sighed, knowing I had to move. I slowly rose off the couch, stumbling towards the hall to go brush my teeth and maybe change into something more appropriate for guests.
What I wouldn't do for some real coffee.
By the time I exited my room, my teeth brushed, in more suitable attire and freshened up, I could hear voices from the living area.
Leo's deep tone, Meredith's lighter one, and the distinguished cadence of Canzio Donati. But then I heard another voice, one I hadn't heard in years, and yet it sliced through me like lightning, my heart skipping a beat.
"Mom?" I whispered, my footfalls quickening as I headed to the living area.
I stepped out, my heart nearly stopping at the sight of everyone spread out in my living area, my gaze landing on the one person I couldn't believe was here. There she was, talking with Maria Donati as they sat on the couch. My mother, Gabriella Savoca, now taking her maiden name Passeri once more, looking both exactly as I remembered and somehow completely different. Her dark hair had more silver than before, and fine lines framed her eyes, but her posture remained straight, proud—the bearing of a woman who had survived the impossible.
They fell silent as her gaze found mine, and everyone turned to look my way.
"Sofia," she breathed, and then she was up and rushing toward me, gathering me into her arms.
I broke. The tears came despite my battle, hot and fast, soaking into her silk blouse as I clung to her. She smelled the same—expensive jasmine perfume—and the familiar scent unlocked a flood of emotions I'd been holding back.
"How are you here?" I finally managed, pulling back to look at her face, to reassure myself she was real.
Maria stood from the couch, a gentle smile on her face. "I thought you might need your mother right now. No woman should go through pregnancy without her mother if she can help it."
I looked between them, stunned. "You found her?"
"I have resources," Maria said simply, her eyes softening. "And a mother's intuition about when another mother is needed."
My mother led me to the couch, keeping hold of my hand as if she was afraid I might disappear. "When Maria contacted me about what was happening, I couldn't stay away. Not with Ernesto trying to marry you off to Juan Ference, of all people."
The way she spat Juan's name carried a weight of knowledge, and I swallowed uneasily. But then she smiled warmly and nodded at both Canzio and Maria. "They offered me protection and a way here to be with you."
"Thank you," I turned to them both, smiling.
"Least we could do," Canzio said simply, while Maria just bowed her head slightly.
I focused back on my mother as she cupped my cheek, her gentle smile breaking as she looked at me.
"I know the Ference family well enough from my time with Antonio. Their treatment of women..." She shook her head. "You would have given Juan heirs, and then died of 'natural causes' within a few years because you're from a rival family. Even if there's an alliance in place."
The blunt statement made my stomach turn. "You think Ernesto believed that too?"
"I think Ernesto would agree to anything that preserved his power and position." Her voice was hard with certainty. "He'd probably even support it."
I held her gaze, realizing it to be true as my heart sank. I'd thought perhaps Ernesto was only looking out for the family, but with Marco's death and the truth around it, this fit right in. And it hurt, not to mention it made me sick to my core.
Canzio's phone rang, cutting through the moment. He excused himself briefly, stepping into the hallway. When he returned, his expression was grave.
"It seems Ernesto and Juan are not taking this setback well," he announced to the room. "My sources tell me they were planning an assassination attempt—against me and Leo."
"What?" Leo straightened, his hands balling into fists as Meredith gripped his hand tighter.
"They've been trying to find someone within our organization they can turn," Canzio continued. "Someone they can buy off or manipulate. They believe if they remove the head of the Donati family, and its heir, they can destabilize us enough to eliminate the threat we pose."
Gray actually laughed, though there was no humor in it. "They really think they can take on the Donati family? Take you off the board?"
"It seems they're realizing it's no easy task. They may be reaching out soon to try for an alliance instead," Canzio said, and both Leo and Gray scoffed.
"The audacity," Meredith muttered.
I shook my head, anger burning through my shock. "Ernesto doesn't deserve to lead the family. He never has." I swallowed, forcing myself to keep my emotions in check as best I could, but it was difficult. "I hate worrying about my cousins, about all the women bearing the Savoca name. And now this? He's going to get so many people killed, just like he did years ago when he got a handful of Savocas killed."
Canzio exchanged a look with Leo. "We found evidence of that as well. The ambush wasn't a mistake—it was calculated. A move to gain loyalty and favor with the Ferences. After that incident, Ernesto began funneling money into offshore accounts."
I closed my eyes as the pieces fell into place. My poor aunt, Caterina, had lost her eldest son that day, and her husband, and my father's other brother had died along with his wife and his young son. "This was all put into motion years ago, wasn't it? So many people have been pawns in his game, just to get him where he wants to be."
My mother took my hand, her grip tight. "That's why I begged you to come with me after your father died. You were supposed to take Antonio's place, Sofia. You were his heir. I was terrified Ernesto would find a way to eliminate you and take control of the family."
I'd known I'd be a target for that position, a position Marco had stepped into in my place, and now died for. But to think my own flesh and blood would try to take me out… so much for family.
"A woman leading a family is not unheard of," Maria said, her voice matter-of-fact. "And you would have allies, should you choose to challenge Ernesto."
My mother frowned. "That's not what I want for her. Sofia got out?—"
"And look where that's led," I interrupted, having already been thinking over it. I'd decided I was going to fight for my new family, and this idea had been lingering, one I was weighing. "Look what Ernesto has done to our family. How many more will suffer under his leadership?"
The room fell silent as everyone stared at me. I'd been thinking about this—about reclaiming what was rightfully mine, about changing the direction of the Savoca family. It was something only few people had the ability to do. Hell, I was the only one who could really do it, who could challenge my uncle considering I'd been the original meant to replace my father.
"I want things to be different," I said slowly, "For the children in our family. For the women. For everyone bearing our name." I turned to my mother, taking her hand in mine. "Do you think any of my family would side with me?"
"Sof… I don't want this for you," she said softly, fear and unease evident on her face.
"I know, but I'm the only one who can change it for everyone else now. Do you think anyone would support me? You got close with some of the family despite being a Passeri, right?"
She sighed, glancing down at our joined hands.
"Possibly."
Leo stepped closer. "I suspect many obey Ernesto out of fear rather than loyalty. If the truth about his actions came to light—Marco's murder, the ambush, the offshore accounts—it could shift allegiances quickly."
"We'd need proof," Gray added. "Solid evidence they couldn't dismiss."
Canzio nodded. "If this is the path you choose, Sofia, you'll have the full support of the Donati family behind you."
The weight of what we were discussing settled over me. Taking control of the Savoca family would mean stepping back into a world I'd fought to escape. It would mean facing dangers I'd hoped to leave behind.
But those dangers were already upon me anyway.
My mother and Maria exchanged concerned glances.
"This is no small undertaking," Maria cautioned. "Especially while you're carrying a child."
"She's right," my mother agreed. "The stress alone could be dangerous for both of you."
I placed a protective hand over my stomach, thinking of the tiny life that had already fought so hard to stay with me. But I also thought of all the other children in the Savoca family—my cousins, the next generation who would grow up under Ernesto's corrupt leadership unless something changed.
"I need to think about this, how to do it right,” I said finally. "But I can't just stand by and watch him destroy everyone, all those I still care for."
Gray moved to stand by me, placing a hand on my shoulder. "Whatever you decide, I'm with you. We all are."
I looked around at the faces surrounding me—my mother, Gray, the Donatis, Meredith—and felt something I hadn't experienced in a long time: the strength of true family. Not family bound by obligation or fear, but by choice and loyalty.
Maybe, just maybe, we could build something better from the ashes of what Ernesto had burned.