Chapter 28
CHAPTER 28
SOFIA
I stared at my reflection in the mirror, smoothing my black dress. The fabric felt heavy against my skin, a mourning outfit for a man who wasn't dead.
"You look beautiful," my mother said, coming up behind me. "Just the part."
I glanced at the bouquet of white lilies Ernesto had sent that morning. The card with it had made me want to hurl them outside.
My deepest condolences on your loss. Family is everything in times of grief.
- Ernesto
My blood boiled all over again at his audacity, at the smug certainty that I would now fall in line.
Caterina had called earlier with an update. "Julia says Ernesto is calm, even pleased about Grayson's death. He believes you're vulnerable now."
Good. Let him think I was broken. Let him believe I'd lost my fight.
My mother guided me to sit on the edge of the bed, taking a silver-handled brush to my hair in long, soothing strokes. The familiar sensation brought me back to childhood, before I understood what our family truly was.
"You are strong, Sofia. Stronger than I ever was," she said softly. Her eyes met mine in the mirror. "I'm proud of you." Her hands stilled, resting on my shoulders. "But are you certain this is the right path?" Her gaze dropped to my still-flat stomach.
I placed my hand over my abdomen. "I know the risks—both of doing this and not doing this." I met her eyes again. "I've made my choice."
She nodded once, accepting my decision as she'd accepted so many difficult choices throughout her life. She handed me my handbag, sleek and black to match my outfit.
"I wish I could come with you."
"I know. But you'll be safer here. I don't want to imagine what Ernesto would do if you were there."
She nodded, but then she laughed slightly. "Honestly, I'd wonder what I'd do to him, given what he's put you through. But he'll pay for it soon enough."
The doorbell rang, and I headed to it, already knowing who it was after checking my camera feed. Meredith stood there, carrying a paper bag that smelled of pastries and a tray with three coffees.
"Thought you might need a bite and a decent decaf for the road," she said, setting them down before wrapping me in a tight hug. "You can do this. I'll stay here with your mom while you're gone."
"What about Gray?" I asked. "Shouldn't you be with him?"
"Leo's with him," she assured me. "Everything's under control."
I nodded, gathering my resolve. "Right, well, I should go. I'm driving myself."
"Are you sure that's safe?" Meredith's brow furrowed.
"Safer than putting a driver at risk. They'd kill one of Leo's men without a second thought, just to make a point." I embraced her once more, then my mother. "I'll be back soon."
The drive gave me time to compose myself, to settle into the role I needed to play. Grieving girlfriend. Defeated woman. Someone who had finally accepted her place in the family hierarchy.
What a fucking joke.
Now, I was driving out to Vintmere to meet in one of my uncle's restaurants. He'd not live beyond tonight. We'd all make sure of that.
I turned on my music, letting it drown out my unease and the knotted ball in my gut.
This was where it both ended and began. The end of a dictatorship, and the beginning of something greater.
* * *
I pulled up to the restaurant, an upscale place with private rooms perfect for business meetings and criminal conspiracies alike. A Ference man waited by the entrance, moving toward my car as I parked.
"Ms. Savoca," he said, opening my door with a practiced smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Allow me."
He took my handbag from my shoulder without asking, and I fought the urge to snatch it back. "I'll need to check this."
"Of course," I said, keeping my voice even.
Inside the restaurant's foyer, he turned to me. "I need to pat you down as well."
I clenched my teeth but nodded. "Fine."
His hands moved efficiently, professionally, but I still felt violated. I kept my head high, shoulders squared. I wouldn't show weakness—not to this man, not to anyone in that room.
"She's clean," he announced as we entered the private dining room.
Ernesto sat at the head of a long table, Juan Ference to his right. Both men stood when I entered, a mockery of respect.
"Sofia," Ernesto said, his voice dripping with false sympathy. "I'm glad you've come to your senses after such a tragic loss."
Juan nodded. "This is for the best. I assume the Donati family has been informed of our arrangement?"
"They have been," a familiar voice said from behind me.
I turned to see Leo entering the room, and confusion coursed through me. He was supposed to be with Gray. What was he doing here? What was going on?
He moved past me, heading towards the two men of the hour.
I tried to hide my shock, but considering Ernesto's smug look, I'd not covered it fast enough.
"Leonardo," Ernesto greeted him as he stood to the side of the table. "I'm pleased you could join us."
"I wouldn't miss it," Leo said, his face unreadable.
Ernesto turned back to me. "You see, Sofia? Everything is falling into place."
My skin prickled with unease as I glanced at Leo. Something wasn't right.
"Did you handle all the hospital arrangements?" Ernesto asked Leo.
Leo nodded. "It's been taken care of."
What hospital arrangements? My mind swam as my stomach twisted even more. This wasn't part of the plan.
Ernesto's smile widened. "I think it's time we put our cards on the table, don't you?" He gestured to the Ference man who had escorted me in. The man placed my handbag on the table and pulled out a knife.
My breath caught. I hadn't put that there. My mother—had she? No, that made no sense. She knew they'd search me.
But no one else had had access to my handbag.
Had it been planted? No, there was no logical reason for it being planted.
Why? Was everyone lying to my face? Was everyone playing me?
"Did you really think you could kill me in a room full of people, Sofia?" Ernesto asked, amused. "I'm disappointed. Your father taught you better than that."
I glanced at Leo, trying to read his expression. Had he betrayed us? Betrayed Gray and Meredith? I couldn't believe it. I wouldn't. They trusted him, Gray had trusted the life of his sister to him, and Meredith had married him.
He couldn't possibly be playing us all, right?
I decided to trust the plan, even if I no longer understood what it was.
"You'd be surprised what a woman with my medical background could accomplish," I said coolly.
Ernesto laughed. "Juan, it seems your new wife has spirit. You can break that however you see fit."
Sickness churned in my gut as Juan smirked.
One of Ernesto's men approached Ernesto, leaning down to whisper in his ear. Ernesto nodded, his smile growing.
"Ah, perfect timing. The family wanted to be here when you learned the truth, Sofia. You don't have the connections you think you do."
The door opened again, and my heart hammered wildly as Caterina and Julia entered, followed by several trusted family members—the very people who had promised to support me, that Caterina had said would back me. Had they turned? Was this all falling apart?
I hated not knowing what was going on now.
"As you can see," Ernesto continued, "your little rebellion has been crushed before it began." He turned to Leo. "The Donatis were quite eager to solidify our alliance, gain the assets and connections we could grant, all for a little bit of blood."
My blood ran cold, my mind spinning.
"What are you talking about?"
"Such a tragedy," Ernesto said, feigning sadness. "Complications after surgery, I'm told. These things happen. I mean, sure, the press was notified long before it happened, but that's nothing to worry about. It must hurt though, finding out your lie has become reality.”
No. That wasn't possible. Gray was fine when I left him.
With Leo.
My gaze returned to Leo, but he remained emotionless, his face blank as he surveyed the room.
"Julia," Ernesto called to his wife. "Tell Sofia what you discovered."
Julia stepped forward, clutching a manila folder to her chest. Her eyes were steady as they met mine, but her face was pale.
"I've gathered evidence," she said, her voice unwavering despite her appearance. "About Marco's death."
Ernesto nodded. "Sofia had Marco killed so she could return and take leadership of the family. Julia has uncovered the truth."
I stared hard at Julia, my heart plummeting. Had she actually changed sides? Was my belief in Leo misplaced? Or was she still going through with the plan? Why the hell was Leo even here?
Julia moved to the table. "I do have all the evidence," she confirmed. "And I've asked for more family members to witness this moment. So they know the truth, who they can trust in this family."
She nodded to one of the men, who set up a tablet for a video call. Several faces appeared on the screen—extended family, all watching with solemn expressions.
Julia opened her folder and scattered papers across the table. "The evidence is all here."
Ernesto looked smug as he glanced over the documents, but then his expression shifted, confusion replacing confidence.
Julia pressed a button on her phone, and a recording played through the room's speakers.
"The Donatis are snooping," Ernesto's voice filled the room, tinged with frustration and fear. "They know about Marco, I'm sure of it. How did you fuck up? How could they possibly know the truth? You need to fix this, bury it, I can't go losing everything I've gained, what I earned. Got it? Deal with this mess, or you can join him.”
Julia turned the recording off as she set her phone down, sucking in a shaky breath. Her voice wavered slightly as she addressed the room. "It was almost undetectable, but with the right people pulling the right strings, the truth came out. Marco's death wasn't ordered by Sofia. It was orchestrated by his own father. By my husband."
She turned to Ernesto, her grief transforming into rage. "You had our son killed for power and money. And not just Marco—Gavino, Litizia, little Edmondo, Orlando, Gio. All to eliminate anyone who might challenge you. All so you could take the place you wanted. I don't have the proof yet, but I don't doubt for a second that you're involved in Antonio's death as well." She gestured to the papers. "And you've been stealing from the family for years, started getting payments the day your brother, Gavino, and the others died. You planned it all, but Antonio knew Gavino's death was wrong. He made Sofia the underboss instead of you, too bad you didn't know that until after he died. I bet you would've killed her off too if Marco hadn't stepped in. It took you a while to kill your own son off, you tried so hard to control him, to make him do what you suggested, by being his 'advisor'. Then, you had the nerve to shift so much money when you knew the Donatis were onto you, stealing from the family, planning your escape when things got difficult."
Ernesto's face had contorted with fury, going red as he shook.
"How dare you," Julia spat, her voice breaking. "Murdering your own flesh and blood—the boy I birthed—for power!" She lunged forward, grabbing the knife from the table and swinging it toward Ernesto's face.
He caught her wrist, twisting it painfully as chaos erupted around us. Caterina pulled a gun from her purse, but one of Ernesto's men knocked her arm upward. The gun discharged into the ceiling, and suddenly the room was a battlefield.
Men loyal to Caterina and Julia clashed with Ernesto's guards. The Ference men stood back, watching the Savoca family tear itself apart.
Leo was beside me in an instant, pulling me behind him. "It's going to be okay," he said firmly. "Trust me."
Across the room, Ernesto had Julia pinned against the wall, the knife now in his hand and pressed to her throat.
"You useless whore!" he snarled. "Our son didn't deserve the power he had! It was rightfully mine!”
One of our loyal Savoca men tried to pull Ernesto away, but another guard of his yanked him back.
The door burst open, and more men flooded in—Donati soldiers, weapons drawn. And at the front?—
Gray.
My heart stopped, then raced double-time. He was pale, moving stiffly, but very much alive. Our eyes locked for a split second before he raised his gun and fired.
The shot echoed through the suddenly silent room, everyone ducking down and taking cover. Ernesto crumpled to the floor, blood pooling beneath him.
No one else fired. No one moved.
Gray crossed to me, his eyes never leaving mine. "Are you okay?"
I nodded, unable to speak past the lump in my throat.
Leo stepped forward, addressing the room, as people slowly rose from taking cover. "An alliance will still be formed today, as agreed."
I frowned in confusion, but Juan Ference stood, nodding once.
"The Savoca family will be joining with the Donati family," Leo continued. "And I'm sure Sofia Savoca agrees that the Savoca family is willing to cede a substantial portion of their territory to the Ference family for a peaceful alliance, while moving some operations to Ironstone. We will discuss specifics, but you have the Donati family's word that a suitable arrangement will be reached."
Leo turned to the tablet, where family members on the live feed watched in stunned silence. "As for the Savoca family, Sofia Savoca will now be in charge. Those who stand against her stand against the Donati family as well."
I stepped away from Gray, realizing what was going on.
Leo had made another deal behind my back, one with the Ferences, just not the one Ernesto believed.
Why he hadn't told me still boggled me, but I could only assume he did it because he knew I'd be against it, or I'd not be as surprised or confused enough. Or he was unsure if I was bugged or some crazy crap. I'd ask later. For now, I needed to speak up, to address my family, who were looking to me. Caterina was standing firm beside Julia, who was trembling but alive as she stood over her husband's body.
"My partner, Grayson Cassaro, has been gifted the Donati name," I announced, "and as I carry his child, our families will become one. You saw the truth, heard it, and witnessed what kind of man Ernesto was. I don't want that for this family. I want a better future." I looked to my aunts, who both nodded in support. "Some traditions and ways will change. I will do right by this family going forward."
Juan approached me, his expression unreadable. "This is not what I expected when Ernesto first approached me with an alliance."
"Life rarely gives us what we expect," I replied.
He studied me for a long moment, then extended his hand. "I look forward to our new arrangement, Sofia Savoca."
I took his hand, my grip firm. I hated him and the rest of his family, for their beliefs, their ways, how they treated women. But that was a battle for another day. "As do I."
Behind him, Julia knelt beside Ernesto's body, her eyes dry as she just stared at him. Caterina rested a hand on her shoulder, but her gaze met mine, and she nodded.
I spoke with the family, navigating how to deal with Ernesto's guards as the Ference family left. Caterina and Leo provided advice, while Gray spoke softly with Julia, who was still shaken.
After some time and coming to an agreement on many things, Gray's arm slipped around my waist, steady and warm. "Let's get you home," he murmured now that the Savocas were dispersing.
Caterina and Davide had hung back, sharing that they had a few loyalists who didn't come today, and they'd keep an ear out for unrest and any possible threats from within the family.
For now, they both believed I needed to return home as well, and tomorrow we'd begin figuring out which operations were moving and how else we were changing the family.
I leaned into Gray, suddenly exhausted as we headed for the exit. I managed a smirk. "I thought you were supposed to be dead."
"I got better," he said, the ghost of a smile crossing his lips.
"And you kept me in the dark why?" I asked as I glanced over at Leo on his other side.
"I'll explain everything," Leo promised. "But first, let's get you somewhere safe."
As we left the restaurant, I glanced back at the chaos we were leaving behind—at the family I was taking back, at the mess I would need to clean up.
But it would be worth it.
The Savoca family would survive this. And under my leadership, it would change.