35. SOPHIE
SOPHIE
My father’s eyes light up when he sees me but immediately dim when he sees Vin’s arm around me. I writhe out of his grasp and open my arms to my father with a smile.
“Papà.” I kiss his cheek, and he grips my arm briefly, pulling me a half step closer before releasing me. He smells like cedar and the same aftershave he’s been wearing since I was little.
“You look beautiful,” he says, taking in the dress. I can’t tell if he approves or not.
“You’re here? I didn’t expect you to…” I trail off, trying to find a diplomatic way to say this. “I didn’t think paying respects to Aurelio would be at the top of your to do list.”
“It’s not,” he says, with a grunt and lifts his gaze to look at Vin who has moved close just behind me. “I came to pay my respects to the man who protected my daughter’s life.”
Vin extends his hand and my father takes it, giving it a firm squeeze with both his hands.
“Mr. Bellamorte,” says Vin. “Thank you for being here.”
“Your father was a man of consequence,” says my father, exercising the diplomacy I learned from him. “You are as well.”
Vin nods once. “I thank you for the compliment, but it’s you who is the person of consequence, both you and your wife, for raising such an extraordinary woman.”
I practically choke on air, as my father’s eyes drift to me. Vin doesn’t look at me when he says this, and I stand there frozen.
My father is quiet for a moment. Emotions war on his face: fear, shock. Disappointment.
I can’t watch this. “Papà, Vin and I are not together.” I say it gently but clearly, not just to my father but to Vin. “I’m here because it’s a difficult day, and I care about the family. That’s all.”
My father looks at me then at Vin, who is staring up at the ceiling and shaking his head.
Finally my father says, “I trust you. You’re a grown woman. I would offer you advice, but you know better than I what is right for you. Your mother may not be as silent on the matter,” he says with a chuckle.
I nod, fighting back tears. She won’t. I mean, she wouldn’t if this were a thing. But it’s not.
“The viewing is almost over,” Vin says, scanning the room.
Something moves behind his eyes when his gaze lands on Ronan’s group near the far windows and then resolves as he turns back to my father.
“Before the service begins, there are some things I need to handle. Sir, would you permit me to speak with Sophie privately for a moment?”
I open my mouth. “Oh, no that’s not—”
“Of course,” my father says, bowing his head and stepping back.
“Papá, you don’t have to—”
My father stops me with a look. “I will see you after the funeral, Sophia.” He touches my arm briefly.
Vin wraps his large hand around my small one, enveloping me, and when I look back, my father is gone.
Vin pulls me into him and tips my chin up. “I need you.” His voice is low and gravelly, his brown eyes almost black—
Frig. I know that look. He wants me.
“Vin. No. No!” I hiss.
The corner of his mouth lifts in a half grin, and I can’t help it. Instantly wet. What is wrong with me? We’re at a freaking funeral.
“That’s not your safe word, princess,” he says, walking backward and pulling me down a back hall.
It’s dark and empty and he’s pulling me into him, warm and strong and so freaking hard and suddenly my heart is pounding but for an entirely different reason.
“I’m not staying with you, Vin.”
“Make up your mind, Sophia. You said you didn’t want me staying with you, which means you’re staying with me.”
“That’s not what I—”
Vin grips my shoulders tight enough to bruise and slams his mouth into mine. My whole body responds by going almost completely limp in his grasp.
Jesus Christ, seriously, what is wrong with me?
“Vin, you’re grieving.”
“I’m not.” He devours my neck, pulling my dress down over my shoulder with a crack of ripped stitches. Oh Jesus.
“This really feels like some sort of psychotic break, Vin. This is not you. Not any of it.”
He pulls back from my neck. “Stop talking.”
“People do strange things when they go through a big life change, and becoming boss is a huge change.”
“Sophia. Stop. Talking.”
I glance back over my shoulder down the hallway toward the pavilion full of mourners and a corpse waiting to be buried.
“This could not be more inappropriate, Vin.”
He groans and bends down, grabbing me under my ass and throwing me over his shoulder before I have time to figure out what’s going on.
“Vincenzo!”
“Sophie, say one more fucking word and you will regret it.” He kicks open a door, and carries me through it.
I shriek. “Vin!”
“I warned you.”