Chapter 6 Sophie
Sophie
Matti and Siena huddle together at the flimsy card table that passes for my dining room table, heads bent together, voices low and urgent. I refill their empty wine glasses with apple juice, the liquid catching the dim overhead light.
We walked for what felt like hours before Matti called in one of his guys to pick us up and take us here to my house.
It was the only place we could think of that ticked all the boxes: private, tucked away in a forgotten corner of Brooklyn, and completely off the radar of anyone who might want us dead.
Siena lifts her glass with a sleepy smile that doesn’t quite reach her eyes. “Love drinking out of wine glasses at your house!”
“I almost never have actual wine, but the glasses were my mother’s, so that’s what we use.” I laugh, the sound lighter than I feel.
I may own a restaurant, but money? I have none.
Nowhere is that more obvious than in my cramped little apartment with its thrifted hand-me-down furnishings.
The couch spring gave up the ghost months ago.
The so-called dining room table is a card table that’ll fold in half if you breathe on it too hard.
Pretty much all the dishes and silverware in my kitchen are from the restaurant.
“What did your mother think of you coming to the party tonight?” Siena sips her juice.
I shrug, not wanting to hurt her feelings.
She’s well aware that my parents kept us apart when we were children after Aurelio murdered her father.
She also knows they don’t love that I reconnected with her in adulthood.
What she doesn’t know is that since she hooked up with Matti, the underboss of the Demonio family, they’ve been working overtime to convince me to walk away from Siena forever.
That’s never going to happen.
“It’s not her favorite.” I keep my tone casual. “This was actually the first time I told her I was hanging out with you. Usually, I avoid the question, but I tried to calm her down, told her it was just a party, no big deal. You know how she is, though.”
Siena rolls her eyes. “Well, I know what you’ve told me. She sounds controlling, honestly. My mother rarely cares enough to be controlling, but since I stopped pretending we had a relationship, it’s been so much better.”
I squeeze her arm gently, my fingers pressing into her soft sweater. I know how hard this is for her: pregnant, her sister Emily gone, no family other than me and Matti. “I’m here for you, babes.”
She nods, her eyes glassy with unshed tears.
Matti’s been glued to his phone since we arrived, alternating between hovering over Siena and pacing like a caged tiger. His phone rings and he moves away from the table, dropping a kiss on the top of Siena’s head before taking the call. She and I exchange glances and listen.
“So it was Jimmy and Dante’s crew.” Matti’s voice is low and menacing. “And now that crew no longer exists? Good. Good…. Silk Alessi? He’s on our side now? Yeah, I don’t know how much I trust that asshole…. I’ll text you the address. See you in a minute.”
I suck in a breath. He must be talking to Vin.
My heart kicks into overdrive, hammering against my ribs, and I tuck my hair behind my ear then adjust my sweater.
Siena’s eyes narrow suspiciously, but I pivot away, crossing to the kitchen side of the counter.
I go to work automatically, pulling prosciutto, hard cheeses, and olives from the fridge.
The front door explodes open, and Vin strides in without knocking.
Like he owns the place. Like what’s mine is his.
I quickly scan the one room that is my apartment, seeing what he sees: a dilapidated brown leather couch, an armchair that leans to the left, a scratched up wooden coffee table with mismatched side tables and lamps with dusty shades.
Then us on the other half of the room with the chipped formica counter separating the kitchen from the crappy card table.
His gaze locks on me, his jaw set, pinning me in place. The air between us crackles. Then he breaks the spell, pivoting toward Matti. Crossing the room in a few steps, he yanks a chair out from the table.
“Where’s Silk?” Matti asks, glancing at the door.
Vin shakes his head. “I sent him on an errand with Grit. When they’re done, Grit is taking him to the Edge for questioning.
” He slams his fist down on the table, rattling everything on it.
“Tonight shouldn’t have happened. It’s one thing to get hit out on the street when it’s just us.
But in a brand new safe house? With women present? Somebody close is running their mouth.”
“If you were the target, you need to lay low for awhile,” Matti says, his grip on the back of Siena’s neck tightening. I know he wants to get her out of here, and Siena looks exhausted.
“That’s not a bad idea,” I venture softly.
Vin’s glare hits me like a physical blow. “We’ve been laying low, and this is where it’s gotten us.” He jabs a finger at Matti, his voice rising. “You and Tommy have been holed up playing house while there’s work to be done. Where the hell is he, anyway? He’s not answering his phone.”
Matti glances at Siena before responding. “He took Giovanna somewhere safe. She’s not having an easy pregnancy with the twins.”
Vin groans, dragging a hand over his face. “We’re at war, and we need to end this before one of us ends up in a body bag. We can’t do that if you guys are MIA.”
“You’re right.” Matti nods, staring down at the table as Siena leans sleepily against his shoulder. “We’ll all be safer when this is over. Now that Giovanna is back and safe with Tommy, we can focus on taking Aurelio out. But I do think you need to disappear while we handle it.”
Vin leans forward, his intensity ratcheting up another notch.
“That’s not the point. The party was last minute.
It was a brand new safe house, barely anyone knew the location.
And they still found us. Found me specifically.
” His eyes are dark, dangerous. “We don’t know who leaked it.
Could be someone in the inner circle. Could be someone we trust. Until we figure out who’s talking, none of us are safe. ”
Matti’s expression darkens. “You think it’s one of our guys?”
“I think we can’t rule it out. This wasn’t random. They knew exactly where to hit and when.” Vin’s voice drops to something lethal. “We need to find out who told Aurelio. Fast.”
The silence is suffocating.
I clear my throat nervously. “You can stay here.”
Siena bolts upright, instantly wide awake. “NO!”
All eyes are on me, and heat floods my face and neck. “I don’t have anything to do with any of these people. I’m at the restaurant most of the day, so you’d have the space to yourself. No one would even think of looking for you out here.”
Vin’s expression is unreadable. “Why would you do that?”
“Because she’s a nice person, you fuck,” Siena snaps. “But this is not happening. No way are you making her a target with your bullshit.”
Matti shrugs, his hand still possessively on the back of Siena’s neck. “It’s not the worst idea. And it doesn’t have to be permanent. It can just be for a night or two until we find something more convenient.”
Siena smacks at his arm, but he catches her hand mid-swing. “Try again, kitten.”
“Of course you don’t have to.” I can’t stop blushing under Vin’s hard gaze, and I hate myself for it. “And I know it’s not anywhere near as nice as what you’re used to, but there’s always food in the fridge and I won’t be here most of the time, so you’ll have privacy.”
Siena ends her silent battle with Matti, and he releases her wrist slowly.
“This is the worst fucking idea I’ve ever heard,” Siena hisses at me, her eyes blazing. “Sophie, I know you like him, but you don’t know him! Vin is an asshole, and you’re too busy to deal with his bullshit. He’s not worth getting killed over.”
My skin feels like it’s about to burst into flames, I’m so embarrassed. I shoot her a look that I hope tells her, with love, to shut the frig up. “It’s no bother. And if it helps you…”
Vin doesn’t answer. His angry intensity radiates off him, and he pulls a pack of cigarettes from his pocket and taps one against the table over and over.
Keeping my focus on the antipasto plate I’m assembling, I say quietly, “Unless you are averse to smoking outside. This is a non-smoking establishment.”
Silence stretches between us, and I continue slicing cheese until I hear the cigarette pack crinkle again. I glance up to see Vin stuffing the cigarette back in the pack with a scowl.
“If anyone’s hungry, I got some amazing olives in from Italy.” I hold up a large green olive in one hand, a smaller dark one in the other. “These big ones are Bella di Cerignola from Puglia, and they’re savory. These are Gaeta olives from Lazio, and they have just a touch of sweetness.”
Matti and Siena are locked in some kind of silent argument again, but I have Vin’s full attention. He’s focused on the olives, but then his penetrating gaze shifts to my face, studying me like he’s trying to figure me out. I smile softly, hoping I don’t look as nervous as I feel.
He stands abruptly and comes around to my side of the counter.
“You have a restaurant?”
“Yes, The Arsenal.”
“You serve sfogliatelle there?”
“Not usually. They’re time intensive, best when they’re fresh and warm.”
“So what do you serve?”
“I have some standards on the menu: antipasto, a pasta or risotto, saltimbocca or another chicken dish, then usually cannoli and tiramisu.”
“You make the pasta from scratch?”
“Of course.”
“And when you make pesto, do you use that Opalescent basil?” He eyes me critically, like he’s testing me.
I eye him back. “Not often. It’s rare, remember.”
“It’d probably taste incredible.”
“Want to find out?” When he doesn’t say anything, I gesture toward the basil plant on the counter beside him. “Hand me that, please.”
With practiced efficiency, I strip the plant of all its leaves, almost the last of my precious Opalescent basil, and feed them into a mini handheld blender along with olive oil, garlic cloves, and salt.
The blade whirs, and that unmistakable aroma of fresh basil fills the air. I feel every muscle in my body relax.
He watches me for a moment then scans the array of meats and cheeses in various stages of preparation for the platter.
Without a word, he picks up a knife and starts slicing the soppressata salami into thick rounds. I place one hand on top of his to stop him.
“It’s okay. Grab yourself a drink if you like and relax. I’ll take care of this.”
We’re both staring at my hand covering his, his skin warm, scarred. I pull back, embarrassed, wiping my hands on my apron before reaching for his knife. He holds it out of reach, a flicker of something like amusement crossing his face.
“What, am I not doing it to your standards, princess?”
“Actually, no, you’re not,” I laugh, reaching for the knife again.
He holds it further out of reach, making me stand on my tiptoes.
When I jump for it, I miss and stumble forward.
Right into his arms. My chest presses against his, solid and unyielding.
He grabs my waist to steady me, his fingers digging in just enough to hold me in place. I practically stop breathing.
I place my hand on his chest to push back, but he holds me firmly, his hand sliding down an inch, dangerously close to my ass.
Oh my gosh, his chest is so strong and hard, and as the seconds pass, his chest is not the only hard thing pressed against me.
“What the fuck am I witnessing right now?” Siena’s voice shatters the moment. She picks up a spoon and slings it at Vin.
Vin lets go of me instantly, any hint of flirtation evaporating. He puts himself between me and Siena, snatching the spoon out of the air before it connects with either of us and straightens to his full height.
“The fuck is your problem?” he snarls.
“You! You need to leave my cousin alone!” She slaps the counter to punctuate each word, and Vin leans toward her menacingly.
“Me? I was just helping her out. You’re the one who is screaming at her in her own house.” He tosses the spoon into the sink with a metallic clatter.
“I’m screaming at you, not her!”
I step out from behind Vin’s broad frame. “Siena, I’m fine. It’s fine. Everything is fine.”
She’s almost shaking with anger, her whole body vibrating. I start to worry for her and the baby with all this stress. Matti moves closer, positioning himself behind her, not touching her but present. He murmurs something low in her ear that I can’t make out.
“Yes, it fucking is a big deal,” Siena snaps at him over her shoulder. “He’s an asshole and treats women like shit. All women, but especially the ones he uses as fuck toys. Sophie, you are way too nice to—”
“Siena.” My voice is firm. She’s my little cousin but she’s always taken my quiet kindness as weakness, and it grates on me every time. “Thank you for your concern, but you have nothing to worry about.”
“Sophie, you don’t know him like I do. I’m telling you—”
“Thank you.”
Siena huffs and glares at me in the silence. Vin stands stiffly beside me, radiating anger.
Matti clears his throat then lifts his chin toward Vin. “If you need me, let me know.”
Vin gives him a short nod, and Matti drags Siena out and closes the door behind them.
When they’re gone, the apartment is suddenly smaller than ever and way too quiet.
When they’re gone, Vin turns his hard-eyed expression on me, the heat from him now ice cold. “I need to eat.”