Chapter 23
Chapter Twenty-Three
Sophia
Time passed quickly, too quickly, and I missed my daughter every day. It didn’t get any easier being away from her, but things between Matteo and me did get easier. We fell into a routine that seemed almost normal. Almost like it was always going to be this way.
It wasn’t normal, though. And even though we grew closer, there was still a gulf between us. One that neither one of us spoke about.
Not one of us mentioned the fact that I was nothing but his mistress, and he didn’t ask what Gio had been talking to me about in the club all those weeks ago. I didn’t either, but that didn’t mean it didn’t weigh on me.
I thought about it often, especially at times like this, when Matteo was away sorting out business.
I missed him when he left. That was the time when the loneliness was almost too much to bear, and I thought about Lily and my life back in the UK.
Part of me, and it was a pretty loud part, felt like sneaking out, although I wasn’t a prisoner here. According to Matteo, I was free to try to find a place I could call home. I knew that hearing Lily’s voice would make me feel better, and I could really do with Nat’s advice as well.
She would tell me to leave, though. She would tell me to run and remind me that I didn’t owe Gio anything.
But doing that would risk everything. I knew that Matteo had people watching me. He’d be stupid if he didn’t. They were there for my safety but also to report back to him.
Sighing, I fell onto the sofa and pulled the thick, knitted blanket over my legs. The weather had started to turn chilly, and with nothing better to do, I had turned into a bit of a slob. Sweatpants, snacks, and movies in that order and on the sofa.
I’d just picked up the remote when the intercom sounded, making me jump.
In the entire time I had been here, not once had it gone off. Matteo didn’t have to buzz himself in, and any groceries I needed were sent up in the elevator at the same time every day.
Jumping up, I stared at the elevator. What was I supposed to do now? Was I even allowed visitors?
Again, it went off, and this time I moved toward it. Pressing my thumb to the button, my apartment was suddenly filled with a man’s voice that I didn’t recognize.
“Hi there. This is Luka from downstairs. I have your brother here. Am I okay to send him up?”
“My brother?” Why did my voice sound so unsure? “Gio?”
There was a pause where I was sure he was trying not to laugh at me. “Yes.”
“Is…” Why was my voice shaking? Surely I should have been happy to have a visitor, even if things between me and Gio were strained? “Is he allowed up?”
There was another pause. “You are allowed visitors, yes.”
“Well, that’s good.” It wasn’t good. I really didn’t want to see my brother. No good could come from any conversation we had. “Send him up,”
I had just folded the throw when the elevator whooshed open and my brother stepped out. His eyes swept over my sweatpants and the baggy T-shirt with its cheesy stain on the front, and he shook his head.
“It’s good to see you, little sister.” Sweeping across the room, he pressed his dry lips to my cheek in a brotherly kiss. “Even if you smell of Cheetos.”
Pulling away, I frowned. “I can’t say the same, Gio,” I snapped. “What do you want?”
“Can’t a brother visit his little sister?” Without an invitation, he fell down onto the sectional, theatrically brushing crumbs from the seat. “You’ve turned into a bit of a slob. How are you going to seduce our enemy when you…”
“What do you want?” I asked again.
Leaning back, he studied me. “And I told you…”
I cut him off. “It’s been a month since I last spoke to you, Gio, and even longer since you dragged me here. So I’ll ask again, and this time you had best tell me the truth, or so help me God, I will call down for Luka and have him drag your ass out.”
My brother stared at me, and I stared back without blinking. Back in the old days when we were kids, I’d always look away first, but those days were long gone. I hadn’t gone through everything to stay the sweet shrinking violet I used to be.
I had a backbone now.
“I couldn’t come before, there was…”
“I hope the next words out of your mouth are that you were in rehab.”
Instantly, his eyes narrowed. His face became a mask of pure fury. “I do not have a drug problem, Sophia,” Gio snapped, and this time, there was real anger in his voice.
“The only problem I have…that we have…” he amended quickly, “is the one you're sharing a bed with.” His eyes swept around the place. “The man you are playing house with is our problem, Sophia, and I couldn’t come until I was sure we were alone.”
Pursing my lips, I studied him, and then with a sigh, fell into one of the chairs opposite him. I didn’t look at him, though. Instead, I looked out at the city. The city I loved, but that was not really home anymore.
“Nothing to say?” he prompted.
“I don’t know what you want me to say. You wanted me here and I came.”
“I want you to…”
“I am helping you, Gio.”
God, I was tired of this. All of these games were taking their toll on my mental health. I was strong, but even I had a limit.
“I know.”
I blinked at him in shock. Had he really just changed his tune?
“I mean it, Sophia.” Leaning over, he took my hand. “I know you are trying to help the family and that you don’t want to be here.”
There was a dark look in his eyes that I didn’t like at all.
“Mom and Dad would be so proud of you.”
“Don’t bring Mom and Dad into this,” I snapped before I could help myself. “If they were alive, then none of this would be happening.”
That was the truth.
“I know.”
Was it my imagination, or did my brother sound sad?
Wrapping my fingers around his, I squeezed them. I had to give him some slack. It was obvious he was struggling. He’d had to deal with all of this mess since they had passed all by himself.
“I am glad you’re here,” I whispered. “I’ve missed you all these years, Gio.”
“I know.”
We fell into talking. We spoke about light-hearted things, and not once did he mention Matteo, so I didn’t either. It was like old times. Back when I had idolized my older brother.
“Well, this looks cozy.” Matteo's voice cut through our laughter.
My head snapped up. How the hell hadn’t I missed the sound of the elevator? Maybe because we had been laughing so hard at an old story.
Jumping up, I went to greet him. “Matteo.” Launching myself into his arms, I reached up to kiss his lips. “You’re home.”
Half of me expected him to reject my kisses, but his lips were warm and firm against mine. “I’ve missed you as well.” Slowly, he untangled himself from my arms and turned toward my brother. “I’m not interrupting anything, am I?”
The tone of his voice said he was hoping he was.
“No.” Gio’s voice was firm. “I just thought I would visit with my sister.”
“We were talking about that time in the lakehouse,” I said quickly. At least that was the truth. We had been talking about that when he walked in.
“Yeah. Anyway, I’ll leave now. Sophia, walk me out.”
Confused, I stared at him. What did he mean, walk him out. The elevator was right there.
“I’m going to grab a shower.” Matteo’s lips found me again. “Come and join me when you are finished here.” He walked away, and again I was left with my brother,
Only this time, the atmosphere had changed again.
I followed Gio toward the elevator doors.
Turning at the last minute, he wrapped me in a hug that trapped my arms between us.
“Make our family proud.”
Something small and glasslike was pushed into my palm, and I jolted back, only for him to grab me again.
“Don’t let me down, Sophia,” he hissed in my ear.
“I can’t. Don’t ask me to do this…”
He cut me off. “Don’t let Lily down, either.”
Lily. My stomach twisted, and a hollow feeling opened up in my chest.
Now there was no mistake. My brother had just threatened my daughter.
“See you soon, little sis.” A playful kiss on my cheek, and then he disappeared like nothing had happened.
Like he hadn’t just pushed what I knew was a vial of poison into my hand.
Keeping my hand tight around it, I walked back to the sofa and fell into it.
My brother wanted me to poison my lover, the one man I had ever loved, and if I didn’t do it?
He was going to hurt my child. It was all so clear in my mind. What wasn’t clear was what I was actually going to do.
Matteo was just a few rooms away. He was waiting for me to join him in the shower, but how could I do that now?
How could I go into him and pretend everything was all right?
Because, a small voice said in my brain, because if you don’t, then he will suspect something.
Slipping the tiny vial into my pocket, I headed to the bedroom just as he stepped out of the bathroom,
“Is everything okay?” He was standing there and looking like deliciousness personified with nothing but a towel slung low on his hips. Matteo leaned against the doorframe. “You look pale, Sophia.”
My lips tried to curve up into a smile and failed. “I think I have a migraine coming on.”
“Dealing with your brother will do that to you,” he joked, but I didn’t laugh. I didn’t even smile.
Matteo’s smile dropped. Crossing the room, he pressed the back of his hand to my forehead. “Do you think you are getting sick? You don’t have a fever.”
“Just a migraine. Hopefully, if I lie in a dark room, it will be gone soon. I’m sorry I can’t give you the welcome I want to.”
Instantly, his arms wrapped around me, pressing me into his chest. “Don’t worry about that. Why don’t you take a nice bath and lie down? I have some calls to make anyway, so you will have the bed to yourself tonight, and I’ll make soup and…”
“Thanks, Matteo, but you don’t need to care for me. I just need to sleep it off. Maybe it would be best if you sleep in the guest room tonight?”
He paused. “Is that what you want?”
I didn’t answer him. No, it wasn’t what I wanted, but I did need some alone time. Which was crazy, because two hours ago, I would have done anything to not be sleeping alone tonight.
Now I just had too much to think about.
“You would tell me if something was wrong, wouldn’t you?”
“Yes,” I said without hesitation. I knew it was a lie. I wanted to tell him the truth, but the repercussions would just be too great. Telling Matteo what Gio had asked me to do was out of the question, because if I did, then he would also have to know that we had a child together.
A beautiful little girl.
Lifting my eyes, I reached for his face, letting my fingers slide down his cheek. “Yes, I would tell you.”
There was a decision to be made. Either I could be brave and tell Matteo the truth, or I could kill him.
Those were my options.