Chapter 25 Sophie
Sophie
The osso bucco is steaming hot, filling my car with the scent of braised veal, red wine, and saffron risotto. It’s Siena’s favorite, and I made extra, enough for Matti, Giovanna, Tommy, and then some, because cooking is easier than thinking about Vin.
My hands tighten on the steering wheel as I navigate toward Dragovari Tower. The rage simmers just below my ribs, hot and acidic.
There is almost nothing I would deny Vin. He can do whatever he wants to my body and I’ll beg him for more. But when he messes with my food, food that I have prepared with care, working hard to achieve the perfect texture and flavor—that’s where I draw the line.
Telling him about Aurelio was a mistake, but he needs to know what I’m capable of.
When he left, I didn’t know what to expect.
For all I knew, I’d never see him again.
But he was at my house when I got home that night.
He slept in my bed next to me. For days, we’ve been moving past each other, going to bed at different times, coming and going without speaking, without touching.
I don’t know where he’s been eating. I tell myself I don’t care.
Dragovari Tower rises against the twilight sky, all steel and glass with its giant concrete front doors. The lobby is marble and security cameras, men in suits with dead eyes who nod at me as I pass. They know me now: Siena’s cousin, the one who brings food.
The private elevator hums as it takes me up to the penthouse. I balance the insulated carriers carefully, my mind far away.
“You’re nothing but my fuckhole, aren’t you?”
“I love being your fuckhole, padrone.”
I did love it. I do love it. The way he takes me, uses me, pushes me past every boundary I thought I had.
The wooden spoon against my skin. His fingers in my ass while his cock pounds my pussy, fucking me into oblivion.
The words that pour out of me, begging him for more, when he fucks me into a state of bliss.
But disrespecting my food? In my own kitchen?
No. Absolutely not okay.
When the elevator arrives, Siena whips open the front door to the penthouse immediately and claps, her eyes bright, when she sees the containers.
“I could smell that osso bucco from the moment you hit the lobby!” She takes the top tray from me, and ushers me into the penthouse she shares with Matti.
Giovanna is sprawled on the enormous sectional in the living room, her pregnant belly round with twins curved under a loose sweater.
I wave at her as I set the containers on the kitchen counter. “There’s risotto alla milanese and gremolata too. There’s also—”
“She made extra,” Giovanna is beautiful, glowing. “She always makes extra.”
“You two are eating for five,” I point out, peeling off the lids to the containers.
Siena and Matti’s kitchen is a chef’s wet dream: professional-grade appliances, more space than my entire apartment.
Just gorgeous. I wonder what Vin’s kitchen looks like, if he ever spends time there anymore.
If he’s eating there. If not, where he’s eating.
What he’s eating. Whose food he’s eating.
“Earth to Sophie.” Siena snaps her fingers in front of my face, and I blink. She’s studying me with those sharp eyes that miss nothing. “Where’d you go just now?”
“Nowhere.” I smile and start unpacking the food. “Just thinking about the dessert I left in the car, panna cotta with blood orange compote.”
“Liar.” But Siena lets it go and helps me plate everything while Giovanna waddles over to lean against the counter.
We settle at the dining table, a massive thing that could seat 12 but feels intimate with just the three of us. I serve them generous portions, watching their faces as they take the first bites.
Siena moans. “Oh my God, Sophie. I’m naming this baby after you.”
“You can’t name your baby girl Sophie.” I get myself a glass of water, unable to eat even though I haven’t had anything all day. My stomach is a knot of rage and confusion and just sadness.
“Yes, this little one is Emilia, after Emily.” Siena’s eyes go soft at the mention of her dead sister. “Emilia Sophia Bellamorte Dragovari.”
My hand shoots up to cover my mouth and tears spring to my eyes. “Really?”
Siena nods, equally teary. “With Emily as her guardian angel in heaven and you as her godmother here on earth, she can’t lose.”
Sobs shake my shoulders. “Oh my God, Siena.” We both stand and I fall into her arms and hug her tightly. Even Giovanna is crying. I wave her in. “Come on, group hug!”
The three of us hug and cry and laugh all at the same time until Siena pulls back and settles heavily into a seat at the table. “Okay, I have to eat!”
I laugh along with her and sit as well as Giovanna reaches across the table and squeezes my hand. “You seem tense, Sophie. Everything okay at the restaurant?”
“Fine. The Arsenal is doing great.” The lie tastes sour. “Just busy.”
“Rocco still being a problem?” Siena asks, and there’s a protective edge to her voice.
“No. I fired him.”
“Finally.” Siena stabs a piece of veal like she’s imagining it’s Rocco’s face. “That guy was a complete waste of space. You deserve so much better than—”
“You were right,” I laugh, not interested in a lecture. According to Siena, no man is good enough for me. “And don’t worry. Vin has thrown him out bodily twice now, so hopefully this time it sticks.”
“Vin.” Giovanna raises her eyebrows and glances at Siena, who looks like she just tasted something bitter, pausing with her fork halfway to her mouth.
She sets it down carefully. “Sophie.”
I tilt my head at her, sipping my water and knowing what’s coming.
“Sophie, please tell me you’re not—” Siena’s voice climbs. “You didn’t sleep with Vin, did you?”
My silence is answer enough.
“FUCK!” Siena explodes, slamming her palms on the table hard enough to rattle the dishes. “Sophie! What were you thinking?!”
“Siena—” Giovanna tries, but Siena is already on her feet, pacing, hands pressed to her temples.
“I told you! I told you he’s a piece of shit! I told you he uses women and throws them away! And you let him—oh my God, is he still staying at your house? Even after that?”
Heat floods my face. “That’s not—”
“He IS!” Siena whirls on me, her eyes blazing. “Matti told me Vin said something on the phone the other day, something about thanking you with his cock. I thought Matti was joking, Sophie! There’s no way you’d be that stupid!”
Stupid? Am I stupid for wanting him? For craving the way he uses me, hurts me, makes me feel like I’m the only thing in his world even when he’s calling me his whore?
“You don’t understand,” I say quietly.
“Wait. Are you still fucking him? How?” She exchanges a baffled glance with Giovanna. “How is that even possible? That’s not even a thing with Vin, like not even a possibility.”
“It’s hard to explain,” I sigh.
“Try!” Siena drops back into her chair, breathing hard. “Because from where I’m sitting, you’re letting a man who will never love anyone but himself use you for food, a place to hide, and a place to come because he’s got nothing better to do.”
Every word cuts like a knife, precise and painful. And every word is true.
“Siena,” Giovanna murmurs. “Maybe—”
“No. It’s not just that he’s an asshole.” Siena’s voice goes cold. She reaches across the table and grabs my hand, her grip tight. “Sophie, listen to me. Aurelio is looking for Vin, actively hunting him. Do you know what Aurelio did to me when he wanted to hurt Matti?”
I know the story. Everyone knows the story. But I shake my head, because Siena needs to tell it.
“He kidnapped me.” Her voice is flat, emotionless. “He drugged me, tied me to a board, and tried to rape me in front of Matti.”
My stomach turns to ice, and Giovanna closes her eyes softly for a moment. I know she’s had her own struggles with Aurelio. He had her kidnapped and held her for months.
“He would have done it, too. If I hadn’t broken his nose and stabbed him in the dick with a fire poker.” She laughs, a hard dry sound.
I sit very still, thinking of the scar I left on Aurelio’s face. I bet he hates how many scars the Bellamorte women have given him.
“That’s what he does to his sons, Sophie.
” Siena’s grip on my hand tightens. “He finds what they love and he destroys it to hurt them. And if he finds out Vin is staying with you? If he even suspects Vin gives half a fuck about you? You won’t just be a target.
You’ll be a weapon, and Aurelio will use you to hurt him. ”
“Vin doesn’t care about me.” The words come out before I can stop them. “He’s made that abundantly clear.”
Siena studies my face for a long moment. Then she leans back, releasing my hand. “But you care about him.”
It’s not a question.
“Fuck, Sophie.” Siena rubs her temples. “This is not good.”
“Why?” I ask, hearing the edge in my voice. “Because I’m sleeping with him? Or because Vin choosing to stay with me instead of actively fighting this war means something you don’t want to say out loud?”
Giovanna and Siena exchange a look.
“Both,” Siena says finally. She leans forward again, her voice dropping so low I have to strain to hear it.
“Sophie, if Aurelio doesn’t hurt you, then Vin will.
That’s what he does. Honestly, I’m shocked that he’s stayed this long.
But when he is eventually done with you, he’ll walk away without looking back.
And I know you, Soph. Your heart is so big and kind, you’ll be crushed. ”
She’s more right than she knows, but I say nothing, holding her gaze.
“You need to end it,” Siena says. “Now. Before it’s too late.”
I think about the wooden spoon against my ass. The way he grabbed my hair and fucked my face when I fell asleep with his cock in my mouth. My legs on his shoulders while he fucked my ass. The butter and his fingers and the way I begged him.
Then I think about the cannoli cream. The line he crossed. The knife I held to his throat.
“I appreciate your concern,” I say. “But I can handle myself.”
“Can you?” Siena’s eyes bore into mine. “Because I got lucky. And the only other time a Bellamorte woman got involved with the Demonios, she ended up dead.”
The weight of Emily’s ghost settles over the table.
“That’s not fair,” Giovanna says softly.
“No, it wasn’t fair,” Siena agrees. “But it’s true.”
I stand, smoothing my hands over my jeans. “I should go. I have to open early tomorrow.”
“Sophie—”
“Thank you for the concern.” I keep my voice light. “Really. But I’m fine.”
Siena groans as she rises and squeezes me tight. In my ear, she whispers, “I just love you. That’s all. I can’t lose you, too.”
I hug her back and give her a big smile I don’t feel.