Page 81 of The Mafia's Broken Vows

“Oh my God,” I breathe.

Sophie smiles at my reaction. “I know, Addy. Hard to believe a place like this exists, right here in Chicago. It was a crime to make you stare at mirrors and wall murals when you could look at this!”

I nod, still absorbing the view. The contrast between the dark, hidden basement of the mansion and this bright, open expanse is striking. It’s like stepping into a different world altogether.

Sophie drops her voice to a whisper, “In case you were wondering how we found you, it was Falzone, the butler who told Aydin that Sal brought you here. You see, nothing in this house ever gets past the staff. Anyway, I figured if you’re going to be stuck here for a while, it might be better if you didn’t feel like you were in a prison.”

“Oh, I’m not staying,” I say. “Sal just brought me here to crash after . . . last night.”

Sophie doesn’t respond, but her expressive eyes say it all. I might as well be dreaming.

“What?” I ask.

“I don’t know if you’ve noticed the labyrinth in the belly of this place and the glaring lack of cellphone signal. This isn’t really a place to crash, Addy. It’s a place to disappear.”

Chapter Twenty-Six

Adele

It’s a place to disappear.

Sophie's words echo in my head. The logical part of me knows she's telling the truth as I piece together everything that has happened since last night, but the stubborn part of me refuses to accept it.

Who would choose to live like this, and why? Does it mean the people within this mansion are cut off from the world?

I glance back to see Antonella retrieving something from the oven. She hums a tune that sounds suspiciously like a funeral dirge, yet her floral loungewear clashes cheerfully with the somber melody. She shoots me a kind smile before returning to her task.

My gaze shifts to Sophie. Faint smudges under her eyes hint at a sleepless night, but her skin still radiates health, her cheeks rosy with the glow of pregnancy. Like me, she's barefoot and she's paired Nico’s shirt with soft leggings.

They look like a normal family, not a crime syndicate living in a luxurious black hole.

“Does everyone live here?” It’s certainly big enough to house a small village.

“Here?” Sophie’s face takes on a look of mock horror. “Oh, hell no. Only Nico’s parents live here. Although, after what happened yesterday, Nico has been hinting about me staying here until the twins are born.”

My eyes make a beeline for her stomach again, and I try not to wince. I can’t imagine what she’s going through with a twin pregnancy. And then it occurs to me that I don’t even know what or how many I’m carrying.

Shit! I need a scan, pronto.

Sophie, oblivious to my mini-meltdown, continues. “I was fully prepared to kick up a huge fuss, but maybe it won’t be so bad being cooped up here. I’m sure we can both find enough trouble to get into.”

Her open friendliness pulls at me, and for some reason, I find myself trusting her. “Sophie, I really can’t stay here. I’ve got work and a dad back in Boston. They’re expecting me at work tomorrow.”

Sophie nods thoughtfully. “How long did Dante say you’d be here for?”

Good question. “I haven’t had time to . . . talk to him.” We’ve been too busy doing other things.

I look away to hide the flush in my cheeks, but not before catching the knowing glint in her eyes.

“You know, Nico and I just got in a few hours ago, so I’ve not had a chance to speak to Dante properly either. He and Nico are talking now, which is code for someone’s probably getting a black eye, but he’ll soon be free to talk to you.”

“Sophie, what does it mean to be ‘off-grid’?” I ask.

“What?”

“I heard Dante tell Sal to put me ‘off-grid’ or something.”

Sophie’s eyes widen, her full lips pouting into an O.

---