Page 124 of Auctioned Innocence
“Marco? Christ, how are you? Your shoulder—” I answer immediately, feeling like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders.
“I’m fine. Healing. More importantly, we need to talk.” His voice is stronger than I expected, though I can hear the strain underneath.
“Is that Marco?” Sofia’s face floods with relief, looking as if she’s finally released the weight of the world off her shoulders. “Is he okay?”
I nod to her then focus back on the call. “How did you get this number?”
“Mario gave me the emergency contact before the penthouse. Said you’d have a secure line if everything went to hell.” There’s dark humor in his voice. “Guess everything went to hell.”
“Your recovery—” I start to say, but Marco cuts me off.
“I said I’m fine. Bullet went clean through, missed the major arteries. Takes more than that to put a Renaldi down.” He pauses. “Though I hear my sister’s been keepingyoubusy.”
Sofia gestures for the phone, worry still clear in her eyes despite his reassurances.
“Meeting’s set,” Marco continues before I can respond. “Council chambers. Tomorrow night. Emergency session about the recent security breaches and the threats against our family.”
Sofia’s already pulling up building schematics on the laptop Mario left us. My brilliant, dangerous girl.
“Who called the meeting?” I ask, though I already suspect the answer.
“Lorenzo.”
Sofia and I look at each other in disbelief.
“Says we need unified response to the attacks, better coordination between families.” Marco’s voice is neutral, but I can hear the underlying strain. “Something feels off about it, but I can’t put my finger on what.”
“Who’s confirmed?” I ask, watching her work.
“Full Council. Even the old guard families.” Marco’s voice hardens. “Lorenzo’s planning something big.”
“We’ll be ready.”
“About that.” Sofia looks up sharply at Marco’s tone. “I’m sending a team to your location. Time to bring Sofia home where she’s safe.”
Time seems to slow down. “Marco?—”
“This isn’t a discussion.” Ice in his voice now. “You’ve done your job protecting her. Let the family handle the rest.”
Sofia grabs the phone. “Like hell.”
“Sofia?” Marco’s surprise quickly turns to anger. “Put Dante back on.”
“No. Listen to me, big brother. I’m not coming home. Not until this is finished.”
“This isn’t your fight!”
“The hell it isn’t!” Her voice rises, echoing off the concrete walls of the warehouse. “Lorenzo betrayed us. Tried to have me sold. Used me to prove they could take anyone from any family. This isexactlymy fight.”
Silence on the line. Then, dangerously quiet, “What do you mean, Lorenzo betrayed us?”
Sofia takes a shaky breath, and I can see the pain flash across her face as she relives it all. “Uncle Lorenzo is the one who’s been feeding information to Viktor and Dominic. He’s the inside source. He knew about my schedule that night, Marco. He suggested moving my security detail to the perimeter. He made sure I’d be alone and vulnerable.”
“That’s—no. No, that’s impossible.” Marco’s voice cracks. “Lorenzo’s been…thirty-five years, Sofia. Thirty-fivefuckingyears. He can’t be?—”
“He’s the traitor.” Sofia’s voice cracks slightly. “We have proof. Financial records, communication intercepts, security logs. He’s been selling us out for months, maybe longer. The timing of the attacks on our warehouses, every compromised safe house—it all traces back to him.”
The silence extends so long I wonder if the call dropped. When Marco finally speaks, his voice is raw with something between rage and grief. “Lorenzo. Jesus Christ.Lorenzodid this to you?”
