Page 177 of The One
She grins. “Yes, Davide. He’s cute, isn’t he? He’s the one who mostly watches the monitors.” She tilts her head, studying me. “And where have you been? You disappeared for over a week.”
I shake my head. “That’s… I don’t even…” My brain stutters, still catching up. “How long have you been hooking up with him? And how? I’ve been gone eight days. How can so much change?”
Why am I asking this? I’ve seen firsthand how much life can shift in an instant.
“Well, those eight days felt like forever. Where the heck did you go? You could’ve at least said goodbye. Your visits are the highlight of my day. Okay, well, one of them.” She nudges me playfully with her shoulder. “And Davide, well, he got a boner watching me do yoga and thought he’d do something about it.”
God, she’s direct.
I tense. “Did he force himself on you? Because I swear, if he did—”
“What? No. Trust me, it was mutual and fun. I haven’t had sex in ages, and it’s a great way to pass the time. Stress relief, you know?” She smirks, then leans in closer, dropping her voice even lower. “Plus, I’m hoping he’ll help me get out of this hellhole.”
My spine stiffens. “Wait.What?”
She’s using him?
Sofia smirks, clearly enjoying my reaction.
I gape at her. “You’re planning an escape?”
She rolls her eyes. “Of course I am. I’m not just going to sit here and rot. Ineedto get out, Mari.”
My stomach clenches. “Sofia, I get that. But it’s too dangerous.” I lower my voice, gripping her wrist. “If they catch you—”
“They won’t. With Don De Marco shot, nobody’s going to care if I disappear. When Mateo takes over, he’ll have far bigger fish to fry.”
“You know about the shooting?” I gape at her. “How?”
She rolls her eyes dramatically. “Davide, of course.”
I exhale sharply. “Jesus. Hetoldyou?”
She winks. “You’d be amazed what a little pillow talk can do. Plus, I pose no threat to anyone.”
Unbelievable.
She must have him wrapped around her finger if a sworn-to-secrecy guard is spilling intel to a more-or-less prisoner.
“So,” she presses, “answer my question. Where were you?”
“What? Your personal informant didn’t tell you?”
“Well, nobody seemed to have a clue where Mateo disappeared to. But he did mention that you left with him.” Then her gaze drops to my hand, and her mouth falls open.
“Are you kidding me?” She grabs my hand, holding it up to inspect the diamond sparkling on my finger.
Her wide eyes snap to mine. “Are you fricking kidding me?” she repeats, more forcefully this time. “He proposed to you?”
Despite everything else going on, I can’t stop the smile that spreads across my face.
“He did,” I say, a little proudly. “It’s all a bit surreal.”
“So, is this some kind of arranged deal, or are you two actually an item?”
Arranged deal? Seriously? As if I’d go for something like that with him.
“I love him,” I say, my voice firm. “I always have.”
