Page 250 of The One
Tears burn behind my eyes, but I refuse to let them fall. “It’s the only way. There’s no leaving the Mafia, Isa. Not alive. You know that. But Teo and I, we have a plan.”
She’s shaking her head again, her breathing unsteady. “Mari, you can’t ask me to just pretend you’regone.Do you have any idea what this will do tomamma? To all of us?”
I swallow hard, the guilt already suffocating me. “I know. And I hate it. But it’s the only way we get to live,really live.
“And you’ll have to act like you’ve actually lost me. You’ll have to play your part, or the whole scheme will fail. I know I’m asking a lot, but I couldn’t let you believe I was dead when I’m not.”
She drags a shaky hand through her hair, her expression twisting with conflict.
“Tiero left plans and money in untraceable offshore accounts.” My voice wavers slightly, and I take another breath. “He made all these preparations. For when he got Ella back. And he shared them with Teo, told him to get out. We’re using those plans now.”
Isa stares at me for a long moment, then suddenly lunges forward, pulling me into a fierce hug.
“You better not actually die,” she chokes out.
I cling to her, my heart aching. “We won’t.”
She pulls back, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. “When?”
I shrug my shoulders. “That part isn’t clear yet. But if you hear of an attack, don’t fret, okay?”
My phone buzzes on the coffee table, an unknown number flashing on the display.
Hmm, how odd.
This is a secured line. No one should be able to reach me unless I’ve given them the number.
I hesitate before answering. “Hello?”
“Mari?” a familiar voice replies.
The breath catches in my throat. “Sofia? Is that you?”
“Yes, it’s me.” Her voice is steady, but there’s something underneath it, something brittle.
“Oh my God.” I press a hand to my chest, trying to contain the rush of emotions.
Relief. Shock. A sliver of fear… for her.
“Are you okay? I never thought I’d hear from you again. How did you even get this number?”
A quiet chuckle. “I have my ways.”
“You clearly do. After all, you escaped.”
“I’m sorry for that,” she says, and actually sounds like she means it.
“The opportunity came up when you and Mateo were gone, and the whole house was in chaos over Gualtiero’s death. I had to take it.”
A beat of silence. “You didn’t get in trouble, did you?”
“No, of course not.” I glance over my shoulder instinctively, but other than Isa sipping her cup of tea, the library is empty. “And nobody is looking for you. If you’re still in hiding, you can stop.”
A pause. “Are you sure?”
“Positive.” I sink onto the couch, tucking my legs beneath me. “I live with the person who makes those decisions now, or have you forgotten that?”
“Yeah, I heard you got married,” she says, a touch of amusement in her voice. “Congratulations. He’s quite the catch.”
