Page 176 of The One
But I can’t fall apart.
Not here.
Not when Mateo is just down the hall, already carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
So I breathe through it.
I’ll deal with my father.
I swallow the fear, the fury, the shame, pressing them down like stones into deep water.
Let him think he still has control. Let him believe I’ll obey.
But I won’t. Not ever again.
Chapter Sixty-Seven
Mariella
Iwalk down the long corridor to Sofia’s room, eager to see her. We returned to Rome this morning. Don De Marco was stable enough to be transported to a hospital here, and Mateo went with him to ensure his brother was as safe and well looked after as possible.
I wanted to stay with Teo, but he insisted I return to Carloso, where it’s safer. We’re still in the dark about who fired the shots that put the De Marco empire in jeopardy, and until we figure it out, everyone is on high alert. The need to minimize exposure is critical.
Teo won’t take any chances when it comes to my safety. I shudder, knowing he’s exposing himself to danger just by being out and about.
I wish there was some good news.
The hunt for a lung donor has been unsuccessful so far. According to Teo, Uberto is pulling every string he can, and official medical channels are working tirelessly. But Gualtiero’s rare blood type makes finding a match nearly impossible.
My stomach knots at what that means.
I check my phone for updates from Teo. Nothing. The unease pressing against my ribs only grows.
Spending time with Sofia will be a good distraction.
I enter the code to her cell and push the door open, only to collide with a solid chest.
“Ahh!” I stumble backward, surprised as hell to see a guard leaving the room.
Thank God I’m not carrying a tray, or the food would be all over me, him, and the floor.
He brushes past me, muttering, “Scusi, Signorina Agosti,” before disappearing down the corridor.
I frown after him. Since when are men allowed in Sofia’s room?
What was he doing in there?
Oh no. What if he…
Panic grips me, and I rush in, only to find Sofia sitting cross-legged on her bed, sipping water. Rosy cheeks, glowing skin, I know that look. I’vehadthat look.
No. Way.
“Did you have sex with that guard?” The words fly out before I can stop them.
Sofia hisses, tapping a finger to her lips. “Shh. Cameras.” She motions to the corners. “They might be back on. I don’t want to get Davide into trouble.”
I blink at her. “Davide?” I whisper back, stealing a glance at the camera. The red light isn’t blinking.
