Page 32 of Secret Revenge

Nicholas nodded in agreement, but the weight of our words seemed to crush Sophia further. She looked around the room as if seeking an escape, her body trembling with fear. I wanted to reach out and comfort her, but I knew she needed time to process everything.

“Are you sure there’s no other way?” she asked, her voice barely audible. “I never wanted any of this.”

“Exactly,” Nicholas chimed in, his hand finding mine and squeezing it gently. “We’ll help you through this, Sophia. You’re not alone.”

I looked into Sophia’s tear-filled eyes and hoped that she could find solace in our words. I knew all too well the feeling of betrayal and the pain of being used by someone you thought loved you.

I watched as Sophia’s face contorted in panic, her hands wringing together anxiously. “I can’t stay here,” she blurted out. “I have to go to work, my family is expecting me for Sunday dinner, and Joshua will be suspicious if I don’t meet him for coffee later on today.”

Her words tumbled out in a hurried mess, and I could see the desperation in her eyes. She was trapped between two worlds – the one she’d unknowingly been part of through Joshua, and the one we were inviting her into for her own safety.

“Listen, Sophia,” I said gently, reaching for her hand to offer some comfort. “It’s likely that Joshua has had you followed and he already knows what’s going on.”

Her chest heaved as she fought back tears, and I knew that the truth was a bitter pill for her to swallow. My heart ached for her, but there was no other way around it. We had to keep her safe, even if it meant tearing her away from everything she knew.

“Nicholas is right. You can quit your job and stay with us for as long as you need to,” I assured her. “When it’s safe for you to go back to your apartment, we promise to help you find a new job.”

Sophia’s gaze flickered between Nicholas and me, uncertainty clouding her deep brown eyes. It was clear that the gravity of the situation was sinking in, but so was the fear of losing her independence and the life she’d built for herself.

“Please, Sophia,” I pleaded, my voice barely a whisper. “We only want what’s best for you. Trust us.”

“Trust us,” Nicholas echoed, his voice firm yet reassuring. He stepped closer to Sophia, extending a hand to her as if offering a lifeline. “You’re Liliana’s best friend and there’s nothing I won’t do to protect you.”

Sophia hesitated, her gaze darting from his outstretched hand to the solemn expressions on our faces. The room seemed to close in around us, the shadows cast by the dim light bearing down like an oppressive weight.

“Alright,” she whispered, finally taking my hand. “I’ll stay here... for now.”

“Good,” he said, a hint of relief flickering across his face.

As Sophia nodded in agreement, I felt a pang of guilt. Joshua had dragged her into our world without warning, and now she would have to bear the consequences of his choices. But as I looked at Nicholas – my husband, my protector, the man who’d helped me navigate the darkness of our own past – I knew that we would do everything in our power to shield her from the storm that was brewing.

“Look,” she said, her voice wavering but resolute, “I appreciate everything you’re offering me, but I don’t want a job with the mafia. I never asked for any of this.”

Nicholas studied her for a moment, his blue eyes piercing through the dim light. He exuded an aura of calm authority, but I knew him well enough to recognize the turbulent emotions hidden beneath the surface.

“Of course,” he replied softly, his tone measured and deliberate. “We would never expect you to become involved in our world against your will. I promise, Sophia, we’ll help you find whatever job you want.”

Sophia hesitated, her gaze locked onto Nicholas’s. The unspoken weight of his words hung heavy in the air – a reminder of the power he wielded, the influence he held over our lives. But there was also something else there: a genuine concern for her well-being, a desire to protect her from the darkness that surrounded us.

“Alright,” she murmured, her shoulders slumping in reluctant acceptance. “But I need to make sure my family is safe too. They can’t know about any of this.”

“Understood,” Nicholas responded, giving her a solemn nod. His protective nature and powerful presence seemed to soothe some of her fears. “We’ll do everything we can to ensure their safety.”

Chapter 16

Nicholas

The phone on my desk vibrated, casting a dim glow across the polished mahogany. I picked it up, the screen displaying an unread message from Marco Mancini. The words were brief and to the point.

“Meet me tonight. Your warehouse outside the city. Alone.”

A shiver of suspicion crawled down my spine. He’d managed to elude my men for days, and I didn’t need any more proof he was the mole I was looking for. The meeting he called for was at a secluded location, ripe for betrayal. I had a growing conviction that Marco was the mole, working with Joshua to undermine my family’s empire.

“Riccardo,” I said, summoning my childhood friend and righthand man. His loyalty to me was unbreakable, our bond forged through shared adversity. He entered the room with a quiet intensity, his eyes locking onto mine.

“Marco’s requested a meeting tonight. Alone,” I told him, my voice low and measured. “Get the men here. We need to prepare for a showdown.”

“Are you sure about this, Nicholas?” Riccardo asked, his brow furrowed in concern. “It could be a trap.”

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