Luc was silent for a moment. “You think she’ll back off?”
“Yes,” Tonio said, dragging a hand over his jaw.
“A warning is one thing. If she doesn’t listen, the next step won’t be ours to control.”
The warning hung. A clean, professional end was the logical solution. It was what the situation might demand. But the second he touched her, his code—no women, no children—screamed. He’d had to play the monster, perform brutality against everything he stood for, and the act left him feeling stained. Going further was unthinkable.
“She’s in over her head, Luc. She doesn’t know what she’s walking into.”
“That’s not your problem.”
He knew that. But it didn’t change how it felt.
Luc sighed. “Look, if she doesn’t back off, you know what will happen.”
Tonio’s grip tightened. “I said I’ll take care of it.”
Even if he had to break a few bones to make sure she stayed breathing, he would. Brutal, painful—whatever it took. She would learn, and she would live.
Another pause. “You sure about that?”
No. Not even close. But he couldn’t say it—not to Luc, not to himself.
Luc let it go. “Keep me posted.”
The line went dead. Tonio tossed the phone onto the nightstand, eyes fixed on the ceiling. He’d been in this life too long to hesitate, too long to second-guess. But Sofia had cut through that like it was nothing. She’d gotten under his skin.
He was drifting, half-asleep, when his phone buzzed. Instinct kicked in before logic—he already knew who it was.
“Yeah?”
A pause. Then the person hung up.
Tonio’s heart slammed hard in his chest. Sleep vanished. He pushed upright, rubbing his face. Before he could decide what to do, his phone rang again. He answered instantly. “Yes.”
Silence… but not empty. He heard the faintest shuddering breath. He closed his eyes, a curse slipping through his mind. Sofia. His scare tactic had worked, and now she needed someone, but her mistrust pushed her to the edge of running.
He could almost feel the war she was waging inside herself.
Click. She hung up.
Tonio tightened his grip on the phone. The number was blocked, but he could trace it easily if he wanted to. He scrubbed a hand over his face. Should he try?
His phone rang again. This time, he didn’t let even a heartbeat pass before answering.
“Do not hang up,” he said, his voice low and steady. “You can talk to me.”
A tight swallow sounded down the line. “Hey, it’s me. Sofia.”
“Didn’t expect to hear from you.”
She let out a small, tired laugh. “Yeah… me neither.”
Something in her voice snagged him. Not fear. Not anger. Something quieter. Worn down.
“You all right?” he asked, already knowing. Part of him hated that he might be the reason she wasn’t.
“Not really,” she admitted. No hesitation. “I just… remembered you offering a drink, and figured… if that’s still on the table—”
