We walk in silence for a block, her fingers laced through mine. People pass us without a second glance—just another couple out for a stroll. No one recognizes me. No one knows she inherited a crime empire. We're invisible here in the best possible way. Because criminals don't go to the park for a walk.
"This is weird," she says.
"Good weird or bad weird?"
"Good weird. Definitely good weird." She swings our joined hands slightly. "When's the last time you just walked somewhere?"
I think about it. "I honestly can't remember."
"That's sad."
"That's safe."
"Same thing," she says again, but softer this time.
A jogger passes us, earbuds in, completely oblivious to who we are. Sophia watches him go with something like wonder.
"We could be anyone right now," she says. "Just Lorenzo and Sophia. Not Sartori and Torrino. Not crime families and territories. Just... us."
We reach the park and find an empty bench under an oak tree. Sophia curls into my side, her head on my shoulder, and for a moment we just exist. No threats, no plans, no violence. Just breathing.
"You know what would make this even more normal?" I murmur against her hair.
"What?"
"We could pretend we're different people. Like... I'm a banker and you're a teacher, meeting for lunch."
She pulls back to look at me, eyebrows raised. "Are you suggesting role play? In public?"
"Just talking. Nothing?—"
"Oh my God." She laughs, the sound bright and unexpected. "You want to fuck me while pretending we're normal people."
The words coming from her mouth make my cock twitch. Sophia doesn't talk like this—she's usually all soft gasps and whispered pleas. When she gets crude, it drives me insane.
"Jesus, Sophia."
"What?" She grins wickedly. "I'm horny again and that's super bad of you to do because we're supposed to be enjoying this moment without thinking about your dick."
I bark out a laugh. Can't remember the last time I laughed this much in one day. "My dick?"
"Yes, your dick. Which needs to stay in your pants while we have our normal people time."
"You're the one who brought up fucking."
"Because you were being all suggestive with your 'role play' talk." She air quotes the words, still grinning. "I know what you're really thinking about."
"Oh yeah?"
"Yeah. You're thinking about bending me over this bench and?—"
My phone cuts through her words. The ringtone I have for Dante.
"Don't answer it," Sophia says immediately.
But I'm already pulling it out. "It could be important."
"It's always important."
