“He turned up this morning and took her out and…”
I didn’t need to ask who because I knew. I wasn’t in time at all. Gio had already been here, and now he was gone, and my daughter was with him.
My knees buckled and I fell into a heap. Or I would have, if Matteo hadn’t caught me around the middle and swung me up into his arms.
I stared at him, barely seeing his face through the thick sheen of the tears that flooded my eyes.
“Help me,” I whispered to him because he was the only one who could. He was the only one who could get my daughter back from my brother. He was the only one powerful enough.
I wasn’t. I had tried to play the game and failed and I was about to lose everything.
“Please, Matteo.” Clutching at his shirt front, I twisted it. “Please help me. If you have ever loved me, help.“
He cut me off. His attention on Nat. “Where is Sophia’s room?”
She looked at him blankly.
“Where is your room, Sophia?” he asked me instead. “It’s time we talked, and I would like to do it in private.”
Mutely, I pointed to the stairs. He took them two at a time, like I didn’t weigh anything at all. I didn’t even tense when he glanced into Lily's room.
Because what did it matter now? He knew I had a child.
He knew I had lied for six years.
“That one,” I said in a croaky whisper. “But you can put me down now. I’m not going to faint.”
If we were going to have this conversation, then I wanted to do it on my feet and not held in his arms like a child.
He kicked my bedroom shut before he dropped me to my feet.
“Maybe you won’t faint, but you are a proven flight risk, Sophia. Start talking.” Pointing to the bed, I reluctantly fell onto it, wrapping my arms around myself.
“If this is about the money, then I’ll find a way to pay you back,” I began to say.
He was on me in a second. Gripping my chin, he drew our faces together so only an inch separated us.
“Do you really think I give a shit about the cash, Sophia? I want to know why you ran.”
My eyes darted away. I couldn’t look at him, because if I did, then he would see the truth.
“I couldn’t take living with you anymore,” I lied. “You …
“Liar. But that’s what you are good at, isn’t it? This is your lastchance, Sophia, because by God, I can’t take any more. The little girl who lives here is yours, isn’t she?”
I swallowed the lump in my throat. What would be the point of lying now? He already knew the truth.
“Yes,” I whispered, looking everywhere but at him.
“And you’re afraid your brother is going to hurt her?”
Again, I whispered, “Yes.” I fought back the sob that lodged itself in my throat and made it impossible to talk or even breathe. “Yes, I think he might hurt her.”
Finally, I lifted my eyes to him. “Please, Matteo. Please help…”
He cut me off. “How old is she?”
I froze. “She is…” Shit, what was I supposed to say now? The truth. I should have told him ages ago. Probably six years ago, when I had first found out and Gio had put me on that flight, kicking and screaming.
