The admission hung heavy between us. Sofia was Viktor's spy, embedded in my family for six months.
"There's something else," Sofia said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Something I need to tell you."
I waited, wondering what else she could possibly confess.
"The texts. The anonymous messages warning you about a spy in the family." She looked up, meeting my eyes. "That was me."
Paola's hand tightened on mine. "You sent those texts?"
"I was trying to warn you without Viktor knowing. If he found out I'd contacted you directly, he'd—" Her voice broke."He'd hurt Isabella. Or worse. But I couldn't just stand by and watch him destroy you. So I sent warnings. Hoping you'd figure it out on your own. Hoping you'd find the spy—find me—and somehow save my daughter without me having to betray Viktor directly."
"But we didn't figure it out fast enough," I said.
"No. You suspected Marco, Luca, even each other at times. But not me. I was just... there. Quiet. Competent. Invisible." Tears streamed down her face. "Viktor was pleased with how well I'd blended in. How much you all trusted me."
"The texts were cryptic," Paola said. "Why not just tell us directly?"
"Because Viktor had people monitoring communications. If I'd been too specific, if I'd named myself, he would have known. The burner phone, the vague warnings—that was all I could risk." Sofia's voice cracked completely. "I was trying to protect everyone. My daughter. Your family. But I just made everything worse."
"You were in an impossible situation," Paola said quietly.
"That doesn't excuse what I did. What I helped Viktor do." Sofia looked at me directly. "I know you'll never forgive me. I'm not asking you to. I just wanted you to know—I tried. In my own cowardly way, I tried to warn you."
The room was silent for a long moment.
"The texts did help," I admitted finally. "They made us look for the spy. Made us careful. If you hadn't sent them, we might not have discovered you before Viktor made his next move."
"Small comfort," Sofia whispered.
"Maybe. But it's something."
"How did it start?" I demanded.
Sofia slid down to sit on the floor, exhausted. "Viktor approached me. In March, right after you announced the Lombardo marriage. He said he knew about my daughter, knewshe was vulnerable. He had photos of her. Threatened to hurt her if I didn't cooperate."
"Why didn't you come to me?"
"Because you would have gone to war with Viktor! And my daughter would have been the first casualty!" Sofia was crying harder now, mascara streaking down her cheeks. "I had to protect her. She's all I have. My whole world."
Paola spoke gently. "Where is she now? Your daughter?"
"I don't know. Viktor moves her every few weeks. Sends me proof of life videos so I know he hasn't hurt her. Yet." Sofia pulled out her phone with shaking hands. "But I've been analyzing them. Background sounds, visual clues. I think she's in New Jersey. There's a house Viktor owns through a shell company."
My anger warred with understanding. Sofia had been coerced. Terrorized into betrayal by the most powerful leverage that existed—her child's safety.
But she’d still betrayed us. Still gave Viktor everything he needed to nearly destroy my family, kill my husband and brother-in-law.
"You're going to help us get her back," I said. Decision made. "And then you're going to help us destroy Viktor."
Sofia looked up, hope flickering through the tears. "How?"
"You keep playing spy. Feed Viktor false information. Tell him we're not attending tomorrow's hearing—that Paola had pregnancy complications, that I won't leave her side."
Sofia's eyes widened. "You're pregnant?"
Paola nodded. "Six weeks. And yes, I'm fine. But Viktor doesn't know that, so he’ll trust you even more if you’re bringing new information."
"If he thinks we're distracted," I continued, "he'll be less prepared for whatever we do at the hearing. Less likely to have contingencies in place."
