I scowled at him. “Are you asking me if I’m serious about her?”
He shrugged. “It seems imperative to make sure she’s not a fucking spy before you think you’re in love with her, don’t you think?”
Lovefelt like an awfully dangerous word. It didn’t often linger in my vocabulary, probably because my mother took off and wanted nothing to do with me for my whole life. My father stayed. He’d raised me, but it had taken me a long time to understand that his bringing me into the business and training me to be his right-hand man was his style of showing love. Brusque and focused on business and power, he’d raised me not to be a soft, pampered son, but as a soldier and warrior he’d see as a partner in arms.
I wasn’t sure if I’d know what love was if it smacked me in the face. There was no denying that something strong was affecting my view of Sofia. For now, I was content to let it be. For us to get to know each other and grow closer with her submitting to me.
She had trust issues. She was guarded, too stubborn and sassy and independent.
I happened to admire those traits, oddly, but I wasn’t any easier to work with, either.
“I will admit that she has become my weakness,” I said seriously and slowly, without any heat. It was a statement. A fact I could share with him and no one else because he knew me so well. “I am obsessed with keeping her because she completes me like no one else ever has.”
“Fine, but?—”
I held up my hand to cut him off. Not many could get away with that, but I was his son. His friend. His backup.
His soldier.
“I will not admit to any danger in keeping her in my life.”Yet.“I am also not trying to avoid the possibility that some things don’t add up with her. They’re combing my building now to find the bug, and once that’s located, we will investigate it further.” I looked at him with all sincerity. “I don’t think she would betray me. I’m not saying that because I want her. But because I truly have done my job. Emilio was taken out. Yusef is gone. Theywerespies. Moles. And they are gone.”
“I understand that. But details about your meeting with the Rossiswereleaked somehow. So if it’s not Sofia, then it’s someone else and they will pay.”
I nodded, taking that as a compromise, even though it really wasn’t. It almost seemed like the start of a calm understanding, though.
“I am concerned, though, because it seems that Sofia might have connections.”
I furrowed my brow at him. “How? With who? Her parents are dead and she has a sick cousin.” I shook my head. “She’s sensitive about money. Are you suggesting she’s got debt with someone? Was promised to someone?”
He shrugged. “Claire mentioned something to me and it’s been nagging me.”
“Claire?”
“Yes. She was talking with her about a treatment that’s on the black market. When she asked Sofia about where she’d evenheard of it, she got the impression that Sofia clammed up. That she could have connections with perhaps another family.”
“A treatment for her cousin?” I asked, worrying on her behalf all over again. That was who Sofia was. Caring. Compassionate. A bleeding heart who didn’t want anyone to suffer. How could someone that altruistic want to deceive me?
“It sounds like.” He sat back and sighed, looking more tired than before. “It’s nothing concrete to go on, but it’s something to consider.” His serious gaze bore into my soul. “If she’s…” He rolled his eyes, never fond of talking about sappy shit. “‘The one’”—he made air quotes and smirked—“for you, then fine. She’s ‘the one.’ Many men were skeptical when I wanted to marry Claire. You remember.”
I nodded.
“But she completed me, like you claim Sofia does you. If you’re this far in for her, if she matters this much, I’ll be furious to see you have to lose her. If you find out she is connected, and perhaps with a family or group we cannot and will not allow any hint of an alliance with…”
Then I’d have to give her up.
“I understand,” I stated coldly, numbly.
It would be over.
Family and duty over… love?
I licked my lips and resisted the painful beats of my heart in my chest. Every thump of my pulse was one more crack against it, chipping it further apart until it’d end up in pieces no one could gather and repair.
24
SOFIA
Iwoke up alone.
