I sat beside her, reached to hug her, but she pulled away. My hand froze mid-air, then dropped, clutching the sheet.
"Sophie—"
"You know who the Viscontis are?" She cut me off, turning, those green eyes just like mine, brimming with tears. "Mafia, Oli! They kill, smuggle, do all kinds of illegal shit! And you're marrying into that!"
"I know."
"Then why—"
"But I got no choice." My voice stayed soft. "Castro's guys are watching you. How long do you think they'll wait? A month? Two? Or till you graduate high school?"
She bit her lip, tears spilling.
"You said two men at the school gate yesterday," I went on. "You know what that means? They're done just threatening me. They're coming for you."
"Then we call the cops—"
"Won't help." I cut her off. "Cops can't touch this. You know that, Sophie."
She dropped her head, shoulders shaking. This time I hugged her, and she didn't pull away, leaning into me, crying quietly, stifled, like she feared being heard.
"Sorry." I rested my chin on her head. "Sorry, it's all my fault. If it weren't for me..."
"Not your fault." Her voice muffled. "It's Dad. All him."
We held each other, silent for ages. Outside, neighbors downstairs argued, things smashing. The building's walls were thin—you heard footsteps upstairs, TV next door, that endless moldy stink in the hall.
I closed my eyes.
Tomorrow, I'd leave this place.
Leave where I'd lived three years, leave Sophie, head to somewhere I couldn't even picture.
"Will he treat you right?" Sophie asked suddenly, voice tiny.
I froze.
"Yeah." But my voice wavered.
"How do you know?"
"Because," I paused, "Because he's marrying me. If he didn't care, why bother?"
Even I didn't buy it, but I had to sell it to Sophie. Had to make her believe I'd be fine, so she wouldn't worry, wouldn't do something stupid.
"Plus," I added, forcing lightness. "He's actually... kinda hot."
Sophie lifted her head from my arms, staring in disbelief.
"What?"
"I mean," I felt sheepish. "He's good-looking. Tall, built, got that... you know, manly vibe."
"Oli!"
"Just telling it straight!" I said. "And he promised you the best education. Any school you want, study whatever. You won't have to—"
"I don't care about that." She cut me off. "I care about you."
