Sophie
The tears came fast and ugly the moment the door shut.
I slid down against it, palms pressed to my eyes like that might burn the images away—but they only sharpened. Lorenzo's smile. His hands. The way he always knew exactly when to be gentle and when to hurt, how to make it feel like both were love. Three years of wearing my heart on my sleeve, letting him bleed me dry and thanking him for the privilege.
I hated myself for it.
A soft knock sounded.
"Sofie?" Rafael's voice—careful, tentative.
I scrubbed at my face and stood quickly. These bastards didn't deserve my tears.
"What is it?" I asked, opening the door just enough to glare at him.
He smiled gently, and I hated that too. "I thought maybe you'd want company tonight. You've been through a lot."
Pity. I could smell it a mile away.
"I'm not sleeping with you—or anyone else—in this damn house," I snapped. The anger came out sharp enough to cut.
Raf blinked, then laughed. Actually laughed.
I narrowed my eyes. "Is something funny?"
"Look behind you," he said, leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed.
I turned.
At the foot of the bed sat a very round, very unapologetic black-and-white cat, tail flicking lazily like he owned the place. He blinked up at me, unimpressed.
"Oh," I muttered. "I don't have a litter box. Or anything. I'll just… leave the door cracked, I guess. Sorry about the assumption."
Heat crept up my neck. Great. Add accuses mobster of trying to sleep with me to my growing list of humiliations.
Raf grinned. "Don't worry. House is safe. No one's kidnapping you."
I gave him a look.
"Bad joke," he sighed. "I'm tired. Try to get some sleep."
And just like that, I was alone again—with my thoughts and a cat that had already claimed my bed.
I lay there staring at the ceiling, memories replaying like a cruel film reel. Every excuse Lorenzo had ever given me. Every time I'd patched up bullet wounds he claimed came from "drug dealers looking for quick cash." I'd believed him. Every time.
Oreo's soft purring dragged me back to the present.
"Listen, chonky boy," I whispered, scratching behind his ear. "This is my bed. You're the guest."
He purred louder.
Fantastic. I'd officially become the woman who talks to cats in mob houses.
Morning came with a furry weight pressed against my face.
"Okay," I groaned. "I'm awake. You win."
Oreo purred directly into my ear, proud of himself.
I scooped him up and wandered downstairs, following the smell of coffee and something fried. Luca sat at the counter, hunched over a mug that smelled like bitterness and regret.
"At this rate," he said without looking up, "that cat won't belong to you much longer."
"He's a temporary roommate," I replied. "And an incredibly loud sleeper."
Leo stood near the counter, sleeves rolled up, watching me like I was a problem he hadn't solved yet. "Sleep well, Sophie?"
I considered lying. Then decided against it.
"I slept," I said. "I don't know if it qualifies as well."
Luca stood abruptly. "I've been up all night. I'm going to bed."
We weren't going to get along. That much was clear.
"I'm not stupid," I said, taking a seat as far from Leo as possible. "I know I have nowhere to go. And even if I tried, I wouldn't get far."
"I'm not going to bite you," Leo said dryly.
"Yeah. Right."
"It's business," he replied. "You'll get used to it."
I laughed once, sharp and humorless. "Funny. I didn't know about the business until I met you."
His jaw ticked.
"Raf will take you to work," he said after a beat. "He'll monitor the building during your shift."
That surprised me.
"And if I run?" I asked.
Leo checked his watch like I was an inconvenience.
"If you want to degrade yourself by crawling back to another man's bed, be my guest. You could've left in the middle of the night. No one would've chased you. That speech to Lorenzo was to get him off our streets."
"You said I couldn't leave."
"I said you had nowhere to go," he corrected calmly. "You didn't call your boss. Luca has your phone. As it stands, your options are limited. I never lied."
I clenched my fists. "I don't have clothes. And this isn't some romance where I wear yours."
He paused, eyes flicking to me. "Then clearly you're the only one thinking about romance."
He turned toward the hall. "For as long as you're here, you're our guest. You also happen to be my pawn. That part wasn't a lie either. What you choose to do—who you choose to bed—is your decision."
And then he was gone.
I sat there, heart pounding, Oreo tucked under my arm like an anchor.
In that moment, I made myself a promise.
I would survive this.
And I would not—under any circumstances—let any of these beautiful monsters anywhere near my heart.
Especially Leo.