Chapter 4
When Sophia returned to the estate, the front gates were already open. Luca stood at the top of the stone steps. No jacket, no tie. His white shirt sleeves were rolled up. Two security men stood several yards behind him.
He had clearly returned from work early.
“What happened?” he asked, his gaze moving over her automatically, checking for injury.
“Nothing happened.”
“You disappeared.”
“I went to my father’s house.”
The change in his face was immediate. Tiny, but unmistakable. Sophia had her answer before she asked anything. He knew exactly what was inside that house.
“What did you find?” he asked.
Not “why did you go there.” Not “are you all right.” What did you find.
Sophia felt something inside her settle. The fear disappeared. So did the confusion. She walked past him into the house.
“Come with me.”
In his study, she placed three black credit cards, the keys to the Hamptons house, and the authorization card to his private accounts on the polished walnut desk. He stared at them, then at her.
“What is this?”
“Things that belong to you.”
“They belong to us.”
“No.” She met his eyes. “I don’t want anything that makes me wonder whether it was given out of love or obligation.”
Luca went completely still.
“I heard you and Carlo last night.”
Silence. For perhaps the first time since Sophia had met him, the mafia boss looked like a man who had no plan.
“I know my father saved your life. I know you promised to protect me. And I know Dad never asked you to marry me.”
She placed both hands protectively over her unborn daughter. “So here’s the part I’m struggling with, Luca. If marrying me wasn’t his request, then tell me the truth.” Her voice trembled only once. “Did you ever want me as your wife?”
Luca opened his mouth. He hesitated. Only for a few seconds. It was enough.
Sophia looked away. “That’s what I thought.”
She turned toward the door. Behind her, Luca finally said her name. She stopped but did not turn around.
“I need one thing from you tonight,” she said.
“What?”
May you like
“Don’t follow me.”
She walked upstairs toward the bedroom that had belonged to Luca’s mother. And for the first time since their wedding night, Sophia closed a bedroom door between herself and her husband.
