The Mafia's One Desire

chapter 35: barbarian

Sofia Milan Chavicci

When Alessandro leaves me alone with the rest of his crew, one who might be stabbing him in the back by collaborating with the Russians, I'm taken aback. A second ago, he was furious that Agustin touched my shoulder. What he has only just done to me seems worse. I let out a shaky breath but don't make it too obvious that I'm nervous. 

Once again, maybe feeling my anxiety and just being in tune with what I need as a friend, Agustin comes to stand behind me. I know my husband is here for me and will always be there when needed, but it's nice to know someone else has my back. I mean, yes, I can't fully trust him until this whole thing is figured out, but it's still comforting to know I'm not alone. Luca glances at me, and I freeze.

Jesus Christ, Sofia, you couldn't be more of an idiot. Don't make him think he's a suspect.

His eyes glint with a hidden taunt as he glances into mine. It is then when I realize Remo was most certainly not in cahoots with the Russians. Luca doesn't know, but those eyes tell me something that I have been craving to find...answers. Of course, I have questions and lots of them, but now I know who to ask. 

I stand up from the kitchen island, scooting the stool against the concrete floor. It makes that screeching sound, causing me to cringe, but I continue to get away from the group. I can feel his gaze burning into my back, his eyes following my every movement. I have to go to Alessandro, and I have to get there quickly. I'm biting my bottom lip when Celia nudges me in the side.

"What are you thinking so deeply about?"

Instead of showing her my nervousness about answering that complicated question, I answer her with a brief word.

"Alessandro."

She wiggles her eyebrows in retaliation, digging for more information while insinuating something entirely inappropriate. I'm not much in the mood for comedic relief.

"What about him exactly...?"

"Nothing you will ever know."

"Oh, come on! We're friends."

"Friends who don't need to know about each other's sex lives."

She tilts her head at me in discontent, but I only smile and shuffle past her. I feel someone following behind me, the light footsteps echoing with mine. At first, I think, 'this is just a person to protect me', but that doesn't make sense. He's not getting anyone else involved with the Russian's game, and he would assign one of the people who didn't join me after I left the kitchen. 

If they did, I would be having a conversation with them right about now. The footsteps grow heavier, each pounding in my ear. I rub my hands down my pants, the clamminess increasing with every beat of my racing heart. Instead of going directly to my husband's office, hoping to lose whoever is behind me, but that doesn't work. I violently pull open my bedroom door, making a run for the gun hidden in the nightstand drawer. 

But I never reach it. 

The door slams behind me. The sound of locking the door is usually soft, but the hard click feels sickening. My chest heaves with every breath I take, turning around slowly to see the perpetrator. He knows that I know. That's why he's here to hurt me. Without acknowledging who he is, I back up towards where the gun is stored.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you."

"What do you expect me to do?"

"Sit down and shut up. Like all women are supposed to."