MAFIA TIES

Chapter Two

Sophia

The morning sunlight filtered through the thin curtains, casting a soft glow over the small apartment. I was somewhere between sleep and waking when I felt a nudge at my shoulder.

"Sophia, you're going to be late," Jenna's voice broke through the remnants of a dream I couldn't quite remember. I groaned and pulled the blanket over my head, hoping to steal a few more minutes of sleep.

"Soph, seriously. You don't want to miss your lecture." Jenna's persistence was unyielding, and I knew better than to argue. With a sigh, I finally pushed the blanket aside and sat up, blinking in the morning light.

Our apartment wasn't anything fancy—just a modest two-bedroom place in Silver Heights, an older part of town that had seen better days. The rent was affordable, which was all that mattered to us, and despite its worn edges, it had a certain charm. The creaky floors and slightly chipped paint were things we'd grown accustomed to. It was home, for now.

Jenna was already dressed, her blonde hair pulled into a neat ponytail. She was the early riser between the two of us, a habit she'd developed after she quit university and threw herself into starting her own bakery. It had been a bold move, but that was Jenna—always ready to take risks. Her bakery, "Sugar & Spice," had quickly become popular in the neighborhood, thanks to her knack for creating delicious, unique pastries.

As I reluctantly dragged myself out of bed, Jenna handed me a cup of coffee. "You've got twenty minutes before we have to leave," she said, a teasing smile playing on her lips. "Unless you want to explain to Professor Allen why you missed his lecture on Gothic literature."

I rolled my eyes but couldn't help but smile back. Jenna had a way of making even the groggiest of mornings bearable. "Alright, alright. I'm up."

I hurried through my morning routine, slipping into a pair of jeans and a comfortable sweater. My coursework in English Language and Literature was demanding, but I was almost done. Just a few more months, and I'd finally have my degree. The thought brought a mix of relief and anxiety. What came next? I wasn't sure, but I tried not to dwell on it too much.

Jenna was waiting by the door, keys in hand, when I finally emerged from my room. "Ready?" she asked.

"Ready," I nodded, grabbing my bag.

The drive to campus was short, but Jenna always dropped me off on her way to the bakery. Her sleek silver BMW was the car we usually took in our morning routine. It was part of our routine, one of those little things that made our lives run smoothly. Silver Heights University wasn't far from our apartment, nestled in a quieter part of the city. The campus was a mix of old and new buildings, with sprawling green lawns that I rarely had time to appreciate.

As Jenna pulled up to the entrance, she glanced at me. "Any plans after class?"

"Just work, as usual," I said with a sigh.

Jenna nodded, a knowing look in her eyes. "Don't let that place wear you down too much, okay? You've got bigger things ahead."

I smiled, grateful for her encouragement. "Thanks, Jenna. I'll see you later."

With a quick wave, I stepped out of the car and watched as she drove off, heading to her bakery. As I walked towards the main building, I couldn't help but feel a strange mix of emotions. The night before at Club Noir lingered in my mind, but there was no time to dwell on it now. Today was just another day, or at least, that's what I told myself as I entered the lecture hall.

~~~~

A week had flown by in a blur of lectures, work shifts, and late-night study sessions. Before I knew it, I found myself sitting at a cozy corner table in La Trattoria di Rosa, a charming Italian restaurant on the other side of town.