Something special

Chapter 7

Ace P.O.V

"My step father was abusive." That one sentence made the world stop. Sofie isn't looking at me. She's staring out into the distance. "When my mother found out she was pregnant, everyone was over the moon. That is, until my dad found out she was taking drugs." She takes a deep breath before continuing.

"She got up in the middle of the night, and took Emmy. She ran away to avoid being sent to rehab. She met a man. His name was Carter." She spits out him name like it tastes bitter. "They got married, and he was abusive to Emmy. Then I was born. Emmy raised me. all the money we had was used for more drugs, so Emmy really struggled. Carter would beat her daily, and sometime she would go unconscious." She shakes her head, before looking me dead in the eye. "They rented out her body in order to get their next fix."

"How old was she?" I ask.

"Mom ran away when she was nine."

"And she didn't go back to your family?" Sofie takes another deep breath.

"Carter made sure she lost all her memories when he thew her down the stairs. We only know this because of a letter mom wrote. Dear Emmalin..." I listen intently, as Sofie recites the letter. She tells me about how she hid in the closet, and about they didn't even bother having a funeral for the two. She tells me how Emmalin had PTSD, and how she would sometimes come home while Sofie was beaten, and take the punishment. She tells me how they moved in with her brothers, and she felt like a princess.

When she was done, we both sit in silence. "So, why are you scared of fire?" I ask. It doesn't make sense.

"Emmy was attacked by one of Vlad's men at the mall, but she beat him up." She says the last part with a smirk. "The next week, there was a ball held for our return. I saw the man that Emmy was sold to and told her. he was dressed as a waiter. Just as we were going to tell Antonio about it, we heard men speaking about bombs." She wipes away a single tear.

"We got out just in time. The entire building was on fire. Emmy let my hand go for just one second to rip the fabric off her dress. In that one. Second. He got me. He dragged me back into the building, and covered my mouth. I-" She couldn't finish.

Without even thinking, I pulled her into my lap, and she nuzzle her face into the crook of my neck. I smile, thinking about how she didn't push me away.

"I lost my parents when I was nineteen." I say. If she told me about her past, then I should tell her about mine.

"W-what?" I nod my head.

"I was nineteen, and took custody of the boys. They were hurting, too. Daniel especially." I wince, thinking about how he would go around like a lost puppy, trying to get affection from anyone. Bradly just locked himself in his room.

"I didn't know how to deal with everything. I would leave for days at a time. My best friend and second in command, Liam was the one who took care of the boys. He gave Dan love and Brad space. He was also the one who dragged my ass out of a bar one night and got me back on my feet."

"He sounds nice." Sofie mumbles, her breath tickling my neck. I let out a... growl?

"Not as nice as me." I say, holding her tighter and earning a giggle.

"So, now the boys are okay?" I nod my head. "What about you?" I'm taken back by her question. Nobody really asks how I'm doing.

"Yeah. I am, sweets." I say. she smiles up at me, and in that moment, I know that I need Sofie in my life. She's like my kryptonite.

I crash my lips down on hers and feel sparks flowing between us. I thought that only happens in books. After a few seconds, we pull apart, both breathing heavily. I waited for a reaction, and grinned when she gave me the perfect one.

Instead of sitting sideways on my lap, she moves so that she's straddling me, and continues to kiss me. After about a minute of making out, I hear a throat being cleared. I break away from our heated kiss, and looked at the intruder with a glare already on my face. Sofie doesn't even look up, she just hides her face in my neck out of embarrassment.

Liam raises an eyebrow. "Liam, this is Sofie." I say, and his eyes widen.

"Sofie? As in the one who saved your ass, Sofie?" Sofie sits up with a smirk at this.

"Yes, that would be me." She says holding out her hand for him to take. Before he can, I snatch it into mine and scowl at Liam.

"Damn, okay calm down man." Liam laughs. "On behalf of the idiot, thank you for saving his ass."

"Actually, I did thank her." I say, nuzzling my face into her neck. She smells like vanilla and roses.

"Damn, you must have him wrapped around your finger." I look up to see her smirking down at me.

"Yeah, I think I do." I smile at her, and plant a small kiss on her neck.

"Oh god, yeah I'm gonna go before le cose si fanno brute." (things get nasty.) I flip him the bird as he leaves, and hear his laugh. Resting my forehead against Sofie's, I take a moment to admire her features. Her teal coloured eyes, and beautiful skin. I'm glad her brothers don't let her wear make-up, because she's beautiful just the way she is.

"You know, if we were in a cheesy romance novel, I would ask you to be my girlfriend right now, and you would squeal and say yes. I'm sorry to inform you that this is reality, and I'm telling you, that you are my girlfriend now." Sofie throws back her head and laughs.

"Well in that case, I'm telling you that I accept, and I assure you there will be no squealing involved... for now." I kiss her again, and she smiles against my lips.

"What's your favourite chocolate?" She asks after a while.

"I don't have a favourite, but I like dark chocolate. What about you?" She scowls, and I make a mental note not to get her any dark chocolate.

"Normal milk chocolate, I guess. With hazelnuts. How do you take your coffee?" Hazelnuts. Got it.

"Strong and black. You?" She laughs softly.

"Of course, you do. I take mine with lots of cream, lots of sugar, and a pinch of cinnamon.

"That's quite a combination, gattina."(kitten) I say, watching the blush creep up her face, and being glad that I'm the one who put it there. "What made you try it out?" I see another slight blush on her face.

"I may or may not have an obsession for romance books." She mumbles. "In one of the books I read, this was a girls order. When she goes out with the guy for the first time, he gets her order right. That was pretty much what make her fall for him." I smile softly. She likes the little things in life.

We continue asking each other questions, and she tells me about how Vlad is like a dad to her since the day they made an alliance. I realise that even if she has a strong exterior, on the inside, she's just a little girl who wants to be swept off her feet like in a fairy-tale. I'm going to be the one to do that for her.

Dammit, I am so whipped.