Chapter 5
2099 Words
SOPHIA
I woke up to the faint sound of birds outside my window.
For a few seconds, I lay still, staring at the unfamiliar ceiling.
Then everything came back.
The Moretti estate.
The kidnapping.
The gunshot.
Luca.
I slowly sat up.
My eyes immediately went to the clock on the bedside table.
8:17 a.m.
I had slept longer than I expected.
I pushed the blanket aside and got out of bed.
As I walked toward the bathroom, my mind returned to last night.
Luca sitting in his office.
The blood on his bandage.
The way he'd tried to convince me he was fine.
And me standing there, cleaning his wound because I couldn't bring myself to leave him like that.
I touched my fingers together unconsciously.
I could still remember the warmth of his skin beneath my hands.
I shook my head.
Why was I thinking about that?
I had more important things to worry about.
My father was dead.
People were after me.
And I was living in the house of a man whose secrets seemed almost as dangerous as the people hunting me.
That was enough.
I showered, dressed, and left my room.
---
The hallway looked different in the morning.
The estate was much quieter than it had been the previous night.
As I walked downstairs, I noticed several staff members moving around.
Some glanced at me before quickly looking away.
I couldn't blame them.
I was still a stranger here.
When I reached the dining room, I stopped at the doorway.
Luca was already seated at the table.
He was dressed in a dark shirt, his sleeves rolled slightly above his wrists.
My eyes immediately went to his side.
I couldn't see the wound beneath his clothes.
But I knew it was there.
His eyes met mine.
“Good morning.”
“Good morning.”
I walked inside.
A woman standing near the table immediately pulled out a chair for me.
“Good morning, Miss Romano.”
“Good morning.”
I sat down.
Luca watched me for a moment.
“How did you sleep?”
“Better than I expected.”
He nodded.
“Good.”
I looked at the table.
Breakfast had already been served.
There were eggs, bread, fruit, pastries, and several dishes I couldn't identify.
“This is a lot.”
Luca glanced at the food.
“It is.”
“Do you always eat like this?”
“Usually.”
I smiled slightly.
“Then I might get used to this place.”
His gaze stayed on me for a second.
“I'd like that.”
Before I could respond, footsteps sounded from the doorway.
A man walked in.
He looked enough like Luca to make the resemblance obvious, although his expression was warmer.
He stopped when he saw me.
His eyes moved from me to Luca.
Luca stood.
“Adrian.”
“Morning.”
Adrian looked at me.
“I assume this is Sophia Romano.”
I nodded.
“Yes.”
He smiled politely.
“Adrian Moretti.”
“Luca's brother?”
He nodded.
“His younger brother.”
Luca looked unimpressed.
“Unfortunately.”
Adrian ignored him and pulled out a chair.
“I came to see my brother.”
His eyes briefly moved toward Luca's side.
“I heard about what happened.”
Luca's expression hardened slightly.
“It's handled.”
Adrian nodded.
“Good.”
I noticed the brief exchange.
There was clearly something between the brothers that I didn't understand.
I didn't ask.
Adrian turned his attention back to me.
“It's nice to meet you.”
“You too.”
He smiled.
“I've heard a little about you.”
I frowned.
“From who?”
“Luca.”
I looked at Luca.
He simply continued eating.
I wasn't sure whether to believe him.
Adrian seemed to notice my expression.
“Nothing bad.”
“That doesn't exactly reassure me.”
He laughed softly.
“I meant that he told me you're staying here.”
“Oh.”
I relaxed slightly.
Breakfast continued quietly.
I didn't know Adrian well enough to contribute much to the conversation, so I mostly listened.
The brothers spoke occasionally about business.
Most of it went over my head.
Then Adrian mentioned something about a meeting later that afternoon.
Luca's expression changed.
“I'll handle it.”
“You were shot last night.”
Adrian said.
“I can still work.”
“You don't have to prove anything.”
Luca looked at him.
“I wasn't trying to.”
Adrian didn't argue.
He simply nodded.
I glanced at Luca again.
He looked perfectly composed.
But I knew better now.
---
After breakfast, I returned to my room.
I had barely been there for ten minutes when I heard a knock.
I opened the door.
Maria stood outside.
“Miss Romano, may I come in?”
“Of course.”
She stepped inside.
“I wanted to make sure you had everything you needed.”
“I think so.”
She smiled.
“If you need anything, just ask.”
“Thank you.”
She nodded.
“My name is Maria Bellini, by the way. I manage the household.”
I smiled.
“I realized yesterday that I didn't actually know anything about anyone here.”
“That's understandable.”
“I'd like to know.”
She smiled.
“You will.”
She started to leave.
“Maria?”
She turned.
“Yes?”
“Thank you for yesterday.”
“For what?”
“For making everything easier.”
Her expression softened.
“You're welcome, Sophia.”
She left.
I closed the door.
There was something comforting about her.
Not familiarity.
Not yet.
Just kindness.
And I wasn't used to receiving much of that lately.
---
I decided to explore the house.
Not the entire estate.
Just the parts I was certain I was allowed to enter.
I followed the corridor toward the kitchen.
The smell reached me before I did.
Something was cooking.
Something delicious.
I stepped into the kitchen.
Several people were preparing lunch.
A woman noticed me and smiled.
“Good morning.”
“Good morning.”
I looked toward the stove.
“What are you making?”
“Lunch.”
She laughed.
“I can see that.”
I smiled.
“I meant what are you preparing?”
“Chicken, pasta, and vegetables.”
My eyes moved toward the chopping board.
“You're making everything from scratch?”
“Yes.”
I watched her for a moment.
“I like cooking.”
She looked surprised.
“You do?”
I nodded.
“I used to cook for my father.”
The words came out more quietly than I intended.
The woman gave me a small smile.
“Then you should help us sometime.”
“I'd like that.”
She nodded.
“I'm Teresa.”
“It's nice to meet you, Teresa.”
“You too.”
I stayed for a few minutes, watching her work.
I found myself asking about the ingredients.
She explained some of the spices she was using.
I listened carefully.
Cooking was familiar.
Comforting.
Maybe I could have a little piece of my old life here.
---
I left the kitchen a little later.
I turned a corner.
And walked straight into someone.
“Oh!”
The girl in front of me stumbled backward.
A stack of folded clothes nearly fell from her hands.
I immediately reached out.
“I'm sorry.”
“No, I'm sorry!”
She steadied herself.
I looked at her properly.
She was young.
Very young.
She couldn't have been much older than seventeen or eighteen.
“Are you okay?”
She nodded quickly.
“Yes.”
I smiled.
“What's your name?”
“Elena.”
She looked slightly nervous.
“I'm Sophia.”
Her eyes widened slightly.
“I know.”
I laughed softly.
“Right.”
She lowered her gaze.
“Sorry.”
“There's nothing to apologize for.”
She nodded.
I glanced at the clothes.
“Do you need help?”
“No, ma'am.”
I smiled.
“You can just call me Sophia.”
She looked surprised.
“Okay.”
There was a small pause.
“Thank you.”
She walked away.
I watched her for a second before continuing down the hallway.
It had been a very brief interaction.
But I liked her.
There was something innocent about her nervousness.
Maybe we'd speak again.
Maybe we wouldn't.
I didn't know yet.
---
I found Luca in the library later that morning.
He was standing near the window, talking to a man I'd never seen before.
The man noticed me first.
He immediately stepped back.
Luca turned.
“Sophia.”
“Sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt.”
“You're not.”
He gestured for me to come in.
The man nodded toward me.
“Miss Romano.”
I nodded politely.
“Hello.”
Luca looked at him.
“Dante, this is Sophia.”
Dante turned toward me fully.
He was tall, serious-looking, and dressed in black.
“Dante Ricci.”
He said.
“It's nice to meet you.”
I replied.
“I've been assigned to your security.”
I frowned.
“My security?”
Luca nodded.
“Until we know who is behind the kidnapping.”
I looked between them.
“I thought the men who took me were dealt with.”
“They were.”
Luca said.
“But that doesn't mean they're the only people who might come after you.”
I swallowed.
“So what exactly does this mean?”
Dante answered.
“It means you won't leave the estate without me.”
I looked at him.
“I'm not planning to leave.”
“Good.”
His answer was simple.
He nodded toward Luca.
“I'll be outside.”
He left.
I turned toward Luca.
“Is everyone in this house this serious?”
“Most of them.”
I smiled faintly.
“I noticed.”
Luca's expression softened.
“If you need anything, Maria can help you.”
“Okay.”
“And Sophia?”
I looked at him.
“Don't leave the estate alone.”
“I won't.”
“If you need to go somewhere—”
“Dante comes with me.”
I finished.
He nodded.
“Exactly.”
I sighed.
“I understand.”
---
I spent the rest of the morning in my room.
I unpacked a few things from the bag I'd brought with me.
There wasn't much.
Most of my belongings had been left behind.
I found an old photograph of my father.
I sat on the edge of the bed and stared at it.
He was smiling in the picture.
Healthy.
Happy.
Nothing like the man I'd watched slowly disappear during his illness.
I traced the edge of the photograph with my thumb.
“Why did you send me here?”
I whispered.
Why Luca?
Why the Moretti family?
Why had my father trusted this man enough to make him my last option?
I had no answers.
Only questions.
And somehow, I knew Luca had at least some of them.
---
Around lunchtime, I returned to the kitchen.
Teresa was preparing the final dishes.
“You came back.”
She smiled.
“I wanted to see how everything turned out.”
She lifted the lid from the pot.
The smell filled the room.
“It looks good.”
“You can taste it.”
She handed me a spoon.
I tasted it.
My eyes widened.
“This is really good.”
She laughed.
“Good.”
I smiled.
“I could help tomorrow.”
“You're welcome to.”
I nodded.
Maybe tomorrow I'd actually cook something.
I was beginning to realize that staying here didn't have to mean sitting in a room waiting for danger.
I could still live.
Even if it was only little things.
Cooking.
Talking.
Learning people's names.
Finding my way around the house.
For now, that was enough.
---
That afternoon, I stood by my bedroom window.
Dante was visible outside, speaking with another guard.
He noticed me looking and gave a brief nod.
I smiled awkwardly and stepped away from the window.
This place was strange.
Luca was strange.
Everything about my life was strange.
Yet somehow, I was beginning to settle into the quiet rhythm of the estate.
I wasn't ready to call it home.
Not yet.
But it was beginning to feel less like a place I'd been trapped in.
And perhaps that was enough for now.
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