Bound By Blood

Chapter 4: The First Taste of Danger

(Sophia’s POV)

The mansion had a strange way of making time feel like it slowed to a crawl. The air was thick with unspoken secrets, and every corner seemed to hold something—or someone—watching. Even so, Sophia couldn’t deny the sense of safety she felt within the grand walls, no matter how tense her interactions with Marco were.

But that safety shattered the moment the black SUVs appeared outside the gate.

“Stay inside,” Marco ordered, his voice as sharp as a knife. He moved past her with quick, deliberate steps, his hand brushing her arm as he passed. It wasn’t a comforting touch—more of a reminder that he was in control.

Sophia watched as Marco and several other men, armed and dressed in black, moved toward the entrance. A chill ran down her spine. This was the first real glimpse she was getting of the mafia world—her new reality. She wasn’t sure if it frightened her or fascinated her.

Her eyes shifted to Luca, who approached her with a different kind of urgency. His usual calm demeanor was strained, his brow furrowed with concern.

“Sophia, come with me,” he said softly, but there was no mistaking the seriousness in his voice. His hand gently encircled her wrist as he led her back inside. “We need to get you somewhere safe.”

“They’re coming for me, aren’t they?” Sophia asked, the truth dawning on her. It was the Rossettis. They had found her. The sense of dread she’d felt since arriving crashed down on her in full force.

Luca hesitated, his grip tightening slightly. “They don’t know you’re here, not yet. This is just a warning. But we can’t take chances.”

He guided her up the staircase, his steps hurried, and pulled her into a dimly lit room—a library, she realized, with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves. Luca locked the door behind them and moved closer, his blue eyes searching hers.

“I’m sorry,” he murmured, his voice softening as he placed a hand on her cheek. “This isn’t what I wanted for you.”

Sophia’s heart thudded in her chest, her breath catching at his touch. There was something about Luca that made her feel safe, even amidst the chaos. His touch was gentle, careful, like he was afraid of breaking her. But she wasn’t broken. Not yet.

“I can handle it,” she whispered, her eyes never leaving his.

Luca’s thumb brushed across her cheek, his gaze deepening as if he was trying to believe her. And then, without warning, he leaned in. His lips brushed against hers, tentative at first, testing. When she didn’t pull away, he kissed her deeper, pulling her closer with a desperation that felt like it had been held back for far too long.

Sophia melted into him, her hands resting on his chest as she returned the kiss, losing herself in the warmth of him, the softness. It was the escape she hadn’t realized she needed, a brief moment where the world outside didn’t exist.

But just as quickly as it began, Luca pulled back, his breath ragged, his forehead resting against hers.

“I’ve wanted to do that since the moment I saw you,” he confessed, his voice hushed.

Sophia’s heart raced, but before she could respond, a loud crash echoed from downstairs, shattering the moment. Luca’s head snapped toward the door, his protective instinct kicking in. “Stay here.”

Without another word, he left her in the library, locking the door behind him.