His Chosen Mafia Queen

Chapter 8

Sophia’s pov

As soon as I lock the door, I lean my forehead against it for a

moment and begin taking slow, deep breaths while trying to

wrap my head around everything he said.

After a few seconds, I push away from the door and walk

into my living room, then sit on the sofa and stare at the

Starbucks cup that’s still on the table. I pick it up and take a

sip, and I can’t help but think about how we remembered my

order. It’s a small reminder that the Valentino I knew may

still be inside there, beneath this tough mafia king he had to

become.

Running my hand down my face, I let out an annoyed,

saddened sigh…ten years… ten years of not knowing

where he went, why he left, or if he was even alive. And

now he’s back and stating he loved me and never stopped

loving me while he had his mafia goons follow me from

the shadows…I feel like such a fool, even this damn

apartment was a lie.

My phone’s alert breaks my thoughts:

***Text feed***

Carmen: Hey, chica, just checking on you. Everything okay?I debated texting back because Carmen was in on this, but I

guess she was just following orders.

Me: I know everything, I know you were just following

orders to get me to move into this apartment…I’m fine,

though, you can stop pretending to try to be my friend, I’m

tired, I’ll talk to you later.

Carmen: I wasn’t pretending. Valentino is like a brother to

me, so I was doing more than just following orders. Now that

you know the truth, maybe we can be friends for real. I know

it’s a lot to take in, so I get it. I’ll talk to you when you’re

ready. Good night, chica.

After placing my phone on the coffee table, I pace my living

room with my arms crossed over my chest as I replay

Valentino’s words…I wonder who is after me and sent V the

letter. I should feel scared right now, but instead, I just feel

anxious, and I want my life to go back to normal…I don’t

like being someones pawn to try and hurt Valentino. What

the f**k…why do I still care about him after everything his

leaving put me through…I mean, I guess I could understand

why he left the way he did, but it still hurt, and that hurt

doesn’t just go away…I don’t like feeling like this. I learned

to get tough many years ago, but here he comes a decade

later confessing love and danger…..I would have loved to

hear him confess his love for me 10 years ago because I felt

the same way and hated when girls would try to get his attention….but now?…ugh now!?… I don't know, I’m just

angry.

I don’t like being kept in the dark, I don’t like things being

decided for me, and I don’t like finding out my life has been

managed behind my back.

If V wants to be in my life again, it’s going to be on my

terms, not his, not Owen’s, not Carmen’s….mine.