Chapter Ten - Honest Lies
1185 Words
The rain had started just before sunset.
By the time Sofia reached the piano bar, the streets shimmered beneath the city lights, reflections dancing across the wet pavement.
She sat in her car for several minutes.
Her father’s words echoed relentlessly.
“When you look at Dominic Russo… I want you to see a threat.”
She closed her eyes.
Instead, she saw Nick smiling as he talked about the mountains.
Frustrated, she stepped out into the rain and hurried toward the entrance.
⸻
The familiar warmth greeted her immediately.
Before she could remove her coat, the bartender smiled.
“Good evening, Sofia.”
She smiled back.
“Good evening.”
“He’s expecting you.”
Her eyebrows lifted slightly.
“He?”
The bartender chuckled.
“He’ll be disappointed if I pretend not to know who you’re looking for.”
Heat rose in her cheeks.
“I’m not looking for—”
“Of course you aren’t.”
He winked before walking away.
Sofia couldn’t help but laugh.
The sound surprised even her.
⸻
“You laugh more now.”
Nick’s voice came from behind her.
She turned.
He was carrying two steaming mugs instead of glasses.
“I took a chance,” he said, setting one in front of her.
“It’s cold outside.”
She wrapped her hands around the mug.
“What is it?”
“Hot chocolate.”
She looked up, amused.
“I’ve never had hot chocolate in a bar.”
“You’ve also never had a vacation before.”
“Fair point.”
He sat beside her.
For a while they watched the rain slide down the windows.
“It changes the city,” Sofia said quietly.
“The rain?”
She nodded.
“It slows people down.”
Nick smiled.
“I always thought it gave them permission.”
“Permission?”
“To stop pretending they’re in a hurry.”
She considered that.
“You see things differently.”
“I try to.”
⸻
After a comfortable silence, Nick asked, “Can I ask you something?”
“You’ve been asking me things since we met.”
“And you’ve been answering.”
“Most of them.”
He laughed softly.
“Fair enough.”
She looked at him.
“What is it?”
“What did you want to be when you were little?”
The question landed like a punch.
She stared into the swirling steam rising from the mug.
“I don’t know.”
“You never thought about it?”
“My future was decided before I was old enough to understand what a future was.”
Nick’s heart sank.
He’d suspected as much.
Still…
Hearing her say it was different.
“What about you?” she asked.
“I wanted to build boats.”
She blinked.
“Boats?”
He smiled.
“My grandfather owned a little marina.”
“I thought I’d spend my life there.”
“What happened?”
“My father died.”
The smile faded.
“And suddenly there were responsibilities that couldn’t wait.”
“So…”
She tilted her head.
“You didn’t choose your life either.”
“No.”
Their eyes met.
“The difference is…”
Nick continued quietly.
“…I eventually got to decide what kind of man I wanted to become.”
Sofia looked away.
“I don’t think everyone gets that opportunity.”
“No.”
He nodded.
“But I think sometimes it starts with asking whether the life you’re living actually belongs to you.”
⸻
The pianist shifted into a slower melody.
Several couples stepped onto the small dance floor.
Sofia watched them.
“They make it look easy.”
“Dancing?”
“Being close to someone.”
Nick smiled.
“It gets easier when you trust the person you’re with.”
She looked at the couples again.
“I don’t know if I’ve ever trusted anyone.”
The admission hung between them.
Nick wanted to tell her that trust wasn’t something you found overnight.
That it was built one small choice at a time.
Instead, he simply said,
“Then don’t start with everyone.”
She looked at him.
“Start with one.”
⸻
Her phone vibrated.
Once.
She didn’t need to check it.
She knew who it was.
Her father.
Nick noticed the subtle change in her expression.
“You should answer.”
“I know.”
She didn’t move.
It vibrated again.
Then a third time.
Nick recognized fear when he saw it.
Not fear of the call.
Fear of the person behind it.
“You don’t want to go.”
It wasn’t a question.
Sofia whispered,
“No.”
The honesty surprised both of them.
Nick looked toward the rain outside.
“Then stay another five minutes.”
She looked at him, confused.
“I’ll probably regret it.”
“Probably.”
He smiled.
“But sometimes probably isn’t a good enough reason.”
She laughed.
“You already used that line.”
“I know.”
“It still works.”
⸻
For five more minutes they sat together, saying almost nothing.
Listening to the piano.
Watching the rain.
It was the most peaceful Sofia had ever felt.
And because of that…
It terrified her.
She stood reluctantly.
“I have to go.”
Nick nodded.
“I know.”
As she turned toward the door, he spoke again.
“Sofia.”
She looked back.
“If anyone’s making you believe you’re less than you are…”
He paused, choosing his words carefully.
“…they’re lying to you.”
Her breath caught.
For one impossible moment, she wanted to ask him how he knew.
Instead, she simply nodded and walked away.
⸻
Nick remained seated long after she’d left.
Luca approached quietly.
“You like her.”
Nick didn’t answer.
Luca continued.
“That’s dangerous.”
“I know.”
“She’s still Moretti’s assassin.”
Nick looked toward the rain-streaked window.
“I know.”
“Then why do I get the feeling you’re already trying to save her?”
Nick was silent for a long moment.
Finally, he shook his head.
“I’m not trying to save her.”
His eyes remained fixed on the empty doorway.
“I’m trying to understand why someone spent twenty-seven years convincing her she wasn’t worth saving.”
⸻
Across town, Sofia pulled into the Moretti estate nearly thirty minutes later than expected.
Vittorio was waiting in the foyer.
Not angry.
That was somehow worse.
“You were late.”
“I’m sorry.”
He stepped closer.
“Did you make progress?”
She hesitated.
A fraction of a second.
It was enough.
Vittorio smiled.
Cold.
Knowing.
“I see.”
He turned away.
“Tomorrow evening.”
He stopped at the foot of the staircase.
“I expect results.”
Then he disappeared into the darkness, leaving Sofia alone with a truth she could no longer ignore.
She wasn’t failing the mission because Nick was difficult to kill.
She was failing because she no longer wanted him dead.
- Writer
