Chapter 7: The Man in the Shadows
468 Words
Sofia's breath caught in her throat.
The gun remained steady.
She couldn't see the man's face, only the outline of broad shoulders and the faint gleam of his watch beneath the dim light.
"Who are you?" she whispered.
The man chuckled.
"You've been asking the wrong questions all day."
He stepped forward.
Moonlight spilled through the narrow window, revealing a neatly tailored navy suit.
His face was striking.
Too young to look so dangerous.
Dark hair. Sharp jawline. Eyes that seemed almost amused by the fear around him.
"You're..." Sofia began.
He raised a finger.
"I wouldn't finish that sentence."
"You know my name."
"Everyone important knows your name."
He lowered the gun.
"I wasn't going to shoot you."
"Then why point it at me?"
"To see whether you'd run."
"I don't run."
His smile widened.
"I noticed."
His gaze drifted to the journal in her hands.
"So..."
"You found Isabella's diary."
Sofia instinctively held it closer.
"Who was she?"
For the first time, the amusement disappeared from his face.
"The bravest woman I ever knew."
"Was she my mother?"
Silence.
Then—
Footsteps thundered down the staircase.
"Luca!" a guard shouted from above.
"She's down here!"
The stranger sighed.
"So much for our conversation."
Before Sofia could react, he leaned close enough for her to catch the scent of cedar and expensive cologne.
His voice dropped to a whisper.
"When they tell you I'm the villain..."
"...don't believe them."
He disappeared through another hidden passage just as Luca entered the room.
His expression hardened the moment he saw the open journal.
"What have you done?"
"I only wanted answers."
"You were never supposed to find this room."
Sofia lifted the journal.
"Who is Isabella?"
Luca stared at the worn leather cover.
Pain flashed across his face.
A rare c***k in the man who never seemed to feel anything.
He took a slow breath.
"Give me the journal."
"No."
"Sofia."
"No."
"It's dangerous."
"So is everyone in this house!"
She stepped back.
"First, you bring me here."
"Then everyone acts like they know me."
"And now I find a diary that begins with 'If my daughter is reading this'—"
Her voice broke.
"Tell me the truth."
Luca remained silent.
That silence hurt more than any lie could.
Finally, he spoke.
"I made your mother a promise."
"What promise?"
"That no one would ever tell you who you really are..."
"...until the day you were strong enough to survive it."
Before Sofia could ask another question, an explosion shook the mansion.
The windows rattled.
Alarms blared throughout the estate.
A guard's frantic voice echoed through the halls.
"Boss!"
"They've breached the east gate!"
Luca's eyes darkened.
Only one man would be bold enough to attack his home.
Dante Romano.
And this time...
He wasn't leaving without Sofia.
- Writer
