Chapter 139: Sofia

I wake up to a dull, throbbing pain in my head, the world slowly coming into focus. The air is cold, and the smell of damp earth fills my nose. I blink, trying to clear my vision, my mind foggy, the events from earlier rushing back like a tidal wave. I can feel the panic start to rise again, my breath catching in my throat. Ethan. Where’s Ethan?

I struggle to sit up, my body aching, my arms heavy. The room around me is dim, the only light coming from a flickering bulb hanging overhead. It’s a small, dingy space—concrete walls, no windows, just a single door that’s firmly shut. I swallow hard, my eyes scanning the room frantically, my heart pounding in my chest.

And then I see him. Ethan. He’s lying on a blanket in the corner, his tiny chest rising and falling with each steady breath. Relief washes over me, tears springing to my eyes as I scramble to my feet, stumbling over to him. I sink to my knees, my hands trembling as I reach out to touch his soft hair, my heart aching with love and fear.

“Thank God,” I whisper, my voice breaking as I pull him into my arms, holding him close. He stirs, his eyes opening just a little, and he lets out a soft, sleepy whimper. I press a kiss to his forehead, my tears falling onto his cheeks. “I’m here, sweetheart. I’ve got you. Mommy’s here.”

I hold him tightly, my body shaking as the fear crashes over me in waves. I don’t know where we are, I don’t know how we got here, but I know who’s behind this. My father. He’s finally gotten what he wanted. He’s taken us. And now, we’re at his mercy.

I take a deep breath, trying to steady myself, trying to think. I can’t afford to panic. Not now. Not when Ethan needs me. I have to be strong. I have to find a way out of this. I look around the room again, my eyes searching for anything—something I can use, some way to escape. But there’s nothing. Just cold concrete and the distant sound of water dripping somewhere beyond the walls.

The door creaks open suddenly, and I jerk my head up, my body tensing. A man steps inside, his face partially hidden in the shadows. He’s tall, broad-shouldered, his eyes cold as they lock onto mine. I feel a shiver run down my spine, and I hold Ethan tighter, my heart pounding in my ears.

“Well, well,” the man says, his voice low and mocking. “Look who’s finally awake.”

I glare at him, my eyes narrowing, my fear quickly turning into anger. “Where are we?” I demand, my voice shaking. “What do you want?”

The man steps closer, his lips curling into a cruel smile. “You’ll find out soon enough,” he says. He glances at Ethan, and my blood runs cold, my arms tightening protectively around my son.

“Leave him alone,” I say, my voice trembling, but there’s a sharp edge to it, a fierceness I didn’t know I still had in me. “He’s just a baby. He has nothing to do with this.”

The man laughs, the sound echoing off the concrete walls, and he shakes his head. “You really think you’re in a position to make demands?” he says. “Your father wants to see you. Both of you.”

My heart sinks, a cold dread settling in my stomach. I knew it. I knew he was behind this. I swallow hard, my eyes locking on the man’s, trying to keep my voice steady. “Why? What does he want?”

The man shrugs, his smile widening. “Why don’t you ask him yourself?” he says, and he turns, gesturing for someone outside the door.

Two more men step inside, their faces just as hard, just as cold. They move toward me, and I scramble back, my back hitting the wall, my arms clutching Ethan to my chest. “No,” I whisper, my voice breaking. “Please, don’t—”

But they don’t listen. One of them grabs my arm, yanking me to my feet, and I cry out, my grip on Ethan tightening. He starts to cry, his wails piercing the air, and I feel my heart shatter, the fear turning into something raw, something primal.

“Please,” I beg, my voice cracking as they drag me toward the door. “Please, don’t hurt him. I’ll do whatever you want, just don’t hurt him.”

The man holding my arm doesn’t say a word, his grip like iron as he pulls me through the door, the other man following with Ethan in his arms. I struggle, my body twisting, my eyes locked on my baby, his face red with tears, his tiny hands reaching for me. “Ethan!” I scream, my voice breaking, my heart tearing in two.

We’re led down a narrow hallway, the walls closing in around me, the air cold and damp. My mind is racing, every muscle in my body screaming at me to fight, to do something. But I can’t. Not with Ethan in their hands. Not when they could hurt him.

We reach a door at the end of the hallway, and the man holding me pushes it open, shoving me inside. I stumble, falling to my knees, my hands scraping against the rough concrete. I look up, my breath catching in my throat as I see him.

My father.

He’s standing in the center of the room, his eyes cold, a smile playing at the corners of his lips. He looks exactly the same—tall, imposing, his presence filling the room, suffocating me. I feel the fear grip me, tight and unrelenting, and I force myself to stand, my eyes locked on his.

“Sofia,” he says, his voice smooth, almost gentle. “It’s been a long time.”

I swallow hard, my heart pounding, my hands trembling at my sides. “Let him go,” I say, my voice barely a whisper. “Please. He’s just a baby.”

My father’s eyes shift to Ethan, who’s still crying, his tiny body held tightly by one of the men. He nods slowly, almost as if he’s considering it, and then he looks back at me, his smile widening.

“Oh, Sofia,” he says, his voice dripping with mock sympathy. “You always were so naive. Do you really think you’re in any position to ask for favors?”

I feel the tears welling in my eyes, my heart breaking, and I shake my head, my voice trembling. “Please,” I whisper. “I’ll do anything. Just don’t hurt him.”

He steps closer, his eyes locking onto mine, and I can see the darkness there, the hatred. He reaches out, his fingers brushing against my cheek, and I flinch, my whole body recoiling from his touch.

“You took everything from me, Sofia,” he says, his voice low, dangerous. “You thought you could run, that you could hide. But you were wrong. And now, you’re going to pay for what you did.”

I shake my head, the tears spilling down my cheeks, my breath coming in ragged gasps. “I didn’t take anything from you,” I say, my voice breaking. “I just wanted to be free.”

He smiles, a cold, cruel smile, and he leans in, his breath hot against my ear. “You’ll never be free,” he whispers. “Not from me.”

I feel the fear crash over me, overwhelming, suffocating, and I close my eyes, my heart breaking. I think of Ethan, of the boys, of everything we’ve fought for. And I know I can’t give up. Not now. Not ever.

I open my eyes, my gaze locking on my father’s, and I take a deep breath, my voice steady. “You’ll never win,” I say, my eyes burning with defiance. “No matter what you do, I’ll never let you break me.”

His smile falters, his eyes narrowing, and I see the anger there, the darkness. He steps back, his hand dropping to his side, and he nods to the men holding Ethan.

“Take the baby away,” he says, his voice cold. “Let’s see how strong she is without him.”

My heart stops, my whole body going cold, and I lunge forward, my hands reaching out. “No!” I scream, my voice raw, the fear turning into something wild, something uncontrollable. “Please! Don’t take him! Ethan!”

But they don’t listen. They turn, carrying my baby away, his cries echoing off the concrete walls, and I feel my heart shatter, the pain so deep, so raw, I can barely breathe.

I fall to my knees, my hands trembling, the tears streaming down my face, and I look up at my father, my eyes filled with hatred. “I’ll kill you,” I whisper, my voice shaking. “I swear to God, I’ll kill you.”

He just smiles, his eyes cold, and he turns, walking away, leaving me there, broken and alone, the darkness closing in around me.