Chapter 25: Leo
Danny and I head out with a mission, but honestly, neither of us knows the first thing about shopping for a girl. We wander through the aisles, grabbing anything that looks like it could work: soft sweaters in various shades of blue, grey leggings, comfortable tees, and a couple of oversized hoodies. We debate over the shoe choices for a while, finally deciding on a pair of white Nikes with a blue swoosh and some grey Converse. They seem practical, and we figure they’re close enough to the colors she likes.
We’re not even halfway done before we realize how much money we’re spending. I never thought I’d enjoy buying clothes this much, but seeing all these things pile up, knowing they’re for her, makes it all feel different. This life we lead isn’t exactly short on cash, but I rarely spend it on anything worthwhile. This, though—this feels like it’s worth every penny.
Before heading back, I remember her talking about a few books she likes when I was undercover at her school, so we stop by a bookstore and grab them. Danny looks around as we pay, a look of satisfaction on his face. I know he’s feeling the same sense of purpose. She doesn’t have much to call her own right now, and it feels good to change that.
When we get back to the house, we’re greeted by a quiet scene: Sofia’s curled up on the couch, her head resting on Nate’s shoulder. He’s got one arm around her, holding her close, his other hand absently stroking her hair. He glances at us briefly before turning back to the TV, focused but relaxed, as if this is the most natural thing in the world. I feel a pang of jealousy that she’s nestled so comfortably against him, and when I look at Danny, I can tell he feels it too.
Riley walks in with damp hair, freshly showered, and he helps us carry the bags over to the couch. We’re trying to be quiet, but Sofia stirs, slowly waking up. She shifts, blinking sleepily, and when she realizes she’s been leaning on Nate, she sits up quickly, her cheeks flushing.
“I’m sorry,” she murmurs, looking down at her hands. “I didn’t mean to fall asleep on you.”
Nate gives her a gentle smile, reaching over to brush a strand of hair away from her face. “You don’t have to apologize for anything,” he says softly.
She ducks her head, the color rising in her cheeks, and I can’t help but smile. “We got you some things,” I say, nudging one of the bags toward her. “We weren’t sure what you’d like, so we just grabbed a bit of everything.”
Her eyes widen as she looks through the bags, pulling out clothes and toiletries. She finds a bottle of shampoo and raises an eyebrow, looking at us. “How did you know this is what I use?”
Danny chuckles, rubbing the back of his neck. “We swear we’re not creeps. We just… did a little research.”
She shakes her head, but there’s a small smile on her lips as she keeps going through the bags. When she finds the shoes, she grins, holding them up as if she’s found a hidden treasure. “These are perfect. I didn’t know what to expect, but you guys did pretty well.”
She pulls out a few more things, her eyes lighting up at the small touches. She looks at her new phone case, which we put on her phone already. It’s blue with little flowers on the back, and she looks genuinely happy when she sees it. Then, she finds the books, and I see the change in her face. Her smile fades, and her eyes fill with tears. She holds the books close, pressing them against her chest. “This is too much,” she whispers, shaking her head. “I… I don’t deserve this. I don’t deserve any of it.”
Danny moves closer, putting an arm around her shoulders. “Hey, that’s not true. You deserve more than this. If we’re being honest, we’re the ones who don’t deserve you. But we’re here, and if there’s one thing we’re sure of, it’s that you’re family now.”
She looks at each of us, wiping her eyes, a look of disbelief on her face. “But I keep waiting for you to change your minds. To decide to trade me again.”
The room falls silent, and I can feel the weight of her words settling over us. Nate shifts, pulling her gently into his lap. I crouch down beside them, and Danny stands behind her, his hand on her shoulder. Riley is in front, his expression unreadable but intense.
“Sofia,” Nate says, his voice steady. “We would never do that. You’re with us now, and we’re not going to let you go. If you want to stay, you’re welcome here. We’re your men now. We’re going to protect you, give you whatever you need. You’re safe.”
She looks at each of us, and I can see the gratitude in her eyes, mixed with a hint of disbelief. “Thank you,” she whispers, and I can feel the tension in the room start to ease.
Riley clears his throat, breaking the moment. “Let’s get you settled. There’s no extra room, so you can take mine. I’ll bunk with someone else or crash on the couch.”
Her eyes widen, and she shakes her head, looking worried. “I can’t take your room. I’ll be fine on the couch.”
He waves her off. “Nonsense. You’re taking the room. No arguments.”
She hesitates, but we all pitch in, moving Riley’s things out and her new things in. We put her clothes in the drawers, arrange her toiletries in the bathroom, and even set her shoes by the door. She watches us, looking shy but grateful, and after a moment, she asks, “Can I… Can I hug you? To say thank you?”
Danny is the first to step forward, pulling her into a hug that’s maybe a little too enthusiastic. She winces, and he steps back, looking sheepish. I move in next, wrapping my arms around her and holding her close. When it’s Riley’s turn, he hesitates, then hugs her gently, one hand resting on her back. Finally, Nate pulls her in, his arms secure around her shoulders, and for a moment, none of us speak, just soaking in the warmth of her presence.
As we finish up, I glance around the room, taking in the way it’s transformed. It’s not just Riley’s room anymore; it’s hers. Her things are everywhere, little touches that make it feel like she belongs. I don’t know how long she’ll stay, but I know that, for now, we’re exactly where we need to be. And that’s more than enough.