Chapter 32: Leo

I’m leaning against the counter, savoring the quiet morning and the taste of my coffee when I see her coming down the stairs, her face pale and tense. Sofia’s clutching her phone, knuckles white, and it doesn’t take a genius to know something’s wrong.

I’m at her side in an instant. “Sofia, what’s going on?”

She hands me her phone without a word, and the message on the screen makes my blood boil.

Sofia, you’re coming home today. Enough of your games. We’ve arranged everything. Don’t make us come and get you.

I look up, meeting her gaze. She’s scared—no, terrified. I can see it in the way she wraps her arms around herself, the way her eyes dart around as if expecting her parents to appear at any moment.

Danny, Nate, and Riley are nearby, and I motion for them to join us. They’re at our sides in seconds, reading over my shoulder, their faces darkening as they take in the message.

“Are they serious?” Riley mutters, his voice laced with disbelief. “They think they can just take you back?”

“They’ve always been like this,” Sofia says softly, her voice barely a whisper. “Control is everything to them. If I don’t do what they say…”

Nate crosses his arms, his jaw clenched. “They don’t get to dictate your life anymore, Sofia. Not with us here.”

“We’ll make sure of that,” Danny adds, his eyes blazing with determination. “They’re not taking you anywhere.”

Sofia nods, but I can see the doubt, the fear that lingers. She’s known their power, their influence, for her whole life. They’ve held her captive with fear for so long that she doesn’t know anything else. I want to erase that fear, to show her that she’s not alone.

Riley reaches out, squeezing her shoulder. “Whatever they’ve arranged, it’s not happening. We’ll put a stop to it.”

The others start strategizing, talking over plans and contingencies, but Sofia’s retreating into herself. I can see the way her shoulders slump, the way her eyes drift away from us. She’s scared, and no amount of talk about what we’re going to do is enough to bring her back right now.

I give the guys a look, nodding towards the kitchen. “Let me talk to her,” I say quietly. They exchange glances but head off, leaving us alone in the living room. Once they’re gone, I turn back to her, stepping closer until I can rest a hand on her shoulder.

“Come here,” I say softly, guiding her to the couch. She sits down beside me, her hands twisting nervously in her lap.

I reach out, covering her hands with mine. “You don’t have to go anywhere,” I tell her, my voice firm. “They’re not going to take you away from here.”

She nods, but I can tell she doesn’t believe it. “It just… it never ends,” she whispers. “They’ve always had this hold on me, and no matter how far I try to run, it’s like they’re always there, waiting to pull me back.”

I tilt her chin up, forcing her to look at me. “They’re not going to pull you back, Sofia. Not now, not ever. You have us now. You’re safe here.”

She searches my face, and I can see the flicker of hope, the beginnings of trust, but there’s still so much fear in her eyes. I brush a thumb over her cheek, wiping away a tear she didn’t even realize she’d shed.

“Hey, you’re not alone in this,” I murmur, leaning closer. “We’re not going to let them hurt you again.”

She leans into me, resting her head on my shoulder, and I feel a surge of protectiveness that nearly takes my breath away. I slip my arm around her, pulling her close, and for a moment, we just sit there, wrapped up in each other.

“I know I shouldn’t be scared,” she whispers, her voice barely audible. “But I am. I don’t know how to fight them.”

I tilt her face up again, our noses almost touching. “You don’t have to be scared. I’ll fight for you. We all will.”

Before I know what I’m doing, I close the distance between us, my lips brushing over hers in a tentative kiss. She doesn’t pull away. Instead, she sighs softly, leaning into me, and I deepen the kiss, pouring everything I can’t put into words into that moment. Her hands slide up to my shoulders, her fingers tangling in my hair as she pulls me closer, her body pressing against mine.

I pull back slightly, catching my breath. “Sofia,” I murmur, my forehead resting against hers. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to…”

“Don’t apologize,” she whispers, her eyes meeting mine, a hint of a smile on her lips. “I wanted this too.”

Her words send a rush of relief through me, and I lean in, capturing her lips again, this time slower, savoring the warmth, the softness of her against me. I move my hand to her back, pulling her onto my lap as I trail kisses along her jaw, down to her neck. She shivers, her breath catching, and I can’t help but smile against her skin.

We stay like that, wrapped up in each other, until she pulls back, her cheeks flushed, her eyes bright. “Thank you,” she whispers, brushing a hand over my cheek.

“For what?”

“For making me feel safe,” she says, her voice thick with emotion. “For being here when I didn’t think anyone would be.”

I pull her close, resting my chin on top of her head. “I’m not going anywhere, Sofia. You’re stuck with me now.”

She laughs softly, and the sound is like music, light and sweet. I want to keep her here forever, to keep this moment frozen in time. But I know there’s more to come, more we’ll have to face. And I’ll be damned if I let her go through it alone.

“We’re going to get through this,” I murmur, pressing a kiss to her temple. “I’ll make sure of it.”

And as I hold her close, I know that I’ll do whatever it takes to protect her, to keep her safe, to keep her here with me. Because Sofia isn’t just someone we’re protecting. She’s become something so much more—she’s become everything.