Chapter 40: Sofia
The smell of coffee and pancakes pulls me from sleep. I blink a few times, letting the soft morning light streaming through the window coax me fully awake. It’s still early, but downstairs, I can hear the guys moving around the kitchen. I push myself out of bed and make my way down, still feeling the grogginess of sleep.
When I step into the kitchen, I stop and stare for a second. They’re all dressed in layers—sweaters, jackets, even scarves. It’s so different from their usual style of t-shirts that show off their tattoos. Nate’s by the stove, flipping pancakes, and Riley is leaning against the counter with a cup of coffee in hand. Danny is setting the table, and Leo’s rummaging through the fridge.
“Morning,” Riley says with a grin when he notices me. “You sleep okay?”
“Yeah,” I mumble, heading for the coffee pot. “You guys are... dressed warm.”
Danny chuckles, tossing a glance at Nate. “We’re headed into the cold, princess. Can’t exactly be walking around in t-shirts.”
The reminder of where we’re going—the cabin up north—sends a wave of excitement through me. I lean against the counter, watching as Nate plates a stack of pancakes. “Is it really that cold up there?”
Nate smirks. “You’ll see.”
After a quick breakfast, the guys start packing up the car. I watch as they load bags, blankets, and all sorts of supplies, making sure everything fits. It’s clear they’ve done this before, and I can’t help but smile at how... cozy it all feels. It’s different from the intensity of the past few days, and I like this side of them.
Once everything’s packed, we head out. Riley’s driving, Nate’s up front, and I’m squeezed between Leo and Danny in the backseat. The car is warm, and the soft chatter between the guys fades into the background as we hit the highway. I lean my head against the seat, and before long, my eyelids grow heavy. I don’t fight the sleep; instead, I let it pull me under, my head resting on Danny’s shoulder.
When I wake up, everything looks completely different. The city’s long gone, replaced by tall, snow-covered trees that stretch for miles. The air feels fresher, cleaner, even from inside the car. I sit up straighter, rubbing my eyes as the cabin comes into view. It’s... beautiful. Nestled between the trees, with a wide porch, large windows, and a stone chimney with smoke drifting out. It looks like something straight out of a winter postcard.
“Whoa,” I whisper, pressing my face against the window. “This is... wow.”
Nate looks back at me from the front seat, smirking a little. “Not bad, right?”
“Not bad? It’s amazing,” I say, my breath fogging up the window as I take it all in.
“We got this place a few years ago,” Leo says, his hand resting lightly on my knee. “It’s our escape, y’know? Somewhere we can go when things get... too much.”
Danny nods, glancing around like he’s seeing it through fresh eyes. “We come up here whenever we need to clear our heads. No drama, no stress—just peace and quiet.”
I step out of the car and look around. The snow crunches under my boots as I take a deep breath of the cold, crisp air. It’s so different from everything I know, so far from the chaos of the city. It feels like a hidden world.
“Have you ever brought anyone else here?” I ask, half-joking but also half-wondering.
Riley, who’s grabbing the last of the bags from the trunk, looks at me and shakes his head. “Nope. You’re the first.”
The way he says it, with that serious tone and the others nodding along, makes my heart skip a beat. I turn to look at each of them, and they’re all watching me, as if they’re waiting for my reaction. My chest tightens a little, but not in a bad way—it’s this strange mix of nerves and excitement. Being here with them, knowing I’m the first person they’ve ever brought to this place... it feels special. It feels like I belong with them.
“Really?” I ask, my voice a little softer now.
Leo grins. “Really.”
I smile, the cold air biting at my cheeks, but all I feel is warmth.
The inside of the cabin is just as cozy as the outside, if not more. Everything is wooden—warm, rich tones that make the whole place feel like a home you never want to leave. There’s a fireplace in the corner, a big couch with a soft, knit blanket thrown over it, and shelves filled with board games and stacks of DVDs. It’s not what I expected at all.
There are only two rooms, but each one has a massive bed, probably big enough to fit all of us if we squeezed together a bit. The washroom is equally impressive, with a large washtub and a window overlooking the forest. It’s like stepping into a different world—quiet, peaceful, and nothing like the city.
I glance at the corner of the living room and can’t help but laugh when I see the pile of board games. The guys turn to me, raising their eyebrows in question.
“What’s so funny?” Riley asks, a grin tugging at the corner of his mouth.
I shake my head, still smiling. “I just... I never thought my tough mafia men would be the type to play board games at a cabin.”
They all break into grins at that, and before I can react, Danny’s arms are around me. He lifts me easily and sets me down on the edge of the couch, his face close to mine as he smirks.
“Are you making fun of us, Sof?” he asks, his voice playful, but his grip on my waist firm.
I blink, caught off guard by how quickly I ended up on the couch. “No, I just... it’s cute. I like it.”
Leo steps closer, crossing his arms and leaning against the wall. “Babygirl, we’re more than gang members. We told you we wanted out.”
Riley, who’s sitting on the arm of the couch, nods. “This,” he gestures around the cabin, “this is much more what we’d like life to be. Peaceful. No more looking over our shoulders.”
Nate comes over from the kitchen, standing just behind Danny. His eyes are soft as they lock on mine. “You think you could picture yourself in a life like this? With us?”
The air stills for a moment as they all stop what they’re doing to look at me, waiting for my response. My heart races, but not out of fear—out of something else, something new. I bite my lip, feeling a small, shy smile form as I nod. “Yeah. I think I could.”
Their reactions are instant—wide smiles, the tension in their bodies melting away as if they’ve been waiting to hear me say those words. Danny lets out a soft laugh, pulling me closer, while the others exchange glances, looking genuinely happy.