Chapter 66: Riley

“No way. No. Uh uh. Not happening.”

I spit the words out before I can even think. There’s no damn way I’m letting Sofia do this. She wants to go back to her parents' house? That’s insane. The second she’s back under their roof, they’ll control her. They’ll own her. And I know her dad will make her pay for running. Hard.

On the other end of the line, I can hear her sigh. “Riley, please, I’m sure it’ll work.”

“Sofia, this is crazy. You’re not going back to those monsters. There’s no way I’m letting you anywhere near them.”

She’s silent for a second, probably figuring out how to get through to me. She always knows how to make me listen, even when every cell in my body is screaming to protect her.

“I’m serious,” she says, her voice steady. “I want to go back to my parents’ house. Walk in like nothing happened. Say I’m sorry for running away. That way, they’ll think they were wrong about you and the guys being involved.”

I stare at the steering wheel, feeling my pulse pounding in my ears. My jaw clenches as I try to process what she’s suggesting.

“They’ll take me back,” she continues. “I know they will. My dad—he wants to keep control over me, and if I come crawling back, begging for forgiveness, he’ll believe it. They’ll buy the whole thing. While I’m there, I can get information on Moretti. Figure out what he’s planning.”

She makes it sound so simple, like it’s a perfectly laid-out plan. But she’s not thinking straight. Her dad and Moretti? They’re ruthless. If they find out what she’s really doing, they won’t hesitate to hurt her—or worse.

“Sofia, listen to me,” I say, struggling to keep calm. “Do you know what you’re suggesting? You think you can just waltz back in there like everything’s fine? What happens when your dad or Moretti catches on? You could get hurt. You could—”

“That’s why I need you,” she cuts me off, her voice more urgent. “You and the guys. I’ll get enough information to send them both to jail. Then you’ll burst in with your team and take them down.”

I shake my head, gripping the steering wheel so hard my knuckles turn white. This is crazy. Reckless. But the thing that terrifies me most? She’s not wrong. If anyone can pull this off, it’s Sofia. She knows her parents. She knows how to play them. And if we play our cards right, we could end this nightmare for good.

But at what cost?

“Riley, please,” she says, softer now. “I’m not asking for permission. I’m telling you what I want to do. I need you to trust me. This could work.”

I close my eyes, trying to push away the image of her walking back into that house, back into their control. Everything in me screams to protect her, to say no. But this is Sofia. She’s not just a victim. She’s stronger than that. She wants to fight. And I can’t deny that she has a point.

But hell if I’m going to let her do this without a fight.

“I… I need to think about this,” I finally say, my voice thick with frustration. “I’ll talk to the guys. But don’t get your hopes up, baby. I don’t like this. Not one bit.”

There’s silence on the other end of the line, and then her quiet, “Okay.”

But I can tell she’s already made up her mind.

The problem is, I can’t stop thinking about how her plan could work. We’ve been chasing shadows with her dad and Moretti, always one step behind. If Sofia’s willing to take that risk… I know the guys are going to have the same gut reaction as me. But I also know, deep down, they’ll see the same potential in this crazy idea.

I just don’t know how we’re supposed to sit back and let her do it.

“I’ll be home soon,” I say, my voice softening. “We’ll talk more then. Just… promise me you’ll stay with the guys until I get back.”

“I promise,” she says quietly.

I hang up and lean back in my seat, staring at the empty road ahead. This is going to be one hell of a conversation.

Before I can even start driving again, my phone buzzes with a string of messages. The group chat with the guys is lighting up. I unlock it, seeing the conversation unfold.

Leo:

*Dude, she’s got guts, I’ll give her that.

But this plan is insane.*

Danny:

*I don't know, man... it could work.

Her dad won’t expect it. She knows how to play him.*

Nate:

*Risky as hell. She could get hurt. Not worth it.*

I scroll through, already feeling the tension rising in my chest. This plan, it's splitting us down the middle.

I type back quickly, fingers hitting the screen a little too hard.

Me:

*How the heck did you let her find out?

You were supposed to keep her out of this!*

There’s a pause before more messages pop in.

Leo:

*It wasn’t like that. She overheard us talking first.*

Danny:

*She asked, man.

She knew we were hiding something and was gonna keep pushing until she found out.*

Nate:

*I still say no.

We can't risk it. I don’t care what she thinks she can do.*

I exhale sharply, running a hand over my face. This is a mess. I hate the idea of her walking back into that hellhole, but I can’t ignore the fact that the plan might actually work.

Another buzz.

Leo:

*Look, I’m with Danny on this. If we’re careful, we can pull it off. But only if we’re watching her every step of the way.*

Danny:

*Exactly. We’re not just sending her in there alone. We’ll be right behind her, ready to take those bastards down the second she gives us the signal.*

Nate:

*And what if something goes wrong?

What if they figure out she’s playing them?

She’s dead if that happens.*

His words hit like a punch to the gut. Nate’s not wrong. We’ve seen what her father is capable of. And Moretti? He’s worse.

I stare at the screen, fingers hovering over the keyboard, unsure what to say. The thought of her being in that kind of danger makes my blood boil. But there’s another part of me—the part that knows Sofia isn’t some fragile girl who needs saving—that’s starting to believe this crazy idea might just be our best shot.

I type out a response, anger still simmering under the surface.

Me:

*I don’t like it. Not one bit.

But if we’re doing this, we’re doing it right.

No fuck ups. She’s not getting hurt on our watch.*

Leo:

*Agreed.

We’ll have eyes on her the entire time.*

Danny:

*We’ll keep her safe, Riley.

You know we will.*

I stare at the screen, jaw clenched. I do know. These guys would die before they let anything happen to Sofia. Hell, I would too. But that doesn’t make this any easier. I let out a heavy breath and lean back in my seat. I’m still pissed. Pissed at the situation, pissed at her dad, pissed that Sofia has to deal with any of this.

But most of all, I’m pissed that her plan makes sense.

My phone buzzes again, pulling me out of my thoughts.

Danny:

*You coming home tomorrow?

We’ll talk through the rest of the details when you get here.*

I send back a quick reply.

Me:

*Nah, fuck that. I'm 45 minutes out, turning around now.

We’re not telling her anything until I’m back. Agreed?*

The replies come in almost immediately.

Leo:

*Agreed.*

Nate:

*Agreed.*

Danny:

*Agreed. See you soon.*

I toss my phone into the passenger seat and grip the steering wheel, staring out at the road ahead. Sofia might think she’s ready for this, but I’m not. Not yet. And if we’re going to do this, we’re doing it on my terms.

I step on the gas, heading back to where I should’ve stayed in the first place—at her side.