Chapter 80: Sofia

When I wake up, the first thing I feel is Leo’s arms wrapped around me, holding me close. It’s comforting, safe, and for a moment, I just lay there, soaking in the warmth of him. But then I glance up and catch sight of what he’s doing, and I almost laugh.

Leo is reading.

But not just any book—it’s the dark romance novel I had been reading last week. The one with vampires. The frown on his face as he tries to make sense of the drama and intense emotions is priceless, and I can’t help but giggle softly.

"Leo, you’re so kinky," I tease, my voice still groggy but full of amusement.

He blinks, looking down at me, surprised that I’m awake. Then he laughs, that deep sound that always makes me feel lighter. “Oh, you’re awake?” He closes the book and sets it aside, shaking his head with a grin. “I have no idea how you read that stuff, but hey, if it makes you happy.”

I nuzzle closer, enjoying the moment, but then I hear voices downstairs—faint but familiar. I pause, listening for a second before asking, “Who’s here?”

Leo tilts his head, listening too, before recognition flashes across his face. “That’s the crew. They’re the guys who got your parents.”

I don’t even have time to process that before I blurt out, “Can you carry me downstairs? I want to say thank you.”

Leo raises an eyebrow, but there’s no hesitation as he shifts and lifts me up gently, cradling me in his arms like I weigh nothing. Even though I’m still sore and weak, I feel safe in his hold, and as we head downstairs, I brace myself for what’s waiting.

When we reach the living room, I’m overwhelmed by how many of them there are. It’s like every single guy from the crew showed up, scattered across the room, filling up the space with their presence. They’re big, rough-looking, all of them with the kind of intensity I’ve come to associate with Leo and the others. But as Leo steps into the room with me in his arms, everything falls silent.

I don’t know what they’re feeling as they look at me. Their expressions are unreadable, maybe a mix of surprise, pity, and something else. It’s weird, knowing that these are the people who helped take down my parents. I’m grateful, obviously, but it’s also surreal. I mean, I’ve barely seen these guys before, but they’ve been watching over me. Protecting me.

“Hey, guys,” Nate says, breaking the silence, his voice light but welcoming. “Why don’t you stay over for a beer?”

There’s a murmur of agreement, and the tension in the room eases a little. Leo sets me down gently on one of the couches, and the guys start to move around, finding places to sit or lean. Some of them grab drinks from the kitchen, while others just settle in, and before I know it, the room is buzzing with low conversations and laughter.

I glance around, still trying to process everything, when one of the younger guys catches my eye. He gives me a small smile, a little shy, and I smile back. “You’re Sofia, right?” he asks, his voice quiet but curious.

“Yeah, that’s me,” I reply softly, not entirely sure where this conversation is going.

“I just wanted to say… it’s good to see you safe,” he says, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. “We were all, uh… pretty worried.”

It’s such a simple thing to say, but it hits me hard. I hadn’t really thought about it before—how much these guys had been involved, how much they cared about what happened to me.

“Thank you,” I say, meaning it. “For everything.”

Another guy joins the conversation, sitting on the arm of the couch. “You gave us all quite a scare,” he says, his tone light but sincere. “Didn’t think we’d be busting into a house like that to save a girl like you.”

“Girl like me?” I raise an eyebrow, curious.

He shrugs. “You know… small, sweet, quiet. Most of the time, we’re dealing with much scarier people.”

I laugh softly, feeling a little more at ease. “Yeah, I guess I don’t exactly fit the bill.”

Leo stays close, watching over me, but letting me have this moment with the crew. I glance up at him, catching his eye, and he gives me a small nod, like he’s proud of me for talking to them.

One of the older guys leans back in his chair and smirks. “Yeah, but I need to know where the hell you got that safe word from. Chickenshit?”

The whole room laughs, even Leo, and I blush slightly but smile. “I thought it would be funny,” I admit.

“It was,” Nate adds, grinning. “Definitely was.”

The conversation flows naturally after that, the crew asking me questions, telling stories about some of the crazier things they’ve been through. I listen, amazed at how this group of men—who live such dangerous lives—can be so easygoing, even fun, when they’re just hanging out like this.

For a moment, I forget about everything—the pain, the fear, the uncertainty of what’s ahead. All I feel is warmth. These guys, in their own strange way, are my family now.

After a few hours of conversation, laughter, and the occasional clink of beer bottles, the crew begins to trickle out. One by one, the men come over to say their goodbyes. Some are more casual about it, just offering a wave or a nod as they head toward the door, while others lean down and hug me lightly, careful not to hurt me. It feels nice, but a little strange, too, knowing these tough guys are going out of their way to be gentle with me.

"Take care of her," one of the older guys says to Leo as he shakes his hand before leaving. Leo nods, his face serious but grateful.

Finally, it's just me and my four men.

The house feels quieter without the others. The air is warmer, softer, like the energy has shifted back to something more intimate. I let out a breath, looking at each of them, and the reality of everything we've been through together hits me all at once. These are the men who saved me, who fought for me, who care about me more than anyone ever has.

I’ve missed them.

"Come here," I say softly, my voice carrying across the now-empty living room.

They glance at each other, a little confused, but they all step closer, surrounding me. I take a deep breath and then, with a shy smile, reach up and pull Leo down first, pressing my lips to his in a soft, lingering kiss. His lips are warm, and the kiss is gentle but full of something deeper, something that makes my heart skip. When we pull back, he looks down at me with those intense eyes of his, like I’m the only thing in the world that matters.

"I’ve missed you," I whisper, and I mean it.

Then I turn to Danny, who’s standing right next to Leo. He doesn’t even wait for me to reach up. He steps in, brushing a hand over my cheek before kissing me, slow and sweet, like he’s savoring the moment. It’s softer than I expected, but it leaves my whole body tingling. When we pull apart, his grin is a little cheeky, but his eyes are full of affection. “I’ve missed you, too.”

Nate is next. I tilt my head up to him, and he bends down, his lips meeting mine in a way that feels so… secure. It’s not rushed or desperate, just steady, grounding. His kiss feels like home. Like he’s always going to be there. And I love that about him.

Finally, Riley steps forward, his gaze locked on mine. There’s always something a little wilder about Riley, a bit more intense, and I can feel it in the way he kisses me. It’s a little rougher, a little more possessive, but in the best way possible. His hands slide into my hair, and for a moment, the world just melts away. When he pulls back, his breath is a little ragged, and he grins down at me. “Missed you more than I can even say.”