Chapter 19: The Cracks that Start to Look

Morning came with a tense atmosphere. Sofia sat on the edge of the bed, her gaze blank as if weighing every step she had taken so far. Behind all her courage, there was a fear that kept haunting her—a fear that she might not be strong enough to face all this.

Dario walked into the room quietly, bringing her a cup of coffee. “You look like you didn’t sleep last night,” he said, placing the cup on the small table.

“Do you think we can trust Marco?” Sofia asked matter-of-factly, her voice almost a whisper.

Dario shrugged, his face remaining calm. “I don’t think he’s completely loyal to Ricardo. But trusting someone in a situation like this? That’s a different thing.”

Sofia nodded, knowing that Dario was right. However, she had no choice but to move on.

Sofia meets Marco again that day in a secluded corner of Ricardo’s mansion’s backyard. The big man is smoking, a puff of tobacco curling in the cold air.

“You’re back,” he said without turning around.

“I need to talk to you,” Sofia replied, stepping closer.

Marco extinguished his cigarette on the stone wall, then turned to her. “What more do you want from me, Sofia? You’ve gone too far.”

“I need to know where your loyalties lie,” Sofia said firmly. “If you keep standing by Ricardo’s side, that’s your choice. But if you want to see what’s beyond this... I can help you.”

Marco looked at her sharply, his expression hard to read. “You speak like one who does not fear death.”

“Maybe I don’t have much else to fear,” Sofia countered, looking directly at him.

**Smoldering Tension**

That night, Ricardo again showed his influence in the dining room. He sat at the end of the table, his smile enigmatic. Sofia and Dario were on opposite sides, trying to remain calm under the mob leader’s gaze.

“Sofia,” Ricardo began, his voice sounding relaxed. “You’ve been here a long time. Are you starting to feel comfortable?”

Sofia felt her heart rate increase, but she kept her tone steady. “Of course, Don Ricardo. This place is... more than I expected.”

“Of course,” Ricardo grinned. “I always make sure that everyone here gets what they deserve.”

Sitting next to Sofia, Dario remained silent, but Sofia could feel the tension in his body. Ricardo was playing around, testing them.

Marco, who was sitting near Ricardo, didn’t say a word. But Sofia could see that the man was finding it increasingly difficult to hide his unease.

**Sofia’s Bold Move**

That night, Sofia decides to take an even more significant risk. She sneaks out of the room, strolling along the dark corridor. Dario tries to stop her, but he knows Sofia won’t listen.

She meets Marco in a small hallway near the kitchen. The big man stood leaning against the wall as if waiting.

“You shouldn’t be here,” he said sharply.

“I have to talk to you,” Sofia insisted. “It’s important.”

Marco took a long breath, then folded his arms across his chest. “What now?”

“I know you’re not completely loyal to Ricardo,” Sofia said. “You want out of this. I can see that.”

Marco shot her a sharp look. “And how do you know that?”

“Because I want out, too,” Sofia replied. “We don’t have to do this alone. We can help each other.”

Their conversation lasted a long time, full of tension and doubt. Sofia knew Marco wasn’t entirely convinced yet, but she sensed he was progressing.

When she returned to the room, Dario was waiting for her, his expression dark.

“You’re too careless,” he said in a low voice.

“I have no choice,” Sofia countered. “If we don’t act now, it will be too late.”

Dario let out a long breath, but he couldn’t deny the truth of her words.

**The Trap Behind the Closed Door**

That morning, the mansion was noticeably quieter than usual, but within its silence was an unseen restlessness. Sofia felt the atmosphere clearly like a dark cloud hanging low over them.

Dario stood by the window, overseeing the courtyard. Outside, Ricardo’s men were pacing as usual, but their steps seemed more tense.

“Do you feel it?” asked Sofia, approaching him.

Dario nodded without looking away. “Something’s different today. Maybe it’s just a hunch, but I don’t like this.”

Sofia understood what he meant. There had been something unusual in the house since last night. Marco seemed more reserved than usual, and Ricardo? His smile was sly, as if he knew something they didn’t.

Sofia and Dario spend the morning going over their plan again. Sofia tries to remember every detail of her conversation with Marco. She feels Marco may be starting to trust her, but his trust is not enough.

“If Marco doesn’t help us, we’ll run out of options,” Sofia said quietly.

“We still have one option,” Dario replied firmly. “Ricardo.”

Sofia looked at him sharply. “What do you mean?”

“We lure him out,” Dario continued. “If we can get him to show his weakness, his men will see it.”

“That’s too risky,” Sofia argued. “He’ll never show his weakness.”

“Everyone has weaknesses,” Dario looked at her. “Even a Don as big as Ricardo.”

**Ricardo Who Smells Danger**

Meanwhile, Ricardo is in his office, poring over reports from his men. He has been watching Sofia and Dario since they arrived. Something needs to be fixed with them, but he can’t be sure what it is yet.

“Marco,” he called, beckoning the man in.

Marco stepped inside, his posture stiff as ever. “Can I help you, Don?”

“What do you think of our guest?” Ricardo asked casually, though his eyes radiated an unspoken threat.

Marco paused for a moment before answering. “They’re not too suspicious. But Sofia... she has a strange way of talking. Like she’s trying to get something.”

Ricardo smiled slightly. “I sensed that too. You know what you have to do, Marco. Don’t let anything escape your attention.”

Marco nodded, but something in his expression made Ricardo look at him longer.

In the evening, Sofia found herself summoned to the dining room. Ricardo was waiting for her, sitting at the end of the long table with a glass of wine.

“Have a seat,” he said, sounding too friendly.

Sofia felt her heart racing, but she tried to keep her composure as she sat down in the chair provided.

“I’ve noticed that you’ve been talking to Marco more and more,” Ricardo began. “Is he attractive to you?”

The question trapped her. Sofia knew that any answer could be a double-edged sword.

“He’s easy to talk to,” Sofia answers carefully. “And he seems to be someone who can be trusted.”

Ricardo smiles, but his gaze becomes sharper. “You know, Sofia, I never like people who are too trustworthy. This world wasn’t made for them.”

Sofia doesn’t respond, but in her heart, she knows Ricardo is testing her.

After that conversation, Sofia meets Marco again in the same hallway. This time, the big man looked more agitated.

“Ricardo suspects us,” Sofia began, her voice low.

Marco nodded slowly. “He always suspects everyone. It’s how he’s survived all this time.”

“You have to decide now,” Sofia looked at him sternly. “Are you on his side, or are you with us?”

Marco was silent for a long time, then said, “I need time to think.”

“We don’t have much time,” Sofia warned. “If Ricardo finds out, we’ll all be dead.”

Marco gave her a look that was hard to interpret before finally walking away without saying anything else.