Chapter 43 Chapter 43
Sophia’s POV
I’d been upstairs when Kai called in the incident, listening on the security feed like I always did when something interesting happened.
The Black Vultures had cornered them. Armed men, guns drawn, a perfect setup for what should have been a clean elimination.
And yet somehow, Kai had gotten them out. Saved them both.
Saved her.
The rage that filled me was hot and acidic, burning through my chest like poison.
She was supposed to be gone by now. The leaked video, the hospital records, the information I’d carefully fed to the right people, it was all designed to make her a target too tempting to ignore.
But Hailey kept surviving. Kept clinging to life with a desperation that was almost impressive.
Almost.
I stormed down the stairs, my fury barely contained, and walked into the living room to find Nonna standing there with that superior look on her face, and Hailey and her pathetic friend huddled like victims.
“What the hell is going on here?” I demanded, my voice dripping with contempt.
Hailey’s eyes locked onto mine, and I saw rage.
“You knew,” she said, her voice low and dangerous as she stood up. “You knew they were coming for me.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” I said, but my heart was racing now.
“The video,” Hailey continued, taking a step toward me. “The hospital records. That anonymous post. That was you, wasn’t it?”
I laughed, trying to maintain control. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Liar!” Hailey shouted. “You leaked that information. You’re the one who told everyone I was pregnant!”
Nonna’s head whipped toward me, her eyes sharp and assessing.
“Sophia,” she said slowly. “Is this true?”
“I didn’t leak anything directly,” I said, and it was technically true. “I just paid an insider to pass the information along to the mafia chain. How they chose to distribute it after that wasn’t my concern.”
The admission hung in the air like a bomb.
“You what?” Nonna’s voice was cold, deadly.
“She needed to go,” I said defensively. “She’s ruining everything. Dad’s distracted, making stupid decisions, putting our family at risk, all because of some college girl who got knocked up.”
“We need to talk,” Nonna said, her voice brooking no argument. “Now.”
She grabbed my arm and started pulling me toward the hallway, but I yanked free.
“In a minute,” I said, turning back to Hailey.
Nonna paused, then left the room with a look that promised this conversation wasn’t over.
The moment she was gone, Hailey stepped closer to me, her face flushed with fury.
“Tell me the truth,” she demanded. “Right now. Was it you? Did you leak that video? Did you put a target on my back?”
“Yes,” I said, not bothering to hide it anymore. “I did. And I’d do it again.”
“Why?” Hailey’s voice broke. “What did I ever do to you?”
“You tried to replace my mother,” I spat. “You waltzed into our lives and tried to take her place like she never existed!”
“I’m not trying to replace anyone!” Hailey shouted back.
“You’re living in her house! Sleeping in her bed! Having my father’s child! If that’s not replacement, what is it?”
“Your mother is dead!” Hailey screamed. “And I’m sorry for that, I truly am. But I can’t keep paying for something that has nothing to do with me!”
The words hit like a slap, and before I could think, before I could stop myself, I opened my mouth to say something cruel, something cutting.
But I never got the chance.
Hailey’s hand came out of nowhere, connecting with my cheek in a slap so hard my head snapped to the side.
The sound echoed through the room like a gunshot.
For a moment, I just stood there, stunned, my cheek burning with pain and humiliation.
Then rage took over.
I launched myself at her, my hands reaching for her hair, her face, anything I could grab.
But Hailey was ready. She met me with equal fury, her good arm swinging, connecting with my jaw hard enough to make stars burst behind my eyes.
I’d never seen her like this. The meek, frightened girl was gone, replaced by someone who fought like she had nothing left to lose.
We crashed into furniture, knocking over a lamp, our hands tangled in each other’s hair as we screamed and hit and clawed.
“You tried to kill me!” Hailey screamed, landing another blow. “You endangered my baby!”
“Good!” I screamed back, managing to shove her away. “You don’t deserve to be part of this family!”
She came at me again, and I was shocked at how strong she was, how much fight she had in her despite her broken arm.
“Stop!” Benita shouted, and suddenly hands were pulling us apart.
Marco grabbed me, his grip iron-strong as he hauled me backward, while Benita wrapped her arms around Hailey.
“Let me go!” I snarled, struggling against Marco’s hold.
“You’re insane!” Hailey shouted, her face streaked with tears and fury. “You leaked that video! You told the Morellis about me! People tried to kill me today because of you!”
“I was trying to protect my family!” I screamed back.
“By trying to murder me?” Hailey’s voice rose to a shriek. “By putting a target on my back? I swear to God, Sophia, if anything happens to my baby because of you, I will kill you myself!”
“ENOUGH!”
The roar came from the doorway, so loud and commanding that we all froze.
Damien stood there, his face dark with fury, his eyes blazing as they swept over the scene, the overturned furniture, his daughter and Hailey being restrained by Marco and Benita, the obvious signs of violence.
“What the hell is going on here?” he demanded, his voice low and dangerous.
“She attacked me!” I said immediately, pointing at Hailey. “She just came at me for no reason!”