Chapter 14 - SOFIA’S LAST MESSAGE
We listened to Sofia’s recording at dawn.
Not in the Romano estate.
Victor refused to return there until every employee, camera and wall had been cleared.
Instead, we sat inside a private apartment owned by Dominic near the lake.
Leo slept upstairs.
Caleb had been examined by a doctor and was asleep in another room.
Evelyn sat near the window under guard.
Mateo remained across from her.
Mother and son had not spoken.
Adrian stood alone near the fireplace.
Victor sat beside me.
The recorder rested between us.
He pressed play.
Sofia’s voice filled the room.
“If you found this, I failed.”
Victor’s hand curled.
I touched his fingers.
He did not pull away.
“I discovered Gabriel eighteen months ago. He approached me as a consultant using another name. I thought he was helping trace the money Anthony hid.”
She paused.
“I was wrong.”
Sofia described Gabriel’s plan.
He wanted control of both criminal organizations.
But not through war.
Through collapse.
Expose hidden crimes.
Turn lieutenants against leaders.
Create succession crises.
Kill just enough people that everyone blamed everyone else.
Then step in as the only surviving heir with ties to both families.
“He believes blood makes him inevitable,” Sofia said.
I glanced at Gabriel’s grandmother.
Evelyn lowered her eyes.
“But blood is only history. Choice is identity.”
Victor closed his eyes.
Sofia continued.
“If Victor hears this, tell him I’m sorry.”
His breathing stopped.
“I lied to him because I thought secrecy protected Leo.”
A long pause.
“I was wrong about that too.”
I looked at Victor.
He stared at nothing.
“Victor, you cannot lock everyone you love inside a fortress. Eventually, the fortress becomes another kind of grave.”
The words seemed written specifically for the man sitting beside me now.
His grip tightened around my hand.
Then Sofia said my name.
“Elise Carter.”
My skin prickled.
“I met you once. You probably do not remember me.”
I swallowed.
“You carried my son through a hospital door while bullets were still being fired outside. You did not know he was Romano. You did not know I could repay you.”
My eyes filled.
“That is why I remembered you.”
Sofia explained that she had researched my mother.
Discovered Marisol’s connection to the Salazars.
Discovered Adrian’s parentage.
And eventually discovered Gabriel’s interest in me.
“If Gabriel finds Elise, he will use her because she connects everyone.”
Exactly what he had done.
“Do not turn her into another piece on the board.”
Victor looked at me.
“Let her choose.”
His thumb moved slowly over my hand.
Then Sofia’s voice softened.
“And Victor…”
The room became completely still.
“If you ever love again, do not punish her for surviving me.”
Victor broke.
Not dramatically.
No sobbing.
No shouting.
One tear.
Then another.
He lowered his head.
I wrapped my arm carefully around him.
The most feared man in Chicago sat beside a former housekeeper and grieved his wife for the first time in two years.
No one looked away.
Maybe because everyone understood there was dignity in it.
When the recording ended, Victor remained silent.
Finally, he stood.
“The engagement is over.”
I blinked.
“What?”
He removed Sofia’s ring from my finger.
Not harshly.
Carefully.
“I won’t use you as bait.”
My chest tightened.
“Victor.”
“You asked for choice.”
“Yes.”
“This is yours.”
He closed the ring box.
“No contract. No obligation.”
“You’re sending me away?”
“I’m giving you the option.”
“That sounded like sending me away.”
His jaw tightened.
“Gabriel wants you near us.”
“So?”
“So being near me puts you in danger.”
“You were listening to the same recording, right?”
“Elise.”
“She literally said not to lock people away.”
“I am not locking you away.”
“No. You’re deciding for me again.”
Victor stared.
Adrian coughed.
“Not taking sides.”
“You are absolutely taking sides,” Victor said.
“Fine. I’m taking hers.”
Mateo nodded.
“Same.”
Victor looked offended.
“You two learned you’re related to her less than twenty-four hours ago.”
Adrian shrugged.
“Strong family bond.”
Despite everything, I laughed.
Victor looked at me.
And suddenly the room felt lighter.
Then I became serious.
“I don’t want the contract.”
“Fine.”
“I don’t want fifty million dollars.”
“Questionable judgment.”
“I don’t want to be protected by becoming somebody’s possession.”
His expression changed.
“I know.”
“But…”
I stepped closer.
“I also don’t want to leave.”
Victor went very still.
“Why?”
The question was raw.
Because Leo needed me.
Because Caleb was safest with us.
Because Gabriel was still out there.
All true.
But not the whole truth.
“Because somewhere between you yelling at surgeons and putting seven guards outside my hospital room…”
Dominic murmured, “Nine.”
I ignored him.
“…I started caring what happens to you.”
Victor stared.
“That is a terrible reason to marry someone.”
“I didn’t say I’d marry you.”
His face almost fell.
“I said I’m staying.”
A pause.
“By choice.”
Something changed in his expression.
More powerful than possession.
Relief.
He stepped closer.
“May I kiss you?”
The fact that Victor Romano asked mattered.
I nodded.
His hand touched my cheek.
The kiss was gentle.
Almost uncertain.
Nothing like the man.
Everything like the moment.
When we separated, Dominic was studying the wall.
Adrian was grinning.
Mateo looked uncomfortable.
Evelyn was crying.
Victor turned.
“Anyone comments, I kill them.”
I raised an eyebrow.
He sighed.
“Metaphorically.”
“Progress.”
Then Caleb came downstairs.
He looked at all of us.
“What did I miss?”
Adrian said, “Your sister kissed a mafia boss.”
Caleb stared at me.
“Elise.”
“It’s complicated.”
“I get kidnapped once and suddenly you join organized crime?”
“I did not join anything.”
Victor said, “Technically—”
I glared.
He stopped.
Then Dominic’s phone rang.
His face changed.
“Boss.”
Victor sighed.
“What now?”
“Federal agents are at the estate.”
Everyone froze.
“How many?”
“Twenty.”
“Warrant?”
“Yes.”
“For what?”
Dominic looked at me.
Then Victor.
“Murder.”
Victor’s expression hardened.
“Whose?”
Dominic swallowed.
“Sofia Romano.”
May you like
The room went silent.
“They’re arresting you for killing your wife.”
