there was a worse fate in store for me.”
I watch as she closes down before my eyes by pulling back and turning away, so I pull her head to face me and say with a hard edge to my voice, “Tell me.”
She blinks and I see the fear return as she falters and then says in a whisper. “He told me what was going to happen. When my parents were slaughtered by him and his family, I thought that was the worst thing that could happen. When Tobias did the same to his, it was an eye for an eye. The rules we understand and live by. But Carlos told me of an approaching storm that involved me and my family that would make history repeat itself and I would lose everything I loved if I didn’t agree.”
“Agree to what?”
“To merge our family with another who was coming for us.”
I can feel the pressure building as a white light goes off inside my head, as she whispers, “Someone was coming who was far more powerful than the Moretti’s and Toledo’s combined. They wanted it all and they were prepared to fight a dirty war. My only way of stopping it was to marry into that family and allow them to take over. Everyone knew that Tobias had never wanted to take his role at the head of the family. That was always Thomas’s job, but when he was killed, Tobias had to step up. That made us weak, which meant they could destroy us all in no time if they wanted to. Carlos told me I was to be given to the head of that family in exchange for his freedom. He would pledge his allegiance to them and I would be imprisoned in a loveless marriage in a world I hate more than life itself. I had no say in the matter and if the family wouldn’t agree to his terms, he would send me back to Tobias the same way he sent Thomas back to us.”
Shaking her head, she pulls away and plays with her fingers nervously, before saying, “Then the Reapers stormed the building and the rest you know. The woman and children were set free and I was brought here. Carlos was handed to Tobias to dispose of and I was free to return with him. But how can I ever go there? There is a war approaching that will cost lives and tear my family apart. I’m the only one who can save us from certain death, but if I agree, I am sentencing myself to death by marriage. I just need time to work out how to play this because I can’t tell Tobias because he would overreact and go in all guns blazing. What do I do, Maverick, because I could sure use some advice right now?”
I can feel my heart hardening with every word she speaks. Every shiver, every groan, every shaky word she says, pierces my heart. I have to know and yet fear the answer.
“What are their names?”
She turns away and I grab her face so hard she flinches under my hand. “I said, what are their names?”
I feel wild and out of control and think I know the answer before she says the word I fear the most.
“Romano.”
19
Sophia
The look on Maverick’s face is scaring me. He looks so angry I should fear for my life right now. I’ve never seen fury like it and can almost taste the anger that surrounds him like a force-field. He stands and paces the room, curling and uncurling his fist, demonstrating that he is on the edge of losing control and for the first time since I met him, I feel frightened.
I don’t speak because words are not what he needs right now. He is dealing with some serious shit and needs time. So, I sit silently, waiting for the storm to break that I brought to his door. I feel so guilty and wish I hadn’t said anything, but how was I to know it would affect him this deeply?
He moves to the window and stares out into the darkness and my heart goes out to him. What is running through his head? It’s difficult to say, so I wait.
Then he turns and the look he gives me makes me want to curl into a ball and hide forever. He has changed in an instant and I don’t recognize the man.
He is cold, aloof and angry with a silent strength that warns