the guards holds it open and as we settle into our seats, steps into the passenger seat beside the driver. Then we set off with another car in front and one behind and I realize this has always been my life and probably always will be. As we pass through the streets, I picture life with the Reapers and how free I felt. Everybody looked after themselves and yet if you needed extra help, there were many willing hands. That is living as far as I’m concerned, not this charmless existence in a strange and deadly world.
Elena sits silently beside me and it’s only as we stop outside a hotel in town, that she places her hand on mine and says sweetly, “Please forgive me, Sophia. One thing you should know before you leave.”
“I’m leaving, what you’re not coming inside?”
“No, my angel, my journey carries on but yours ends here. I just want to say one thing. When Lorenzo called and told us your story, we were surprised.”
“What about?”
“That you thought you were to be married off to one of my grandsons in return for your business.”
My mouth drops to the floor and I whisper, “It was a lie?”
She nods. “Carlos Toledo was obviously playing with your mind because we are not animals, Sophia, we conduct our business in a much more civilized way.”
“But…”
I can’t think straight as Elena laughs. “Lucian was the one who thought we could use this to our advantage. He wanted to provoke Lorenzo to declare him the rightful successor and renounce any claim he has to the throne of pain, as they call it. We all knew Lorenzo would do anything to walk away and Lucian thought this was a good way of tying up the loose ends. To see where his heart really lay and finalize things once and for all.”
I almost can’t form the words and say, “Does Maverick, I mean, Lorenzo know?”
“Of course not. I think he surprised himself by his reaction to it all and I knew he would do anything to keep you by his side. That is why I am intervening and setting you free. When Lorenzo turned on us all last night, it was obvious he was never going to be the head of the family we need. His heart just isn’t in it and so we abandoned our plan and have decided to let him follow his heart. You must also do the same because it’s obvious you are not cut out for this either. Lucian will head up the family and Lorenzo will return to where he is happiest.”
“But can’t I go with him?”
“That’s why I’m sorry, my dear. Lorenzo has always been a man who prefers to live alone. He has many women as I’m sure you must accept and has never really shown any interest in keeping one. The life he now lives suits him because from what I understand, there are no strings attached and he needs this time to discover the man outside the mafia. Set him free, Sophia, because he is in unchartered territory. This will have destroyed him and you need to allow him to heal. If you are truly meant to be together, then you will find a way, but you need to discover who Sophia Moretti is first. So, your future is not ours to arrange. I am delivering you back to your own family and you must discuss it with them.”
“My family!”
My heart lurches as the door opens and I see a familiar face looking at me with respect. “Miss. Moretti.”
“Matteo.”
He nods and offers me his hand. “I’ve come to take you home, ma’am.”
I accept his outstretched hand as if in a trance and don’t even register that I’ve left the car until it speeds off before I can even say goodbye.
As the guards crowd around me in front and behind, I am swallowed up into the familiar and ushered inside.
31
Maverick
I can tell she’s gone the moment I step foot inside the house. It’s as if the life has left the building and now I know why I just endured a wild goose chase across town for my grandma.
My brothers had business to attend to and nonna asked me to collect a letter from her attorney because she had nobody else she could trust. As I step foot inside the house, she is waiting with a hard glint in her eye.
“Lorenzo, follow me.”
I do as she says because we learned early on that the real power behind