Page 4 of Killer Love

“Sofia?” I say her name and she perks up. “Your name is Sofia.”

She nods.

I push my hand in further. “Come on out. You don’t want to keep them waiting.” Still, she refuses to move. “Well, if you won’t come out, then I’ll come in and get you.”

Her eyes grow wide with fear, and I instantly regret causing it. I lower my hand, thinking to leave her alone, but I linger instead.

I reach into my pocket and pull out the red ribbon. “Is this yours?” I ask her.

She stares at it, hesitating to answer. Finally, she nods, and I hold my hand a little closer.

“Here. Take it.”

She chews on her lips, wanting so badly to reach for it, but I still see that little bit of fear in her eyes.

“Sofia…” I grin. “That’s a very pretty name.”

A smile spreads across her face.

The door pushes open behind me. I spin around as Gio barges into the shed.

“Hey!” He shouts at me, his voice full of rage. “Stay away from her!”

He grabs me and pulls me off the floor. “Let go of me!” I say.

Gio keeps his grip on my shirt. “She’s mine!” he says. “Mine! You can’t have her!”

I shove him away as he punches at me. “I didn’t do anything, you shit!”

He stomps his feet. “Sofia is mine! Daddy said she was mine, so you can’t have her!”

I blink, just as shocked by his words as his pathetic tantrum.

Our mothers finally rush into the shed. Beatrix grabs Gio by the scruff of his shirt and pulls him away from me.

“Let him go!” She scolds him, keeping a firm grip on his arm. “What’s wrong with you?”

“Luka, what did you do?” my mother snaps at me.

“I didn’t do anything!” I say. “I was talking to the girl, and he jumped me.”

“What girl?”

I point at the table and they turn around.

Beatrix sighs and leans down to peek beneath the tablecloth. “Sofia. Get out of there. Now.”

She snaps her fingers twice. Sofia slowly crawls out from her hiding place. Beatrix snatches her little chin, and I flinch as she forces the girl to make eye contact.

“Did you speak to this boy?” she asks.

Sofia shakes her head, trembling with fear.

“She didn’t!” I shout.

My mother rests a hand on my shoulder. “Silence, Luka.”

“Sofia…” Beatrix says through clenched teeth. “Do not lie. You know what happens to little girls who lie.”

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