Page 112 of The Don's Soulmate

The phone rings endlessly, each unanswered call echoing my growing desperation. I slam the receiver down, my mind racing.

"Screw this," I mutter, grabbing my car keys from the dining table where we sat. "I'll have to warn them in person."

I burst out of the room, my long legs carrying me swiftly down the stairs and out to my car. The cool night air hits my face, but I barely notice it. My hands shake as I fumble with the keys, finally managing to unlock the door.

"Come on, come on," I urge, sliding into the driver's seat.

The engine roars to life, and I peel out of the driveway, tires screeching against the pavement. My heart pounds in my chest, matching the rhythm of my racing thoughts.

Adrenaline courses through my veins, sharpening my focus. The familiar streets blur past as I push the speedometer higher, weaving through late-night traffic with reckless abandon.

"Get out of my way!" I shout at a slow-moving car, honking aggressively as I swerve around it.

My mind flashes to Ettore, his intense blue eyes and scarred knuckles. But against Viktor and his men, even Ettore might be outmatched.

"Faster," I urge myself, taking a sharp turn onto a narrow side street leading to a route into the outskirts, a shortcut I’ve learnedfrom Grandma back when she was alive. "I have to get there faster."

I screech to a halt outside the motel, tires smoking. My heart hammers against my ribs as I leap from the car, not bothering to lock it. Every second counts.

"Please be okay, please be okay," I mutter, sprinting across the parking lot to the back entrance.

My heels click frantically against the concrete as I race up the stairs, taking them two at a time. The corridor stretches before me, seeming endless. Room 214 – there it is.

I skid to a stop, pounding my fist against the door. "Carlotta! Ettore! Open up, it's Sofia!"

Silence. My stomach twists with dread.

"Come on, guys, please!" I plead, banging harder. "We're in danger. Viktor's coming!"

Still no response. My mind spirals with horrific possibilities. Are they hurt? Captured? Or worse...

"Dammit, Ettore!" I shout, desperation clawing at my throat. "I know you're in there. If you don't open this door right now, I swear I'll—"

A shuffling sound from inside cuts me off. Hope flares in my chest, quickly tempered by fear. What if it's not them? What if Viktor's already here?

"Carlotta?" I call out, softer now, pressing my ear to the door. "Is that you?"

My fingers tremble as I reach for the doorknob, torn between the urge to burst in and the fear of what I might find. The lock clicks, and I hold my breath as the door slowly begins to open.

The door swings open, revealing Ettore's towering frame. His usually calculating eyes are droopy, and his hair is tousled.

"Sofia?" he growls, his voice rough with sleep. "What the hell—"

I push past him, my eyes frantically searching the room. There, on the bed, I see her. Carlotta sits up, her long black hair a tangled mess around her face. Her striking green eyes, still heavy with sleep, blink in confusion.

"Sofia?" Carlotta mumbles, her soft voice laced with worry. "What's going on?"

Relief washes over me like a tidal wave, so intense it nearly brings me to my knees. They're here. They're safe. I didn't fail them.

"Oh, thank God," I choke out, tears welling up in my eyes. I rush to the bed, throwing my arms around Carlotta. Her warm, familiar scent envelops me, and I can't hold back a sob. "I thought... I was so scared..."

Carlotta's arms wrap around me, her touch gentle and soothing. "Shh, it's okay. We're here. What happened?"

I pull back, wiping my eyes. "It's Viktor. He—"

"Viktor?" Ettore interrupts, his voice sharp. I turn to see his expression darken and that familiar anger flash in his eyes. "Who is Viktor?"

I take a deep breath, trying to steady myself. "He's a guy I’ve been seeing. But he’s working with Ugo. I found out and tried to leave, but he attacked me and left with my phone. He’s coming. We're all in danger. We need to leave now."

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