Page 63 of Rescuing Sophia

Sophia the liar.

Sophia the traitor.

I take a deep breath, ready to play my part once more.

“Rough day?” He pulls me into an embrace.

I nod against his chest, not trusting my voice. His warmth surrounds me, and for a moment, I let myself pretend. Pretend this is real and that I’m not betraying him with every breath.

But as we settle in for the evening, Malfor’s voice echoes in my head.“Remember, you belong to me. Always.”

As we lie tangled together in bed that night, I cling to Blake tighter than usual. His hands roam my body, igniting a fire that momentarily burns away the guilt and fear.

“You okay?” Blake murmurs, his voice husky with concern and desire.

“I’m good. Just tired.” I kiss him, pouring all my conflicted emotions into the gesture.

I curl closer to Blake, seeking comfort even as guilt gnaws at me. How long can I keep this up? How much more can I betray before it destroys me completely?

When he takes control, his commands soft but firm, I surrender gladly. For a little while, I forget the weight of my betrayal and lose myself in the safety of his dominance.

Once Blake’s breathing evens out, I carefully disentangle myself from his embrace. The warmth of his skin lingers on mine, a bittersweet reminder of the connection we’ve just shared. Quietly, I slide out of bed, every movement deliberate and cautious, as if afraid the air might betray me.

I retrieve his badge from where I hid it earlier. The cool metal bites against my palm as if it carries the weight of my guilt. With a silent breath, I crouch down beside his side of the bed.

I hesitate for a fraction of a second.

But there’s no going back. I’ve already committed the worst sin.

I slide the badge under the bed, pushing it just far enough so it’s not immediately visible but easy to find. My heart pounds, each beat a countdown to when Blake will discover it.

When he’ll wonder why we missed it before.

I straighten slowly, taking one last look at the hidden badge, my heart aching with the weight of my deceit.

The night deepens around me, wrapping me in its cold embrace as I slip back under the covers beside Blake. Sleep, however, remains elusive, chased away by the gnawing guilt and the ever-present fear for my son’s life.

Tomorrow only brings more lies and more betrayal.

The following day, I wake early, the weight of yesterday still pressing down on me. I slide out of bed carefully, trying not todisturb Blake. I need a moment to clear my head, so I head to the bathroom and start the shower, letting the steam fill the small space.

The water is warm against my skin, but it does little to wash away the anxiety clinging to me.

As I stand under the spray, Blake stirs in the bedroom. The soft rustle of sheets tells me he’s getting up, and my heart skips a beat.

Suddenly, he mutters, “What the hell…” His voice is low, laced with confusion.

My stomach tightens, knowing he’s found the badge.

I quickly finish, wrapping myself in a towel, and step out of the bathroom just in time to see Blake holding his missing badge. His expression is one of confusion mixed with a hint of suspicion.

“Morning, sleepyhead.” My tone is light, but there’s a flicker of nervousness I try to hide. “Is that your missing badge?”

“Yeah,” he replies, still staring at the badge. “It was under the bed. We must have missed it somehow.”

My pulse races as I force a smile. “I told you it would turn up eventually.”

He looks at me, his eyes searching mine for something, but I can’t tell if he’s found what he’s looking for. There’s a tension in the air, a moment of doubt that I can’t quite shake off.

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