Page 99 of Creed

“Papá,” Creed warns.

“It’s okay, Creed.” I glance at him. “I know what my father is, and that he doesn’t have my interests in mind.” I turn back to Tommaso and lift my chin as he continues to regard me.

He smiles. “You’re a gentle soul—that I can see with my old eyes, Sophie—but you’re no delicate flower,si?” He lifts his handto Massimo for a platter of food that’s in front of him, and Massimo passes it to Gabriele to pass it along the line. “I would like to sit and talk with you more about your project idea. I think this project is filled with hope and will have a long-lasting meaningful impact.”

I’m still in disbelief that they are even considering this idea.

When the platter arrives at our end of the table, I’m surprised to see it ismolletes—a Mexican open sandwich with refried beans, jalapenos, and melted cheese.

“I hope this is okay.” Gina looks nervous. “I asked Fransesco to make something that might be like something yourabuelaandabuelowould make you.”

Tears burn my eyes. “It’s wonderful. Thank you.”

Turning to Creed, I open my mouth to say that I need to contact my family today, but he shakes his head before I can say the words.

“I’m sorry, angel. You can’t call anyone right now.”

“What?”

“Not even Ollie.”

“But—”

“Their phones may be monitored,” Massimo explains and steeples his fingers under his chin. “If you call them, andMorales or your father are monitoring their lines, they could get a trace of where you are.”

My heart pounds, and my pulse roars. “Are my family… or friends…” I turn to Creed with wide eyes. “Are they in danger?”

“We don’t know Morales or your father’s intent or resources, so we can’t rule it out. However, we have people watching over your grandparents just in case.”

I appreciate that Creed isn’t hiding this from me, but I panic. He leans into me and rubs my shoulder. “Just breathe, angel.”

I shudder a deep breath.

“Triple S, we got you covered.” Vito pops a chunk ofmolletesinto his mouth.

I worry my bottom lip. “People were around when I was running. They saw… Word could get back to Ollie, and she’s going to be freaking out. I have to get in contact with her. And my grandparents—”

“We can’t risk it, Soph,” Creed says softly. “Not until we know more.”

I want to argue, but these people helped and are letting me stay here. If my father or Morales can trace my call to Ollie or my grandparents, then I’d lead them right back here to them. I’m damned if I do and damned if I don’t.

“Crispin and Daniele reported in this morning,” Massimo adds. “They hacked into the CCTVs in the area and the university’s security system to view the recordings from the time you ran, Sophie. There was no sign of Bane on any of the recordings.”

“You’re surprised?” Raf arches a dark brow.

“The Havoc Guardians have Digits,” Vito grunts, interlocking his finger behind his head. “Along with his hacking skills and the programs he plants in the systems to block and delete the MC council’s images, which the bastard still won’t share with us.”

I remember Army saying that about their images caught on the CCTV cameras.

“Yes, but what was also missing on the university’s footage wasanythingof what happened—Sophie running or the men chasing her.” Massimo grabs an apple from a bowl on the table and bites into it.

“So, Morales and Ortez, or someone working with them, have capabilities to hack into the university’s system and replace the feed,” Creed surmises. “Or placed it on a loop to prevent it from being recorded.”

“But there were eyewitnesses who saw me running,” I press. “Even if they didn’t know me, it would still be odd.”

“But you weren’t yelling or calling for help,” Creed reasons, pushing a tendril of hair behind my ear. “You might have just been a girl out running. The big bike roaring down the pathway would be something people noticed, but they might’ve assumeda dramatic pick-up was happening and may not even have noticed the other men behind you.”

“Okay, that makes sense, but Bane pulled a gun.”

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