Page 49 of Lies like Rubies, Part One

I nodded to the seat she had vacated. “Please, join me.”

“You look great, Sofia.” He smiled, his face open and pleasant, as if he wanted to convince me he was harmless. Was he engaging in small talk? God, I wish I knew what he wanted.

“It’s good to see you again,” he continued, reaching across the table, as if to hold my hand. I lifted my coffee mug to my lips and casually moved my other hand into my lap. “Is it like that, love? To the father of your child?”

“Why are you back in Yorkfield?” I didn’t believe for a moment that money was the sole motivator. No, the money was a tool for another scheme, and I needed to figure out what.

He smiled, the expression chilling in its intensity. “Why shouldn’t I be? This is where my family is, my parents, my siblings, the mother of my child.”

Liar.I scoffed. “You don’t have any parental rights over Lizzie. Your name isn’t on the birth certificate.”

He shrugged. “Marriage will solve that problem. Five years ago, you cost me everything, you bitch. I want my life back. And I want my daughter.”

“She’s not your daughter,” I snapped. The darkness swirling in his eyes terrified me, but I knew better than to let him see. “You tried this already, remember? You thought getting me pregnant would catapult you into legitimacy, into my father’s inner circle. It didn’t work then, and it won’t work now.”

He traced his finger on the table, smirking at me. “I’ve laundered almost a million euro through accounts with your name, and Lizzie’s, on them.”

I scoffed. “And you’re going to what? Tattle to the feds?”

“Maybe. You stole everything from me, Sofia. My life, my family, my job. I had to start from scratch in Italy. I want my child, and I want my life back. And I’ll do whatever it takes to get it.”

Istole everything fromhim? I’d been so stupid, so sheltered, running into his arms after Lorenzo turned me down, letting him fuck me without protection when he promised to pull out, and then when he didn’t, letting him do it again and again and again. So damn stupid.

When Lizzie was born, I couldn’t afford to be stupid anymore.

“I’m seeing Dante Oscuro, you know,” I said, watching his reaction carefully.

“Is that what you’re calling it?” Sergio sneered. “Do you know he sends me pictures of what he does to you?”

My breath caught in my chest. Dante shared the photos he took of me committing unspeakable acts with him, the ones I sent to him. Oh my god. My heart pounded with fury and humiliation—thatasshole.

Sergio watched my face as I struggled to keep my cool. “You stupid fucking bitch. You didn’t know.” His smile was pure glee. “Sure, you’d rather make your bed with him than me?”

“I’d rather eat glass than fuck you again, Sergio,” I snapped.

He jerked back, as if he’d expected a different answer. “Either you find a way to make things right," he snarled, “or I’ll escalate this war. You’ll have to drag your entire fucking family into the spotlight to fight it.”

Exhaustion rolled over me. Always men, always using me as their goddamned pawn. I squashed down the deep hurt that wanted Sergio to tell me it was all a mistake, that he never meant to get me pregnant, and that he wanted to make all this right.

Stupid, slutty, Sofia, always wanting more than they’re willing to give you.

When I shoved my chair back, he raised an eyebrow. “Running, Sofia?”

“You can’t have Lizzie, and you can’t have me. Find another way to integrate yourself back into Yorkfield society,” I snapped, finally losing my cool.

Dammit, dammit, dammit.If I told Luca that Sergio contacted me so soon after the fires, I’d find myself back on the family compound and locked up tight. I couldn’t do that to Lizzie, and I couldn’t do that to myself.

Finals were so close. I needed to graduate, and then I could get a job and leave Yorkfield and my family’s sphere of influence. Freedom beckoned, and I wouldn’t let another asshole man manipulate me into giving up Lizzie or my dreams.

Father hadn’t summonedme to a formal dinner in months, content to let me work my charm at Sunday luncheons and the occasional evening meeting. I should’ve known it wouldn’t last, not with the rising tension in Yorkfield. He’d need me to charm his guests and smooth over deals, even amidst violence.

Nervously, I stared at my reflection in my parents’ guest bathroom and smoothed my hands down my dress, the navy bringing out the stormy depths of my eyes. I’d pulled my hair off of my neck in a French twist and clasped a single strand of pearls around my neck.

Elegant, calm, collected,I thought to myself.I’m Sofia fucking Russo. I have six weeks until I graduate college and can leave this town forever.Six weeks to evade Sergio’s clutches. Six weeks to please Dante enough that he keeps Lizzie safe. Six weeks to study my ass off and graduate summa cum laude. Six weeks.I can do this.

When I stepped out of the restroom, my parents were greeting the Costas. I exchanged polite kisses on the cheek with Gio Costa. Ana and I embraced, grinning at each other. “I’m glad you made it,” I whispered in her ear.

We’d never made a secret of our friendship, but we took pains not to rub it in our families’ faces, given their enmity. What a relief to be able to relax in front of our parents, or at least, relax as much as two mafia princesses from rival families ever could.

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