Nineteen

Sofia

I don't know how long I sit here replaying the conversation with Damian.

"Your mother knows about Mila…."

"She's on her way…."

"Yes, her guard will be with her…."

"5 PM…."

It's not until I hear April coming in the door that I snap out of it. She's the only other person, along with my therapist I met through Noah's connections, that I have told about how bad things got with my mother. I didn't want Glory to know; she'd probably go after them with a butcher knife.

When April gets near me, she notices my stiffened body and approaches carefully.

My voice is cold and void of any emotion. "I need you to watch Mila for the night, please. I know you have a date with Greg, but he's welcome to come here. Mila will probably like him, so it's no problem."

She raises her eyebrows high into her hairline.

"Of course, I can, but what's wrong, Sofia?" She asks, using my real name only in private. In public, she calls me “Soph,” making people think it's short for Sophie. Like I said, she knows everything; she's my best friend. It's how she knew who 'him' was yesterday.

"My mother is on her way to the penthouse at the Maryland Hotel with her guard. They know about Mila."

She stiffens at that, knowing what I must do, and nods.

"You were with us the entire night," she says it in a cold voice.

I get up and hug her tight, she hugs me tighter, and I go into my room, into the small closet, and reach for the locked box. I enter the code, which is my wedding day, reach for the pistol I have in there, making sure I have bullets. I place it in the back of my jean shorts, then go find Mila. I walk into her room and she's sitting at her little, white coloring table, drawing a ballerina or trying to. I remind myself I'm doing this for her; I'm about to lie to her for her own good. It has to be done, or she'll be next. I walk over to her, placing my hand on the top of her head before running it down her hair, playing with it a little, and kissing her.

"Malyshka, mamma has just been called into work. I'm sorry, sweetheart. I know it's pizza night, but Aunt April and her friend Greg will stay with you. Is that okay? I know how much you want to meet him." Even though they haven't been together long, April and Greg have known each other since middle school; it just took them this long to get together, so I know he's safe. Mila looks up at me and grins widely. She has wanted to meet Greg all week. I know it's because she wants a male figure in her life, and maybe soon she'll have her father, if we can get our act together. I know things are about to change drastically tonight. I want Damian to be her dad, but I know I won't be able to trust him with my heart again, so I don't know how things will work out quite yet. I might even die tonight. A lump forms in my throat.

It's for her, I keep telling myself.

"Okay, mama, ti amo." My heart skips a beat.

"I love you too, baby." Then, I turn and walk into the living room. April stands up from the couch when she sees me.

She asks, "Same protocol?"

I shake my head.

"He knows about her now, so if something happens to me, he'll want her. Let him sign the documents, then hand her to him. I don't want you hurt, okay?"

She nods solemnly. "You know I'd take her and run with her. I'd die for you both." Tears fill her eyes, and I hug her.

"I'll text if all is okay," I say, and she nods. I turn and walk out of the apartment, because if I don't go now, then I won't go at all. This is for her safety.

I get to my car, and once I get in, I head to the Maryland Hotel, which is only fifteen minutes away. I looked at the time: 5:05 PM. Good, she should be there now, and she won't expect me!

I take my time, thinking about how to do this. I know there will be guards but they should just let me up, hopefully, without informing my family. The timing has to be perfect. I see the sign, and I stick left. I find a space near the back of the parking lot and park. I grip the steering wheel tight and breathe deep in my nose and out of my mouth several times before I finally get the courage to go into the hotel. I walk across the lot, keeping my eyes peeled. Once I enter the double doors, one of my father's guards stops me. He narrows his eyes into slits, looking me up and down.

"What can I do for you, miss?" It looks like Antonio doesn't recognize me. Should I feel insulted? He used to look after me as a child. Yeah, I'm offended.

I scowl, then raise a brow at him and say, "Mrs. Volkov." His eyes widen. He steps back in shock, and I scowl at him again. The commotion gets the attention of Ilya, one of my husband's top guards. He was one of the nice ones to me.

"Sofia, is that really you?" I smile at him and walk over to him. I lean in and give him a peck on the cheek.

"Hi, Ilya. How are you, your wife, and your little girl doing good? Did you finally manage to knock her up with a boy?" I ask with a little laugh, and he smiles brightly.

"Yeah, I did, twice, one right after the other, a proud moment. I’m an overachiever, I guess." I laugh.

"I've come to see my family. I told Damian this morning I'd pop by tonight. Is that okay?"

He smiles wider. "Yes, of course. Do you want me to call up, or are you surprising them?" He was sometimes a bit dense where I was concerned. Clearly, he still can't see through my lies though he can everyone else's. He's still lovely.

"Surprise."

He nods.

Antonio is still looking at me wide-eyed, his mouth hanging open. I walk over to him and push his mouth shut.

"I'm not a ghost, Antonio. I ran away after I found out I was pregnant with a little girl. We all know I was used for an alliance; I didn't want that for my girl." He frowns, nods solemnly, and then gives me a quick hug. He used to watch me as a child before Damian's men started to take over, and I think I can forgive him for not recognizing me.

I hug him tightly, and he whispers, "You've been missed dearly, principessa."

I nod, then peck him on the cheek and turn to walk toward the elevators with Ilya. He scans his card, and it opens.

"There you go, hun."

I smile, say my thanks, and go in, pressing the penthouse button, then wait. It doesn't take long, and once the elevator pings and the doors open, I walk into the large foyer, then I stop and listen. I hear my father, and my heart beats fast in my chest.

“For Mila,”I keep chanting in my head, following the voices.

They're all in the living area; Damian is leaning against the kitchen counter, and his parents and Alexandr are standing behind it, while my dad is standing in front of me, his back toward me, shouting at my mother, who is sitting next to her guard dog on the gray couch underneath the window.

No one has noticed me yet, but my eyes are trained on my mother and her guard.

“For Mila,”I keep chanting.

"You have no right to be here, Victoria. She doesn't want you here, and I'm beginning to wonder fucking why!" my father shouts, my mother looks frail, and I don't like it. I told her to get help three years ago, why didn't she listen to me?

She narrows her eyes at my father before stating, "I have done a shitty job as her mother. I just want to make sure she's okay before I can finally feel at peace. You had no right lying to me when I told you I thought she was here. I was starting to think my daughter was dead," she sobs the last bit.

I have no idea how to react. I know she was struggling to be around me before I left. I always thought it was because of my father's treatment of me, but now I think she feels guilty. She hasn't treated me like her daughter since I was eight. She used to be amazing until the animosity built between my parents. Someone lied to them, and then someone cheated first because of said lie. I just don't know who. My mother, unfortunately, cheated with a psychopath as a twisted way to bring my father back home, but it didn't work. I used to pray for the mother I knew before the cheating and lying to come back. Still, unfortunately, her insecurities, jealousies, and bitterness took hold. I have had a feeling for a long time that Zia Emilia is at the heart of their relationship issues.

"What did you do to cause her not to want you to know about our granddaughter? Why did she run?"

My mother wipes away a single tear from her cheek. "I can't tell you that until I talk to her myself. She deserves that. I know I'm not the only one who caused her to run, don't forget about the mistress you thought you knocked up—Sofia knew! The woman came banging on the door of our family home, and Sofia heard everything from that tramp. And it wasn’t even just my issues and your cheating, don’t forget her so-called husband lied and cheated on her since she was eight, and also had a tramp accusing him of fathering her child. All this pain and hurt for your stupid alliance. She didn't deserve that!"

Fuck, my mother screams the last part then shoots to her feet. Tears run down her face while a few escape my eyes, and I quickly wipe them. I can see a part of my old mother in there, my protector, and my heart breaks. Everything she tried to keep hidden is finally starting to come out. My father's face pales while everyone else looks down in shame except for Mattia. He looks smug about the family dynamics right now, and because of what he put me through…. I won't forget what my mother did to me, but he victimized me because he saw my mother’s weakness and knew I was vulnerable.

Damian growls at my mother, and my heart stutters at the fact that he has another child.

Fuck him!

Just as I think that thought, he growls, "I have not fathered any children that are not with my wife, Victoria, so watch the insults and accusations. I will win my wife back, and she'll be where she belongs, by my side as my queen." My mother turns to look at him, hate, pain, and a little bit of hope in her eyes. I can't stand here listening anymore. Despite what my mother put me through, her pain is starting to bother me too much.

It's time I added myself to this party. I wonder what everyone would say once they realize I've been practicing my shooting since I left, not to mention the self-defense courses I’ve taken. I might die today, but at least I'll die fighting. I take a deep breath.

"Hello, Mother," I state coldly. Everyone in the room turns in shock when they hear my voice, but my eyes focus solely on her guard dog.

Showtime!