10. Sofia

10

SOFIA

I sink into the plush spa chair beside Sasha, the warm water bubbling around my feet. My best friend’s presence usually calms me, but my stomach churns with guilt today.

“Spill it,” Sasha says, eyeing me over her cucumber water. “Your texts were cryptic as hell.”

I stare at my feet. “I met someone.”

“Not Paulie, clearly.” She leans closer. “Who is he?”

“The ringmaster at the carnival.” Heat creeps up my neck. “Tyson.”

“A carnie?” Sasha’s eyebrows shoot up. “That’s... different for you.”

My hands tremble as I consider telling her the whole truth. How do I explain that he spied on me using my webcam? That he broke into my house? Instead of calling the police, I kissed him?

“There’s more,” I whisper, “but you have to promise not to freak out.”

“Girl, you’re scaring me. ”

“He’s intense. Like, stalker intense.” The words tumble out. “He hacked my computer and watched me through my webcam. Then, showed up at my house uninvited.”

Sasha’s face drains of color. “Please tell me you called the cops.”

I shake my head, shame burning my cheeks. “I didn’t. I... I kissed him instead.”

“What the actual fuck, Sofia?” Sasha grabs my arm. “This isn’t some fictional dark romance novel. This is serious stalker behavior. Why didn’t you report him?”

That’s the question I’ve been asking myself. Why didn’t I? The answer terrifies me more than Tyson’s actions.

“I don’t know,” I admit, my voice barely audible over the bubbling water. “There’s something about him. I know it’s crazy, but...”

“But nothing! He’s dangerous, Sofia.”

I close my eyes, remembering the electricity of his touch, the thrill of danger in his kiss. “I know he is. That might be part of why I can’t stay away.”

Sasha’s disapproving head shake cuts through me. “You’re walking a dangerous line. Between your dad, Paulie, and now this carnival guy? It’s like you’re playing with matches in a powder keg.”

I sink deeper into the spa chair, the warm water doing nothing to ease the knot in my stomach. “You don’t understand what it’s like with Paulie. Every time he looks at me, his eyes find something new to criticize. My weight, clothes, even how I hold my fork at dinner.”

Sasha sets down her cucumber water with a sharp clink. “Look, I get it. Paulie’s an asshole. How he treats you makes me want to jam these pedicure tools somewhere unpleasant.” She shifts in her chair to face me fully. “But trading one toxic man for another isn’t the answer, babe. This Tyson guy? He’s showing classic predator behavior. Stalking, surveillance, breaking and entering? That’s not romantic—that’s criminal.”

I twist my hands in my lap, unable to meet her concerned gaze. “You don’t know him like I do.”

“Oh honey, that’s what every woman says before appearing on the evening news.” She reaches over and squeezes my hand. “I know Paulie’s awful. The way he degrades you, making those snide comments about your body—it’s emotional abuse, plain and simple. But jumping from his brand of toxicity to Mr. Stalker won’t fix anything. It’s like choosing between drinking alcohol or taking cocaine—they’ll destroy you differently.”

The truth in her words stings, but I can’t deny the logic. Still, my heart races whenever I think of Tyson’s intense stare and commanding presence. “What am I supposed to do, then?”

“How about choosing yourself for once?” Sasha’s voice softens. “Instead of picking between two controlling men, maybe it’s time to break free of both of them.”

I can’t help but laugh, the sound bitter even to my own ears. If only Sasha knew the whole truth. She’s been my best friend since grade school, but there are parts of my life I’ve never shared with her. How could I?

“It’s not that simple,” I say, watching the water ripple around my feet. “The marriage to Paulie... it’s complicated.”

“What’s complicated about it? You said yes to that jerk. Just say no now.”

My chest tightens. She thinks I had a choice—I actually agreed to marry him. In her world, women don’t get handed over like property, sealed in marriage deals between criminal enterprises. She doesn’t know that my father, Jimmy Moretti, isn’t just a successful businessman—he’s the most feared mob boss in Dawsbury.

“Sash, there are things about my family...” I trail off, unable to finish. How do I explain that my father’s word is law? That refusing this marriage could get people killed?

“What things? Come on, Sofia. Your dad might be strict, but he loves you. He wouldn’t want you marrying someone who treats you like garbage.”

I smile, remembering the cold look in Dad’s eyes when he announced my engagement to Paulie. Love had nothing to do with it. This was business, pure and simple. But Sasha sees my father as the generous man who helped fund her college scholarship and always had candy in his pockets for neighborhood kids. She needs to learn about the blood money that pays for his kindness.

“You’re right,” I lie, hating myself for it. “I’ll think about what you said.”

Sasha’s warm fingers squeeze mine, her eyes full of concern. “I just want you to be happy and safe, girl. That’s all I’ve ever wanted for you.”

The genuine worry in her voice makes my throat tight. Despite all my secrets, despite the dark world I can never tell her about, Sasha has always been my rock—my one true friend who wants nothing from me except my well-being.

“If you do see this carnival guy again...” She pauses, choosing her words carefully. “Just be careful, okay?”

I nod, knowing in my gut that crossing paths with Tyson again isn’t a matter of if but when. How he looked at, touched, and spoke to me felt inevitable—like a magnet pulling two objects together, whether they wanted it or not.

“I’ll be careful,” I promise. However, I’m not sure what careful means anymore, not in my world, where danger lurks behind every smile, where trust is a luxury I can’t afford.

The warm water swells around our feet, but I barely notice it now. My mind is drifting to piercing eyes and strong hands, to the thrill of forbidden kisses and the promise of something more dangerous than anything I’ve known.

Our paths will cross again, whether I want them to or not.