7. Sofia

7

SOFIA

M y heart leaps into my throat when I see Lou, huddled in the corner of the living room, her small body shaking with fear.

“Lou!” I scream, rushing toward her. I drop to my knees, pulling her into my arms, holding her as tightly as I can without hurting her. “Oh, my God, baby, are you okay? Are you hurt?”

Lou clings to me, burying her face in my shoulder. Her small hands grip the fabric of my shirt, and I can feel her trembling. “Mom, there was a man. A scary man. I ran away, but he chased me.”

My heart seizes, cold fear spreading through my chest. I pull back just enough to look at her, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face. “A man? Where did you see him, Lou?”

Before she can answer, Angelo crouches down beside us, his voice calm and gentle. His cologne envelopes me like a hug. “Lou, can you tell me what the man looked like? Anything you remember?”

Lou sniffles, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. “He was tall, with blond hair and blue eyes.”

A gasp almost escapes my lips, but I manage to stifle it. I can feel Angelo’s eyes on me, curious and concerned, but I can’t explain. Not here, not now, and not in front of Lou. I shake my head slightly, silently pleading with him to let it go for now.

His gaze lingers on me for a moment before he nods, turning his attention back to Lou. He doesn’t press me, but I know he’s not going to forget this.

Shawn, standing nearby, catches my eye. Our silent communication is immediate. I nod ever so slightly, and her eyes widen as she slowly sinks into a chair. She understands what I’m trying to tell her, even without words.

Jonah .

Angelo’s voice breaks the tense silence, his tone firm. “We need to call the police. This man needs to be found.”

Shawn quickly interjects, her voice steady but with an undercurrent of urgency. “The school already did, Angelo. They were on their way to Perfezione when we left. They should be here any minute.”

Lou clings tighter to me, her little body still trembling. I hold her close, rubbing soothing circles on her back, trying to calm the storm of emotions swirling inside me. The mere thought of Jonah being anywhere near my daughter fills me with a fear I haven’t felt in years. But I can’t let that fear control me now.

“Lou, it’s going to be okay,” I whisper into her hair, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. “Mommy’s here, and Angelo and Shawn are here too. You’re safe now, sweetheart. We won’t let anything happen to you.”

The door bursts open, and Zip rushes into the apartment, his eyes wild with worry. “Is Lou okay?” he asks, breathless.

Lou’s head snaps up, and before I can say anything, she’s already out of my arms, sprinting toward her great-grandfather. “Nonno!” she cries, throwing herself into his embrace.

Relief washes over Zip’s face as he holds Lou close, but his eyes quickly narrow as he scans the room, taking in the tension still hanging thick in the air.

Angelo, arms crossed, watches with a raised eyebrow. “How did you get through the security system?” he asks in disbelief.

Zip scoffs, waving a hand dismissively. “Your silly alarm system can’t stop me, bambino . I was cracking safes before you were out of diapers.”

Shawn and I burst out laughing as Angelo’s irritation deepens. His expression is priceless—caught between admiration and annoyance, trying not to let Zip’s comment get to him. But it’s hard not to be impressed by Zip’s audacity.

Zip crouches down, his voice softening as he gently talks to Lou. “Did that man hurt you, cara mia ?”

Lou shakes her head, her voice small. “No, Nonno. I ran away, just like Mom taught me.”

“That’s my girl,” Zip says, planting a kiss on her forehead. He holds her for a moment longer before standing, his demeanor shifting instantly. The gentle, worried great-grandfather is gone, replaced by a man whose face is thunderous with anger. He straightens, and despite his small stature, there’s an imposing presence about him.

“We’re going to make sure this man is brought to justice,” he says, his voice low and deadly serious. “No one scares my little girl and gets away with it.”

I place a hand on his arm, trying to soothe him. “Nonno, the police are on their way. Let’s not do anything rash.”

But Zip isn’t about to be soothed. He shakes off my hand, his eyes blazing with fury. “Rash? Sofia, this is our family. No one messes with us. Especially not some creep chasing my great-granddaughter.”

His words send a chill down my spine. I know how protective Zip can be, and I don’t want him to do something he’ll regret. But I also know there’s no stopping him when he’s like this—all five foot five of pure determination and righteous anger.

My phone buzzes in my pocket, and I quickly answer. It’s the police, letting me know they’re downstairs. “Thank you. We’ll bring you up,” I say, ending the call. I turn to Angelo. “The police are downstairs. Can you go get them?”

Angelo nods, giving me a reassuring look before heading out the door. It doesn’t take long before he returns with two police officers in tow.

The first is a tall, muscular man with close-cropped brown hair and a serious expression. His uniform is crisp, and his eyes are sharp, taking in every detail as he steps into the room. The second officer is a woman, shorter but no less imposing, with dark, curly hair pulled back into a tight bun and a focused look in her brown eyes. They both radiate a calm authority that instantly makes me feel a little more at ease.

“We found Lou safe in the house,” I tell them, my voice trembling slightly as I squeeze Lou's hand.

The taller officer, whose name badge reads Officer Hale , nods, a look of relief softening his stern features. “That’s good to hear. We were worried when we got the call.”

His partner, Officer Ramirez, steps forward, her voice gentle. “May we speak with Lou for a moment? Just to understand what happened?”

I glance at Lou, who looks up at me with wide eyes. “Is that okay, baby? These officers just want to make sure you’re safe.”

Lou nods hesitantly, and I guide her to a chair, sitting beside her and holding her hand for support. I can feel the slight tremor in her fingers, and I give her hand a reassuring squeeze. “I’m right here, Lou. You’re so brave.”

The officers pull up a couple of chairs, positioning themselves so they’re not too close, giving Lou space. It’s clear they’re trying to make her as comfortable as possible.

Officer Ramirez speaks softly, her tone calm and patient. “Lou, can you tell us what happened today? We just want to make sure nothing like this happens again. Did you see someone who scared you?”

Lou glances at me for reassurance before she starts speaking. “There was a man. He was tall, with blond hair and blue eyes. He was… he was creepy.”

My heart clenches at the mention of Jonah, but I keep my face neutral for Lou’s sake.

“Have you ever seen this man before?” Officer Hale asks, writing things down in his notebook.

Lou shakes her head vigorously, but I hesitate. I don’t want to bring up Jonah’s name in front of Lou, but I also want to be honest with the police.

“Sofia?” Zip asks, his dark eyes probing mine.

I sigh, squeezing Lou’s hand. “I have,” I admit.

Heads swivel toward me, and I cringe at the sudden attention.

“Ms. Saldano?” Officer Ramirez asks. “Do you know who he is?”

Angelo slowly steps toward me and places a comforting hand on my shoulder, giving me strength. Zip watches our every movement, his bushy eyebrows rising in surprise.

“I had an interaction with him recently,” I begin, addressing the officers. “This morning, actually.”

“What happened?” Officer Hale asks.

I take in a deep breath, drawing on Angelo’s presence. “He saw me walking Lou to school, and after I dropped her off, he… accosted me. I haven’t seen him in years. I… I didn’t think he would show up here…”

Officer Hale raises an eyebrow, his interest clearly piqued. “Can you tell us more about him, ma’am?”

I nod, my heart racing as I recount the encounter. “Jonah… we knew each other briefly when we were young.”

“Why would he be interested in Lou if you haven’t seen each other in years?” Officer Hale asks.

My heart beats faster. I can’t let Lou know who her father is. I can’t .

“I…” My words die in my throat as my breathing increases. Why couldn’t Jonah have just left us alone ? He abandoned me after he raped me and left me pregnant with his child. Lou and I were just doing fine without him. Lou hasn’t missed out on anything with not having her father in her life. Zip has done a damn good job of providing Lou with a male figure.

“Ms. Saldano?” Officer Hale asks again, looking at me with concern.

But I’m too lost in my thoughts to pay him any attention. The only reason Jonah wants Lou is because he and his wife can’t have children. Does he think that he can take Lou from me and play happy family with his wife? Over my dead body. He’ll never take Lou from me. She’s mine .

“I think this is a sensitive topic for Sofia,” Angelo says firmly, his thumb gently stroking the back of my neck. “Maybe she can talk to you about it separately?”

Officer Ramirez’s eyes soften with understanding. “Of course,” she murmurs. “That’s more than okay.”

I nod, unable to speak, but grateful for Officer Ramirez. “Thank you,” I whisper.

She smiles gently at me before returning her attention to Lou. “What happened when you saw the man, Lou?”

Lou clings to my hand, her small voice breaking through the tension. “He was talking to one of my classmates during the fire drill at school. He… he made me feel weird. Creepy.”

I gently squeeze her hand, encouraging her to continue. “What did he say to you, Lou?”

“He told me I was pretty,” Lou says, her voice small. “He said I reminded him of his sister. He asked me if I liked candy, and then he tried to give me some. I didn’t take it, though. It didn’t feel right.”

Officer Ramirez nods encouragingly. “You did the right thing, Lou. What happened next?”

Lou’s eyes fill with tears as she remembers. “The fire drill was loud, and everyone was running around. Then, one of the first graders got really scared and ran into the street. All the teachers ran after him because he almost got hit by a car.”

My heart sinks as Lou continues, her voice trembling. “That’s when the man grabbed me. He pulled my arm and even yanked my ponytail. It hurt.”

I feel a surge of anger and fear, but I keep it in check, focusing on Lou. “What did you do, sweetheart?”

“I screamed, but no one heard me because of the noise. So I ran. I ran back home as fast as I could.” Lou straightens in her chair, a hint of pride in her voice. “He chased me, but I was faster. I got away.”

Officer Hale leans forward slightly. “How did you get inside, Lou?”

“I couldn’t,” she admits. “There was a new, weird security system. My key didn’t work. So I went around the back and climbed up the fire escape. I knew he wouldn’t catch me up there.”

Officer Ramirez smiles at her. “That was really brave, Lou. You did a great job getting away from him.”

Lou’s face relaxes a little, the praise helping to ease some of her fear. I can’t help but feel a swell of pride, too, mixed with the lingering terror of what could have happened. But for now, I’m just grateful she’s safe.

Angelo’s face is a mask of controlled fury as he listens, his eyes darkening with every detail. “We’ll find him,” he says quietly, more to himself than anyone else. “He won’t get another chance.”

Shawn rushes forward, her voice light and cheerful. “Hey, Lou! I want to show you something cool on my phone. I’ve got some new designs, and I really need your opinion. You’re the best at picking out the prettiest ones.”

Lou’s eyes brighten with curiosity, and she looks up at the police officers. “Can I go with Shawn?”

Officer Ramirez smiles kindly. “Of course, Lou. Thank you for being so brave and telling us what happened.”

Lou nods, then eagerly follows Shawn to the other side of the room, where they huddle together over Shawn’s phone. The tension in the room eases slightly as Lou becomes engrossed in the images, her earlier fear replaced by excitement.

Once Lou is occupied, Officer Hale’s expression turns serious. “Ms. Saldano, we need to know more about this man. Anything you can tell us will help.”

I take a deep breath, my chest tightening as I prepare to share the truth I’ve only told a few people. “Jonah… Jonah is Lou’s father.” The words come out in a whisper, the weight of them heavy in the air. “But he doesn’t have custody. He’s not even on her birth certificate.”

Officer Hale raises an eyebrow, clearly surprised, but he remains silent, waiting for me to continue. Angelo’s hand finds mine, his fingers warm and reassuring as they wrap around my trembling ones. He doesn’t say anything, but his presence alone gives me the strength to keep going.

“I met Jonah when I was a teenager,” I say, my voice shaking slightly. “He… he assaulted me. That’s how Lou was conceived.”

A heavy silence falls over the room. I can feel the officers’ eyes on me, their expressions a mix of shock and concern. Angelo’s grip on my hand tightens, and he steps closer, his other hand resting on my shoulder. The warmth of his touch seeps into me, a steadying force that keeps me from falling apart.

“Lou doesn’t know,” I continue, my voice barely above a whisper. “She doesn’t know he’s her father, and I plan to keep it that way. Jonah… I’ve kept him out of our lives for years, but now… now he’s back, and he wants to take Lou from me.”

Officer Ramirez nods, his expression sympathetic but professional. “Thank you for telling us, Ms. Saldano. We’ll do everything we can to ensure your safety and Lou’s.”

I nod, grateful but still terrified. Angelo’s hand squeezes mine again, and I lean into his comforting presence, drawing strength from him. His thumb gently strokes the back of my hand, a small but powerful gesture that helps keep the tears at bay.

The officers finish taking my statement, asking a few more questions before they prepare to leave. As they walk toward the door, Officer Hale turns back to me. “We’ll make sure he doesn’t get near you or Lou again. You have our word.”

“Thank you,” I manage to say, my voice trembling but resolute.

When the door finally closes behind them, I let out a shaky breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding. Angelo pulls me into a gentle embrace, his arms wrapping around me protectively. I bury my face in his chest, letting the warmth and safety of his hold soothe the fear still clawing at me.

“We’ll get through this, Fee,” he murmurs into my hair, his voice low and comforting. “I promise you, we’ll get through this together.”

I nod against him, feeling a small measure of peace settle over me as I cling to the strength in his embrace. The events of the day have left me exhausted and unsure.

Angelo turns to me, his eyes filled with concern. “Sofia, I think you and Lou should stay at my place for now. It’s safer, especially with everything that’s going on.”

I hesitate, the idea of relying on someone else, of being so vulnerable, making me uneasy. But before I can respond, Zip speaks up.

“That’s a good idea, Fee,” he says gently. “Especially if Jonah knows about Perfezione. You need somewhere secure right now.”

I bite my lip, still uncertain. Then I look over at Lou, who’s sitting next to Shawn, engrossed in some design sketches. “Lou, honey? What do you think about staying at Angelo’s for a while?”

Lou looks up, her eyes bright. “Can we? I like Angelo. He’s nice.”

I see Angelo’s face light up at Lou’s words, a smile tugging at his lips. “Well, that settles it, then,” he says, his tone warm and smug. He steps away, pulling out his phone to call someone.

As Angelo moves out of earshot, Zip comes over and wraps me in a hug. His familiar scent—a mix of cotton and Old Spice—envelops me, and I feel some of the tension leave my body.

“It’s going to be okay, Tesoro ,” Zip murmurs, his voice rough with emotion. “You’re strong. You’ll get through this.”

I cling to him, feeling like a little girl again, safe in her grandfather’s arms. “I’m scared, Nonno,” I whisper. “Everything’s changing so fast.”

Zip pulls back slightly, cupping my face in his weathered hands. “Change isn’t always bad, Fee. Sometimes it brings unexpected blessings.” His eyes flick toward Angelo, then back to me. “Just keep an open heart, okay?”

I nod, not trusting myself to speak. As I look around at the people gathered in the apartment—Shawn and Lou laughing over sketches, Angelo speaking quietly into his phone, Zip’s comforting presence beside me—I feel a strange mix of fear and hope.

Whatever comes next, at least I know I’m not facing it alone.

Zip and Shawn soon leave, assured that we will be safe with Angelo.

As we pack our things, Lou looks up at me, her brow furrowed. “Mom, who was that man outside the school? He said I look like his sister. How is that possible?”

My heart sinks, but I try to keep my voice steady. “Sweetie, sometimes people think they see similarities in others. It doesn’t always mean anything.”

I kneel down to her level, meeting her eyes. “What’s important is that you’re my daughter, and I love you more than anything in the world. If a stranger ever approaches you again, remember to tell a teacher or another adult you trust right away, okay?”

Lou nods, looking thoughtful. “Okay, Mom. I will.”

I breathe a sigh of relief, grateful that she seems to accept my explanation for now. I’m not ready to tell her who her father is. She’s still too young.

Soon, Angelo returns, informing us that Marco is waiting with the car. He effortlessly carries our bags, and we head out.

As we enter Angelo’s brownstone on the Upper East Side, I can’t help but gasp. The space is stunning—all sleek lines and modern elegance. Floor-to-ceiling windows offer a breathtaking view of the city skyline. The living room features a plush sectional sofa and a state-of-the-art entertainment system.

Lou’s eyes widen as she takes it all in. “Wow,” she breathes. “This place is awesome!”

Angelo smiles, looking pleased by her reaction. “I’m glad you like it. Let me show you to your rooms.”

He leads us up a floating staircase to the second floor. The guest rooms are just as impressive as the rest of the apartment—spacious, with comfortable-looking beds and ensuite bathrooms.

I can’t help but feel a mix of gratitude and unease as we settle in. Angelo’s kindness is overwhelming, but I’m not used to relying on others like this.

Still, seeing Lou’s excitement as she explores her room, I know we’re in the right place for now.

After unpacking, I peek into Lou’s room, smiling as I see her admiring the view from the window. The city lights twinkle below, casting a warm glow across her face.

“Hey, sweetie,” I call softly. “How about we cook dinner for Angelo to say thank you?”

Lou’s face lights up, her blue eyes sparkling with excitement. “Can we make lasagna? It’s my favorite!”

“That sounds perfect,” I agree, happy to see her enthusiasm.

We make our way to Angelo’s kitchen, which is spacious and well-equipped. Lou’s eyes widen as she takes in the gleaming appliances and marble countertops.

“Wow, Mom! Look at this kitchen!” she exclaims.

I chuckle, pulling out ingredients from the fridge. “It is pretty impressive, isn’t it? Now, let’s see if we can put it to good use.”

As we work together, layering pasta, sauce, and cheese, Lou chatters happily. For a moment, I can almost forget the stress of recent events, losing myself in the familiar routine of cooking with my daughter.

“Mom,” Lou says suddenly, her tone thoughtful, “Angelo’s been really nice to us, hasn’t he?”

I nod, feeling a warmth in my chest. “He has, Lou. That's why we’re making this dinner to thank him.”

“I like him,” Lou declares, carefully sprinkling cheese over the top layer of pasta. “He makes you smile more.”

Her observation catches me off guard, and I’m not sure how to respond. Thankfully, I’m saved by Angelo’s arrival.

He walks into the kitchen, his eyes widening in surprise. “What’s all this?”

“We’re making lasagna!” Lou announces proudly, sauce dotting her nose. “It’s to say thank you for letting us stay here.”

Angelo’s face softens, a smile tugging at his lips. “You didn’t have to do this,” he says softly, his eyes meeting mine.

I shrug, feeling suddenly shy. “We wanted to. It’s the least we can do to thank you for your help.”

The conversation flows easily as we sit down to eat. Lou regales us with stories from school, while Angelo and I exchange glances over her head, sharing silent moments of amusement and warmth.

For the first time in days, I feel myself truly relaxing. The food is delicious, the company is wonderful, and for a moment, I can pretend that this is just a normal family dinner.

As I watch Angelo laugh at one of Lou’s jokes, I’m struck by how natural this feels. It’s as if he’s slotted perfectly into our little family unit, filling a space I didn’t even realize was empty.

The thought both thrills and terrifies me. I’m not used to relying on others, to letting people in. But as I look around this table, at my daughter’s happy face and Angelo’s warm smile, I can’t help but think that maybe, just maybe, it might be worth the risk.

I jolt awake, my heart pounding in my chest. The nightmare of Jonah taking Lou feels so real that for a moment, I can’t distinguish reality from the terrifying dream. Sweat clings to my skin, and the bedroom suddenly feels too small, too confining.

Taking deep breaths, I try to calm myself, but the lingering fear from the nightmare refuses to dissipate. Rolling over, I pick up my phone to see that it is one AM.

Fuck. I need air, space, something to ground me back in reality. I can hear rain hitting against the house, but I don’t care. I can’t be inside. I need freedom.

Quietly, so as not to wake Lou in the next room, I slip out of bed. The cool floor under my bare feet helps a little, but I still feel trapped. My eyes land on the balcony doors, and I make my way toward them, drawn by the promise of fresh air and open space.

Without thinking, I reach for the handle and pull the door open.

Immediately, a shrill alarm pierces the silence of the night.