CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

L ance stood in the bathroom, his arms wrapped firmly around Sofia as she shook and clung to him.

Eventually, he reached in and turned the shower on. He glanced down at her. “I need you to take the lead here, baby,” he said, terrified to make the wrong move. “Do you want me in there with you, out here, out in the living room? Tell me.”

Steam began to fill the white tiled room as her shaking increased. Lance just waited. The shower could run all night if it wanted. He couldn’t give a fuck.

“I don’t know,” Sofia whispered quietly as her eyes darted around the room. When her face planted back into his chest, he pulled her back into his arms.

“Fuck, I just don’t know what to do, and I don’t want to get it wrong,” he said into her hair. “Do you want me here? With you?”

She looked up at him. “I...you were all I wanted, when...” She glanced at the flowing water and moved toward it. “I just need to wash him off.”

He loosened his grip, and the blanket fell to the floor as she stepped into the shower. Lance kicked it away and stood there like an awkward teenage boy, not knowing what to do or where to look. And he’d continue to do it for as long as she needed.

Sofia’s eyes darted to his, and it was all the signal he needed. He stepped in clothed and gently placed his hands on her hips. Immediately, she slammed into his chest and howled. The water poured over them for what felt like hours as he murmured promises of never leaving her, his loyalty and commitment to her.

And he meant it. If it meant leaving the Morettis, he would. Nothing meant more to him than Sofia.

His mate.

If it took him a lifetime to heal her wounds, he still would.

With his love.

He realized, in hindsight, it had been unfair of him to put Brayden in the position he had earlier. Eventually, the Morettis would need to decide where they stood about Sofia. Sooner rather than later. She was no longer their spy, and if they weren’t clear on that, he fully intended to spell it out. He doubted anyone would expect anything more from her, but if they tried, they would fail.

She had done her duty and more. The price she had paid had been far too high. Was it always a risk? Yes. But had they expected Russo to fast-forward his plans and basically kidnap her? Fuck no. Yet again they had underestimated Stefano Russo.

So no. Sofia had fulfilled her duty, and if it meant they both had to leave to ensure she was safe, then they would.

Given the choice, he’d love to have Sofia living with him so he could continue serving the king, but Lance didn’t know what she wanted. Everything had been moving so fast, and hell, he’d only had confirmation she was his mate a few days ago. With no idea when Sofia would be let go from her role as the Moretti spy, neither of them had wanted to discuss their future.

Sitting around dreaming of their life together just hadn’t been on their to-do list. Hell, it wasn’t like they’d even had a first date yet. Lance had no idea when she would be ready to make any decisions about her life—their life—but he would wait.

Now it was time to take the reins and stop waiting for permission from others. She was his mate. No matter what the king decided, Sofia and he would create their future together.

The water cooled. Lance reached behind him and turned the lever off.

“THANK YOU,” SOFIA SAID , taking the half-filled cup of hot chocolate from Lance. She wanted to smile at his practical mindset as she shivered and the sugary brown liquid sloshed around the sides of her mug, but she didn’t have it in her.

Lance sat next to her and laid his solid arm along the sofa behind her, pulling her close. Worry poured from his eyes, but she had no words. I’m okay was a lie. While she wanted to reassure him she would be fine, she wasn’t sure yet she would be. The truth was, she feared she’d never feel safe again, so much so she had an irrational need for Lance to never leave her side.

Ever.

He was the only one she felt she could trust.

The Morettis had allowed— insisted —she go back to her abuser. To that motherfucker. How could she trust them again? It wasn’t lost on her that while she had probably gained their trust, they had lost hers.

As had her own parents. Had they heard about the raid by now? Sofia didn’t know where her phone was. If they were trying to contact her, she wouldn’t know.

Fury raged through her. Her mother may be ignorant of it all, but Sofia had seen the glee in her father’s eyes. He knew exactly who Stefano was. Her stomach clenched as the truth pieced together in her mind. Everything was business for him. Status and money. Then she realized. Money .

“Motherfucker!” she yelled as the hot chocolate splashed onto her lap. She slammed it on the table.

“What?” Lance asked, startled, as she grabbed a handful of his T-shirt.

“Your phone. I need your phone!” she demanded, fury pouring off her.

Lance dug into his jeans and handed it to her, freezing at the last second. She tried to tug it out of his hands, but he held it firm. “Who are you ringing?”

“Give me the fucking phone, Lance. I need to... please ,” she begged. He looked at her for a second longer, then nodded and released the phone. Sofia jumped up as she punched the number into the phone. It felt like forever until someone answered.

“ Buongiorno , Ferrero residence.”

“ Madre !” she called out, her voice full of a thousand emotions.

“ Sofia? What...is everything okay? ”

“Put Papà on. Put me on speaker,” she demanded, and then heard the scuffle as her father snatched the phone out of Rosa’s hand.

“ Give me that! What is going on, Sofia? I heard there was a problem at the house. Where are you! ” he demanded.

“You motherfucker. You asshole,” she yelled. As her eyes darted furiously around the room, she saw Lance, wide eyed and jaw taut with his own fury. “Did he pay you? Did that monster pay you for this bullshit mating?”

“ Sofia ,” Leonardo growled. “ You need to do as Stefano says. Where is he? ”

“Oh my fucking God. You are my FATHER!” she yelled. “He raped me, you asshole. Twice. How can you live with yourself? Everything you have ever told me has been a lie. The rebellion is all a lie. You are dead to me, you hear me?! Dead!”

“ Wha—raped? He wouldn’t— ”

Her arm holding the phone dropped to her side as her father’s voice continued with his orders and lies. Tears flowed down her face. She knew she had to hang up, shut her family out once and for all, but actually doing it was hard.

Sofia looked at Lance, his eyes full of fiery love and fierce protection. There was her future. He was everything she wanted and deserved.

She took a deep breath and raised the phone to her ear. Calmly, not looking away from Lance’s strong and beautiful face, she spoke. “Stop talking. Stop talking now.”

“ Now you listen here— ”

“I said stop fucking talking!”

“ Who raped who, Leonardo? Tell me! What is going on? ” she heard her mother crying in the background. “ Sofia, where are you? ”

“ Yes, where are you? Where is Stefano? ”

Lance smiled at her. The kind of smile every female dreamed of. The one that said fuck the world, I’ve got you. Sofia smiled back with tears in her eyes.

“Goodbye,” she told them, then dropped the phone.

As she crumpled to the floor, Lance caught her and carried her into the bedroom.