Sophia settled back into the bed, her eyes drifting shut, not long after, a loud knock sounded on the door. Luca burst back into the room, his face pale and serious.
“Sophia,” he said, his voice urgent. “Martha’s been kidnapped.”
Sophia shot upright, her heart racing. “What?” she gasped. “Who kidnapped her?”
Luca’s face darkened, his eyes hardening. “Vito,” he said, his voice a low growl.
Sophia’s mind raced, her heart pounding in her chest. Martha was a member of their family, and they would do anything to protect her.
“We have to go after her,” she said, her voice determined. “We have to get her back.”
Luca nodded, his jaw set. “I’ll call the others,” he said, turning to leave. “Get dressed, Sophia. We’re leaving now.”
Sophia nodded, her mind already racing with possibilities.
She quickly tuck in her twins inside their little cot and lock their door.
The drive to Vito’s hideout was tense, the air thick with anticipation. Sophia gripped the seat, her eyes scanning the streets for any sign of Vito’s men.
Finally, they reached the run-down warehouse that served as Vito’s base of operations. The car screeched to a halt, and Luca turned to face Sophia.
“You stay here,” he said, his voice low and serious. “This is dangerous work.”
Sophia bit her lip, her eyes flashing with defiance.
“No, Luca,” Sophia said, her voice firm. “I’m coming with you. Martha is my friend, and I won’t let her suffer alone.”
Luca’s eyes narrowed, but he knew that arguing with Sophia was futile. “Alright,” he said, his voice resigned. “But stay close.”
Sophia nodded, and together they made their way towards the warehouse, their footsteps silent on the pavement. The door was ajar, and Luca pushed it open, his gun drawn.
Inside, the warehouse was dark and musty, the only light coming from a single overhead bulb. As they crept further inside, they could hear voices echoing through the cavernous space.
Luca motioned for Sophia to stay behind him, his body tense and ready for anything. They turned a corner and saw Martha, tied to a chair in the middle of the room, her face bruised and bloody.
Vito stood before her, a wicked grin on his face.
“Well, well, if it isn’t Luca, Don Giovanni son” Vito said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “What a surprise to see you here and this lovely lady by your side, our ex mafian?”
Luca didn’t answer, his eyes cold and calculating. Sophia stepped forward, her jaw set. “Let her go, Vito,” she said, her voice clear and steady. “This has nothing to do with her.”
Vito chuckled, his eyes gleaming with amusement.
“This has everything to do with her,” Vito said, his voice low and menacing. “She’s part of your little family now, isn’t she? That makes her a threat to me.”
Luca’s grip on his gun tightened. “Let her go, Vito,” he repeated, his voice a warning. “Or I will make sure you regret it.”
Vito laughed, the sound echoing through the warehouse. “Oh, Luca, you’re so naive,” he said.
“You think you can threaten me?” Vito continued, his eyes gleaming with amusement. “I am Vito, the head of late Don Salvatore Mafia crime family. I do not fear anyone, least of all a low-level thug like you.”
Sophia’s eyes flashed with anger. “You’re a monster, Vito,” she said, her voice shaking with rage. “You’ll pay for what you’ve done.”
Vito’s gaze shifted to Sophia, his smile widening.
“You’re quite feisty, Sophia,” Vito said, his voice a low purr. “Maybe I’ll keep you around for a while.”
Luca stepped forward, his eyes blazing with fury. “Let her go, Vito,” he repeated. “Now.”
Vito laughed, his eyes glinting with malice. “You think you can tell me what to do?” he sneered. “I make the rules here.”
Without warning, Vito’s hand shot out, grabbing Martha by the hair and jerking her head back. Martha cried out in pain, her eyes pleading with Luca.
“Let her go!” Luca shouted, his voice ringing through the warehouse.
Vito laughed again, his eyes gleaming with triumph. “I’ll tell you what, Luca,” he said.
“If you put your weapon down and leave this place, I’ll let her go,” Vito said, his voice smooth and persuasive. “You have my word.”
Luca hesitated, his grip on the gun tightening. Sophia stepped forward, her voice pleading. “Luca, don’t listen to him,” she said. “He’s a liar.”
Vito smiled, a cold, calculating smile. “Oh, Sophia,” he said.
“What do you know about these things?” Vito continued, his eyes glinting with amusement. “You’re just a pretty face, after all.”
Luca’s eyes narrowed, but he hesitated. He wanted to believe Vito, to believe that he would keep his word and let Martha go. But he knew that Sophia was right. Vito was a liar, a monster.
“I’ll do it,” Luca said finally, his voice low and defeated.
Luca placed his gun on the floor, his eyes never leaving Martha’s terrified face. Vito’s smile widened, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction.
“That’s a good boy,” he said, his voice soft and mocking. “Now leave, before I change my mind.”
Luca nodded, his jaw set. He turned to go, but Sophia remained rooted to the spot, her eyes blazing with anger.
“No,” she said, her voice clear and steady.
Sophia’s defiance surprised Luca, but it seemed to amuse Vito. He chuckled, his eyes gleaming with delight.
“And why is that, my dear Sophia?” he asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
Sophia didn’t hesitate. “Because I won’t let you hurt anyone else,” she said, her voice ringing with conviction. “You’ve caused enough pain.”
Vito’s smile faltered for a moment, but then he laughed again, his eyes hardening with anger.
“You think you can stop me?” Vito spat, his voice cold and vicious. “You foolish girl, you don’t know who you’re dealing with.”
Sophia didn’t flinch, her eyes meeting Vito’s with defiance. “I know exactly who I’m dealing with,” she said, her voice steady and strong. “And I won’t let you hurt anyone else. Not Martha, not Luca, not anyone.”
Vito’s face twisted with rage, his hands tightening around Martha’s hair. “I’ve had enough of your insolence,” he snarled. “It’s time to end this.”
In one swift motion, he drew a knife from his pocket and slashed at Martha’s throat, blood spraying onto his clothes. Sophia screamed, her hands flying to her mouth, while Luca surged forward, his eyes wild with rage.
But it was too late.
Martha’s body crumpled to the ground, her eyes staring sightlessly at the ceiling. Luca dropped to his knees, his hands hovering uselessly over her, his face a mask of anguish.
Sophia’s screams cut through the air, her hands clenching and unclenching. “You monster!” she shouted, her voice shaking with rage. “You monster!”
Vito laughed, his eyes gleaming with triumph. “Yes,” he said, his voice low and triumphant. “I am a monster.
Vito took a step back, his eyes scanning the room, taking in the shocked faces of Luca and Sophia. “And now,” he said, his voice a chilling whisper, “I think it’s time for me to leave.”
Luca lunged forward, his hands reaching for Vito’s throat, but Vito was faster. He darted towards the exit, his laughter echoing through the warehouse.
Luca turned, his eyes blazing with rage, but Sophia grabbed his arm, her voice urgent. “Luca, we have to go”
Luca hesitated, his chest heaving, his eyes fixed on the place where Vito had disappeared. But Sophia was right. They had to go.
Together, they turned and fled the warehouse, their footsteps echoing in the empty space. The air was thick with the scent of blood, and Martha’s lifeless body lay crumpled on the floor, a silent reminder of Vito’s cruelty.
Outside, the sun was setting, casting long shadows across the city. Luca and Sophia climbed into Luca’s car, their hands shaking as they buckled their seatbelts.