AURORA’S POV
“Is Sofia back?” I ask myself and my husband looks at me with a look of confusion then back at his tablet. “I haven’t seen her since I got back from work myself, you would go check her room maybe she’s back.” He replies and goes back to scrolling.
Am I overthinking it but she was acting really strange this afternoon in the kitchen. I mean what sort of period pain will jab at you and you’ll drop a glass? Is something bothering her and she can’t seem to talk about it?
“Babe, did you know Sofia could shoot a gun?” I ask Matteo. “Shoot a gun? She can’t even hurt a fly Aurora why then should she know how to shoot a gun.” He’s sarcastic with his response which I would reply same if anyone had asked me such a question before today.
“You know we went to the shooting range today, myself, Bella and Sofia…” This time Matteo’s full focus was on me, he loved to hear about my day, “and Sofia was legit shooting a gun like a fucken pro, even Bella was surprised. Myself too.”
Matteo’s look of shock was priceless, his baby sister who we all thought was pure to things like that was shooting a gun like a pro. “Now that’s big news right there baby! Wow! Who would have thought that our family baby could be pumping out bullets.” He looked proud.
“But that’s not the issue here…” I tell him
“What’s the issue Aurora?”
Walking to the bed and facing him squarely, “I think something is going on with Sofia. And she doesn’t want to talk about it.” Taking a deep breath I continued, “Earlier today in the kitchen, Liam told us about this new friend he has made while at school and he said his name was Uncle Fred. But the issue isn’t the new friendship, the issue is, the moment she heard the name she turned pale. Like pure white and in shock she fumbled with her glass of juice spilling it to the ground and breaking the glass.” I tell him all in one breath.
Matteo looked at me with amusement written all over his face. “I’m serious. Maybe something is going on with her and it’s related to someone with the name Fred. An abusive or toxic ex. Maybe that’s why she’s back. Out of fear.” Or so I thought.
Matteo chuckled. “Aurora, no one will dare lay a finger on a Rocco person. You should know how that will end. Unless the person has a death wish.”
“I know what you mean Matteo but eyes don’t lie. Okay fine she didn’t look scared but she kinda looked nervous. And when we asked her she said it was her cramps.” I tell him. “Well it could have been cramps just as she said, come on Aurora, why are you bothering so much?” He asks.
I fall silent for a while just thinking about the whole situation. Leaning back on the headboard of our queen size bed I wonder for a moment if I was overthinking the situation but then…how did I forget that?
Springing up from the bed I turned back to Matteo who was about to turn off his bedside lamp. “Oh yes, I just remembered one more thing, Matteo.”
He sighed apparently not interested but didn’t have a choice but to listen. “What is it again Detective Aurora?”
“At the shooting range earlier today, she got a call that also made her act the same way she did in the kitchen. I don’t know the details of the call tho she said it was from a friend, but she went pale too during and after the call and looked worried throughout the remaining shooting session. In fact, she missed her target after that, like her hands were trembling.”
This time Matteo turned back on the light and looked at me with seriousness. “Could it be there’s someone after her? With the name Fred?” He asks and I look at him with the “I told you so” expression.
“You see, I knew something was wrong cause all of a sudden she said she had period cramps when we got home and ran straight to her room with the same expression.”
Matteo thought for a second “Should we ask her about it? I mean if she doesn’t wanna talk it’s fine but we’re family there’s no reason she shouldn’t tell us what’s going on.” And I nod in agreement.
“What if she’s being blackmailed and that’s why she’s that way?” I asked as I thought about the fact that could be true. I would act the same way if I was being blackmailed by someone.
“Nah, Sofia isn’t the type to get blackmailed easily and what could they really have on her that would make her that way?” Matteo says and I think about what he meant.
“What if we ask her about it and she doesn’t wanna talk? Should we just watch her for a while before jumping into conclusions?” I suggest to Matteo and he nods in agreement.
“I agree, she’s not exactly a child that can’t sort her own shit. Maybe we should give her a little time to come around.” Matteo says turning to turn off his side lamp. “You should turn that off Mrs Detective and come to bed, it’s late and I need my wife in my arms.” He whined at the last part and I giggled at his childish tone. He will always be my baby.
“Coming babe.” As I turn off the lamp, I snuggle into his arms and he wraps himself around me before placing a kiss on my forehead.
“Stop thinking about it and sleep, baby girl.” He murmurs in his almost sleepy voice, he knows me too well. “I’m not thinking about it.”
“If you insist. Goodnight babe, I love you.”
Sighing in content at his warmness I snuggle even closer. “I love you too.”