They were the same hands that had held me gently, the same hands that had promised to protect my daughter.

And they were the hands of a killer.

“I want to go home,” I whispered.

“Of course,” Dante said, stepping closer. “I will have Victor take you.”

“No,” I said, backing away from him. “I want to go home. To my real home. With Lily.”

Dante’s eyes darkened.

“You cannot go back there, Sophia. It is not safe.”

“It’s not safe here either!” I shouted, the tears finally spilling over my eyelashes.

“You almost killed him, Dante. Right in front of me.”

“He threatened my family,” Dante said, his voice hardening. “He threatened you.”

“I am not your family,” I said. “And I cannot live like this.”

Before Dante could answer, the glass doors opened again.

Victor stepped out, his face pale and grim.

He held a phone in his hand, the screen glowing brightly in the dark.

“Boss,” Victor said. “We have a situation.”

Dante didn’t turn around, his eyes still locked on mine.

“What is it, Victor?”

“It’s Lorenzo Moretti,” Victor said, his voice tight.