My Karma

he weight of it settled heavily in her chest. She'd come looking for answers, but now, faced with the pro

iance, refusing to show a flicker of fear. "You say that like you're p

hink you'll find that sometimes, protection is the last thing you'd ever expect." His fingers tapped thought

he replied, her voice barely above a whisper. "I know that the people behind it wanted to erase any competi

he began slowly, "is not as simple as that. Your father was a proud man, an ambitious man, and he made enemies

tion mounting. "Because right now, all I see is

voice uncharacteristically gentle, "your family was not my target. Your father was caught in the cr

f something darker, more complex. "Are you saying... my father brought this on himself?"

are hint of sympathy. "Your father tried to ally himself with people who would have destroye

e sense of his words. "This doesn

ression shifting to one of faint regret. "There's a reason I kept my distance from you all these years, Sophia. I knew who you

hem, and Sophia's chest tightened.

tense. "The people who were behind your family's fall-some of them are still out there. And they're watching y

e her fear. "I'm not afraid of them," she said, her

if those answers cost you

, her jaw clenche

etween them like a live wire. Finally, Lucas's expressio

though he were seeing something in her he wished he could ignore. "But just know this, Sophia-you're not as alone as you think. The deeper yo

surge of defiance. "I don

lmost resigned smile. "Maybe no

n his arm, stopping him. "Wait," she said, her voice softer. "Why do you

moment, his mask slipped, and she caught a glimpse of vulnerability in his gaze. "Because," he said q

ulled away, his mask slipping back into place. "Be

lit restaurant, her mind reeling with questions and

into his words, the unmistakable intensity in his gaze. But beneath it all, she sensed something

he was in this now, too deep to turn back. And Lucas