The Mafia's Weakness

uld not stop thinking about her mom. Her phon

golden light from a glittering chandelier. Floor-to-ceiling windows framed the space

six months, so eventually, she would be free but it already felt like

ding, she jerked upright, thinking it might be Lu

me

n ten minutes. Please come to the

he door; it was the maid, Mrs Smith. Luca had instruct

Mrs...?" S

Smith," sh

s Smith. I wil

follow the stairs at the

Thanks

tly shut the d

finally dragging herself up and walking into the bathroom. It took her twenty minu

ch every five seconds. He was about to go up and get her

frame hanging prominently in the centre of the living room. She squinted, thi

eath c

Go

thing, and slipped. Before she hit the floor

them said anything. The

Luca said quietly. "I might not

ou," she

s back to the picture. "Why is my p

believe it i

understand how her pi

d my life six years ago," Luca

six years ago, he believed she

has never left my memory. It

e sure you were real. I investigated, and when I confirmed it, when I realised you weren't just

he couldn't make sense of it. She

softly. "If you don't fall in love

speak. But she could s

a added. He stepped closer to her, tempted to kiss her lips, but

eed. Tomorrow, we will go shopping for clo

ing me? Sophie wonder

oom, nibbled on a few sandwiches

hadn't had lunch; she had even told the maid not to prepare any

answered in a

your mom is ou

t. That wasn't Luca;

hey get t

have given

asked the person to repeat what they said; s

very now, although still unconscious but stable. We

all e

of pure relief. If she could, she would be at the hospital right now. Maybe she

s, thinking it would help her learn the l

rn edge of the estate, v

It won't happen again," pl

utious, Sophie

heard Luc

n't be a

rd the sound, eager to thank

h

ns

g crack sp

s heart

Luca. With

mpled to

at, her body froze, and her k

r seen anyon

ver seen a

or was t

ed and sa

shed