Sophia
"This is who I am when you're threatened," he said, his voice softening . "When it comes to protecting you, I'll do whatever it takes. No matter the cost."
As Vince's words reverberated through my mind, a chill swept over me. The man before me was unrecognizable—his usual calm facade shattered, revealing a darkness I had never truly seen before. His grip on my face was firm, almost tender, but the blood on his shirt told a different story. A story of violence and retribution.
I couldn't tear my eyes away from the crimson stains. Robert's blood. The name echoed in my head, each repetition bringing a fresh wave of nausea. Robert had been a piece of shit, yes, but the thought of what Vince had done, of the lengths he had gone to, twisted my stomach into knots.
"Why, Vince?" I whispered, my voice barely audible.
He stared at me, his eyes cold and unyielding. "Because no one hurts you and gets away with it. Is that so hard to understand ?"
There was a finality in his tone that left no room for argument. He believed in what he had done, saw it as justified. A part of me, the part that had been terrified of Robert, understood Vince's actions. But another part, the part that still held onto a semblance of normalcy and morality, recoiled in horror.
I stepped back, pulling away from his grasp. "This isn't right, Vince. You can't just... do things like this."
He followed me, closing the distance I had tried to create. "I can and I will, Sophia."
The intensity in his eyes was almost hypnotic, a dark allure that pulled me in even as it repelled me. My breath quickened, a mixture of fear and something darker, something I didn't want to acknowledge. There was a part of me that was fascinated by this side of him, drawn to the power and the danger he represented.
But I was very unsure. "What if someone finds out? What if they come after you?"
He smiled, a chilling, predatory smile. "They will find out, and they will come after me. But let them come. I am the most powerful mafia in this city and I'll do whatever it takes to protect you, no matter who it is."
The conviction in his voice sent a shiver down my spine. Vince was dangerous, unpredictable, and yet there was a twisted sense of security in knowing he would go to such lengths for me. It was wrong, but it was also thrilling.
I turned away, needing to put some space between us, needing to think. "I need some time," I said quietly. "To process all of this."
He didn't try to stop me as I walked away, but I could feel his eyes on me, a heavy, oppressive weight.
I needed to think, to clear my head, to figure out what I wanted, what I could live with. But even as I walked away, the image of Vince standing there, bloodied and unrepentant, stayed with me, a constant reminder of the darkness lurking just beneath the surface.
As I stepped into the cold, morning air, I realized that nothing would ever be the same again. Vince had crossed a line, and in doing so, he had dragged me into the shadows with him. The question was, could I find my way back to the light, or was I destined to be consumed by the darkness that now surrounded us both?
After what felt like hours but was merely minutes, I found myself back at the office, my mind a whirlwind of confusion and fear. The corridors seemed endless, the walls closing in around me as I tried to make sense of everything. How could Vince, the man I thought I knew, be capable of such brutal savagery?
The images of his blood-stained shirt and the coldness in his eyes replayed in my mind over and over again. I couldn't shake them, no matter how hard I tried. It was like a nightmare I couldn't wake up from.
As I sat at my desk, trying to pull myself together, a sharp knock on the door jolted me from my thoughts. My heart skipped a beat, a sudden wave of anxiety washing over me. I wasn't expecting anyone.
"Come in," I called out, my voice betraying the unease I felt.
The door creaked open, and a woman stepped inside. She was breathtakingly beautiful, the kind of beauty that made you stop and stare. Her long, dark hair cascaded down her back in soft waves, and her deep, green eyes sparkled with an unsettling intensity. She was dressed in a sleek, tailored suit that accentuated her curves, exuding a confidence and poise that immediately put me on edge.
"Hello," she said, her voice smooth and velvety. "I'm looking for Vince. Is he available at the moment?"
Her words hung in the air, and I felt my stomach twist into a knot. This woman—whoever she was—knew Vince, and the ease with which she asked for him made it clear she wasn't just another business associate.
"He's... not here right now," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. "Can I help you with something?"
She smiled, a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Oh, I'm sure you could, but it's Vince I need to speak to. It's rather urgent."
Something about her made me uneasy. There was a coldness in her demeanour, a calculated air that sent alarm bells ringing in my head. I couldn't help but wonder what her connection to Vince was—and why she seemed so intent on finding him.
"I don't know when he'll be back," I said, hoping she would take the hint and leave.
She took a step closer, her eyes narrowing slightly as she studied me. "You must be Sophia," she said, her tone laced with something I couldn't quite place—was it disdain, curiosity, or perhaps something more dangerous?
"Yes, I am," I replied, forcing myself to meet her gaze.
Her smile widened, though it still didn't reach her eyes. "I've heard so much about you," she said, her voice dripping with false sweetness.
My heart pounded in my chest. This woman knew more than she was letting on, and it was clear she wasn't here just to exchange pleasantries.
"Who are you?" I asked, my voice firmer now.
She tilted her head, as if considering whether or not to answer. "Let's just say I'm someone who cares about Vince's well-being," she replied, her tone still unnervingly calm. "And I have some important business to discuss with him. So, if you could just let him know I was here, that would be wonderful."
Without waiting for a response, she turned on her heel and walked out of the office, leaving me standing there, stunned and more confused than ever.
As the door clicked shut behind the mysterious woman, I felt a lingering sense of unease settle over me. Her confidence, her cryptic words, the way she looked at me—it all left me shaken. Who was she to Vince? And why did she claim to know so much about me?
The questions buzzed in my mind like a swarm of angry bees as I stared at the door, half-expecting her to reappear with more unsettling revelations. But the silence in the room was thick and oppressive, pushing me to act, to get answers.
I needed to talk to Vince. Now.
Without giving myself a chance to second-guess my decision, I stood up and grabbed my phone, dialling Vince's number as I headed for the door. My fingers trembled slightly as I pressed the call button, and I found myself pacing the corridor outside my office as the phone rang.
It rang once, twice, three times—each ring echoing in the quiet hallway like a ticking clock, amplifying my anxiety. But Vince didn't answer.
I tried again, my heart pounding harder with every passing second, but the result was the same. His phone went straight to voicemail, leaving me with nothing but the cold, mechanical message urging me to leave a message.
"Vince," I said, my voice shaky as I spoke into the phone, "there was a woman here to see you. She didn't give her name, but she seemed to know you. Please, call me back as soon as you get this. "
I ended the call, feeling a mix of frustration and worry. Vince was usually quick to answer, especially when I called. The fact that he wasn't picking up now only added to the unsettling feeling that had been gnawing at me since the woman left.
Pushing down my fear, I knew I couldn't just sit here and do nothing. Vince needed to know what had happened, and if he wasn't answering his phone, there was only one place he might be—his suite.
I made my way through the building, my footsteps echoing in the empty hallways. The tension in the air was palpable, as if the walls themselves were holding their breath, waiting for something to happen. By the time I reached Vince's suite, my nerves were frayed, and my heart was racing.
I knocked on the door, hoping he was inside, but there was no answer. The suite was eerily quiet, and I felt a pang of worry twist in my chest.
"Vince?" I called out, knocking again, this time more urgently. "Are you in there?"
Still, no response.
My mind raced with possibilities, each one more unsettling than the last. Was he in some kind of trouble? Or was he simply ignoring my calls, caught up in something more pressing?
Desperation pushed me to try the door handle, and to my surprise, it turned easily. The door was unlocked.
I hesitated for only a moment before pushing the door open and stepping into the dimly lit suite. The curtains were drawn, casting long shadows across the room, and the air was thick with the scent of cologne and leather. Everything was in its place, perfectly arranged, yet the room felt empty, devoid of the presence I had come to associate with Vince.
"Vince?" I called out again, my voice echoing slightly in the spacious room.
A soft sound of water droplets hitting the floor caught my attention, and I turned towards the bathroom door, which was slightly ajar. A sliver of light spilled into the room, and the faint sound of running water confirmed that someone was inside.
Tentatively, I stepped closer, the unease from earlier still gnawing at me. As I reached the doorway, the light from the bathroom illuminated the figure of Vince, who had just stepped out of the shower.
He was standing with his back to me, a white towel loosely wrapped around his waist. Water dripped from his hair, running in rivulets down his toned back and muscled arms. His skin glistened with moisture, and the sight of him, so raw and unguarded, made me momentarily forget the urgency that had driven me here.
"Vince?" I said softly, my voice barely more than a whisper.
He turned slowly, his eyes meeting mine. For a moment, neither of us spoke. The tension that had been building between us all morning seemed to come to a head, and I felt the air thicken with an unspoken intensity.
"Sophia," he finally said, his voice low and rough. "What are you doing here?"
"I—I needed to talk to you," I stammered, suddenly feeling out of place, as if I had intruded on something private. "There was a woman in the office. She was looking for you."
Vince's expression didn't change, but something flickered in his eyes—recognition, perhaps. He let out a slow breath, as if the news didn't surprise him at all.
"I know," he said simply, reaching up to rub a hand through his wet hair, sending more droplets cascading down his chest. "I've been expecting her since yesterday actually."