Marco The Beast Valenti's POV
I stood outside Sofia's apartment, watching the small, tired building that she called home. It wasn't much, but it was hers. It was where her family lived, and that made it important. As I watched, I couldn't shake the feeling that everything had already started to change, that the moment I stepped into her world, everything was going to become much harder for her.
I pushed the door open, walking into the apartment. The familiar tension was thick in the air, but I didn't expect much more from this family. Sofia's brothers were scattered across the living room, their exhaustion palpable. They had no idea what was coming, no idea of the path they were now on.
Sofia looked up at me when I entered, her eyes filled with questions. It didn't take a genius to see the fear, the uncertainty swirling behind them. I hated that I was the one causing it, but I had no choice. This wasn't just about her anymore. This was about her family's survival. And I'd promised her that I'd protect her. That's all I could do now.
"Sofia," I said, my voice calm but insistent. "I need to talk to you."
The room fell silent. I could feel the heat of her brothers' glares burning through me, but I didn't care. The moment was between Sofia and me. The sooner we got this done, the sooner I could leave and figure out the next steps.
Sofia's gaze flicked to her brothers before she slowly stood up and followed me out into the hallway. I could hear the muttered comments behind us, the suspicion in their voices, but I wasn't concerned. Not right now.
When the door clicked shut behind us, I turned to face her, my mind focused. "I need you to be ready for what's coming," I said, my voice low. "Things are going to get complicated. Your family's situation is delicate, and I can't protect you unless you fully understand what we're dealing with."
She looked at me, her expression strained, but she didn't say anything. I could see the wheels turning in her head, the same doubts and fears I'd felt when I first entered this world. But I couldn't afford to be soft. I had to be clear, even if it hurt her.
I reached into my jacket pocket and pulled out the envelope. I didn't hesitate as I handed it to her. "Here," I said. "This should cover everything. Your mom's treatment. The bills. Anything you need to make sure she gets the care she deserves."
Her eyes widened as she stared at the envelope in her hands, her confusion turning into disbelief. She opened it slowly, the contents spilling out—thick stacks of cash.
"This... this is too much," she whispered, still in shock. "I can't accept this, Marco. I don't even know how to repay you for something like this."
I could hear the hesitation in her voice. I wasn't surprised. She didn't know what to think of me yet, didn't understand why I was doing this. But it didn't matter. I wasn't looking for gratitude. I was looking for trust.
"You don't need to repay me," I said, my voice calm, steady. "This is part of the deal. We're in this together, Sofia. Your family's survival is my priority now."
Her fingers tightened around the envelope, and she shook her head, still trying to make sense of everything. "This... this isn't right. What do you expect from me in return? What are you asking me to do?"
I paused, stepping closer, my eyes meeting hers. "I'm not asking for anything right now. Just trust me. This is all part of the arrangement. When the time comes, you'll understand. But for now, focus on your family."
Her brow furrowed. "I don't know what to say," she whispered, her voice shaking. "How can I just take this?"
I placed a hand on her shoulder, trying to steady her. "You don't have to say anything. You just need to trust that this is what's best for everyone. Your mom gets the care she needs. Your family is protected—for now."
She looked at me, her eyes still clouded with confusion, but there was something else there, too—something I couldn't quite place. I knew this was hard for her. I knew that every instinct was telling her to refuse, to question everything, but that wasn't an option. Not anymore.
She swallowed hard, her voice barely a whisper. "But Marco... if I take this... what happens to you? What about you?"
Her words hit me harder than I expected. But I couldn't let myself waver. Not now. I stepped closer, lowering my voice. "This isn't about me, Sofia. It's about you and your family. You need to understand that. This is part of the deal we made. I'm here because I promised to protect you. And if I have to do things you don't understand, then that's what I'll do."
She stared at me for a long moment, the silence stretching between us. She wasn't ready to accept it. Not yet. But I could see the gears turning in her head, the realization settling in. There was no turning back.
"I don't know if I can handle all of this, Marco," she said, her voice quiet but filled with uncertainty.
"You don't have to handle it alone," I replied softly, my hand still on her shoulder. "I'm here. I'll help you. But you need to trust me. This is only the beginning."
She nodded slowly, the fight draining from her posture. It wasn't the kind of trust I was hoping for, but it was a start. And that's all I needed.
I watched her, knowing the path ahead wouldn't be easy. Sofia didn't fully understand it yet, but she would. Eventually. And when she did, I hoped she'd realize that everything I'd done—everything I was doing—was to keep her safe. To protect her from a world she didn't belong to.
But that was the cost of making deals with people like me