Chapter 4 - The Safe Harbor
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Forty miles outside the city, rain drummed against the windowpane of a modest brick cottage.
The house sat at the end of a winding gravel road surrounded by tall oak trees.
Sophia stood in the small kitchen, holding a warm mug of chamomile tea between both hands.
The cottage belonged to her late grandmother.
It was the only asset she had kept in her own maiden name before marrying Adrian.
She had never told him about it.
In the mafia world, a woman without a secret was a woman without a future.
She looked down at her bare left hand.
The pale white indentation where her wedding ring had sat for three years was already beginning to fade.
She took a deep breath, filling her lungs with air that did not smell of expensive cigars and blood money.
For three years, every breath she took had been measured to keep Adrian calm.
She had swallowed her pride at every dinner party.
She had ignored the cruel sneers of his cousins and the contempt of his lieutenants.
She had believed that patience and loyalty would eventually earn his respect.
A bitter smile touched her lips.
Respect was not something men like Adrian Romano gave away to those who served them quietly.
They only respected what they feared, or what they could not control.
The sharp sound of tires crushing wet gravel broke the morning stillness.
Sophia did not jump.
She calmly set her tea mug down on the wooden counter.
She walked to the window and parted the lace curtain with two fingers.
A sleek black sedan had pulled up to the porch.
A tall man in a tailored charcoal overcoat stepped out, holding a large black umbrella.
He did not look like Adrian’s brash enforcers.
His movements were smooth, calculated, and patient.
It was Victor Moretti.
Victor walked up the wooden porch steps and knocked three times.
Sophia walked to the door and unlocked the deadbolt.
She opened it just wide enough to meet his dark, intelligent eyes.
“You took the back roads through the county line,” Victor said, his voice deep and smooth.
“Adrian’s men are currently tearing apart the downtown train terminals looking for you.”
“How did you find me?” Sophia asked, her voice steady and without fear.
Victor lowered his umbrella and leaned against the doorframe with an appreciative smirk.
“Because I am the only man in Adrian’s circle who actually paid attention to you, Sophia.”
“I saw the deed transfer in the county records two years ago.”
“I knew you were smart enough to keep an exit door ready.”
Sophia did not move aside to let him enter.
“If you came here to drag me back to Adrian to win his favor, you are wasting your time.”
Victor chuckled softly, shaking his head.
“Adrian is a blind fool who inherited an empire he doesn't know how to sustain.”
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“I didn't come here to take you back to him, Sophia.”
“I came here to offer you a war.”
