"Not good news I suppose," Anastasio said looking at her with an indifferent expression.

Sofia nodded to confirm but didn't comment any further. "I'm going to sleep" she mumbled.

She lied down on the mattress, cold and hungry. She fell asleep sobbing.

Sofia was awakened by the smell of fresh bread and herbs. As she started looking around to determine when the smell comes from she realized it was Anastasio holding a piece of bread right under her nose.

"Fresh focaccia is a part of my apology for kicking you out. Eat up" he explained.

"It smells so good," Sofia commented and and took the bread with cherry tomatoes on top as if it was the greatest treasure. She didn't remember when in her life she was this hungry.

She took a bite and almost instantly she started tearing up. She took another bite. Now she was full-blown crying now.

"Why are you crying, you don't like it?" Anastasio asked panicked looking quite offended and worried.

"It's the best thing I've ever eaten" Sofia moaned dramatically.

"You cry because it's tasty?" He asked surprised.

"Yes, you don't cry when things are tasty?"

"No. Weirdo" he responded but the invective was said with visible fondness in his voice. She sniffled and he smiled gently in her direction. Sofia for a moment lost herself in his pretty grey eyes.

"Thank you so much for everything, "she said, and surprising him further she trapped him in a bear hug.

"No, no, no we don't hug strangers" he pushed her away, gently and gave an order.

"But you've been nice to me" Sofia explained her behavior with her cheeks turning rosy.

"Lesson 2: Never hug strangers no matter how nice they act. Preferably don't take food for them either unless you're really starving. Wait"

"What?" She was hoping he will tell her to stay but he didn't.

He pulled up the knife and Sofia pulled away from him suddenly scared.

But he quickly tried to calm her down.

"No, I'm not trying to hurt you. I'm giving it to you for your protection" he handed her the knife "look if you click here it folds. Stay safe when you're going to be out there alone"

"But what about you? I can't just take it"

He smiled amused "It's not my first day homeless I know how to handle myself.

"Thank you"

🔆🔆🔆

Today evening was like any other Sunday evening at Ianniello household. Brothers gathered after the dinner at the living room to spend some time together.

After a busy week of being lost in their own affairs. So called "family time" was taking place.

Alessandro, the oldest one, was sitting at the comfortable red chair reading documents from the last board meeting, sipping his whiskey and smoking a cigar. The massive golden signet was shining on his ring finger.

Francesco was sitting on the sofa next to Valentino as he was thoroughly cleaning his AR-15.

Valentino the youngest one just finished watching an intensely brutal horror movie and changed the channel to a boring local News station. He was about to start preparing to leave for the night out with friends. He had to receive a special permission from Alessandro to go out today so he was about to get extra drunk for completing this impossible task. As a form of celebration of course.

He stopped when he heard what the news anchor was saying.

"Tonight a father is pleading to find his missing daughter. A 17 years old Sofia Sanzaro disappeared 3-days ago after going on a trip to Houston with her high-school friend. The latest findings, in this case, show that the teen has left the country on her own. She was last seen at the Catania Airport. Gianna Rossi has more details for you.

"What the fuck" Valentino whispered with shock painted on his face. Sofia. He has met Sofia yesterday. He blinked twice in surprise as he saw her picture plastered on the TV screen.

"What?" Francesco asked as he stopped cleaning the gun.

"That girl" he pointed his finger at the TV screen "She was at my school. She showed me the picture of a woman and asked me to give it to Alessandro"

Now, this piqued Alessandro's attention.

Francesco was about to start asking follow-up questions but Alessandro stopped him with a hand gesture carefully listening to the news anchor report.

"Sofia was mourning the loss of her mother who has lost her battle with addiction. According to her step-father, the teen couldn't come to terms with her mother's passing. He's incredibly worried and he has been very cooperative with the local police. Sofia's destination choice so far has been unclear. Since she left the country the Cameron County police is tightly cooperating with Italian law enforcement. They cannot rule out potential human trafficking ring involvement. Under questioning are also the parents of Sofia's friend who were accompanying girls on their trip to Houston, Texas"

Francesco with wide eyes and his mouth fell open was looking at the picture of their mother showing up on the TV screen.

"Alessandro, do you see this?" Francesco whispered.

"I do" Alessandro responded in a naturally quiet and stoic voice that didn't give out any emotion he was feeling right now and he was feeling quite a lot.

"What's going on?" Valentino asked feeling left out.

"The older woman you just see is our mother. The younger girl you've met at your school is our sister" Alessandro explained.

Valentino looked like someone just slapped him across the face. That would mean he stuck the gun, a deadly weapon right between his little sister's ribs. Suddenly he felt like he's about to throw up.

"She didn't come alone. She was brought by Bruno Neri" Valentino said.

"Let's go, we need to find her"

Alessandro usually didn't go to the field himself. He had people for it. To see him being the first to intervene instead of giving an order was speaking volumes about the gravity of the situation.

🔆🔆🔆

With all due respect to Sofia's survival skills: she had none! Zero, null.

So naturally, the moment she left the squatting place the carabinieri found her.

Sofia really had high hopes for no reason. Now that she was stuck at the police station she was truly regretting her life choices.

When she saw Paul entering the small room she felt like she's about to throw up from all the nerves she felt. She was absolutely frozen, terrified. How did it happen?

"Sofia! I'm so glad you're safe" Paul said with relief and hugged her tightly. "I've been so worried about you" he then whispered into her ear "play along or Nadia pays the price" Sofia stiffened then slowly returned the hug.

"Sorry for leaving like that I don't know what I was thinking," she said trying to make her voice steady.

"I know you've been dealing with a lot lately but I've been worried sick about you baby. Never do this again"

For the people outside Paul might have sounded like a concerned parent. But all Sofiacould hear in his voice was a threat. A promise of revenge.

"Sorry" she responded automatically.

"Thank you so much for helping me find my daughter," Paul said politely to officers who didn't look like they could speak English. They nodded.

"Before you can take her home we need to speak to her in private. The psychologist should be here already, she's a little late-"

"It's okay, we will wait"

They ended up sitting in the corridor

They were not alone. Someone was with them all the time but the men on the shift didn't seem to pay them any attention. So Paul started speaking more openly now.

"Cesare is living not so far away from here, you know. You both have some unfinished business, don't you? Maybe if you like Italy so much you can stay with him. It all depends if you behave" Sofia understood well that he basically is casually speaking about selling her to his business partner who had a very disturbing interest in her. She was trembling in fear as he spoke. "Calm down Sofia. Nothing is yet decided but I need you to behave. Can you do that?"

"Y-yes" she agreed easily.

The psychologist finally arrived and she and Sofia had a short 15 minutes conversation. It was nothing special, few shallow questions. Most of them are for documentation purposes. And then Sofia was released to leave along with Paul.

She was walking very slowly, she was so scared. The hand Paul put on her back made her feel nauseous.

When he opened the car door she was still deciding if it's worth it to start running. Sure her stamina was shitty but she was hoping the adrenaline levels would help her.

But she couldn't really run. She was too terrified, standing frozen like the hand gently but firmly was pushing her inside of the car.

But the car doors were closed. Not by Paul or Sofia. Another person was standing next to them now.

He was a handsome man expensive-looking black coat and sunglasses. His skin was tanned, his hair had a maple brown color.

"Can I help you, sir?" Paul asked annoyed,

The man ignored him. "Are you Sofia Sanzaro?"

She nodded. „Y-yes" Sofia confirmed looking confused at the person she never saw before. She couldn't possibly know this man. Who was he?

"Was your mother Caratina Sanzaro?" He continued his questioning while both Sofia and Paul looked lost.

"Yes"

He then turned again towards Paul.

"I'm afraid you can't take her anywhere"

"And why is that?" Paul asked irritated, his hand tightened sharply on Sofia's shoulder. She winced. Because Alessandro was wearing sunglasses it was impossible to know what his expression is but Sofia noticed that he stiffened a bit.

"She's my family"

"What's this nonsense? Do you have any proof of that?" Paul asked challengingly. He was starting to get really nervous right now.

"Birth certificate. Catarina Sanzaro was my mother" Alessandro responded calmly, clearly Paul's reactions had zero effect on him. "This is why I would like you to come back with me to the station and discuss-"

He was rudely interrupted by Paul.

"I understand" Paul started and Sofia could instantly sense how his voice shifted into the nice mode. In this mode he would try to convince people to do something for him "I won't make a contact with her difficult for you. You will be able to talk over the phone any time you want but right now we have to hurry to airport" Sofia risked mouthing "help me" to Alessandro but she wasn't sure if he saw it. "Now if you excuse us, we really need to go"

Paul tried to hand him his business card but Alessandro didn't take it. Sofia shivered. The temperature in the air seemingly dropped but she had no idea why.

In the end, it didn't really matter.

She was pushed into the car by Paul.

So that was it. It was over. In that moment she has lost all hope.

Author's note:

I hope you were enjoying this chapter let me know what you think. ❤️🙏

Sofia's brother's are FINALLY entering the scene for good. ^^