Valentino was driving like a satan and Sofia at some point started to pray even though she wasn't a religious person she was thinking: Lord, please. Not today.

When they arrived Alessandro was already coming downstairs to meet them in the hallway. This man must have some sixth sense how did he know they will arrive just now?

"Have I given you my permission to leave the house?" He asked in a stern voice.

"Why do we need the permission?" Sofia asked, she shouldn't.

"Answer me" he responded firmly.

"No?"

"That's right. I need to know where you are at all times. Sofia, may I remind you that you're still formally under Paul's custody?"

Sofia held down her breath. Her eyes widened in fear and she took a step back "I'm sorry please don't let him take me back to the States" she said now full-blown crying. To her surprise, she was quickly embraced by Valentino. She really appreciated his gesture and she hugged him back seeking comfort.

"Sofia" Valentino started, still in a formal voice "You're never going back to that man, no matter what you do. I reminded you about Paul because the case of your disappearance hasn't been closed yet. We need to settle the custody as soon as it's possible as soon as it happens you can go out as soon as you want"

"I'm sorry," Sofia said feeling guilty for making their life harder

"You should notify me about leaving the house but I'm not blaming you for anything else. On the other hand Valentino I will see you in my office and we will have a chat" Alessandro said, it sounded more like a threat and Valentino's embrace tightened, now he needed a hug.

"And Sofia"

"Yes?"

"As long as you don't know how to swim please don't visit the pool on your own"

"Yes, sir" Sofia muttered, Alessandro turned away and started walking towards his office, Valentino followed him with his head down as if he was going to his own execution.

🔆🔆🔆

After she was left alone Sofia went to her bathroom and had an opportunity to finally look in the mirror. She had dark brown eyes that mimicked the eye color of Ianniello's brothers but there was something that wasn't right. Her hair. Her brothers and mother had a natural light shade of brown or even dark blond hair color. That wasn't the case with Sofia she had a very dark, almost black hair color. Maybe she got that after her father.

She ended up changing into a pajama. Sofia really appreciated that Clara went shopping yesterday to get her some basic stuff. The clothes she ordered online will come to the house tomorrow, she was looking forward to having more than two sets of clothes.

She left the bathroom and quickly got to her bed, ready to fall asleep. The catch was that she couldn't fall asleep. There were just too many unknowns about tomorrow.

Sofia knew by now that her brothers weren't perfect but they seemed to care about her. She couldn't complain about them being overprotective, not now.

Besides, she was too busy being terrified that their best intentions won't save her from Paul. Her mind was a mess as she was trying to visualize what's going to happen tomorrow at the police station.

The moment she forced herself to not think about it another uneasy thought came: Nadia. Now that she had the phone and opportunity to speak to her as long as she could she should thank her and apologize again.

With that in mind, Sofia sat down in her bed and lit the night lamp.

She tried to call Nadia but no one was picking up.

Then she checked her Facebook profile just to experience shock. Another teenager from Santa Maria went missing.

Nadia's smiling face was in the picture.

It's hard to express what Sofia was feeling. She was completely terrified. She started shaking, her breathing got quicker, tears welled up in her eyes. This couldn't be true.

After that, there was no way Sofia would go to sleep.

She left her room and found a beautiful balcony. She sat at the chair and stared at the dark horizon. It was uncomfortably cold but thanks to the pain caused by the temperature she could focus on something else than thinking about Nadia.

"Sofia, what are you doing here? It's late and cold" Valentino said in a sleepy voice. "Hey, are you ok? Oh my God, you're freezing" He asked fully awaken, his eyes shining with concern. "Why are you crying? Are you hurt? Get up"

"I can't sleep," Sofia said finally.

"I said get up," he said now irritated. He lifted her by the arms and pulled her towards the warmth of the house.

"What were you thinking? You could've freeze out there" he yelled and Sofia flinched. "I'm telling Alessandro," he said and started walking towards the stairs but Sofia stopped him with one simple question.

"Why do you care? You don't know me. You just learned about my existence. Shouldn't you be indifferent? Angry? Pissed off that I'm here?"

He turned around and came closer so now they were in front of each other. He wasn't yelling, he was speaking slowly and clearly.

"At the moment I'm mad at myself for sticking a gun to your rib when you needed help. And I'm pissed off because I will never get to meet our mother but other than that I have no intention to pretend like you don't exist because you showed up unannounced, mentally I'm older than five even if it doesn't always look like that way. Now, come with me we need to warm you up" He grabbed her hand and pulled her inside.

"What are you doing?"

They were in the living room and Sofia was lying on the couch under two blankets that were thrown at her unceremoniously by Valentino.

"I'm lighting up fireplace as you see" he informed, the traces of anger was still visible on his face but they were disappearing with each second. After he dropped the last logs of wood on the top of the kindling base he closed the window and walked out of the room.

He was leaving her? Yeah, that made sense after all why would he stay here.

"Drink"

"Um-" Sofia looked with surprise at the brown liquid poured into a white and red Christmas cup.

"It's a hot chocolate, not a poison. A poison I'm leaving out for the time you start doing annoying sister things" he said dropping on the coach. He would crush her legs if she didn't move them.

"Annoying... sister things?"

"Like stealing my things, tattling on me to Alessandro, things like that, and by the way don't you dare," he said and took a sip of his drink.

Sofia followed his lead.

"Wow it's so... rich," she said. It felt like a real melted chocolate bar.

"Why? You thought I'm going to give you this chocolate powder shit? We don't do things like that here"

"But it's also spicy"

"Pinch of chili makes everything better"

Sofia wasn't about to argue with that.

"You said you can't sleep so I will bother you with my music," he said picking up the guitar up. Sofia realized it was displayed in this room not just for decoration, it was actually the instrument they used.

"You will wake everyone up"

"Clara went home, Francesco is at work, Alessandro is working too. In other words, we have nothing to worry about" He sat next to Sofia and started playing, Sofia had no idea what melody was it but it sounded very calming.

"So you're playing football and guitar" Sofia muttered.

"What can I say I have many talents"

"Thank you"

"For what?"

"For being so nice to me"

He continued playing. Sofia didn't even notice when she fell asleep on his shoulder.

🔆🔆🔆

"Look at them," Francesco said "They look so cute together. Just like us when we were young" the last sentence was an inside joke. They couldn't stand each other when they were young.

"I'm worried, Valentino is reckless which he had proven with his trip to the center" Alessandro responded but because of Francesco's remark, his voice held a hint of amusement.

"She deserves at least one fun brother"

"That she does. We have a sister can you believe this?"

"No. Honestly, I'm still in shock"

"Me too"

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