"Holy shit! You're totally dating a mafia boss. No, hear me out! It was treated like whatever when we were younger so I never questioned it but seriously, a bunch of beautiful wealthy people just happen to all live in a mansion together? I'm pretty sure none of them are even related to each other. Now some guy just shows up and has beef with Cassius and is giving cryptic messages? You have to admit that's shady. Is Cass dragging you into something dangerous? I swear I'll kick his ass if he is" Zoya rants after Sofia tells her everything that has happened.

She had been trying not to look too deeply into the weird happenings and the explainable occurrences but she can't exactly deny that Zoya has a point. It's just been easier to let things go. She wants to keep going with whatever she has with Cassius and confide in Javier and get closer to Hiari. She even likes Cassius' friends who seem to flirt as easily as some people breathe. Maybe that's why Sofia responds to the easiest part of Zoya's spiel.

"First off, we're not dating! We just have a thing. It's like, we gravitate towards each other. He isn't dragging me into anything. It just seems as if something keeps pulling us together. I don't think he can help it any more than I can. It's just, weird? I don't know" Sofia finishes lamely.

Zoya just sort of stares for a few seconds. "Woooow, you've got it bad! When the hell did you turn all bodice ripper romance heroin on me? If you're gonna start spouting prose about Cassius' bulging anything, please warn a bitch first." she teases, and Sofia groans.

"You wish" Is Sofia's simple come back and Zoya wiggles her eyebrows, leering playfully at Sofia.

"Seriously though, you need to to Cassius. Ignorance is not bliss and you'll regret not asking questions. If there is even a possibility that being with him will get you mixed up in some shit then you need to know everything first. Vague warnings are not enough and the Sofia I know wouldn't just let that shit slide. If he cares about you then he'll lay all the cards out and let you choose if you're in or out."

Sofia nods, fully aware that Zoya is right. She normally would have been digging for answers by now. Since coming back and through the grieving process, Sofia has felt so fragile. It completely threw her off and Cassius has been there for her. A part of her mind has been afraid of losing that stable presence that makes her feel safe but it's stupid. Sofia may be a lot of things but stupid isn't among them. Zoya looks at her intently and must be satisfied with what she finds because she gives her own nod and changes the subject.

The notion of confronting Cassius stays in her head for days until they finally stand at the Moreau mansion's front door with dessert in hand.

"You gonna ring the doorbell?" Zoya asks, eyebrow raised. Sofia doesn't want to admit that she's nervous. Tonight she will be confronting Cassius after the dinner is over and it has her all twisted up in knots. That is exactly why she may have zoned out and stared at the mansion doors for the last five minutes much to her internal embarrassment.

"You could do it yourself ya know" Sofia answers back as a way to deflect from her mental struggle. Not that it works from the unimpressed look Zoya gives her. "You're the one that knows people here so you should be the one to do it" is her reply which is completely valid reasoning. Sofia doesn't have the chance to say anything in return because a voice makes them freeze.

"Or I could just open the door for you lovely ladies so we can all get on with our night." Zoya and Sofia slowly turn in tandem with sheepish looks to meet Amir's smirking face, eyes dancing with amusement much to Sofia's mortification. Clearing her throat she makes a valiant attempt at appearing affected. "We just got a little distracted is all. Look at the time though! We really should head in. Could you show us where to drop the desserts off?"

To his credit, Amir restrains himself from further teasing comments but his smirk turns into a full grin when Zoya snorts at Sofia's effort to move things along. "It would be my pleasure to show you the way" he practically purrs and she can't help but notice how his eyes keep drifting to Zoya who is busy checking out the interior of the mansion. Sofia files that away for later. The suave brunette definitely hits Zoya's type and it would be nice to have teasing material of her own.

"Am, are you harassing our guests? I'll gladly stick you out back" Hiari playfully threatens and Amir's faux hurt expression would be infinitely more convincing if he had wiped the grin off of his face. "You're a mean one, Ari. Always mistreating mean. Do you see this Zoya? I think I need some lovin to soothe my shattered heart" he turns those soulful brown eyes towards Zoya who stares blankly for all of five seconds before turning and pulling Hiari into a hug in greeting.

Biting her lip so she doesn't laugh Sofia pats, Amir, on the back who looks like a kicked puppy, and at least tries to look sorry for him. It really isn't necessary considering he has already bounced back to his playful self but did shoot Sofia a warm smile and a wink before taking Zoya's hand, dragging her over to get introduced to the rest of the group. Zoya looks back with demanding eyes but Sofia merely waves and smiles mischievously.

"They'll be getting on like a house on fire or cats and dogs by the end of the night" Hiari declares with mirth then pulls Sofia into a quick hug. "I'm glad you came. You're family, never forget that. Now come on, we shouldn't leave Zoya to fend for herself for too long. Besides, Cass looks like he might spontaneously combust if he has to wait another minute to get close to you" Hiari nudges her shoulder and Sofia rolls her eyes but can't help the warmth the statement brings her especially as her eyes meet Cassius'.

Despite her apprehension about the talk they will be having, not that Cassius knows it yet, the ever-present butterflies are in full force. That invisible tether that pulls her to the mysterious man is as strong as always. In fact, it only grows stronger the longer they spend around each other. It is just one more thing to add to the pile of weird. That in no way stops Sofia from taking a seat beside Cass at the dinner table and enjoying the closeness.

For the life of her, Sofia could not tell you a single thing that was talked about throughout the entire night. She knows that Zoya slotted in perfectly, joking with Gunner, Diesel, and Amir like she had known them her entire life. Giving just as good as she got but Sofia expects nothing less from her best friend. She knows that Javier kept shooting her appraising looks and that Hiari being the amazing woman she is kept the attention away from Sofia, obviously sensing her distraction. Above all, she knows that Cassius kept a grounding hand on her thigh, softly tracing circles on it with his thumb while subtly making sure she ate a little of everything.

It came as no surprise when he whisked her away at first chance. Zoya caught her eye and gave an encouraging smile knowing that the confrontation she had been putting off with Cass was about to come to a head. Sofia can't keep pretending that the vague answers and secrets aren't bothering her even if she had kept it buried deep down. She wants something more with Cassius but she refuses to commit to anything while being kept in the dark. Tonight things either end or they reach a new turning point and Sofia desperately hopes for the latter.