The moment Sophia stepped out of Luciano's room, she felt it.
Eyes.
Everywhere.
The hallway wasn't empty like before. Guards stood at every corner now, their presence heavier, sharper—like something had shifted overnight.
Like she had shifted.
Sophia kept her expression neutral, but inside, her pulse quickened.
This wasn't freedom.
This was surveillance.
Luciano walked beside her, calm as ever, like the tension in the air didn't exist.
Like the way people straightened when he passed didn't mean anything.
But Sophia noticed.
She noticed everything now.
"Where are we going?" she asked quietly.
Luciano didn't look at her.
"Out."
Her brows furrowed. "Out where?"
"You'll see."
Of course.
Always vague.
Always in control.
Sophia exhaled slowly, crossing her arms slightly as they descended the stairs together.
The staff avoided eye contact.
The guards stepped aside instantly.
And for a brief moment—
She felt it.
What it meant to walk beside him.
Power.
Not hers.
His.
And she was caught in it.
Outside, a sleek black car waited.
Engine already running.
Doors already opened.
Prepared.
Always prepared.
Sophia hesitated slightly before getting in.
This felt like a different kind of trap.
Luciano noticed.
"Get in," he said calmly.
She glanced at him. "And if I don't?"
A pause.
Then—
"You will."
Not a threat.
A fact.
Sophia held his gaze for a second longer.
Then slid into the car.
Luciano followed, sitting beside her.
The door shut.
And just like that—
They were moving.
The city blurred past the windows.
Alive.
Busy.
Free.
Sophia's chest tightened as she watched people walking on the streets—laughing, talking, living normal lives.
So close.
Yet so far away.
"You miss it."
She turned slightly.
Luciano was watching her.
Observing.
Always observing.
"Yes," she said honestly.
A pause.
Then—
"You'll get used to this."
Her jaw tightened.
"I don't want to."
"You don't have to want it."
Her gaze hardened. "That doesn't mean I'll accept it."
Luciano didn't respond.
But something in his expression shifted slightly.
Like he expected that answer.
The car finally slowed.
Then stopped.
Sophia looked out the window—
And froze.
A high-end restaurant.
Elegant.
Exclusive.
The kind of place she had only seen in pictures.
Her brows furrowed.
"You brought me here?"
Luciano stepped out of the car first.
Then held the door open for her.
"Yes."
Suspicion crept in.
"Why?"
His eyes met hers.
"Because you haven't left the house."
That wasn't an answer.
But it was something.
Sophia hesitated.
Then stepped out.
The moment they walked in—
Everything changed.
Conversations softened.
Eyes turned.
People noticed.
Not her.
Him.
The staff moved instantly, guiding them to a private table without a word.
Reserved.
Prepared.
Of course.
Sophia sat across from Luciano, her posture stiff as she took in her surroundings.
"This isn't normal," she said quietly.
"It is for me."
She sighed, looking down at the menu without really reading it.
"You bring all your 'guests' here?" she asked.
A dangerous question.
Luciano didn't answer immediately.
"No."
Her eyes lifted slowly.
"Then why me?"
A pause.
Then—
"Because you're not like the others."
Her heart skipped.
Again.
She looked away quickly.
"I don't want to be different," she muttered.
"You already are."
The waiter arrived.
Took their order quickly.
Left even faster.
No small talk.
No hesitation.
Just efficiency.
Respect.
Or fear.
Sophia wasn't sure which.
Minutes passed in silence.
But it wasn't empty.
It was filled with everything unspoken between them.
Everything unresolved.
"People are staring," she said finally.
Luciano didn't even glance around.
"Let them."
"That doesn't bother you?"
"No."
She frowned slightly.
"It bothers me."
That got his attention.
His gaze shifted to her.
"Why?"
"Because I don't belong here," she said.
The honesty surprised even her.
Luciano studied her for a moment.
Then—
"You belong where I say you do."
Her chest tightened.
"There you go again," she muttered. "Deciding everything."
"That's how this works."
"No," she said firmly. "That's how you work."
Silence.
Then—
"You're still here."
The words hit.
Hard.
Sophia looked away, her fingers tightening slightly on the edge of the table.
Their food arrived.
Sophia barely touched hers.
Her appetite gone.
Her thoughts too loud.
Luciano noticed.
"Eat."
"I'm not hungry."
"You didn't eat this morning either."
She frowned. "You keeping track now?"
"Yes."
Her heart skipped.
Again.
Annoying.
Dangerous.
Confusing.
Suddenly—
A voice interrupted.
"Well… this is unexpected."
Sophia stiffened.
Luciano's expression darkened instantly.
She turned—
And her stomach dropped.
Isabella.
Of course.
Dressed flawlessly.
Confident as ever.
But this time—
There was something sharper in her eyes.
More calculated.
"Luciano," Isabella said smoothly, stepping closer to their table. "I didn't know you were… entertaining."
Sophia's jaw tightened.
Luciano didn't even look at her.
"Leave."
Simple.
Cold.
Final.
Isabella smiled.
But it didn't reach her eyes.
"That's not very polite," she said. "Especially in public."
Luciano's gaze snapped to hers.
Dangerous.
"Do you want to make a scene?"
A pause.
Then—
"No," Isabella said lightly. "But you already have."
Her eyes flicked to Sophia.
Lingering.
Judging.
"Oh…" she added softly. "Now I see why you brought her out."
Sophia's chest tightened.
"What is that supposed to mean?" she asked before she could stop herself.
Luciano's gaze shifted to her briefly.
Warning.
But Isabella answered anyway.
"It means," she said, tilting her head slightly, "you're not hiding her anymore."
Silence.
Heavy.
Sophia's heart pounded.
Was that true?
Luciano said nothing.
And that silence—
Spoke volumes.
Isabella smiled again.
Satisfied.
"Careful," she added softly. "The more visible she is… the more dangerous this becomes."
Luciano stood slowly.
The movement was calm.
Controlled.
But threatening.
"Leave," he said again.
This time—
There was no room for argument.
Isabella held his gaze for a moment longer.
Then—
She leaned slightly closer to Sophia.
Close enough that only she could hear.
"You're not safe with him," she whispered.
Sophia's breath caught.
"He's just better at hiding it."
Then she straightened.
Smiled.
And walked away.
Silence followed.
Heavy.
Tense.
Sophia didn't move.
Didn't speak.
Her heart was racing too fast.
Her thoughts too loud.
Luciano sat back down slowly.
Like nothing had happened.
But everything had.
"Why is she always around?" Sophia asked quietly.
Luciano didn't answer immediately.
Then—
"Because she doesn't know when to stop."
"That sounds familiar," Sophia muttered.
A faint flicker of amusement crossed his face.
Then disappeared.
They didn't stay much longer.
The tension had ruined everything.
Or maybe—
It had just exposed what was already there.
Back in the car, silence filled the space again.
But this time—
It was heavier.
More complicated.
"She's right, you know," Sophia said suddenly.
Luciano didn't look at her.
"About what?"
"That I'm not safe," she said.
A pause.
Then—
"You're safer with me than anywhere else."
Her chest tightened.
"That's not reassuring."
"It's the truth."
She turned to him.
Studying him.
Trying to understand.
Trying to figure out where she stood.
"What happens when someone tries again?" she asked.
His gaze finally met hers.
Cold.
Certain.
"They won't get the chance."
Her heart skipped.
Because she believed him.
And that—
That was the problem.
The car pulled back into the mansion.
The gates closed behind them.
And just like that—
The outside world disappeared again.
Sophia stepped out slowly, her mind still spinning.
Because now—
Everything had changed.
She wasn't hidden anymore.
She wasn't just a secret.
She was visible.
And in Luciano's world—
That made her a target.