𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒈𝒐𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒏 𝒔𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓

𝑺𝒊𝒙𝒕𝒚-𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒆𝒆

"Why the sudden drop in profits!?" Ares' eyes widened when he noticed his men who were undercover in his casino to steal off of gambling addicts and rich visitors had walked in with only one duffel bag not even full of money it was practically half empty. Five of them claiming to all have earned the duffel bag of money acting like children as Ares massaged his temples in annoyance muttering curse words in italian.

"calm down love" Valentina gently caresses his arm causing him to tense and shift away

"not right now" he grumbles as he shrugs her hand off of his arm and leans back in his desk chair as he waits for Maria to return with camera footage with who had taken his riches, in preparation to loose it completely.

"Its So-" She cuts herself off seeing Valentina in the room before looking at Ares again and sliding the Ipad screen over on his desk.

"What?" He rolls his eyes but they get glued to the screen when he sees who had outsmarted his system, he was expecting this but not her. A soft chuckle escapes his lips as he leans back, and slowly nods. "so she's playing that game?" He looks up at Maria before turning the Ipad with the camera footage off so Valentina couldn't see who they were talking about.

Sofia's POV

Bianca and I had bought some new clothes and more things for the house, I made sure we stayed within budget whilst she went full diva on everything but the spree ended well so I wasnt complaining for once this time.

"We're out of milk, I'll be back" I wanted cereal as a late night snack so I slip my off white boots hoping i'll find a store or stall that may still be open.

"Okay just be back soon, I'll be in bed asleep when you get back so take the keys" Bianca reminded me and I slowly stride backwards to grab the house keys before heading out. Being in a skirt on a cold night wasn't the best idea but I wasn't really focused on anything besides getting milk for my cereal.

As I wandered I was walking past Ares's workplace and felt a pit in my stomach, I had to move on but why was that so complicated for me!?

"Mason." I heard a husky toned voice from the underground parking lot and instantly recognized it as Ares's. I knew I should have left- turned away and minded my business- hell I should've kept walking but my stomach could wait.

I hid behind the concrete railing and peak around the side to get a glimpse of what was happening under the dim parking lot lights. it was still not light enough so whilst they both were distracted with their conversation iu slipped deeper into the parking lot and hid behind a car.

"You're getting married soon, you have no reason to be so possessive over her" Mason smirks although his face was close to battered and bruised.

"Don't. You know that was arranged Mason. I saw you on my security footage! Hell I had one of my men tell me you flirted with her at the beach? I swear to God I wont hesitate to blow your brains out" Ares roughly grabs Masons collar that was stained with blood.

were they talking about me?

"You really must be heartless, the rumors aren't an exageration. I've known you since high school man-"

"Don't fuck with me Mason! I know you were using me the entire time!" Ares pushed Mason away as he released him "you've been a fucking rat since we first met you, I knew you had something to do with Igor finding Sofia... her foster parents randomly having enough money to get a good lawyer and take her back to America? it was all you" Ares seethes as he takes slow and purposeful strides towards Mason.

I was stunned.

The person I thought and called my friend was actually the one betraying me?

"Now fuck off" Ares ordered and Mason scoffs before smugly wandering out of the back exit, a loud thud caused me to flinch and I look at the source of the sudden noise. Ares's car had a dent in it and his knuckles had found its way onto the car so I put two and two together.

I slowly stood up and try to secretly make my way out but as soon as I felt a burning sensation in the back of my head I knew I wasn't imagining someone's piercing gaze, but I looked up in the reflection of one of the cars. there his eyes were, the smokey grey orbs making eye contact with mine through the cars silvery reflection.

"Sofia" his once rough and anger filled voice was replaced with a soft and raspy tone, one full of yearning and something else I couldn't quite pinpoint. I sharply inhale and turn around. None of us said anything, instead we just held the eye contact, his eyes dared between mine as if trying to read me, maybe scan over my facial features again as if he wanted to embed it into his memory.

"Is this why you and Maria distanced yourselves from him?" I asked yet I knew the answer so I didn't let him answer. "You didn't even tell me, both of you!" I slightly raise m,y voice, the echo making my soft tone more powerful.

"I tried to, I wanted to" He steps forward but I take a step back. "Sofia don't do this to me again" His voice deepens as he steps even closer causing my heart to skip a beat. 

"You let me near the man who caused me years of dealing with trauma knowing what he did" I continued to retreat backwards but he quickened his pace. 

"Sofia I didn't even know you were with that bastard until today" He rasps as he roughly grabs my forearms before letting go as he pulls himself together and placing his hands on my waist but more gently this time. "Forgive me" He whispers "I'm begging you" he looks down at me but I was staring at the ground, clearly not fond of this conversation quite yet.

"Mi amore" (my love) he kneels before me, as his hands struggle to find the right placement. "you're so naive, so flawless, so... untouched I don't want to take that away from you but yet its one of my greatest desires and I wont let any man take that away from me." His eyes darken as he tilts his head to meet my eyes. 

"you have a fiance-" He didn't even let me finish before he shook his head

"She's not the one I love, the one I yearn for every second of my life. A ring on her finger doesn't mean I love her, my mother just wants a child, an assured heir to our Mafia. I never even wanted to propose I knew you were coming back but the timing..." he trails off. "Just let me love you, let me have you" He begs, taking both my hands in his and I instantly fell in love with him once again. I knew I shouldn't be so easy but he was making it so difficult.

"Ares I cant just give you another chance as if you didn't ruin your other two" I murmured reluctantly, but I had to set limits and he needed to know I wasn't just going to forgive him instantly every single time. "you have to earn back that trust and not kill people whilst you're doing that"

"i'll earn your trust" He nodded and I raised an eyebrow "and I wont kill anyone while I'm doing that" He rises from his knees before gently holding my face in his hands. "I love you so much it physically pains me" he whispers in a strained voice, his lips inches away from mine but he held himself back.