Chapter 2 The Price of Loyalty

Sophia sat across from her father, with her heart pounding in her chest. The grand office that had once been seen as a symbol of power now felt like a cage, its polished walls closed in on her and it felt like she couldn't catch her breath. She couldn't escape the words that hung in the air, it was still echoing in her mind. "The syndicate wants you...."

Luca stood by the door, like he was waiting for something. His presence felt like a quiet storm, like a predator waiting for its prey to make a move. She could feel his gaze on her, it was cold and calculating, but there was something else there too, it was something beneath the surface that she couldn't quite place. It was unsettling, and when their eyes met, something felt different for a moment.

Giovanni's fingers drummed steadily on the desk, and the moment was interrupted. His face wore a mask that was calculating and calm at the same time, no emotion was greater than the other. The silence in the room became suffocating.

"Father." Sophia said with a tight voice "What do you mean, they want me?"

Giovanni finally leaned back in his chair, and his gaze never left hers. His eyes were dark and sharp, she knew they were the eyes of a man who had seen and done things that no one could ever understand. He was the king of this empire, and everyone answered to him without thinking twice nor asking questions.

"They want you as a symbol." Giovanni said with a low voice. "The syndicate wants to merge our power with theirs. They need you, your name and your bloodline. You are the heir after all, Sophia. And that makes you invaluable."

Her stomach turned at those words, but she held his gaze. "So, it's just a business deal? Just a mere transaction?"

"Of course not." He replied as his lips curled into a cruel smile. "Nothing in our world is just business, my dear." The syndicate wants you because of what you are. They want you because of what you represent. And that... comes at a cost."

Sophia felt the weight of his words sink into her chest. The realization hit her so hard, she knew that this wasn't just about money, power, or alliances. She was being used as a pawn in a much larger game, a game she hadn't even known existed until now. She was his puppet.

"You're saying they're going to use me to secure their place in this world?" she asked as her voice trembled with a mix of anger and fear.

Giovanni's smile never wavered. "Exactly. And it's not just the syndicate. The other families, the ones we've been negotiating with... They've all been watching you, Sophia. You're the key to securing their loyalty. And that's why I've kept you under my control. For a moment like this."

His words became much harder for her to accept as it hit her in many ways. For her entire life, she had been nothing more than a pawn in her father's game. She had thought she was working toward something greater, that she was learning to become the next heir to her father's empire. But now, she saw the truth, she was nothing more than a bargaining chip in a game her father wanted so desperately to win. And he was ready to give everything to make sure he was on top, including his only child.

She rose from her seat and stared at her father; her mind was caught in a whirlwind of complicated thoughts. "I've never asked for this, father." she muttered under her breath. "I've never wanted any of this."

Luca's eyes followed her every movement. He had been in her life for as long as she could remember, he was silent and imposing, always in the background with a stiff face. But now, for the first time, she realized that he was more than just her father's executioner. He was a part of this world, a key player in the web of lies and manipulation that had kept her locked away all her life.

She stopped for a moment and turned toward Luca. "Why are you here? Why did my father send you to bring me here?"

Luca's gaze flickered, and for a second, she caught a glimpse of something, it was something deeper than his usual icy demeanor. But it disappeared just as quickly as she saw it.

"It was to keep you in line." he said with a low voice. "To remind you that you belong to him. You belong to the Romano family, and you have no choice in the matter. You have to do as he says."

Sophia's breath became stuck in her throat. She noticed the way he spoke, it was so cold, and so detached. As if she was nothing more than an object. That was when she saw it, the faintest flicker of something in his eyes, something she had never noticed before. Reading him was a bit difficult for her because he was so good at hiding it. But this time, she could see right through him.

It was concern.

"I don't belong to anyone." Her voice shook with the weight of her emotions. "Not like this. I want out. I want out now."

Giovanni's laughter rang out, it was dark and mocking. "Out? You think you can just walk away? You're my daughter, Sophia. The world doesn't work that way. The syndicate doesn't work that way. No one walks away. And most importantly, no one says no to me." He frowned.

Sophia swallowed hard as she felt the walls of her father's empire closing in around her. She had no choice.

Or did she?

Her eyes moved to Luca again, and this time, his gaze didn't move away. The tension in the room was noticeable, it was thick with unspoken words. He was no longer just her father's executioner. He was a force unto himself.

"Luca." She whispered. "What if there's another way?"

He didn't respond immediately, and for a moment, Sophia thought she had imagined the question. But then, he stepped closer with an overwhelming presence.

"There's always another way." Luca said with a low growl. "But it comes with consequences."

Sophia's heart raced. She didn't know what he meant, but the intensity in his eyes told her that whatever it was, it was dangerous. So, she braced herself.

"You're caught between two worlds, Sophia." Luca continued, he fixed his gaze on her. "The world your father has created, and the world you could choose. The question is, how much are you willing to sacrifice to escape?"

She opened her mouth to respond, but before she could say anything, Giovanni's voice cut through the tension.

"Enough!" he barked, his tone was sharp and final. "I've made my decision. You'll go to the syndicate, Sophia. And you'll do your duty. You'll get married to whomever I want you to get married to."

The air froze around her. And for the first time in her life, she realized that her father's control over her was absolute.

But Luca stepped forward, and his hand lightly brushed against her arm.

His touch was fleeting, but it still sent a shock through her.

As if he sensed the shift in the room, Giovanni turned, and his eyes narrowed. "What are you doing, Luca?"

Luca's voice became cold. "I'm giving her a choice, Giovanni. Whether you like it or not."

Sophia felt like she might actually have a choice, a choice that could change everything. But the question was: Was she ready to take it?

The loud crack of glass shattering echoed through the room as Sophia was about to make a choice. A shadow moved in the hallway, and the sound of gunshots rang out. Luca's hand shot to the gun at his waist, and his eyes narrowed as fast as his reflex.

"Sophia, stay behind me now!" He growled as his protective instinct kicked in.

But Sophia's heartbeat became so loud for her to hear. This wasn't just a game anymore, it was war.

This time, it wasn't just about freedom, it was about survival. She had to live. She cupped her ears as she stayed behind Luca who was so bent on keeping her safe.

"What's happening!" She screamed.