The Mafia's Weakness

"Let go of me! Where are you taking me? Someone, please help me!" Sophie screamed, struggling against the men who had stormed into the café and dragged her out without warning.

"The boss just wants to have a chat with you, so relax," Marco said calmly, signalling the guards to shove her into the backseat of the SUV.

"Who the hell is your boss that he had to send his dogs to kidnap me?" Sophie didn't stop fighting. She kicked, screamed, and thrashed even inside the moving vehicle, her voice echoing with desperation.

Sophie Turner had always been a quiet girl. She kept to herself, avoided trouble, and never caused scenes. Her soft smile could brighten even the dullest customer's day at the café; some were so taken by her charm they tipped more than they paid.

For the past two months, she had been pulling extra shifts, trying to scrape together money for her mother's surgery. She hadn't been home in weeks, sleeping instead at the hospital to stay close to her mother.

Her mother...

The thought suddenly tightened her chest with panic. Fear began to override her anger, softening her voice.

"Please, let me go. I have a sick mother in the hospital. I'm the only one she has," Sophie pleaded, her voice breaking.

"Miss Turner, relax. You will see your mom again. My boss doesn't bite... at least not right away," Marco replied with a smirk that barely masked his amusement.

Marco was Luca Moretti's right-hand man, the most feared mafia boss in all of St. Louis. He knew every detail of Luca's operations, sometimes even before Luca made a move. They had been together long before Luca inherited the empire from his father. To strangers, they could almost pass as brothers.

Moretti's Estate

"We are here," Marco said, stepping out of the car. "You can come out now, Miss."

"Where are we?" Sophie asked as she stepped down, her eyes darting around the massive property.

The Moretti estate was expansive, more like a kingdom than a home. A collection of mansions surrounded by high gates and silence. Luca had inherited it, along with a vast network of power and blood, after his father was assassinated by a rival mafia boss.

At least that was what they thought at the time.

"Boss, we are back," Marco announced as he ushered Sophie into the office.

Luca looked up from his desk. For a long moment, he just stared, unable to believe she was finally standing in front of him.

"Sit," he commanded.

Luca Moretti was a man of shadows, ruthless, possessive, and cold. The loss of his father, shot right in front of him, had hardened what was left of his heart. The same bullet that killed his father had struck him too.

But what he remembered most about that day wasn't the pain.

It was her.

He had been watching a woman on the beach through binoculars when his father came up behind him to discuss a business deal. The shot had come out of nowhere, piercing through his father before hitting him.

Six years had passed, but he never forgot the face of the angel who had appeared in his scope that day. A week ago, driving past a café, he had seen her again, alive, real. Sophie Turner.

He stopped the car that instant.

"I'm not one of your dogs. You can't order me around," Sophie snapped, her voice trembling but laced with defiance.

Luca let out a soft chuckle, his eyes still fixed on her.

"Please, sit," he repeated in a calmer tone.

Sophie sat reluctantly, her fists clenched in her lap, pulse hammering in her ears.

"Miss Turner. Twenty-one. No siblings. No boyfriend. Mother is in a coma. Works at a café." Luca listed her facts as if reading from a dossier. "I would like to make you an offer."

Her heart raced. "How do you know all that? Have you been following me? Who are you?"

Sophie's voice shook, but she kept her eyes on him. That's when she noticed the tattoo on the back of his hand, a burning snake. Her blood ran cold.

"You are... a mafia boss?" she whispered. "What do you want from me?"

"Are you afraid of me?" Luca asked, stepping around the desk. "Don't be. I won't hurt you."

But Sophie could see something dark behind his calm expression. Something dangerous. He had waited years for this moment; people had called him insane and obsessed, even his ex-girlfriend Anna.

They had dated for two years before he broke it off. Anna could never understand his fixation with a woman he only saw once. The angel he claims saved his life. He even drew Sophie's face and hung the sketch in his living room. The day Anna threatened to destroy it was the day he ended things.

"Here. Read this," Luca said, handing her a file as he leaned against the edge of the desk.

Sophie took it hesitantly, not opening it right away.

Inside was a contract.

A six-month deal.

Luca knew everything; her mother's medical bills, her café wages, and the extra shifts. He had used that knowledge to craft an offer that would be hard to refuse.

"Move in with me for six months. Be mine. If we don't fall in love, I will let you go."

His eyes bored into hers as he folded his arms, waiting.

"You want me to be your mistress for six months?" Sophie asked in disbelief, standing up. "What do you take me for, Mr. Moretti? I'm not some cheap prostitute you can just pick off the street!"

"Sit down, Miss Turner," he snapped, voice cold, eyes narrowing.

And suddenly, Sophie realised this wasn't a choice.

It was the beginning of a cage.

Sophie sat down immediately, her legs trembling beneath her. She hadn't expected such a response. Her mouth opened, but no words came out.

"I'm sorry, Miss Turner. I didn't mean to snap at you," Luca said, softening his voice. He forced a smile, but it vanished just as quickly as it appeared.

"I don't want you to be my mistress," Luca continued. "I already have people for that. I want you to be my woman. Read the contract. Fall in love with me and maybe even have my children."

Sophie stared at him, stunned into silence. She couldn't begin to comprehend how a mafia boss could expect her to fall in love with him. Luca might be handsome, but Sophie came from a decent, conservative background. She hadn't even had sex before; she was still a virgin.

She had tried dating a few times, but none of the relationships lasted. One guy had even tried to forcefully kiss her in his car. She'd slapped him and walked away, never looking back.

"Don't worry, I'm not going to force you to sleep with me," Luca added, as if reading her mind. "I will be patient. I will wait until you're willing."

But was that really true? Could a ruthless mafia boss like Luca Moretti truly be patient? Could he really resist taking what he wanted?

"You will wait forever then," she muttered under her breath.

"I will cover your mother's medical bills," Luca said smoothly. "And I will hire the best experts to care for her. You will find all of this and more outlined in the contract."

Sophie wanted to run, but the estate was massive and heavily guarded. Escaping would be impossible. If she even moved, she would be caught before she made it past the front gate.

With a resigned sigh, she opened the contract and read through it, her hands shaking. After a long pause, she stood and handed it back to him.

Could she really walk out of there without giving this man what he wanted?

"What is this?" she demanded. "I'm not interested. I'm the only one my mom has, and you want to trap me here?"

At that moment, Sophie didn't care if he killed her. All she wanted was to leave.

"Since your mother is in a coma and we don't know when she'll wake up," Luca said, "I will make a generous adjustment to the contract. I will allow my men to take you to see her for a few hours each month. She will be well cared for by top professionals."

Luca Moretti was the most feared mafia boss in St Louis. He could keep anyone locked away for as long as he wished. But with Sophie, it was different. He had carried feelings for her before he even knew she existed in the real world.

"I'm not interested in your deal, Mr Luca Moretti. I want to leave. Tell your men to take me back to where they had picked me from, or I will find my own way."

Sophie's voice rose with frustration.

The estate was isolated, nestled on the outskirts of town, surrounded by tall trees and silence. A private road led to it – no public access, no passing traffic. She hadn't paid attention to the roads on her way in, having been too busy struggling against the guards.

"You can't keep me here! I-" she began. She could not complete her statement.

"But I can," Luca said, chuckling as he sat back in his chair. "I can keep you here for as long as I want. I'm Luca Moretti after all. I can make you disappear, and no one will ever find you again."

Sophie froze. Her eyes widened, and her legs felt like they might collapse. But she refused to let him see the fear in her. She straightened her shoulders and met his gaze with a cold, unreadable expression.

He was telling the truth. He could keep her locked away here forever if he wanted to. But she wouldn't go down without a fight. For her mother's sake, she would battle the devil himself.

She had heard stories about mafia bosses; their brutality, their ruthlessness. Luca may have a handsome face, but underneath, he was still a monster cloaked in charm.

"Please let me go," she whispered. "My mother needs me."

"What your mother needs is expert care. And I have the money to make that happen," Luca replied. "Sign the contract. Submit to me for six months. If nothing comes of it, I will let you go."

The room fell into silence. Luca's eyes lingered on her lips; small, soft, inviting. He wanted her, but he didn't want to force her. He wanted her to surrender willingly.

"You're free to go. I will make an exception for you," he said quietly, disappointment etched into his tone.

But this wasn't the end for him.

He hadn't waited six years to find her, only to let her walk away now. The next time he saw her, things would be different.

"Marco will take you back," he added, his voice flat.

Even if he was letting her go, he wasn't about to leave her unprotected. And who better than Marco to guard what he believed was his?

"Okay," Sophie whispered with relief. She rushed to the door without a second glance and slipped out, her heart pounding with joy.

She swore she would never return to this place.

At least, that's what she thought.

Descending the stairs with Marco and two other guards, she felt her phone vibrate in her pocket.

Ring. Ring. Ring.

Sophie pulled the phone from her pocket, her hands trembling. It was the hospital. Her heart dropped. Dread surged through her. Had something happened to her mom while she wasn't there? She quickly answered the call.

"Hello, Miss Turner, it's Doctor Zoe," came the voice on the other end.

Dr Zoe was the neurologist in charge of her mother's case. She had been treating her long before things had gotten this bad.

"Oh, Doctor Zoe... I'm so sorry I wasn't there. Is everything alright? I'm actually on my way to the hospital now-" Sophie blurted out, her words tumbling over each other in panic.

"Calm down, Miss Turner. I'm calling to let you know we need to operate on your mom as soon as possible. The swelling in her brain is getting worse and could be fatal if we delay."

"Oh... that," Sophie said quietly, her voice nearly breaking.

She had been trying desperately to raise the funds the hospital required but hadn't even scraped together a quarter of the amount. Despite taking extra shifts and exhausting every possible option, she was still nowhere close. There was only one option left, one she had just stormed away from minutes ago. Luca Moretti's offer.

Could she go back now, after everything she had said?

Would the offer still be on the table?

Would Luca even want anything to do with her?

Sophie stood frozen at the bottom of the staircase, heart racing. Then without a second thought, she turned back and dashed toward Luca's office. She was ready to sell her soul to the devil, no matter the cost if it meant saving her mother.

She burst through the office doors without knocking. Marco tried to stop her, but she pushed past him.

"Sorry, boss, I tried to stop her-"

Luca lifted a hand, silencing him with a subtle gesture. "Leave us," he ordered quietly, his eyes never leaving Sophie.

"Miss Turner, I don't remember inviting you back in. You can't just barge into my office like this. What brings you here this time? Have you returned to fight me this time?" Luca said, seated in his swinging chair, his fingers twirling a fountain pen, gaze intense and unreadable.

"Is the offer still available? I would like to sign now," Sophie said breathlessly, still catching her breath from the frantic run.

All she cared about now was her mother. She was ready to give herself to Luca, body and all. He would be her first, and though that terrified her, she would say or do anything to ensure her mother received the care she needed.

Luca remained silent for a moment. Then, with a cool tone, he replied, "The terms have changed. You go where I want, when I want. You-"

"No problem. I will accept anything," she interrupted desperately, not letting him finish. "Just help me save my mom."

Luca stood and walked around his desk, picking up the file. "Have a seat," he said, handing it to her.

Without hesitation, Sophie grabbed the contract and signed it without reading a single word. Not minding if the original terms changed or not. "Here. I have signed," she said, thrusting the file back into his hands.

"Please send the money now. The hospital needs to perform the surgery immediately, or she could die."

"Calm down, Miss Turner. Your mother will be fine. Now let's talk about your stay here," Luca said, leaning in close, his face just inches from hers.

"Mr Luca, please, we can do that later. Save my mom first," she said anxiously, pulling slightly away.

She thought Luca would make a move right there.

"The plans are already in motion," he replied, his voice calm.

Sophie blinked, confused. "What do you mean? I just signed the contract. You haven't even made a call."

"Just believe me when I say I made the plans already," Luca said, his tone unreadable. "I knew you would come back."

It wasn't entirely true, but he couldn't let her see how desperate he had been. The truth was, the moment she had walked out of his office, he had already called in a renowned neurosurgeon to take on her mother's case. He hoped that when she found out, it would move her enough to see he wasn't just a monster.

Still, he didn't want her to know how much he cared. It would make him look weak.

Sophie narrowed her eyes. She didn't fully believe him, but she had no time or choice to question it.

Ring. Ring. Ring.

Her phone buzzed again, and she answered immediately. "Doctor Zoe, please give me some time. I will get the money. I-"

"Miss Turner, relax," the doctor interrupted gently. "I don't know what you did, but someone has already covered the cost. A top neurosurgeon has been sent to treat her. Your mom will be prepped for surgery tomorrow."

Sophie was speechless. Her mouth parted slightly, but no words came out. She turned her head slowly and looked up at Luca, who was still standing over her.

"Miss Turner? Sophie?" The doctor called out again.

"I'm here, doc. Thank you," she said softly, then hung up.

She stared blankly at Luca, her mind whirling. Was this really happening? Could the ruthless, dangerous mafia boss actually be... human?

Am I dreaming? He's really handsome... But how come I didn't notice before? Oh, Sophie, get a grip.

"Miss Turner", Luca said, touching her shoulder gently, bringing her out of her daze.

"Sorry", she mumbled.

"What are you thinking?" he asked, his voice softer now. "You have had a long day. I will call the maid to take you to your room."

"Ehh...!" she responded faintly.

Then it hit her.

She had just sold herself to the devil.

Her freedom was gone. She would now live in a place filled with unknown rules, guarded doors, and a man she didn't trust or love. But it was all for her mother.

She had just booked herself a room in a luxurious hell or paradise, if she chose to surrender willingly.