Chapter 31:Secrets Unveiled

The ride back to the safe house was tense, filled with an uneasy silence. Sophia sat in the back seat, her gaze fixed on Matteo, who was wedged between Alessandro and Antonio, his hands bound tightly in front of him. His face was contorted with pain and fury, the wound in his shoulder bleeding sluggishly despite the makeshift bandages they had wrapped around it.

Sophia's mind was racing. The adrenaline that had carried her through the fight was starting to wear off, leaving her exhausted and on edge. Her thoughts kept circling back to Luca. The way he had handled Matteo and his men had been impressive, almost too much so. She couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to his story than she knew, something lurking beneath the surface that he hadn't yet revealed.

Luca was driving, his face set in a grim mask as he navigated the dark, winding streets. He hadn't spoken since they left the warehouse, his focus entirely on getting them back to the safe house safely. But Sophia could see the tension in his jaw, the tight grip on the steering wheel. He was holding something back, something important.

As they pulled up to the safe house, Luca parked the car and cut the engine. The silence that followed was thick and oppressive, filled with unspoken questions and unexpressed fears. No one moved for a moment, as if they were all holding their breath, waiting for something to break the tension.

Finally, Luca turned to Sophia, his expression serious. "We need to talk. Alone."

Sophia's heart skipped a beat, her stomach twisting with a mixture of anxiety and anticipation. She nodded, slipping out of the car and following Luca toward the back of the safe house. The others stayed behind, dragging Matteo out of the car and hauling him inside.

Once they were out of earshot, Luca stopped and turned to face her, his eyes dark and unreadable. "There's something I need to tell you," he said quietly, his voice low and controlled.

Sophia crossed her arms, her gaze steady despite the nerves fluttering in her chest. "What is it?"

Luca took a deep breath, his expression hardening. "The reason I knew so much about Matteo's operations…the reason I was able to get us in there tonight…it's because I used to work for him."

Sophia felt like the ground had shifted beneath her feet. She stared at Luca, her mind reeling. "What? You worked for Matteo?"

Luca nodded, his jaw clenched. "Years ago, before I met you. I was young, angry, and looking for a way to make a name for myself. Matteo offered me that chance. I worked for him for a while, doing his dirty work, learning his secrets."

Sophia's hands clenched at her sides, her mind racing to make sense of this new information. "Why didn't you tell me?"

Luca looked away, his expression troubled. "Because I didn't want you to see me as the man I used to be. I wanted you to know me as I am now, not who I was back then. But when I found out who you were, who your family was, I knew I had to make a choice. I could either keep working for Matteo, or I could try to make things right."

Sophia's breath caught in her throat, her heart aching with a mix of anger and confusion. "So all this time, you've been using me? To get back at Matteo?"

Luca's head snapped back to her, his eyes fierce. "No! That's not it at all. Yes, I started out wanting revenge, but then I got to know you. I fell for you, Sophia. I didn't want to hurt you. I wanted to protect you, from Matteo and from everyone else who would try to use you because of who you are."

Sophia's chest tightened, tears stinging her eyes. "But you still lied to me."

Luca reached out, his hand hovering just above her arm, as if afraid to touch her. "I know, and I'm sorry. I didn't know how to tell you. I was afraid you'd hate me if you knew the truth."

Sophia pulled back, her heart pounding in her chest. "I don't know if I can trust you, Luca. You've been keeping secrets from me this whole time. How do I know there isn't more you're hiding?"

Luca's expression was pained, his voice rough with emotion. "I swear, there's nothing else. I'm telling you everything now because I don't want there to be any more lies between us. I want to be with you, Sophia, but I need you to know who I really am."

Sophia stared at him, her mind swirling with conflicting emotions. She wanted to believe him, wanted to trust him, but she couldn't shake the feeling of betrayal. "I need some time to think," she said finally, her voice barely above a whisper.

Luca nodded, his eyes filled with regret. "I understand. Take all the time you need. I'll be here, waiting."

Without another word, Sophia turned and walked away, her heart heavy with doubt and uncertainty. She didn't know what to believe anymore, didn't know who to trust. All she knew was that everything had changed, and she wasn't sure if it could ever go back to the way it was before.

As she made her way back to the safe house, she could hear the muffled sounds of Matteo being interrogated inside. She paused at the door, her hand hovering over the handle. She needed answers, needed to know the truth about Luca and his past. But she wasn't sure she was ready to face it.

Taking a deep breath, Sophia pushed the door open and stepped inside. The room was dimly lit, the air heavy with tension. Matteo was sitting in a chair, his hands tied behind his back, his face bruised and swollen. Antonio and Alessandro stood on either side of him, their expressions grim.

Matteo looked up as she entered, a smirk curling his lips despite his injuries. "Well, if it isn't the little princess herself. Come to see how the other half lives?"

Sophia ignored his taunt, her gaze focused on his eyes. "Why did you want Luca to betray me? What did you have on him?"

Matteo's smirk widened, his eyes glinting with malice. "You really don't know, do you? Poor little Sophia, always kept in the dark. Luca and I, we go way back. He was one of my best, until he decided to turn on me for you."

Sophia's heart tightened, her mind racing. "Why would he do that?"

Matteo leaned forward, his voice low and mocking. "Because he's in love with you, you idiot. He thought he could use you to take me down, get revenge for some old grudge. But he underestimated me. I always have a plan."

Sophia's breath caught in her throat, her mind reeling. Luca had been using her, just as she had feared. But there was more to it, something deeper that she couldn't quite grasp.

She turned to Alessandro, her voice shaking. "Get him out of here. I need some time to think."

Alessandro nodded, grabbing Matteo by the arm and hauling him to his feet. As they dragged him out of the room, Sophia sank into a chair, her head in her hands.

Everything she thought she knew was falling apart. She didn't know who to trust, who to believe. All she knew was that she was caught in the middle of a war, a war that was tearing her apart from the inside out.

And she wasn't sure if she would survive it.