The Ties That Binds

Chapter Sixteen

Sophia’s hands trembled as she placed the phone back on the nightstand, her thoughts swirling in chaos. The words Eliza had spoken still echoed in her mind, louder than any thoughts of Alex or the mess they’d found themselves in. “You forget where you come from. What are you?” The implication was clear. Eliza Maranzano had made it known that Sophia’s connection to the Maranzano family was something that could never be erased, no matter how far she ran.

But it wasn’t just Eliza’s warning that unsettled her. It was the way her blood felt like it had turned to ice. She wasn’t just part of the Maranzano legacy. She was part of a war—one she couldn’t escape.

Alex.

The name filled her thoughts like a breath she couldn’t catch. He had every reason to hate her. Every reason to pull away. And yet, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something deeper than betrayal had drawn them together.

It was more than just a desire for revenge. More than just family loyalty. It was their undeniable connection—something neither of them could control.

But what did it mean for her now? Could she even trust herself in this game of lies and alliances?

The weight of it all pressed down on her, making it difficult to breathe. She closed her eyes, trying to steady her pulse, but the darkness outside the window only seemed to draw her further into her uncertainty.

Downstairs, in the Living Room

Alex sat alone, a glass of whiskey clutched in his hand, swirling the amber liquid absently as he stared out into the darkness. His thoughts were just as tumultuous as the storm raging outside, flashes of anger and doubt storming within him.

The betrayal by Sophia gnawed at him. And yet, he couldn’t seem to rid himself of the pull she had over him. She’d told him she hadn’t known, that she hadn’t been part of his father’s treachery. But how could he trust her now? How could he believe anything she said when her ties to the Maranzano family ran so deep?

The truth hung like a blade over his head, a constant reminder that his world had been shattered, piece by piece. And yet, part of him longed to reach out—out to trust her again, to understand. But he couldn’t, he wouldn’t. Not until he had answers.

His phone buzzed, snapping him from his reverie. The name that flashed on the screen made his blood run cold.

Dominic.

Alex swiped the screen, bringing the phone to his ear. “Talk to me.”

“Alex, we’ve got a problem,” Dominic’s voice was grim. “I went through the footage again. I found something.”

Alex’s brow furrowed. “What is it?”

“There’s someone else in the footage,” Dominic continued. “A figure we didn’t account for. It’s not just a random assassin. This person… they’re someone you know.”

Alex felt his heart skip a beat. “Who?”

Dominic hesitated for a moment. “It’s Rafael Vega.”

The name hit him like a slap across the face. Rafael Vega. A name Alex hadn’t heard in years. Rafael was an old associate of his father’s, a trusted ally—until he had mysteriously vanished without a trace, leaving behind only rumors and suspicion.

“Vega? What the hell is he doing involved in this?” Alex growled, his grip tightening around his glass.

“I don’t know,” Dominic replied. “But I’m digging deeper. I’ll send over everything I have.”

“Good,” Alex muttered, his thoughts racing. Rafael Vega’s reappearance could mean one of two things: either his father’s old ties were still in play, or something much darker was brewing in the shadows.

But one thing was clear—Sophia’s involvement was only the beginning of a much larger scheme, and Alex had no intention of letting it go without a fight.

In the Library

Sophia sat at the desk in the dimly lit library, the pages of an old leather-bound book open before her, though she wasn’t really reading. Her mind was miles away, and the silence in the room was suffocating. The phone call with Eliza had left her feeling like a pawn in a game she didn’t understand, yet couldn’t escape. The tension between her and Alex seemed to stretch endlessly, and with every passing hour, the weight of their growing distance became more unbearable.

She leaned back in the chair, rubbing her temples, her mind cycling back to the night they had spent together before all of this started. Before the lies, the revelations, and the bloodshed.

Before everything had turned to dust.

The door to the library creaked open, pulling her from her thoughts. She looked up to see Diego standing in the doorway, his expression serious.

“You’ve heard, I’m sure,” he said quietly, stepping into the room. “About Vega.”

Sophia didn’t have to ask what he meant. Rafael Vega was the last person she had expected to resurface in this tangled mess, and yet the more she thought about it, the clearer it became. There was no one more capable of pulling strings from the shadows than Vega.

“Yes,” she replied, her voice quiet. “I just found out.”

Diego crossed the room, his gaze intense. “We need to be careful. The things you’ve gotten caught up in are bigger than just family feuds and vendettas. They’re part of a larger game. One that we’ve both been pulled into without even realizing it.”

Sophia swallowed, her throat tight. “And Alex?”

Diego’s eyes darkened. “He’s in over his head. And right now, you’re the only one who can pull him out.”

Her pulse quickened. “I don’t know if I can do that anymore, Diego. Every time I think I understand what’s going on, the truth shifts. Alex won’t even look at me without—”

She stopped herself, realizing she was on the verge of breaking down. But Diego wasn’t listening to her words; his attention was fixed on something behind her. A sound. The unmistakable creak of the floorboards, followed by a soft but deliberate knock.

The door to the library opened again, and Alex stepped inside.

Across the Hall, in the Shadows

From the other side of the villa, a figure watched. The faintest shift in movement—no more than a shadow in the corner of the room—and then the figure was gone, disappearing back into the darkness of the night.

The game was in motion. And every move was being watched.