Chapter 4 - The Waitress Who Refused Protection
Sofia noticed the black sedan the following morning.
By afternoon, she had noticed it four times.
At 6:10 p.m., she marched directly toward it.
The driver's window lowered.
"Ms. Bennett—"
"Don't 'Ms. Bennett' me. Who sent you?"
The man sighed.
"Mr. Moretti."
"Of course."
Thirty minutes later, Sofia stormed into Luca's office.
His receptionist stood.
"Ma'am, you can't—"
"It's fine," Luca called.
Sofia entered.
Luca sat behind a massive desk.
She dropped a business card onto it.
"Call off your babysitters."
"No."
"Excuse me?"
"No."
"You don't control me."
"I know."
"Then stop following me."
"Anthony photographed you."
That stopped her.
Luca turned his phone around.
Sofia saw the picture.
Her anger faded.
"When?"
"Last night."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because I knew you'd react exactly like this."
"Like what?"
"By walking into my office alone and yelling at me."
"I'm not yelling."
Marco, standing by the window, quietly said, "You're definitely yelling."
Sofia pointed at him.
"Stay out of this."
Marco raised both hands.
Luca almost smiled.
Sofia noticed.
"This isn't funny."
"No."
"Then stop smiling."
"I'm trying."
She sat down.
"What happens now?"
"Anthony wants me distracted."
"By me."
"Yes."
"So I'll leave town."
"No."
"Why not?"
"Because he'll follow you."
"Then what?"
Luca leaned forward.
"We make him believe his plan is working."
Sofia stared at him.
"You want to use me as bait?"
"No."
"That sounded exactly like using me as bait."
"You'll be nowhere near him."
"Then explain."
Luca placed several documents before her.
"Anthony still thinks Noah installed his program."
"But he didn't."
"Correct. My people created a false network."
Sofia understood.
"You're feeding Anthony fake information."
"Exactly."
"And he'll eventually expose himself."
"Exactly."
She studied him.
"That's actually smart."
Luca looked offended.
"You sound surprised."
"I've mostly seen you staring sadly at pasta."
Marco coughed to hide a laugh.
Luca pointed toward the door.
"Marco."
"I'm leaving."
When they were alone, Sofia looked around the enormous office.
"Is this what you wanted to escape from that night?"
Luca became quiet.
"Partly."
"What was the rest?"
"People."
"That's cheerful."
"People become complicated when they know what you can give them."
"Money?"
"Money. Influence. Protection."
"And you thought I was different because I didn't know."
"I knew you were different when you returned most of a five-hundred-dollar tip."
"You tried to tip me five hundred dollars?"
"Technically more."
"That's ridiculous."
"You made good soup."
"I didn't make it."
Luca smiled.
Then Sofia noticed a framed photograph on a shelf.
A younger Luca beside an older man.
"Your father?"
"Yes."
"Close?"
"We were."
"What happened?"
"He trusted the wrong person."
Sofia looked back at him.
"Is that why betrayal bothers you so much?"
"It should bother everyone."
"That's not what I asked."
Luca met her eyes.
"My father built everything believing loyalty could be purchased."
"And?"
"He died learning it couldn't."
Sofia didn't ask how.
Instead she said, "Then maybe stop trying to buy people."
Luca frowned.
"I don't."
"You tried to buy my gratitude with a giant tip."
"That wasn't—"
"You send cars to follow me without asking."
"Protection."
"You solve problems before anyone asks you to."
"Usually they appreciate it."
"I don't."
Luca leaned back.
"What do you want from me?"
"Ask."
"Ask what?"
"Before deciding what I need."
Nobody spoke to Luca Moretti that way.
He should have been irritated.
Instead, he found himself listening.
"Fine."
He stood.
"Sofia Bennett, may I have people protect you until Anthony is found?"
She considered it.
"Two."
"Four."
"Two."
"Three."
"Two."
"Three and a driver."
"No driver."
"Two and a driver."
She sighed.
"Fine."
Luca smiled.
"See? Negotiation."
"Don't enjoy this."
His phone buzzed.
Marco entered immediately.
"We have him."
Luca turned.
"Where?"
"Anthony accessed the false server twenty minutes ago."
"And?"
"We traced him."
Sofia stood.
"Where is he?"
Marco hesitated.
Luca noticed.
"Say it."
"Bellini's."
Sofia's face changed.
"What?"
"Anthony is inside the restaurant."
"Why?"
Marco looked at her.
May you like
"He's waiting for you."
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