Chapter 22 – The Morning After
I woke up to the soft brush of sunlight across my bare shoulder and the warmth of strong arms wrapped around my waist.
For a second, I panicked-my body stiffened-but then I heard it.
His heartbeat. Steady, calm and safe. I opened my eyes to stare at Mateo’s handsome face.
We were still tangled in the sheets. His chest was bare, his hand resting protectively on my hip.
I could still feel the echo of last night on my skin-his mouth, his touch, the way I’d begged him not to leave me, the way he’d whispered my name like it was a prayer.
What the hell had I done?
I slowly sat up, careful not to wake him. My head was pounding. My skin still felt too warm.
I reached for the bottle of water by the nightstand and drank half of it in one go.
Last night had started out as a mission.
We followed Renata to that lounge. We caught her red-handed with Dante.
The way she was all over him-kissing him like her life depended on it. I had the proof now I would ruin Lorenzo.
But then she’d caught me off guard in the bathroom.
That damn perfume. Whatever drug she forced me to inhale had made my body burn from the inside.
My thoughts had been scrambled. I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think.
And Mateo… Mateo had been the only thing I could hold on to.
“Morning,” his voice was low and husky behind me.
I turned slowly.
He was already awake, watching me carefully.
“Morning,” I whispered.
We stared at each other for a few seconds, the silence stretching between us.
“I’m sorry,” he said softly.
“For what?”
“For what happened last night. You were drugged. I should’ve-”
I shook my head. “Don’t. Don’t apologize. I remember everything. And I wasn’t forced. I asked you to stay. I… needed you.”
He sat up too, the sheet falling off his torso.
“You didn’t deserve that,” he said. “What she did to you was sick.”
I looked down at my hands. “She wanted me to get raped, Mateo. She wanted someone to find me in that bathroom and hurt me. But instead… I found you.”
His jaw clenched. “I should’ve killed her when I had the chance.”
1:26 pm
I reached for his hand. “You saved me. That’s what matters.”
He looked at me again, eyes searching mine. “Are you okay?”
I took a moment before answering. “Physically? Yes. Emotionally… I don’t know.”
He nodded, as if he understood more than I could say.
“I’ll make her pay,” I said. “I’ll make both of them pay.”
“We already have the videos and pictures,” Mateo reminded me. “We can leak them. Or better- use them to crush Lorenzo’s last allies.”
“Not yet,” I said, my voice firm.
His brow lifted slightly.
“I want to time this perfectly. Renata tried to use me as a pawn. Now I’ll use her to finish Lorenzo off. One piece at a time.”
Mateo smirked. “You’re ruthless.”
“I learned from the best,” I said with a faint smile.
He pulled me closer. “So… what happens now?”
I leaned my head on his shoulder. “I don’t know, maybe I’d like a repeat of last night.” Then cleared my throat and added quickly, “That is if you’re up for it and you don’t have places to be.”
His grip on me tightened.
“I’m not going anywhere, Sophia.”
I closed my eyes for a second and let that sink in. After everything-after all the pain, betrayal, and blood-I had someone who wouldn’t leave. Someone who saw every scar and didn’t flinch.
“I’m going to shower,” I said after a while, sliding out of bed.
He grabbed my wrist gently. “Sophia.”
I turned.
He stood up too, not caring that he was completely unclothed. His eyes were serious now.
“I don’t regret it. Not a single moment.”
“I don’t either,” I whispered, then walked into the bathroom.
–
When I came out, fully dressed in fresh clothes, Mateo was already in the kitchen, making
breakfast.
“Do you even know how to cook?” I asked, raising a brow.
He grinned. “Enough to impress you. Sit.”
I sat at the counter and watched him work.
It felt… normal and I didn’t hate it.
He placed a plate in front of me. Eggs, toast, and fruit. Nothing fancy, but made with care.
I took a bite.
“Huh,” I said. “Not bad, De Luca.”
He gave me a mock bow. “I aim to please.”
As we ate, I felt a strange calm wash over me.
“I’m going to see my grandfather later today,” I told him. “I need to tell him everything. About Renata. About Dante.”
Mateo nodded. “Good. He needs to know what they’re planning. Checkmate’s coming.”
I finished the last of my toast and stood. “And we’ll be the ones to end this game.”
He followed me to the door, his hand brushing mine.
“I’ll come by later,” he said. “We still have planning to do.”
I nodded. “Bring wine.”
He smirked. “Anything for you.”
Lorenzo’s Pov
