She Walked Into the Mafia Boss’s Room to Clean—Then His Family Walked In While He Was Still in a Towel
Chapter 4
Sofia’s mother had never spoken about the Moretti family.
Not once.
She had died when Sofia was nineteen, leaving behind a box of photographs, a handful of letters, and one instruction:
Never go looking for the Morettis.
Sofia had obeyed for years.
Until the photograph appeared.
Now she couldn’t stop thinking about it.
The next morning, she asked the housekeeper whether anyone else had access to the old library.
“Family only.”
Sofia nodded.
“Has anyone been going through old records?”
“Mr. Matteo sometimes.”
“Anyone else?”
The woman frowned.
“Why?”
“I found something.”
Before she could explain, Matteo appeared.
“Come with me.”
Sofia followed him into his office.
He closed the door.
She immediately became nervous.
“What happened?”
He placed the photograph on the desk.
“I checked the old records.”
“And?”
“Your mother worked for my father.”
Sofia nodded.
“She was his personal financial assistant.”
“I didn’t know.”
“I believe you.”
She looked at him.
“Then why are you staring at me like that?”
“Because the man in the photograph is missing.”
“Who?”
“Samuel Vieri.”
“Why does that matter?”
“He disappeared the same week my father changed the structure of the organization.”
Sofia frowned.
“What does that have to do with me?”
“I don’t know.”
He opened a file.
Inside were old employee records.
Her mother’s name.
Dates.
Addresses.
Payments.
Then a note.
Carter family protected by Moretti order.
Sofia stared.
“What does that mean?”
“I don’t know.”
“You’re the mafia boss.”
He looked at her.
“That doesn’t mean I know everything.”
She almost smiled.
“Really?”
“No.”
She laughed.
It was the first time.
Matteo smiled too.
The tension changed.
Then he became serious again.
“There is one more thing.”
“What?”
“Your mother disappeared from our records.”
“What?”
“She was listed as protected.”
“Protected from who?”
“My father’s enemies.”
Sofia’s stomach tightened.
“My mother never told me.”
“She may not have been allowed.”
She stared at him.
“So my mother was involved with your family.”
“Yes.”
“And now someone says I have the ledger.”
“Yes.”
“And I don’t even know what the ledger is.”
“Neither do I.”
They stood in silence.
Then Sofia asked,
“Why are you helping me?”
Matteo didn’t answer immediately.
“Because you work here?”
“No.”
He looked at her.
“Because you were kind when you had no reason to be.”
“What?”
“The first week you started here.”
He smiled slightly.
“You left food outside the kitchen for one of the guards whose wife was sick.”
Sofia blinked.
“You noticed that?”
“I notice more than people think.”
She smiled.
“That sounds dangerous.”
“It is.”
Her phone buzzed.
A message.
Unknown number.
Leave the estate before midnight.
Another arrived.
You are not safe with Matteo.
Sofia’s face changed.
He noticed.
“What happened?”
She handed him the phone.
His expression became cold.
“Who sent this?”
“I don’t know.”
“Has anyone contacted you before?”
“No.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
He stood.
“You’re staying in the house tonight.”
“What?”
“Security.”
“I can go home.”
“No.”
“I don’t need a bodyguard.”
“You do now.”
Sofia crossed her arms.
“You can’t order me around.”
“I can.”
She glared.
He stared back.
Then, unexpectedly, he sighed.
“You’re right.”
She blinked.
“What?”
“I can’t.”
His voice softened.
“But I’m asking.”
Something in her expression changed.
She nodded.
“One night.”
“One night.”
He opened the door.
Then stopped.
“Sofia.”
“Yes?”
“Don’t be afraid.”
She looked at him.
“I am.”
His eyes softened.
“I know.”
And for the first time, Sofia understood that the dangerous mafia boss wasn’t frightened for himself.
He was frightened for her.
