The Older Mafia Boss Had Given Up on Dating—Then His Curvy Friend Secretly Set Him Up With Her
Chapter 12
Marcus refused to believe it.
Sophia had been his friend for more than thirty years.
She had protected him.
She had stayed beside him when Isabella died.
She had arranged his first date with Elena.
She had been there through everything.
But Daniel handed Marcus a folder.
Inside were financial transfers.
Sophia’s name appeared on several of them.
Marcus stared.
“Explain.”
Daniel smiled.
“She worked for me.”
Marcus felt something inside him collapse.
“No.”
“Ask her.”
Marcus left.
He found Sophia at her apartment.
She opened the door.
One look at his face told her.
“You know.”
“Tell me it’s false.”
Sophia didn’t answer.
“Tell me.”
She stepped aside.
Marcus entered.
“I never wanted this.”
“What did you do?”
“I worked with Daniel years ago.”
“How long?”
“Before Isabella died.”
Marcus stopped.
“You knew Daniel was alive?”
Sophia’s eyes filled with tears.
“Yes.”
“You knew for fifteen years?”
“Not at first.”
“When did you know?”
“Seven years ago.”
Marcus’s voice became quiet.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because Daniel threatened you.”
Marcus laughed bitterly.
“And then you set me up with Elena?”
Sophia nodded.
“Why?”
“Because I knew you were disappearing.”
“What does that mean?”
“You stopped living.”
Sophia looked at him.
“I thought Elena could remind you that you were more than your business.”
Marcus stared at her.
“Was she part of your plan?”
“No.”
“Did Daniel know about her?”
“Eventually.”
“Did you tell him?”
“No.”
Sophia wiped her eyes.
“I lied to him for you.”
Marcus didn’t know what to believe.
Then the apartment door exploded open.
Men rushed inside.
Sophia shouted.
Marcus pulled her down.
Elena entered from the hallway.
She had followed him.
A gunfight erupted.
Marcus pushed Elena behind a wall.
Sophia grabbed a weapon from beneath a table.
Together, they escaped through the back stairwell.
Outside, Marcus looked at Sophia.
“You should have told me.”
“I know.”
Elena stepped between them.
“Later.”
Marcus looked at her.
“You’re right.”
For the first time, Marcus understood something.
Trust wasn’t the absence of secrets.
It was what people did after the secrets were exposed.
