Mattia's Pov
I searched the streets, my eyes scanning the crowds for any sign of Sofia. I couldn't believe she had disappeared so quickly.
As I walked, a heavy feeling settled in my chest. Maybe I had made a mistake. I promised to protect her,but instead, I called Alexandro.
My phone buzzed.
"Mattia, have you found Sofia yet?" Alexandro's voice came through, cold and sharp.
I hesitated. "Not yet, Alexandro," I said finally.
There was a pause. Then, Alexandro's voice dropped even lower.
"Find her. I don't want to have to tell you again."
I ended the call and kept moving, mind racing. What was she going through right now?
Sofia's Pov:
Meanwhile, I moved quickly through the streets, my heart pounding with a mix of fear and determination. I had to be careful, Alexandro's men could be anywhere.
But as I walked, a strange feeling bloomed inside me. I had felt free for the first time in a long time. The future is uncertain, but at least it is mine to shape.
Then reality set in. The sun was setting. I had no money, no phone, and no idea where I was headed.
Still, I refused to give up.
Mattia's Pov:
Mattia continued searching. The city was large, and I was running out of time and patience. Alexandro's men were out there too, and if they found her first...
Suddenly, something caught my eye. A figure sitting on a bench in a small park. I couldn't see the face, but the posture looked familiar.
My pulse quickened. Could it be Sofia?
As I got closer, doubt turned to certainty. It was Her. She looked exhausted, but alive.
I stopped in his tracks, torn. Should I approach her? Should I walk away?
Then she looked up. Neither of us averted our gazes as we stared at each other.
I could see the question in her gaze. Her expression wasn't afraid. It was calm, ready, even challenging.
"What are you going to do?" she asked softly.
I swallowed hard. "I don't know. But you shouldn't stay here. It's not safe."
Sofia nodded and stood, her legs trembling slightly. I moved beside her instinctively.
They walked together, saying nothing, the silence full of unspoken questions.
Sofia stole a glance at him. Would he turn her in or help her disappear?
The silence between them wasn't awkward. It was filled with memories, unspoken words, and the weight of a choice neither of them was ready to name.
I walked beside Sofia, My steps slower than usual, as if the world had suddenly become heavier. Every now and then, My gaze flicked to her — not to study her, but to make sure she was still there. Still safe. Still breathing.
Sofia's Pov:
We hadn't spoken since we left the park bench. But I didn't need him to speak. I knew Mattia, the real Mattia, not the one pretending to follow orders. I could feel the battle going on inside him just by the way he walked.
I wrapped My arms around my body while I scanned the area. Crowds had thinned with the setting sun, and shops were slowly closing. We were walking aimlessly or at least it felt that way. But to me, even aimlessness felt better than being watched.
Mattia finally broke the silence. "There's an alley two blocks down. Leads to the back of the old church. No cameras. No patrols."
I didn't ask how he knew. I trusted him.
We made a turn, slipping off the main street and into a narrow side road, the cobblestones uneven underfoot. A cold wind whispered through the alley, brushing my hairs into my eyes. Mattia reached out instinctively, brushing the strands away, then pulled his hand back just as fast.
"You okay?" he asked quietly.
I nodded, even though I wasn't.
"I did not think you would actually run,I was not expecting it," Mattia said to himself.
"I had to," I said. "You know that."
"I know," he whispered. And I believed him.
We reached the back of the church a quiet corner with broken benches and faded stone. It was quiet, safe, hidden… for now.
I sat on the stone ledge, my arms wrapped around my knees. "I am not sure what to do next."
Mattia sat next to me, resting his elbows on his knees. "Neither do I."
I looked at him, really looked. The guilt was etched into his face. It was more than just fear of Alexandro, it was something personal, something rooted in regret.
"I shouldn't have called him," he said suddenly, voice low. "I panicked. You disappeared, and I… I just reacted."
I didn't answer immediately. "You always try to fix things. Even when they're not yours to fix."
"I thought I could protect you,"Mattia said.
"You still can," I replied, my tone steady. "But not by dragging me back."
Mattia turned to face Me, eyes stormy with conflict. "I am not sure if I can keep lying to you to protect you from him or from myself."
I held his gaze. "Then don't lie. Not to him, not to me."
Our shared silence returned not cold, but raw. It was the kind of silence that came from years of knowing each other too well. Mattia closed his eyes briefly, inhaling like it pained him to breathe.
A sudden noise footsteps crunching gravel broke the moment.
Mattia stood up instantly. "We need to keep moving."
I nodded and followed him without hesitation.
We slipped through another alley, weaving behind old bakeries and boarded up shops. With each turn, We distanced Ourselves from the searchers but the danger still loomed, just one phone call or one wrong move away.
As We walked, I asked softly, "Do you regret knowing me?"
Mattia stopped in his tracks, turning slowly to me. "I have no regret when it comes to you Sofia."
I didn't smile. But my shoulders relaxed.
We kept moving, blending into the city's shadowed heartbeat no destination, only the need to stay ahead. And in the spaces between fear and hope, something else began to grow.
Not just survival.
But the beginning of trust. Again.
As We walked, Mattia couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching them. He glanced around, his eyes scanning the quiet streets, but everything seemed normal too normal.
I looked up at him, sensing his unease.
"What's wrong?" I asked, My voice low.
He hesitated before answering, his tone guarded.
"I just... feel like we're being followed."
My eyes widened slightly, and I instinctively quickened my pace.
"Then we shouldn't stay out here."I said.
He nodded, picking up speed beside Me. The air felt heavier now, and every sound was sharper. We couldn't afford to slow down. Not yet.
Mattia's Pov:
As We turned a corner, I spotted a narrow alleyway tucked between two buildings.
"This way," I said, guiding Her toward it.
She followed without question, Our steps echoing softly off the stone walls.
The alley offered temporary cover, but it was a risk one I was willing to take if it bought Us time.
On the other side, the city opened up again. A lone taxi idled near the curb.
"Let's take that," I said, already waving it down.
We climbed into the back seat, and I quickly gave the driver a random address across town. The car pulled into motion, and only then did I exhale.
She glanced at Me, Her voice soft.
"Thank you."
I managed a faint smile. Her gratitude stirred something quiet inside Me a flicker of warmth in the middle of all the uncertainty.
The driver peered at us through the rearview mirror.
"You two headed somewhere special?"
I didn't answer immediately.
"Just the next main intersection," I said at last, keeping My voice casual.
The driver nodded and drove on in silence.
When He reached the corner, I told him to stop. We stepped out into a quieter part of the city tall buildings casting long shadows, the streets narrow and calm.
Sofia looked around.
"Where are we?"
My lips curved into a half smile.
"Somewhere we are less likely to be found."
Sofia did not respond, but she remained close to me, her face unreadable.
We walked a little farther before I spotted a modest hotel tucked beside a flower shop.
"Let's go in here," I said.
Inside, the lobby was dim and quiet.
I approached the desk and checked Us in under a false name. I kept My head down, My voice low, and the receptionist didn't ask questions.
The elevator creaked as it carried Us upward. Sofia watched Me with a slight lean against the wall.
"Why are you doing this?" she asked.
I looked at her, unsure what to say.
"I don't know," I said truthfully. "I could not bring you back to Alexandro."
Sofia held My gaze, something shifting behind her eyes.
"That's enough for me."
The elevator chimed, and We stepped into the hallway. Our room was small, with a single window and a bed in the center.
Sofia looked around.
"It's not the Ritz," she said with a small smile.
I chuckled.
"It's better than sleeping on the streets."
She nodded and sat down on the edge of the bed.
"You're right."
I joined her, exhaustion beginning to catch up with both of Us.
"We should rest. Just for a few hours," I said.
Sofia lay back and nodded, yawning slowly. I leaned against the headboard, My thoughts still racing.
But for now, We were safe. And that was all that mattered.
She nodded, yawned, and lay down, eyes fluttering shut without resistance.
I lay beside her, letting the silence wrap around Us like a blanket. For now, there were no footsteps behind Us, nor shadows chasing Us. Just breath,warmth and protection, even if it is only for the night.
As sleep tugged at Me,I knew this was only the beginning. There are questions waiting, decisions looming, and dangers still lurking. But for now, she is beside Me. And that was enough.