"How did you enjoy the party last night?" Felice asked with curiosity in his voice.

"It was... interesting. I opened up to my brothers about someone from my past" she admitted reluctantly.

It piqued Felice's interest "What happen when you told them?"

"They were really supportive and kind about it" Sofia smiled, recalling the situation. "But I don't want to go into details," she said quickly recalling her conversation with Francesco.

Felice nodded with agreement and changed the topic.

"How have you been sleeping lately?"

"Better. Alessandro started teaching me piano and it's helpful, I realized that I like to play, even when he's not around" She said, thinking fondly about the piano room. Alessandro said she had potential, Sofia had no idea what it meant but her brother wasn't a person who would say empty compliments.

Sofia was sad that it's the last session but she also felt that she can open up a bit more so they focused on discussing her mother's addiction, Sofia was so consumed in letting the weight off her chest she almost hadn't noticed when the session ended.

When they had 15 minutes left Felice surprised her with his question.

"Sofia, I'd like to ask you something and this might be difficult for you but I really need you to answer me" he started with a very serious voice. Sofia stiffened. What now?

"Y-yes?"

"What do you know about my brother?" he said in a calm, levelled voice but there was something dangerous in his eyes.

Oh shit. Shock crossed her face.

"What do you mean? Why would I know something about your brother?" Sofia asked trying to sound normal however Felice wasn't easily fooled.

About which one he was asking about? Cesare or Anastasio? In both cases, she couldn't answer him. Shit, shit, shit.

"Your behaviour at the banquet was unusual. When my brother's face was shown your body went rigid you stopped breathing, your eyes widened in shock. Your body language screamed that you know something. I was sitting at the table right next to you I heard how your brother asked if everything was alright. Now I am asking what do you know about my brother?" Felice asked in a quiet voice.

"I don't know anything about him," Sofia said, and because she didn't know how to lie she looked away.

He didn't believe her.

No, she didn't want their sessions to end on a bad note. But she also didn't trust him enough to say anything about Anastasio.

"I'm sorry to hear that but I'm telling the truth"

His eyes went darker the kindness from his voice was gone "Until now I didn't consider the possible involvement of the Ianniello family in my brother's disappearance. Sofia, I need you to understand how serious this is"

Sofia stood up "listen, I don't appreciate my therapist threatening me," she said harshly "I am going home"

"You will answer my question" Felice replied, there was a certainty in his voice.

"And if I don't?" She challenged.

"Your friend Bruno is going to have an accident" Felice replied simply, but it was a threat. He said it so casually.

That made Sofia sit down. She took a deep breath. She could barely process what was happening right now.

Sofia's eyes narrowed. She needed to play it cool.

"What exactly do you want me to say? I don't know anything" She replied. Yes, she has met Anastasio. But she couldn't consider the brief exchanges they had as knowing him as a person.

"Try again" Felice was not satisfied with her answer.

Sofia considered what her answer should be. She could lie. She could make up some story but the problem was a little time she had to make it believable.

The big problem: she knew Felice. He wouldn't just fall for a simple story. Even if she had time to craft a tale there was no way to know if he fell for it.

She was nervous, her palms were sweating, her breath quickened and she could feel the pain in her chest.

This is when she decided that it was all not worth it. She didn't owe anything to Anastasio, and she wanted to tell enough for Felice to fuck off her case.

"I was surprised to learn that he's prime minister's son because I saw him before" she replied, dryly.

"You saw him where?" Felice asked.

"On the streets of Taormina. He's homeless"

Sofia could tell Felice quickly processed the information. "You've met him at the day you were attacked by the drunk man, haven't you? Was he okay?" Felice asked, his eyes full of concern.

"He was fine" Sofia replied.

Felice sighed with visible relief.

"What are you planning to do? He escaped for a reason" Sofia's eyes narrowed, her voice firm.

"Yes, he did," he said reluctantly.

"And now what? You're going to put him in danger?" She challenged.

"What I do about my brother is none of your business" he warned, not unkindly but Sofia just wasn't having it.

"Like hell! How am I supposed to know that you won't hurt him?" she said, her eyes shimmering with anger.

She considered both Bruno and Anastasio as friends, Anastasio was a friend who needed to get his ass kicked but that was a separate issue.

Felice sighed.

"I won't hurt my brother, I want to help him and I want to keep him safe from Cesare"

"Yeah, right," Sofia said sarcastically but she visibly calmed down when Felice mentioned Cesare. So he knew what... who was the problem. But still, something wasn't right and Sofia had trouble with trusting he was telling the truth. "That's why about the details of Anastasio disappearance you had to learn from me and not directly from him," she said sarcastically.

Felice sighed. "It's... complicated. My father and I never had a good relationship. I was always meant to work for my family's organization but instead, I went against his will and became a doctor. He cut me off completely. I had no power to contact Anastasio, I wasn't allowed to set foot at the family home, I wasn't even allowed to speak to Anastasio. He was on his own. Only after our father's career change and Anastasio's disappearance situation changed"

"Were you really planning to hurt Bruno if I haven't cooperated?" Sofia asked in a hurt voice.

"Yes, I am sorry. My brother is my priority at the moment" Felice replied with regret.

"It's our last session," Sofia said coldly.

She wanted it to stop. Well, it was about to stop anyway, but he didn't need to know that. Fuck him.

"I understand, I can recommend you some good specialists who will-"

"No. I will never trust anyone again" Sofia said angrily and sniffled miserably cursing herself from crying. "Now that you know everything I can leave right?"

"Yes. I understand if you tell your brothers about this" Felice said, there was sadness in his voice.

Sofia had no intention to. The moment she leaves this office, she will forget what happened here.

"Don't follow me" she snapped rudely.

"I have to go with you I need to have a word with Raul" Felice replied.

She stopped abruptly and looked at him with suspicion.

"What now? Why?"

Felice raised his eyebrow and she knew he was not going to answer her. Annoyed she turned on her heels and started going towards the building's entrance.

In the parking lot, Raul was waiting for her. He noted instantly that Felice went out with her and left the car.

"Hi, Raul. She had a very difficult session and it would be better if she wasn't alone today" Felice said.

That motherfucker.

"I will let her brothers know"

"Thank you" they shook hands and Felice waved her goodbye. Sofia lifted her middle finger at him when she knew Raul is not watching. Felice responded with an apologetic smile but there was no happiness in his eyes.

"So, intensive session, huh" Raul tried to make a conversation while they were driving home.

"Mhm" Sofia responded which basically meant "yes, you have no idea". With that, he correctly assumed she doesn't want to talk about it and kept quiet.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

When they arrived home and Sofia went to her room. The house was empty. That's good.

"What are you doing?" Sofia asked irritated when she noticed that Raul is following her.

"Dr Santini instructed to keep you company"

"Is he your boss now? Leave me alone" Sofia snapped. Raul looked at her surprised because it was very usual for her to be disrespectful. But the initial shock quickly passed, and it wasn't Raul's first job as a protection officer. He was anything but a pushover.

"I'm working for your brother and my primary objective is to keep you safe whether you like it or not" he responded sternly.

"Can I just be left alone in my own room?"

"With your doors open"

"Are you serious?!" Sofia looked at him in shock. His face was telling it all. He was deadly serious,

"Okay," she muttered, looking away. She knew she can't win.

With that, he left, giving her space. However, the door to her room remained open and Sofia knew she was standing right next to them.

She just lied down and vegetated for God -knows how long.

Then in her worst moment, Bruno called. Her only friend.

She needed to protect him.

"I won the math Olympiad," he said without even saying hi. She smiled.

"Congratulations," Sofia said, she wanted to be happy for him but all she could feel right now was sadness. Bruno was smart, handsome and talented. He will find someone worthy of his friendship

"Yeah, we will have something to celebrate during our meeting tomorrow" he started with a friendly voice.

"Listen, Bruno, I think we shouldn't see each other" Sofia said, making sure her voice says nothing about her current state of mind. She wiped a tear from her cheek.

"What do you mean?" Bruno asked. "You don't have time tomorrow? That's fine but your brothers really need to chill out a bit I mean you're 17-"

"No. Bruno, you misunderstood me. They are fine with me going with you I just don't want to" Sofia said and it felt like someone was stabbing her heart with a dagger. Well... she was doing that to herself.

Sofia realized, after leaving Felice's office that as long as she's surrounded by dangerous people Bruno can get hurt because of her. It wasn't fair to him and she couldn't do that. She didn't want to see him hurt.

"It's because of what your brothers did, isn't it? I shouldn't have taken you out of school that day, they were right to get pissed off at me"

"It has nothing to do with that. Or them. It is my decision" Sofia said and hang upon him. He didn't call back.

She couldn't really cry out loud because Raul was outside of the door and he would ask what was wrong.

She wanted to harm herself but Raul's close proximity prevented her from doing that. Damn you, Felice.

Then, the sound of doors being unlocked. Her brothers were home.

She ran downstairs and hugged all of them. One person at the time.

"Piccola to what do we owe this warm welcome?" Alessandro asked with fondness in his voice, he kissed her forehead in a tender, fatherly gesture.

"I'm just glad I have you guys"

That was true. She was glad they were here because if not for them she would be completely alone.

"We're glad to have you as well"