Analise's POV
My best friend and I were enjoying some wine and relaxing. Last night, I'd spent the night ransacking my house in hopes of finding some of John's pictures, but there was nothing. How would we find a man whose photos didn't even exist?
Sofia took the glass but didn't drink. Her eyes were downcast, fingers trembling slightly as they curled around the stem. Something was wrong.
"Sofia?" I set my own wine down. "What is it?"
She took a deep breath. "My dad called this morning."
"About John?"
Sofia shook her head. "About me. He's... he's arranged a marriage for me. Tomorrow night."
I stared at her, certain I'd misheard. "What?"
"I'm getting married, Ana." Her voice was hollow, resigned.
"That's—that's insane!" I sputtered. "Sofia, you can't marry someone you don't know! This isn't the Middle Ages!"
"In my father's world, it might as well be." She finally took a long sip of wine. "I've known this was coming my whole life."
I grabbed her hand. "You don't have to do this. We can figure something out. You could leave, we could—"
"No." She cut me off. "I can't run. You don't understand what my father is capable of."
"But to marry you off without even letting you meet the guy first?" I stood up, pacing. "That's fucked up, Sofia. You deserve better than that."
Sofia's eyes welled with tears. "My father wanted to marry me off the second I graduated high school. I begged him to let me go to medical school, to let me work with Doctors Without Borders. We struck a deal—I could have my adventures if I agreed not to fight him when the time came for me to marry."
"And that time is... tomorrow night?" I couldn't keep the horror from my voice.
She nodded, wiping away a tear. "The right alliance came up. Someone powerful enough that my father couldn't pass up the opportunity."
"This is wrong," I whispered, sinking back down beside her. "No parent should sell their child like this."
"It's the world I was born into." Sofia tried to smile through her tears. "And I've made peace with it. Mostly."
I pulled her into a hug, feeling her shoulders shake as she finally broke down. We sat like that for a long while, two women in a world that still treated us like property, like pawns in men's games.
"I did make one last deal with my father," Sofia said when she'd composed herself. "A wedding present, of sorts."
"What kind of present?" I asked cautiously.
"He's going to help you find John." She gripped my hands. "No questions asked, no strings attached. He'll use every resource at his disposal to track him down."
The breath caught in my throat. "Sofia, no—I can't let you do that."
"It's already done." Her face was set with determination. "If I have to marry a stranger, at least I can ensure my best friend's son gets the medical help he needs."
A thin cry from the baby monitor interrupted us. Luca was awake from his nap.
"I'll get him," I said, but Sofia rose with me.
"Let me. I want to see my godson before..." Her voice trailed off.
We walked to the nursery together. Luca was standing in his crib, his chubby face lighting up when he saw us. He reached for me first, but then twisted toward Sofia, his little hands grabbing at her necklace as I passed him over.
"Hey, buddy," Sofia cooed, nuzzling his hair. "Auntie Sofia loves you so much."
I watched them together, my heart cracking at the thought of this wonderful woman being forced into a loveless marriage with a dangerous. And yet, selfishly, I felt hope rising. If Sofia's father could find John, could make him face his responsibilities...
"Will I still see you?" I asked suddenly. "After tonight?"
Sofia's hold on Luca tightened. "Of course. Nothing will change between us. In fact—" She hesitated. "I want you to come to the wedding."
"Tommorow?" I was stunned. "Sofia, that's—"
"Please?" The desperation in her eyes stopped my protest. "I need you there, Ana. I can't face this alone."
How could I refuse? "Of course I'll be there."
Sofia smiled, bouncing Luca on her hip. "The ceremony is at eight. My father's sending a car for me at six. I'll have them pick you up too."
"It's all happening so fast," I said, still trying to process everything.
"Mafia traditions don't wait." Sofia's laugh was bitter. "There are a hundred women who would kill to be in my position. The man I'm marrying isn't just anyone—he's the heir to the Russian mafia."
A chill ran down my spine. "Is that supposed to be comforting?"
"In a way, yes." She set Luca down, watching as he toddled toward his toy box. "He's powerful, respected. Most women in the circle find him incredibly attractive. And once we're married, his money is my money."
"Sofia..."
"Which means," she continued, a fierce glint in her eye, "I can help with Luca's medical bills. My husband's money instead of my father's blood money."
I shook my head. "I couldn't ask that of you."
"You're not asking. I'm offering." She took my hands. "Besides, it's not like this is all doom and gloom. When my father told me who I'd be marrying, I was... well, not horrified."
"You know who he is?" This surprised me.
"Only his name. There are no photos of him available—the mafia is extremely protective of its royal family." She looked almost shy now. "But his reputation...let's just say I'll be well protected."
"So who is this mysterious mafia prince?" I asked, trying to keep my tone light despite the heaviness in my chest.
Sofia's eyes gleamed with a strange mixture of resignation and excitement as she spoke the name: "Ivan Volkov."