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She covered her body with a blanket as she stood, and I couldn't help but feel amused. What was the point of such an action when I had already seen and explored every inch of her curve?
Despite the amusement, I refrained from commenting. I didn't want to risk causing tension, especially if she regretted our actions.
My heart danced on the edge of relief when she didn't immediately storm off, expressing regret or anger.
Still, my smile dimmed as the weight of the situation settled in my mind. Sophia's association with my uncle's potential treachery gnawed at my thoughts.
At this juncture, I could no longer deny the feelings I was slowly developing for her, and the thought of Sophia being involved in my uncle's sinister plans was unbearable. I knew I had to investigate her background thoroughly.
I would need to pull no stops to determine whether she was his informant. Only then could my mind rest in peace.
It was a lie. My mind could only rest in peace if she were found innocent; otherwise, I wouldn’t know how crushed I would be if she weren’t.
My phone rang as I wrestled with these thoughts, jolting me from contemplation. Antonio's name flashed on the screen. I answered, and his voice was terse and to the point. "George is ready to talk."
I knew that what he had to say could be the key to unraveling the truth about my father’s death.
With a heavy sigh, I knocked on the bathroom door, where Sophia was showering. "Sophia, I have to go," I called out. "Something urgent has come up."
There was a muffled acknowledgment from the other side. I could imagine her confusion, but this couldn't wait.
I continued, my voice softer this time, "You can stay here for the night. We'll talk when I get back."
Before leaving, I hesitated momentarily, then turned back to face the closed bathroom door.
"And just so you know," I said, my words rushed but sincere, "I don't regret what happened between us. We still need to talk, so there's no misunderstanding."
I heard a small, understanding smile in her voice as she replied, "I understand, Matteo."
With a nod, I left the room, locking it behind me. As I exited the hotel, my thoughts were divided between the urgent situation with George and my complicated feelings for Sophia.
Making my way to the location Antonio had given me, I was lost in my thoughts. As I approached the location, my heart raced with anticipation and anxiety.
The abandoned warehouse was cloaked in darkness, the only light source coming from a single overhead lamp hanging over a table.
As I entered, my footsteps echoing against the concrete floor, the tension in the air was palpable. Antonio stood by the table, his gaze fixed on the haggard and pale figure seated there – George.
The weariness etched on George's face mirrored the turmoil within him. His complexion was ashen, starkly contrasting to the healthy color he might have possessed before.
A week of confinement had taken its toll, leaving him looking like a shadow of his former self.
George's eyes held a dullness that spoke of exhaustion and desperation. Dark circles framed his eyes, evidence of restless nights and his torment.
His cheeks seemed sunken, and his skin clung tightly to his bones. His hair hung in disarray, and his clothes were wrinkled and soiled.
He had been denied even the most basic comforts, existing solely on meager food and water rations. Exactly as I had ordered it to be.
As he sat there, slumped and his hands resting on the table's surface, they trembled slightly – a testament to his weakened state and emotional weight.
His lips were parched, and his throat was likely dry from days of inadequate hydration.
With a calm but determined demeanor, I walked over to the table and sat, facing George. Antonio's presence beside him was a stark reminder that caution was essential, even in this fragile state.
George's eyes lifted, and a mixture of surprise and fear flashed across his features.
"Matteo," he stammered, his voice shaking.
"George," I replied evenly, my voice blending intensity and resolve. "I see you remember me. We have some unfinished business, you and I."
