Chapter 7 - THE WORD SHE FINALLY SPOKE
We moved to a house outside the city just before midnight.
It belonged to Dante's late aunt and sat behind a line of tall trees. The security was simpler but independent of the system Salvatore had compromised.
Sophia fell asleep on the drive.
Dante carried her inside. I followed with her backpack and stuffed rabbit.
The new house had a kitchen with old wooden cabinets and a small breakfast table. It smelled faintly of cedar and lemon polish.
Sophia woke before dawn. She sat on the edge of the bed, holding her rabbit.
I sat on the floor beside her.
“Good morning.”
She looked toward the door.
“Daddy's downstairs.”
She nodded.
“Would you like breakfast?”
She shook her head.
“Toast?”
A pause.
Then a tiny nod.
I went to the kitchen and made toast with butter and a little honey. Dante was already there, standing by the window with a phone pressed to his ear.
He ended the call when he saw us.
“Good morning.”
“Morning.”
He looked at Sophia. “Would you like to sit with me?”
She hesitated, then walked to the table and climbed into the chair beside him.
I placed the toast in front of her.
She picked up a small piece.
Dante watched, but tried not to make it obvious.
After a few bites, Sophia looked at him.
Her lips parted.
“Daddy.”
The word was quiet.
Dante stopped breathing.
“Yes?”
Sophia's eyes filled.
“Daddy.”
He reached for her, then stopped himself.
“Can I hug you?”
She nodded.
He gathered her into his arms. His shoulders shook once.
I turned toward the sink to give them privacy.
When he finally released her, Sophia wiped her cheek with the back of her hand.
“Mommy,” she whispered.
Dante closed his eyes.
“I know, sweetheart. We're going to find her.”
Sophia looked at me, then said something that made the room go still.
“Uncle Sal took Mommy.”
Dante's face lost color.
He crouched beside her chair.
“Tell me what you remember.”
I moved closer. “Only if she wants to.”
Dante nodded.
Sophia held the rabbit against her chest.
“Mommy said hide.”
“Where did you hide?” Dante asked.
“Closet.”
“Then what happened?”
“Uncle Sal. He was mad.”
Dante kept his voice calm. “What did he do?”
“He took Mommy's blue bracelet. He said Daddy would be angry. Mommy said no.”
Sophia began to tremble.
I knelt beside her. “You're doing very well. You can stop whenever you want.”
She swallowed.
“Uncle Sal said Daddy was bad. He said Daddy would take me away.”
Dante's eyes shone.
“I would never let anyone take you from me.”
Sophia looked at him.
“He said you hurt Mommy.”
Dante went completely still. Then he shook his head.
“No, sweetheart. I never hurt Mommy.”
Sophia watched his face.
“Mommy said you loved me.”
Dante pressed his lips together.
“I do. More than anything.”
Sophia reached for his hand. It was a small movement, but it changed the room.
Dante took her hand carefully.
“Did Uncle Sal take Mommy somewhere?”
Sophia nodded.
“Car.”
“Did you see where?”
She shook her head.
“Did he come back?”
“No.”
Dante looked toward me.
“We need to find Rachel Moore.”
“Who's that?” Sophia asked.
“Mommy's friend,” he said. “She might know where she is.”
Sophia picked up her toast again.
“Find Mommy.”
“We will.”
Dante stood and walked into the next room to call Marco.
I stayed with Sophia. She looked down at the rabbit.
“Can Nora sing?”
“Of course.”
I hummed the old tune.
Sophia leaned against my arm.
And this time, she did not fall asleep because she was exhausted.
May you like
She fell asleep because, for the first time in days, she felt safe enough to rest.
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