Chapter 5 - THE SISTER WHO KNEW TOO MUCH
Sofia DeLuca was nineteen, stubborn, brilliant, and determined to become an architect.
She was also the reason I had abandoned college.
After our mother died, Sofia had been sixteen.
Our father had disappeared years earlier.
There was no one else.
I worked mornings at a bakery and evenings at the private club.
Then I dropped the bakery job for more hours at the club.
Every extra dollar went toward rent, food, and Sofia's education.
She hated it.
That evening, she found me sitting at the kitchen table surrounded by spreadsheets.
“Paola.”
I looked up.
“What?”
“Are you doing homework?”
“Something like that.”
She grinned.
“Did you go back to school without telling me?”
“Not exactly.”
I explained the temporary accounting job.
Her smile widened.
“You're finally using your brain instead of carrying bourbon for rich men.”
“Sofia.”
“What? It's true.”
I laughed.
Then she noticed my expression.
“What's wrong?”
I hesitated.
“Some of the people involved might be dangerous.”
Her smile faded.
“Dangerous how?”
“I don't know yet.”
She sat across from me.
“Then quit.”
“We need the money.”
“I can take fewer classes.”
“No.”
“Paola—”
“No.”
She looked frustrated.
“You keep acting like my future matters more than yours.”
I opened my mouth.
Then closed it.
May you like
Because she was right.
And I had no idea how to stop.
