Chapter 5 - THE WOMAN WHO DISAPPEARED TWICE
Sofia Duca had survived five years under another name.
After Gabriel arranged her disappearance, she had been moved between safe houses.
She was threatened.
Isolated.
And told that Roman and Ethan would be harmed if she returned.
Eventually, she escaped.
But she did not know whom to trust.
For months, she lived quietly in Milwaukee.
Worked under an assumed identity.
Saved money.
And searched for a way to contact her son.
Then she learned that Gabriel still controlled parts of the Duca family's finances.
She feared that if she approached Roman directly, Gabriel would intercept her.
So she came to Cardinale.
The restaurant where Roman and Ethan had celebrated birthdays.
The place she remembered as safe.
She entered through the service corridor.
She intended to leave a message.
But Gabriel found her.
They argued.
Ethan overheard.
Sofia saw her son through the glass panel of the kitchen door.
He had grown taller.
His hair was darker.
His face older.
But he was still her little boy.
She whispered his name.
Then Gabriel pulled her away.
Now Sofia sat in a rented apartment on the outskirts of Chicago.
She had escaped Gabriel again.
But she was terrified.
Her phone vibrated.
An unknown number.
She stared.
Then answered.
"Hello?"
A man's voice spoke.
"Sofia."
Her heart stopped.
"Roman?"
Silence.
Then he whispered:
"Are you alive?"
Tears filled her eyes.
She closed her eyes.
"Yes."
Roman made a sound she had never heard from him before.
A broken breath.
"Sofia."
She began crying.
"I'm sorry."
"No."
His voice trembled.
"No, don't apologize."
She covered her mouth.
"How's Ethan?"
Roman looked toward the dining room, where Maya sat beside their son.
"He's waiting for you."
Sofia sobbed.
Roman swallowed.
"Where are you?"
She hesitated.
"Roman, I don't know who to trust."
"I understand."
A pause.
Then he said:
"There's a waitress here. Her name is Maya Carter."
Sofia frowned.
"A waitress?"
"She helped Ethan."
Sofia closed her eyes.
Roman continued.
May you like
"She saw what none of us saw."
For the first time in five years, Sofia allowed herself to hope.
