Chapter 300

Sofia’s voice had a sharp edge, a little panic sneaking in. She couldn’t stand it when Sebastian clammed up—it always meant he was chewing on something big, something heavy.

“You know I want Stefi too,” he said, his voice low and steady.

Stephanie stood off to the side, lips parting a bit, but nothing came out. Hearing that hit her hard—a warm wave flooded her chest.

Sebastian let out a quick, skeptical snort. “So you’re saying you teamed up with Luca, and now you can’t even get each other on the phone?”

Sofia huffed, annoyed. “I don’t know, alright? Luca gave me a number, but it’s useless now.” She felt like she was losing it—her thoughts all tangled up. Sofia had no idea what Luca was up to. Sure, other people might not track her down, but she was her boss. After all the perks and bonuses she’d tossed her way, Luca could at least pick up the damn phone when she called.

“Uh, Sebastian, why don’t you just have Elliot send some guys to deal with this? Problem solved, right? So… where’s HE at?” Sofia asked, her voice dropping to a careful whisper at the end.

“Where’s HE at?” The words slipped out so quietly they barely made a sound, like she wasn’t sure she wanted to know. For years, she’d dodged even saying his name. No one dared touch that old wound in her heart. She’d buried him deep, grieved him in silence, and told herself he was gone for good. But now Sebastian was saying he’d seen him.

Hearing his name cracked something open inside her—years of numbness split apart, like a jolt of energy hitting her hard.

Sebastian frowned and replied, “You made this mess. Fix it yourself.”

“Seriously? I’m your sister, dude! You’re really going to leave me hanging like some lonely old woman forever?” she fired back, a desperate edge creeping in. That had been her secret plan—him gone, her life a quiet tribute to his memory. She’d settled into it.

Sebastian’s breath caught for a second, his face softening just a flicker. Stephanie, still lingering nearby, didn’t totally get what was going on between them, but the careful vibe got to her too. Sofia’s shaky tone pulled at her, melting her a little. She reached out, giving Sebastian’s sweater a light tug. He glanced at her. Those big, teary eyes of hers hit him with a quiet plea. He got it right away.

Softening his tone, he spoke into the phone again. “You’re sure Luca’s off the radar?”

“Dead serious. I’d never mess around about HIM—you know that,” Sofia said, nodding hard even though he couldn’t see. HIM. She meant that guy. Her voice had a weight that didn’t play games.

Sebastian thought it over. She was right—she wouldn’t joke about this.

After a pause, he looked at Stephanie’s misty eyes again, reaching out to pinch her cheek lightly, a little move to steady them both. Then, into the phone, he said one name, “Sandara.”

“What?” Sofia blinked, thrown off.

Sandara City. That was a dusty, middle-of-nowhere spot. It was over a hundred miles from anything worth a damn.

“Wait, hold on—why the hell would he be there?” she asked, frowning. She’d been there once. Hated it. Sand everywhere, dreary as hell. The place, the people—it all bugged her big time.

Sebastian leaned back in his chair, keeping his voice even. “It might not even be him. You get that, right?”

The line went dead quiet after that, heavy enough to feel suffocating. When Sofia didn’t say anything, he kept going, tone flat. “Elliot bumped into him. The guy didn’t even blink—like he had no clue who Elliot was.”

The pieces didn’t fit. From what they’d scraped together, he looked the part—same vibe, same build—but the small stuff was off. Even the way he reacted to a little test from them didn’t line up.

Sofia took a big breath and pulled herself up straight. “I’m going to check it out myself.”

“He died right in front of you back then,” Sebastian said, his voice dropping.

She clenched her jaw and shot back, “Yeah? Well, I didn’t exactly see him turn to dust, did I?”

Sebastian hummed, not saying a word. Stephanie, off to the side, kept her head down, lips zipped. But she’d picked up enough to figure out who they meant. Her heart sped up a bit.

Five years back, that guy—THE GUY—had turned Sofia’s life upside down. He’d yanked her out of her tomboy days into skirts and dresses, leaving a mark so deep she’d never bounced back. He’d been her whole world, right up until he was gone.

Sebastian rubbed his forehead and leaned back again. “I’ll send a couple guys with you. Sandara’s a mess—too sketchy to go alone.”

That place was way out there, a hotspot for shady characters. The vibe was pure chaos.

Sofia rejected him flatly. “No need.”

“Sofia,” he said, his tone getting firmer, brows pulling together. Since the Casalini mess, he’d gone full-on protective mode—especially with the people he cared about, his family.

She turned to him, eyes cool and steady. “I’ve got my own crew. I’m good.” She wasn’t dumb enough to stroll into a dump like Sandara solo—she knew how ugly it could get.

Sebastian let out a low “Mm,” letting it go. The room sank into a thick silence.

After the call wrapped up, Stephanie glanced at Sebastian. “Mr. Murry’s still alive?”

Dan Murry. Even now, Stephanie could see him clear as day—the first time Sofia dragged him over to say hi.