Page 118 of His Kidnapped Queen
But I feel like a million dollars with Sophia by my side and the promise of getting to meet my little girl.
It’s all that matters now.
33
SOPHIA
I walk out of Luca’s room and into the hallway, my hands trembling. They discharged me from the hospital this morning. Scott meets me in the hallway, giving me a hesitant smile.
“How’s he doing?”
“Pretty doped up but in good spirits.” I let out a heavy sigh. “What are you charging him with?”
“Kidnapping. Attempted murder.”
“He didn’t try to kill me.”
“He may as well have, Soph. You can’t expect me to look the other way because he’s Rosa’s father.”
I hang my head. “I know. I know that. I still don’t even know how you found us.”
“Tracked his phone to the cottage,” Scott explains. “It was a dead end other than some tire tracks leading to the city. I pulled up CCTV footage around their various buildings, including the mansion.”
“What about the old man?”
“Lorenzo? There’s nothing to hold him on, and even if there was, he’s riddled with cancer. He’d get compassionate release.”
“While Luca goes to prison?” My tone is incredulous. “What if I don’t want to press charges?”
Scott shakes his head, his face grim. “You can’t unring this bell, Soph. He’s going to do time. There’s nothing I can do about that.”
I bite my lip, fighting tears.
“I don’t want that.”
“I don’t regret saving you, Sophia. Who knows what might have happened if I didn’t show up?”
“I know. I know, and I’m grateful you saved me, too.” I hug him tightly. “It’s just…all this is confusing.”
“I know it is. Are you going to get Rosa?”
“I don’t know what to say to her. How to prepare her.”
Scott puts his hand on my shoulder. “Just tell her the truth.”
I stare at him. “That her daddy’s a criminal? That we’re going to have to visit him in prison?”
He sighs. “As much as she can understand, that is.”
I swallow hard and nod.
“You can take my car. I’m still doing paperwork from last night,” Scott mutters.
I chuckle. “Can’t say I miss that part of the job.”
He blinks at me. “Don’t tell me you’re not coming back, Soph.”
“I don’t know,” I say honestly. “I don’t know if I’m cut out to be a detective, Scott.”
