Page 11 of Jude

‘On your way,’ the first guard muttered, clearing his throat to save face as he stepped aside.

I gave them zero chance to change their minds.

Gripping Sofia’s hand, I grabbed my guitar and bag strap with my free hand and pulled her away from the trouble.

‘Thank you,’ she whispered.

Moving fast, I led her along for a few hundred meters.

Once we were well away from the ticketing counter and out of view, I shifted my load and the woman into a corner.

I used a column and my girth to hide us from anyone’s eyes.

The woman gazed up at me, her fingers digging into the fabric of my black hoodie.

‘Talk,’ I rasped, staring down at her.

‘Luisa left me, she’s disappeared.’

She was rambling; I had no fuckin’ clue who she was talking about, but it was clear she was distraught.

‘Luisa?’

‘A - a friend?’

‘One who’s abandoned you? Not sure she sounds like a friend at all.’

‘So now I’m alone,’ the woman whispered.

She had an accent, Italian, Spanish; I couldn’t be sure.

‘You’re not alone,’ I countered. ‘I’m here. Name, babe?’

She jolted, then understood the ask.

‘Sofia. They’ll take me away and lock me up. Please, signore, help me.’

Peering around to make sure no one had eyes on us, I examined her face, studying the raw panic in her eyes.

‘Who’s they?’

‘The mafiosi.’

She lifted her chin and took an inhale. ‘My friend claimed they’re from the Compagni family.’

She shuddered as she whispered the word under her breath, and I arched a brow.

‘The hell?’

Sofia took another hitched inhale.

‘They said they’d harm me if I didn’t do as they said.’

My blood ran cold.

‘Someone threatened you.’

She nodded.