Captive Princess (Sophia) novel Chapter 21

Chapter 11

+25 BONUS

Vincent walked out of the family meeting in Chicago and loosened his tie. Three straight days of negotiations over a weapons smuggling route were finally over. The Torrino family’s territory was his.

He turned on his phone, which had been off for the entire seventy–two hours.

Countless unread messages flooded the screen. Ninety–nine from Isabella, and one from Sophia.

Vincent’s thumb moved on its own, tapping on Sophia’s message.

[Transfer Received: $873,000]

[Memo: Settlement for medical, lodging, and miscellaneous expenses.]

Nothing else.

Vincent’s brow furrowed. He almost laughed, a humorless sound of frustration. His long fingers tapped out a reply.

You think I need your money? Do we really need to settle accounts like this?]

He sent the message and stared at the screen for ten minutes.

Usually, Sophia replied the second he texted, sometimes just to send a single, defiant punctuation mark.

“We’re sorry, the number you have dialed is not in service…

A sterile, automated voice answered.

Vincent froze. Her phone was off?

A small smile touched his lips at the thought.

ار

He tapped on her profile picture–a proud, aloof Persian cat, its blue eyes looking down on the world. Just like her.

S

His finger brushed across the screen before he sent a final message: [Back in New York tomorrow night. Be at the airfield to pick me up.]