Sophia’s POV

“Eli and I will be in my office,” Alex said as he kissed the top of my head. “Just call us if you need us.”

I hugged him as tightly as I could. Eli and he didn’t want to be here when Mrs. Ferrara came. I understood it, but I didn’t like it. I wished Alex could stay with me.

“I’m not going anywhere, baby,” Alex said softly. “If you get overwhelmed just tell Will and he will bring you to me. Does that sound good?”

I looked up at him and nodded. He smiled and caressed my cheek.

I didn’t really want to meet Mrs. Ferrara, but I saw how much it would mean to Will. I wanted to do it for him.

“She is here,” I heard Damien’s voice.

Alex looked up at him and nodded. I leaned my head on his chest and took a deep breath. Alex ran his fingers through my hair and placed another kiss on the top of my head.

“See you a bit later, honey,” Eli said, making me look at him.

I gave him a small smile and he leaned in to kiss my cheek.

Alex let me go and I immediately tensed up. I watched Alex and Eli leave the room and I wanted nothing more but to leave with them.

“Are you okay, sweetie?” Damien asked as he wrapped an arm around my shoulders.

I nodded and looked up at him. Damien leaned in and kissed my temple.

“Where will mom stay if Alex and Eli don’t want to see her?” Luke asked.

“It’s not that they don’t want to see her, it’s that they didn’t want to overwhelm her,” Will said. “She knows this is their house. She agreed to stay here, knowing that they would be here. Alex just thought that meeting Sophia would be enough for the beginning.”

Will looked at me and smiled.

“Ready, Sunshine?” he asked and I gave him a small nod.

I pressed myself closer to Damien as I watched Will walk out of the house.

“Are you okay?” Damien asked, tightening his hold on me.

“Just a little bit nervous,” I mumbled.

Damien placed another kiss on my temple.

“Don’t be, sweetie,” he said softly. “Our mom will love you. I promise.”

I gave him a small smile and looked back at the front door. I took a deep breath just as Will walked back inside. His mom was right behind him.

She looked around the room, smiling a little. Her eyes landed on me and her smile disappeared. She took a deep breath and stopped walking.

“You look so much like your mom,” she mumbled quietly.

I tensed up a little and pressed myself even closer to Damien.

“But you have your dad’s eyes,” she added and gave me a small smile.

I gulped and smiled back at her.

“Sophia, this is our mom,” William said, smiling brightly. “Natalia Ferrara.”

“Hello,” I said quietly, keeping a small smile on my face.

Mrs. Ferrara looked at Damien and an unknown emotion flashed in her eyes. She looked back at me and smiled.

“Hello, Sophia,” she said. “I know this is a bit unusual, but I am so happy to meet you. It’s been 17 years. It’s time for us to move on from what happened. I am glad you are finally back together with your brothers.”

She looked at Will and smiled.

“My sons are amazing,” she said. “They will keep you safe.”

She looked around the room and furrowed her eyebrows.

“Where are the Caruso boys?” she asked.

“Alex thought it would be best if you met Sophia without them here,” Will said as he closed the front door. “They will join us for dinner.”

Mrs. Ferrara nodded and looked at Luke. She reached out for him and he approached her. She pulled him into a tight hug.

“My baby,” she said, rubbing his back gently.

“I am 25 years old, mom,” Luke sighed. “I am not a baby.”

His mom rolled her eyes and shook her head.

“You will always be my baby,” she said, making me smile a little. “Even when you are fifty.”

Luke sighed and let go of his mom. She smiled at him and looked at Damien. I expected him to let go of me, but he didn’t.

“Hi, mom,” he said. “I’m glad to see you.”

“I missed you, kid,” she said. “You never come home anymore.”

“I’m busy, Mom,” he said, pressing me closer to him.

I looked up at him and furrowed my eyebrows a little.

“I know, honey,” his mom said. “I’m glad we will get to spend some time with each other now.”

Damien smiled and nodded.

“Are you hungry, mom?” Will asked as he started walking toward the kitchen. “The dinner should be ready soon.”

His mom nodded and followed behind him. I wanted to follow them, but Damien stopped me.

“Do you want to go to Alex and Eli?” he asked quietly.

I looked at him and furrowed my eyebrows. He bent down and kissed my forehead.

“I can tell that you are nervous, sweetie,” he said softly. “You can go to them if you want. You will join us for dinner.”

I looked toward the kitchen.

“Will…,” I spoke, but Damien interrupted me

“He will understand, sweetie,” Damien said. “Don’t worry about him.”

I studied Damien’s face for a moment. He smiled and caressed my cheek.

“Okay,” I said and he gave me a small nod.

“Go, sweetie,” he said, placing another kiss on my forehead. “I will come and get you so we can all eat dinner together.”

I nodded and Damien moved his arms. I walked away, glancing back at him. He kept a small smile on his face, but something seemed off. I saw nervousness in his eyes.

I finally reached Alex’s office and I knocked softly.

“Come in,” Eli said.

I opened the door and I felt my body relax as soon as I saw Alex. He furrowed his eyebrows a little when he saw me.

“Baby?” he called me as he stood up and started approaching me. “Is everything okay?”

I closed the door and walked into his open arms.

“Yes,” I said quietly. “I met their mom.”

Alex kissed the top of my head and rubbed my back gently. I relaxed even more.

“Did she do or say something, honey?” Eli asked. “We didn’t expect you here so soon.”

I looked at Eli and shook my head.

“She was nice,” I said. “Damien noticed I was a bit nervous and he told me to come here. He will come get us when the dinner is done.”

Eli nodded and gave me a small smile. He patted the empty spot next to him.

“Come here, honey,” he said softly. “I would like to show you something.”

Alex let me go and I approached Eli. I sat down next to him and he wrapped an arm around me. I leaned my head on his shoulder and took a deep breath.

“I found some photos of our mom,” Eli said as he kissed my temple. “Would you like to see them?”

I looked at the photo album on his lap and nodded. Eli tightened his hold on me and I relaxed even more. I didn’t know what it was about Alex and him, but I felt most at home when I was with them. I felt safest when I was with them. Maybe it was because they were the first ones who showed me kindness. I wasn’t sure, but I didn’t want the feeling to stop.

They were my home and I didn’t want to lose my home.