Omniscient Pov:

The next morning, Sophie awoke to the sound of Linda shouting from the kitchen. Her body ached, every bruise and scrape a cruel reminder of the night before. She sat up slowly, wincing as pain radiated from her ribs. The thin blanket slid off her shoulders, leaving her shivering in the morning chill.

"Sophie!" Linda's voice screeched from downstairs. "Get your lazy ass down here!"

Sophie hesitated, her stomach twisting in knots. She had learned long ago that hesitation would only make things worse. Pulling herself to her feet, she quickly slipped on a hoodie that was two sizes too big, hoping it would hide the worst of her bruises. She padded down the creaky stairs, keeping her eyes downcast as she entered the kitchen.

Linda stood at the counter, her wiry frame hunched over a cup of coffee. Her sharp features twisted into a scowl as she turned to glare at Sophie. "Took you long enough," she snapped. "The trash isn't going to take itself out."

"Yes, ma'am," Sophie murmured, keeping her voice soft and submissive.

"Don't 'ma'am' me," Linda sneered, shoving a trash bag into her arms. "And when you're done with that, scrub the kitchen floor. It's filthy, just like you."

Sophie bit the inside of her cheek, nodding silently as she hauled the heavy trash bag out the back door. The crisp morning air stung her face, but she welcomed it—it was a brief reprieve from the suffocating atmosphere inside the house.

As she trudged toward the garbage bin, she caught a glimpse of her reflection in a broken mirror leaning against the garage. Her green eyes, once bright and full of life, stared back at her, dull and rimmed with shadows. Her cheek was still swollen, the bruise turning an ugly shade of purple. She turned away quickly, unable to bear the sight.

She finished her chores in silence, moving mechanically through the motions. Every so often, she felt Linda's eyes on her, scrutinizing her every move.

When Gary returned home that evening, Sophie's dread grew. The evenings were always worse. He was often drunk, his temper shorter and his fists quicker. She stayed out of sight as much as she could, retreating to her small room upstairs. But even that wasn't always enough.

"Sophie!" Gary's slurred voice called from the living room.

Her heart sank as she reluctantly made her way downstairs. He sat in his recliner, a bottle of beer in one hand and the TV remote in the other. His bloodshot eyes narrowed as he saw her.

"What the hell is this?" he barked, holding up a crumpled receipt.

"I—I don't know," Sophie stammered.

"Don't lie to me, girl!" he roared, throwing the receipt at her. It fluttered to the floor. "You think you can steal from me? Huh?"

"I didn't take anything," she pleaded, her voice trembling.

Gary shot up from his chair, his large frame looming over her. Sophie stepped back instinctively, but his hand lashed out, grabbing her by the arm.

"Don't you dare lie to me," he snarled, shaking her hard enough to make her teeth rattle.

"Gary, leave her alone," Linda called lazily from the kitchen, but there was no real concern in her voice.

Gary's grip tightened, his other hand raised as if to strike her. Sophie closed her eyes, bracing for the blow.

In Chicago

Alessandro Romano's patience was wearing thin. Dante and Enzo had been dispatched to Michigan hours ago, and Alessandro hadn't been able to rest since.

Sitting in his study, he leaned back in his chair, his hand gripping a glass of whiskey. He couldn't shake the feeling that this lead, however small, could finally bring his daughter home. His little star.

"I'll burn the world down to find you," he muttered under his breath.

And for the man who ruled Chicago's underworld, those weren't empty words.

That night, Sophie lay awake in her bed, her body aching and her heart heavy. She didn't know who she was or where she came from, but somewhere deep inside, a fragile hope clung to life. She had to believe there was something better out there—someone who would save her from this nightmare.

What she didn't know was that help was already on its way. The Romano family had found their star, and nothing would stop them from bringing her home.