I woke from a muddled dream when I tried to roll over and was met with a sharp stinging in my hand. A peek through squinted eyes told me I had an IV in my hand. Why did I have an IV?

“Easy, Sofia,” Nico said from behind me. He had been propped against the headboard while I slept and was now scouring my face, but I wasn’t sure for what.

I pulled myself up to a sitting position, making my entire body ache. The sensation brought back the memories of lying cold on the freezer floor, feeling like I’d never be warm again. At the recollection, my entire body shuddered.

“It’s okay, Ladybug. You’re home now.” He pulled me over to gently kiss my temple.

“Oh, Sofia! Enzo! Sofia’s awake!” my mother called from the doorway. Hand to her chest, she hurried to my bedside as tears pooled in her eyes. She sat beside me and cautiously wrapped her arms around me, careful not to tug on the IV tube. “My sweet Sofia, you had me so worried.”

I held my mom as tight as I could without straining my aching muscles and gave a tight smile to my dad as he entered my bedroom. “Hey, Daddy.”

He stepped close and placed a kiss on the top of my head. “Hey, Princess. It’s good to see you awake.”

Nico started to stand, but I took his hand and held him securely in place. “How long was I out?”

“Fourteen hours since Nico brought you home.”

“Nico?” I turned to him in surprise. “How did you find me?” I sputtered, curious at everything I’d missed.

My mom stood, patting my hand. “You guys talk. I’m going to put on some soup for you.” She left the room, and my dad took her place on the edge of the bed.

“Nico figured out your clue about being on Staten Island,” my dad explained. “The rest was a little bit of luck and persistence. He had the help of a Russian man who I’m told is a friend of yours.” He arched a brow at me. “Apparently, we have a lot to talk about when you’re feeling better.”

There was only one Russian Nico possibly could have been working with. I didn’t know how they did it, but the two had gotten together and rescued me—just in time, if my aching body was any judge. I was glad to be alive, but it meant my father now knew my deepest secret.

I took a deep breath, my body sagging as I exhaled on a nod.

“Sof, there’s something you should know,” Nico said, bringing my attention back to him. “Michael’s okay, but he was shot while we were rescuing you.”

My head whipped back to Nico, terror hurtling my stomach into my throat. “Shot? Where? What happened? Is he okay?”