Page 37 of Fierce Secrets

“They do deliveries in the middle of the night?” I asked, and Roman just smiled.

Right, they did if enough money was offered, which Leo had no problem with.

I opened up the unmarked package and took a moment to realize what it was as I read the note inside.

Thought it might help. - L

I softened, a small smile touching my lips.

Why was he like this? Why did he have to mess with my emotions, make me feel these things?

I touched the plush weighted blanket, a deep purple color. My favorite color. Was that just coincidence?

I highly doubted it.

“I take it you like it?” Roman noted, and I nodded. I closed the package and popped it back into the back seat.

“Good, now, let’s grab a coffee.” I fell into step beside him as we headed into the shop. "Can I ask you something?"

He held the door open for me. "About Leo?"

"What's his deal? Why did we get shot at tonight? Is this really all about a bad business dealing?" The questions tumbled out before I could stop them.

Roman was quiet as we got in line, considering his words carefully. "Some answers aren't mine to give. But I will say this – Leo Donati is a complicated man, with complicated responsibilities. And everything he does, he does for a reason."

Right. Why had I thought Roman would shed any light on this situation? But at least I could take some comfort in his presence.

Not that it was normal.

What kind of person needed a security guard twenty-four seven? Sure, Leo was well off, and I'd always assumed it to be because of that, but now…

Now I had a feeling there was a whole lot more.

CHAPTER 13

LEO

Istared into my whiskey, letting the guilt wash over me. Not for being with Meredith – no, that wasn't a mistake. I'd never regret the way she felt in my arms, the way she'd trusted me completely. The guilt came from hurting Gray, from knowing that by claiming her, I'd painted a target on her back.

"What the hell happened?" Gray's voice was tight with controlled anger. "We had a pact, Leo. Keep her in the dark, keep her safe."

I took a slow sip of my drink. "I held that pact for years, despite how I felt about her."

"So you really feel for her?" Gray's frown deepened when I scoffed.

"For a best friend, you're quite blind." The words came out harsher than intended, but the whiskey and the events of the past few days had stripped away my usual restraint.

Gray leaned against the window, his reflection ghostly in the glass. "Maybe I didn't want to see it. Maybe I turned a blind eye deliberately." He turned to face me. "I had my suspicions sometimes, but you never overstepped. Until now. Leo… this…"

"She's too soft for this world," I agreed, my eyes drifting to the door she'd left through. Every instinct screamed at me tofollow her, to keep her safe. But this conversation needed to happen, and I couldn't have it with her here. "Too sweet to be involved in any of this."

"Who initiated it?"

I swirled the amber liquid in my glass. "Neither of us, really. It just... happened." The memory of her in that bathroom, demanding answers, needing me – it was still vivid, still burning under my skin.

"This can't become anything," Gray said, his words landing like bullets. "But it also can't be undone."

The pain that shot through me was unexpected in its intensity. I'd known this would be his reaction, but hearing it... I kept my face carefully blank as I set my glass down. I didn't want to just forget tonight, to sweep it under the rug like it meant nothing. I wanted Meredith – not just for tonight, but for keeps. I wanted to find a way to have her, to be with her, to make this work despite everything.

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