Page 64 of Fierce Secrets

When my sobs finally died down, I used the tissues on the desk to clean myself up. At least this room was somewhat unpacked. I'd take what little wins I could. Although finding these files, I wasn't sure what I'd class that as.

I sat at the desk for a short while, silent and numb, staring at the box of my father's cruelty. It was only when I finally rose that recognition suddenly hit me. The man from the coffee shop – I knew him from before everything changed, before Gray and Leo became friends. He was one of Dad's old business partners from his finance days, before the Donati family entered our lives.

My hands shook as I pulled out my phone, debating whether to tell anyone. But first, I needed to be sure. I closed my eyes,trying to grasp the name that danced just out of reach. Mr. Samuels? Mr. Sanderman? No… Mr. Sullivan. Andrew Sullivan. That was the man. I remembered him now, coming over a few nights when I was young, although the memories were hazy and vague.

A quick internet search and I had his office number in ten minutes. Before I could talk myself out of it, I dialed.

"This is Sullivan Accounting." The voice. It was definitely the man from the coffee shop, I could almost smell the tobacco on his breath with the attempt to hide it with mint.

"Mr. Sullivan." I forced my voice to remain steady. "I want to know why you're blackmailing us. You said we, so who is ‘we’?"

A pause. "Miss Cassaro. I'm surprised you remember me." He honestly sounded shocked. Had he not thought I'd recall the man who'd come by a few times in my childhood? Then again, from what I could recall, I'd been sent to my room when he'd come. But it was because of that that I remembered. I'd always wondered who he was, and my father had answered me on one of the rare times he felt like being civil.

"I'm remembering a lot of things lately." I traced the edge of a medical file with my finger, my heart thundering. "You said you know the truth."

"I do. And they should pay up." His tone was sharp, but I heard the uneasiness. He'd not expected this. Perhaps there was no we. Just him. But saying ‘we’ would give anyone pause, enough to not attack him in a coffee shop at least.

Smart man if so.

"Why now?" I gripped the phone tighter. "After all these years?"

"That's none of your concern." The line went dead, and I stared at my phone, my mind racing. This wasn't just about money – the timing, the personal nature of it... there had to be more… right?

I snatched up my bag and headed for the front door, knowing Roman was the one likely to get through to both Leo and my brother quickly, since my brother hadn't yet responded to my text.

Then again, they'd probably go after Andrew immediately and deal with this, and probably not in a good way. I had no idea why he was blackmailing us, but he'd been around before the Donati were. Maybe it wasn't related to their business. Maybe this was more about saving his own skin until now, when he was needing the money. Maybe he'd kept quiet all these years for fear of the Donati family.

I had no idea what his motives were, and it wasn't like he'd shot at me or threatened me. He'd only threatened to reveal the truth.

No, I needed more answers before I threw him to the wolves.

"Roman?" I called out as soon as I stepped out the front door. I turned to lock it, jumping when I spun back to find Roman before me.

"Can you take me back to Sofia's? I need to talk to her about something."

He nodded, unaware of my new discovery. Then again, maybe they'd already have his identity from the video footage.

"Any news on that man yet?" I asked carefully as I slid into the passenger seat of his car.

"Nothing yet. I'll let you know as soon as I hear anything, as per Mr. Donati's request."

Right, because Leo wanted me to only have the truth from here on out. And yet here I was, keeping something vital from him.

We'd just file it under something he'd find out once I knew the truth. I wasn't completely lying to him and hiding his entire life away. This was different.

I was potentially protecting an innocent man who just needed money or had a sick child or god knows what.

The ride back was silent, but my mind was anything but quiet. The pieces were there – I just had to figure out how they fit together.

CHAPTER 23

MEREDITH

"Promise you won't tell them? Not yet?" I curled deeper into Sofia's plush couch, clutching one of her designer throw pillows like a shield. I’d even gotten my weighted blanket from the room and wrapped it around myself again. Leo’s stupid thoughtfulness was both infuriating and softening. I wanted to hate him, but it was a little hard right now.

"Your secret's safe with me." Sofia settled cross-legged beside me, concern etched on her face.

"I found my medical files at Gray's new place." I glanced down at my painted toes poking out from the bottom of my blanket. I’d changed into some comfy clothes before plopping on the couch to talk to her, wrapped up in my blanket. "Hospital records from when I was younger."

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