Page 13 of Fierce Secrets

"Mer!" She dropped the bags and rushed to hug me. "Oh honey, Gray told me. That bastard Logan, I'll kill him myself."

Over her shoulder, I saw Leo's lips twitch. "I'll leave you two to talk."

"Oh no you don't," Sofia called after him. "We need to discuss some things. Gray mentioned?—"

"Sofia." Leo's warning tone cut her off.

Something passed between them, some unspoken communication that made me wonder exactly what Gray had told her.

"Right," she mumbled, then turned back to me. "I brought clothes and toiletries. My spare laptop too in case you can't make it into the office Monday." She gave Leo a pointed look.

"She needs to focus on herself," Leo stated, as if that settled everything.

"And you're going to ensure that?" Sofia's tone was challenging, but there was something else there too. Something knowing.

Leo's jaw ticked. "I have meetings. Roman will be downstairs if you need anything. Use the intercom in the kitchen to contact him."

"Okay," I said softly.

"Meredith." He paused at the elevator. "Stay in the penthouse."

It wasn't a request.

As soon as the doors closed behind him, Sofia rounded on me. "Spill. Everything. Starting with why you're in his robe and?—"

"Sof!" Heat flooded my cheeks. "It's not like that. He's just... helping."

She snorted, grabbing a pastry. "Honey, Leo Donati doesn't 'just help' anyone. Even if you guys are supposedly like family, getting you to stay here with him? In his penthouse? That's a big thing for someone like him. Now tell me what happened with Logan, and why you're really here."

I took a deep breath, wondering how much I should share. The memory of my father, Leo's protective embrace, the way he'd known exactly how to calm my panic... Was it really such a big deal with him bringing me back to his place? My brother had been fine with it.

"I found him in bed with someone from his work," I finally said, and Sofia's face twisted into hatred.

I couldn't help but be glad to have her here with me. I needed my best friend right now.

CHAPTER 5

MEREDITH

"In bed with someone from work?" Sofia's eyes narrowed as she picked apart her pastry. "Who?"

"Some junior accountant. Susan or Shannon, I can't remember." I wrapped my hands around my coffee cup, letting the warmth seep into my palms. "Does it matter?"

"It matters because I'm going to ruin her life along with Logan's." She pulled out her phone, fingers flying over the screen. "What's his side piece's last name?"

"Sof, don't. Please." I reached across and lowered her phone. "I just want to forget it happened."

She studied me for a long moment. "Fine. But tell me how you ended up here. With him."

The way she said 'him' made me pause. "Gray sent him. My car's in the shop, and the rideshare apps weren't working."

"And of all people, he sent Leo?" She glanced around the pristine penthouse with a strange look. "Mr. Dangerous-And-Mysterious himself?"

"He was the closest, I guess."

"Mer, honey, I love you, but you can be really blind sometimes." Sofia leaned forward. "Leo Donati doesn't just invite anyone to his penthouse and order them to stay. I knowyou say he's like family, but even with family, I doubt he'd do that."

"What are you trying to say?"

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