Page 25 of Fierce Secrets

"Everything will be okay, Mer. We've got you. Focus on your breathing," he said.

"The Morrison property in Lincoln Park might work, it's been on the books for a while," Leo said to Grayson, completely ignoring my question. "Good sight lines, established security system. Not as humble as you like, but safer."

"Of course." Grayson nodded. "I'll look into it."

"I can have my team assess it tomorrow, make sure it's still up to scratch."

I stared between them, these men I thought I knew. My brother, who I'd always been so close to, discussing property security like it was the norm. Leo, moving after being shot at with the confidence of someone who'd been gunned after too many times.

"Will someone please tell me what's happening?" My voice cracked as my vision darkened at the edges. My breaths were shallow now, coming in short bursts.

"Hey, focus on me, on my voice. I'm sorry this happened, Mer, but you're safe. You're always safe," Gray said, but I caught Leo's sharp inhale, like he was refraining from scoffing.

I was with him there. I wouldn't call getting shot at safe.

"We got shot at, Gray!" I snapped, my voice hitching.

"Look, I'll explain everything, but for now, you need to try to breathe." Gray was leaning through from the front seat now, his hand on my knee. "Please."

I nodded, and Leo sighed before he pulled me onto his lap, wrapping his arms around me.

"What can you smell? And hear?" he asked, his voice muffled by the pounding of my heart.

I glimpsed Gray’s confused gaze, noting his now set jaw as he watched Leo hold me. We were both just as stunned by Leo's shift, but I let out a shaky breath as I focused on Leo’s arms around me, anchoring me.

"Your cologne, your heart," I whispered as I curled tighter into his chest.

"Good, focus on those," Leo's voice was gruff, and I closed my eyes. His heart was steady, along with his breathing. No, not quite. His heart was a little faster than it should have been, but we had just been shot at.

It certainly wasn't vibrating like mine.

"Gray, call Michaels, tell him you need someone to clean up your place," Leo said.

Clean this up? Like this was just another Tuesday night inconvenience?

Leo's warm arms tightened even more around me. The constriction was oddly comforting, and I continued focusing on my senses.

Because chanting my usual phrases just didn't seem right in this situation.

"This shouldn't have happened," Leo muttered as Gray dialed.

"You're telling me," Gray sounded displeased more than anything.

This whole situation was messed up.

I listened to Gray make his brief call, explaining there was a situation at his place that required cleaning up. A muffled response was answered with him saying just broken windows, but police needed to be handled as well.

With that, the call ended, and Gray sighed heavily.

My brother suddenly felt like a stranger to me. Leo, I had no idea how I felt about him right now, but the way he was holding me was helping me keep it together. Just.

"Gray?" My voice was small in the car's silence.

"Yes?"

"Why were we shot at? What's going on?" I shivered in Leo's hold, and his thumb began circling over my arm soothingly, making my skin prickle.

"Not now, Meredith." Gray's tone was gentle but firm. "Let us handle this. I'll explain later."

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