Page 27 of Fierce Secrets

"No." Leo cut him off. "Stay with Meredith. She needs you right now."

Gray nodded slowly before he settled back.

Leo turned to me then, and something in his eyes made my breath catch. It wasn't the cold, professional mask he usually wore, nor the dangerous gleam from earlier. This was something else – something almost tender.

"I'll sort this, Mer. I'm sorry you got caught in the crossfire tonight."

Then he was gone, the door clicking shut behind him with quiet finality.

"Want me to see what snacks this place has?" Gray offered, already moving to stand.

I caught his wrist. "Gray, please. What aren't you telling me?"

He kissed my forehead, the way he used to when we were kids. "Only what you don't need to know, Mer. Only what keeps you safe."

But as I listened to his footsteps retreat to the kitchen, I wondered what other secrets they were keeping, and why everyone seemed so determined to keep me in the dark.

The city glowedlike scattered stars beneath the safe-house windows. From this vantage point, I could see Leo's building rising against the skyline, its top floors illuminated despitethe late hour, save for the penthouse—his. How many other properties did they have like this one? Why did they even have safe-houses? Only criminals had safe-houses, or law enforcement. And I was sure they weren't law enforcement.

It was leaving me with one thought only - they were involved in bad things, things I didn’t want to know about. But how bad?

I'd tried questioning Gray earlier, but he'd deflected every attempt with practiced ease, eventually retreating to one of the bedrooms with the excuse of an early meeting tomorrow to sort out a few other things. As if tomorrow would be business as usual after being shot at. What on earth was so important he couldn't cancel? But he'd told me to just relax, everything was going to be okay.

For once, I wasn't sure whether or not to believe him. I'd always believed him, but now, things were different.

Gray may look like my brother, but I had no idea who he really was. Who anyone really was.

I really was beginning to believe they were involved in crime, even mafia stuff. But surely my brother wouldn’t be?

Right?

My phone sat silent in my lap. I'd texted Sofia hours ago, letting her know what happened and that I was safe, just shaken. But a quick news search showed a massive pile-up on the interstate keeping all emergency services busy. She'd probably be pulling a double shift at the ER, too focused on saving lives to check her messages.

The way Sofia acted around Leo, the way she'd been with the police today, I wondered if there was more to her than I knew too.

Fuck, why was I so alone right now?

The soft click of the door opening made me stiffen, but as the figure moved through the shadows, I recognized the form. Leo, his steps silent despite his size.

"Are you okay?" My voice seemed too loud in the quiet space, the darkness suddenly suffocating.

He froze in the kitchen, then reached for the light over the stove. "I'm fine."

The gentle illumination revealed him in a different suit than earlier, this one a darker shade of navy. Pristine. Perfect. As if he hadn't just spent hours 'handling' whatever needed handling. Had it been a meeting with this supposed company trying to scare them? Or had it been a more 'hands-on' dealing?

"Did you take care of everything?"

"It's been dealt with." His voice was carefully neutral as he watched me, his back to the stove so that his face was cast in shadows.

"How?" When he didn't respond, I pressed harder. "How did you handle it, Leo?"

He sighed as he planted his hands on the kitchen island and leaned forward, and despite the shadows, I caught the intensity in his gaze as those icy eyes locked onto me. "Do you really want to know? Maybe there are questions better left unanswered, Meredith."

"You beat my fiancé into the ER." I threw my blanket off and rose, moving toward him. My blood was burning now, frustrated beyond measure at how no one was giving me any damn answers that made sense. I was beginning to think the worst, and I wanted someone to tell me I was wrong. "Then we got shot at over dinner. I feel like I don't even know who you are anymore. Who either of you are." My hands balled into fists as I rounded the kitchen island, unsure why I suddenly had all the courage to stand up to him.

He turned his gaze to meet mine, his head still hung as he leaned on the kitchen island, watching me like a cat watches its prey.

It sent an uneasy shiver through me, but I stood my ground only an arm’s length from him.

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