Page 35 of Fierce Secrets

What had we done?

"I don't want to be around either of you right now." Emotions welled in my throat as I looked between them, pausing for a moment. I wasn't sure why I didn't just walk out of there. But maybe I was hoping, somehow, they'd fix this right now.

The hurt that flashed across both their faces should have given me satisfaction, but it only made the ache in my chest worse.

"Mer..." Leo started, taking a step toward me, but seemed to think better of it, falling silent as Gray moved between us.

"You need to stay here," Gray insisted. "It's not safe?—"

My phone lit up on the bedside, and I turned and took the few steps to it. Sofia's face filled the screen, and relief swept over me. The timing couldn't have been better. "Sof?"

"What the hell is going on?" Her voice was tight with worry. "I just finished my shift and saw your text about a shooting? Are you okay? What the fuck is happening?!"

"I'll explain everything in person," I said, turning away from the men's protests. "Can you pick me up? I need..." My voice cracked. "I need to be anywhere but here."

"Of course, honey. Text me the address?—"

"Absolutely not," Gray cut in, having moved closer to hear the conversation. "It's not safe out there right now."

"Really? Because I was so safe with you two?!" I spat back, and he had the nerve to look taken aback.

Safe from what, anyway?

Leo stepped forward, blood still staining his chin. "If anything, Roman can follow her. Keep an eye on her."

"Oh, so I need a babysitter now?!" I turned on him, and he frowned only slightly at my outburst.

"We need you safe," he stated, and the words oddly softened me.

I still rolled my eyes before looking to Gray, who looked annoyed, as if he didn't want to agree to anything Leo suggested right now. But despite his anger, he sighed, finally giving a sharp nod. "Fine."

Leo nodded, moving to lean on the wall as he pulled out his phone. Texting Roman his new orders most likely.

I looked down at the robe I was wearing, suddenly aware I had nothing else to put on. My dress and undergarments from yesterday were in the bathroom still, and I didn't really want to put my underwear back on since Leo had made a mess of them. Maybe I could just pull the bra and dress back on…

"I need to change," I muttered, more to myself than them.

"Mer?" Sofia's voice came through the phone. "You still there?"

"Yeah, I just..." I swallowed hard. "I'll text you the address. I just need to get dressed." I pulled the phone away to shoot through the address before holding it back to my ear.

"Of course, I'm heading from work anyway, so it'll take me about 40 minutes to get you at this building. Where even is this place? Whose is it?" Sofia asked, and I knew she'd checked the address in her gps already.

"It's a safe-house, I dunno whose it is," I answered honestly, looking between the two men. Neither of them clarified it for me. Go figure.

"Okay, I'm headed your way, I'll be there soon." With that, Sofia hung up, and I found my gaze meeting Leo's.

The look on his face was devastating – a mixture of regret and something else, something that made my heart squeeze painfully in my chest.

I couldn't deal with any of this right now. Couldn't process the way my body still hummed from his touch, or how Gray looked at us like we'd committed some terrible crime, or why everyone seemed to know something I didn't.

I just needed to escape. Figure all of this, sort out my feelings. So much had happened, I just needed to be somewhere I felt safe and like myself. Although even Sofia felt different, like she knew things as well. But out of the two places I could go, since home was out of the question, she was my better option. And the one more likely to tell me what I wanted to know, if she knew anything. Sure, Leo had told me things, but it was clear he was hiding something big from me. He and Grayson.

"I've got some spare clothes you can use," Gray said, his voice gentler now. "At least until you get to Sofia's."

Leo pushed off from the wall, leaving the room without a word. The silence he left behind felt heavy, and my heart broke at his departure.

Gray sighed as he studied me sadly. "We'll talk about this another time, Mer. Right now, I need to have a discussion with Leo. Maybe staying with Sofia is best for now."

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