Page 40 of Fierce Secrets

Sofia nodded slowly, that same careful look in her eyes.

"But Sof… look, I had fun, I enjoyed it. I know you want more deets, but honestly, I don't want to think too fondly of it, not right now," I said quickly, pulling myself from the joyful reminiscing. "I feel like they're hiding something from me," I continued, watching snowflakes dance outside the window as I huddled under my blanket more. "Something big. I'm worried they're involved in something... bad. It’s all I can think about now." I turned back to her. "Logan hasn't said a word about the beating, and the police haven't contacted me again. It's like it never happened."

Sofia sighed heavily, staring into her mug like it held answers she didn't want to give. Her expression was knowing, and it made my stomach knot.

"You know something." It wasn't a question. The way she'd acted at Leo's penthouse, with the police, the way she always seemed to know more than me. It was obvious, and it was killing me that she wasn't sharing. "Please, Sof. Tell me what's going on. I feel like I'm going crazy, like everyone knows something I don't."

Her eyes met mine, flickering with warring emotions. "Mer..."

"Please," I whispered. "I need to know."

"Leo's family..." Sofia paused, choosing her words carefully. The lamplight caught the subtle tension in her shoulders. "They're a lot like my own. Mixed up with bad people."

"How?" I pressed, setting my mug down with trembling hands. The snow fell heavier outside now, creating a wall of white that made the library feel even more isolated. "And how is Gray involved in all this?"

Sofia sighed as she gazed out the window. "They're best friends, have businesses together. When you get tied up with the Donati family, things get... harder." The way she said 'harder' made it sound like a euphemism for something much darker.

"I tried googling them, but there's nothing substantial. Just charity events and vague business mentions." I glanced at my phone. "It's like they're shadows."

A bitter laugh escaped her as she stood, moving to the window. The glow from the few garden lights caught her profile, making her look older somehow, more serious than I'd ever seen her. "If you have the resources and money they do, you can hide yourself from the web. Make yourself a ghost." She touched the cold glass. "Disappear anything you don't want found."

The uneasy feeling in my stomach grew, twisting and knotting at her words. Everything about this felt wrong – the secrecy, the violence, the way everyone seemed to dance around the truth. The way Leo's hands had been so gentle with me, yet had put Logan in the hospital without hesitation.

"You need sleep," Sofia said, turning back to me. The shadows under her eyes reminded me she'd just finished one hell of a shift. "Rest. We can figure this out when the sun is up."

"Sleep?" I stared at her incredulously. My whole body felt wired, electric with anxiety and unanswered questions. "There's no way I can sleep right now. I need to know what's going on." My voice cracked slightly as the events of the night crashed over me again. "Especially since I... since Leo and I..."

Sofia turned back to me sharply, all exhaustion gone from her face. "Are you on birth control?"

My heart plummeted to my stomach, the room suddenly feeling too cold despite the warmth of the library. "I... we didn't..."

"Did you use protection?"

The silence that followed was deafening, broken only by the soft tick of the antique clock on the mantle and the growing horror in my chest.

I thought of Leo's possessive words, his promise to never let me go, and suddenly they took on a whole new meaning.

What had I done?

"Oh god," I whispered, the reality settling in. "With everything happening... I haven't taken my pills in days. I was midway through I think…"

"Right, relax, it's okay." Sofia jumped up, looking like she was working in her scrubs as she hurried from the library. I could hear her rummaging in the kitchen, muttering softly. She returned moments later, a small packet in her hand. "Take this. Now."

She pressed the morning after pill into my palm. My fingers closed around it, guilt twisting in my stomach even as I knew it was the responsible thing to do.

"These things happen," Sofia said softly, watching me swallow the pill with the last of my hot chocolate. "Especially when life goes sideways like this. We'll pick up your pills tomorrow or get you new ones, get you back on track."

I set the mug down, suddenly feeling overwhelmed. "I need to get my stuff from the apartment too. Sort out that whole mess. God, Logan… I have no clue if he's still in the hospital or what. I don't even know how to get my stuff after that whole mess."

"That's tomorrow's problem." Sofia squeezed my shoulder. "We'll handle it together, in the daylight."

"But—"

"Mer, honey, I just finished a crazy-ass shift in the ER. I need at least a few hours of sleep before we tackle your life crisis head-on." Despite her words, her tone was gentle. "Please? It's dark, there's nothing else we can do right now."

I sighed, watching the snow continue to fall outside. The world felt surreal, like everything that had happened belonged in someone else's life. "Fine."

Sofia walked me to my usual guest room – the blue one with the bay window and reading nook. I had enough clothes and toiletries stashed here from various stays that I didn't need to worry about basics. The familiar space, with its ocean-themed decor and soft lighting, felt like a sanctuary.

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