Page 41 of Fierce Secrets

As I crawled under the plush comforter, my weighted blanket tossed over it, exhaustion hit me. The stress of the past forty-eight hours – Logan's betrayal, the shooting, Leo's touch, the secrets everyone seemed to be keeping – it all crashed over me at once.

I curled into myself, pulling the blankets tighter around me as if they could shield me from the chaos of my life. I glanced atmy phone, a text from Gray flashing on the screen. It was a mere goodnight text and that he loved me, and we'd figure everything else out.

Right, because we needed to figure all this out. This insane mess, filled with secrets and lies. Even that reminder of the mysteries surrounding Leo and Gray couldn't keep my heavy eyelids from closing as I rolled over.

My last thought before sleep claimed me was of Leo's words:You don't know what that means yet.

Maybe I didn't want to know.

CHAPTER 15

MEREDITH

The winter sunlight streaming through the bay window finally roused me from a surprisingly deep sleep. One glance at my phone made me curse – nearly noon. The events of last night crashed back like waves: Leo's touch, Gray's anger, the unease at what was really going on and who they really were.

I found Sofia in her gleaming kitchen, in her emerald silk pajamas, fighting with her ridiculously expensive coffee maker. Her usually perfect curls were a wild mess, and she squinted at me through sleepy eyes, looking nothing like the polished woman who typically graced our outings. This was Sofia, fresh from a killer shift, desperate for her caffeine to prepare her for the day.

"I slept through my alarm," she mumbled apologetically, stifling a yawn. "Guess we both needed it after everything."

While she cursed at the coffee machine, I sank onto one of her leather bar stools and checked my notifications. Two missed calls from Gray, followed by a series of messages that made my stomach flip.

"He got all my stuff," I said, my voice sounding hollow in the quiet kitchen. "Sorted the lease with Logan – it's all in his name now." I scrolled further, each message feeling like another stepaway from my old life. "Everything's at the new place in Lincoln Park. The one they were talking about after the shooting. Where he's going to move."

Sofia nodded slowly, finally coaxing the coffee maker to life. The rich aroma filled the kitchen, a small comfort amidst my crumbling life.

"And..." I swallowed hard, my throat tight. "He's got me a job. In Lake Forest. At his office there."

"Lake Forest?" Sofia perked up, suddenly looking more awake. The morning sun caught the subtle highlights in her dark hair as she moved closer. "What's the offer?"

I opened the email, my eyes widening at the figures. The salary was almost double what I made now, with benefits that seemed too good to be true. "It's... generous. Really generous. They'll even help with housing costs, either rent or a down payment."

"Maybe it's for the best," Sofia said carefully, pulling two of her favorite artisan mugs from the cabinet. The delicate ceramic clinked softly as she set them down. "A fresh start, away from everything."

"He wants me away from the city," I translated, the realization settling heavy in my chest. "Away from Leo."

"Probably."

"But my life is here, you're here," I murmured, still processing the messages as I reread them.

"I could come too."

I looked up sharply, nearly knocking over the mug she'd just filled and placed before me. "What?"

She shrugged before taking a sip of her coffee. "Why not? I could rent this place out, move up there. Lake Forest could be fun."

"Fun?" I stared at her like she'd grown a second head. This was Sofia, who collected Louboutins like some people collectedstamps. Who had a standing reservation at every Michelin-starred restaurant in the city. "You? Miss Designer Everything? You'd leave your fancy restaurants and shopping just like that?"

"It would be hard," she admitted, sliding my coffee closer. The morning light caught the steam rising from the cup, creating ghostly swirls in the air between us. "But not impossible. Besides, Lake Forest is growing. It's practically a small city now, just more... relaxed."

The way she said it, like she'd already thought this through, made me study her more carefully. My glamorous, city-loving best friend, suddenly willing to move to a smaller town? The Sofia I knew would rather die than leave the city's social scene.

Just like the Leo I thought I knew who now had revealed a darker side. Just like the brother I thought I knew wouldn't be involved in whatever dark business had led to last night's shooting.

How many people in my life were wearing masks?

"You know more than you're telling me," I said quietly, watching her face for any reaction. "And it's making me uneasy, Sof. All these secrets..."

Sofia's perfectly manicured fingers tightened around her mug. "If I'm keeping anything from you, it's in your best interest. Just trust me on that."

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