Page 42 of Fierce Secrets

"I hate this." My voice cracked. "Please don't let secrets ruin our friendship. You're the one constant I have right now, the one person I thought I could trust completely."

The hurt in my voice made her flinch, but before she could respond, the musical chime of her doorbell echoed through the house. Sofia practically jumped at the interruption, hurrying from the kitchen in a swish of silk.

When she returned, she clutched a manila envelope, her face carefully blank as she opened it. Whatever she saw inside madeher frown deeply before she quickly stuffed the contents back inside.

"What is it?" I asked, trying to catch a glimpse.

"Just work stuff." She waved dismissively, but her knuckles were white where she gripped the envelope. "I need a shower."

"Sofia, please." I caught her arm as she tried to pass. "Tell me the truth. I'm tired of everyone treating me like I'm made of glass."

She stopped, those dark eyes tired and haunted, but full of things I didn't know.

"Sof… I need to know something. Something before I start assuming the worst."

Finally, she sighed. "Let me shower first. Then we'll talk." She pulled her arm free gently. "I'll order some food too."

I watched her disappear up the stairs, the envelope clutched protectively to her chest.

Another secret. Another piece of the puzzle I couldn't quite grasp. But she was going to tell me, and that was a start.

I sighed, glancing at the texts from Gray once more as I sipped my coffee.

No, he couldn't just pack up this issue and ship me off. That wasn't how this worked. I deserved answers.

I clicked the call button, grumbling when it sent me to voicemail because the line was busy. Typical.

I stared at my phone, my thumb hovering over Logan's name beneath Gray's. Had Leo scared him into silence? Into wanting nothing to do with me? The way he'd told me to lose his number... was there more to it than just anger over a beating? What had Leo said to him?

Before I could talk myself out of it, I pressed call. It went straight to voicemail, his professional greeting feeling strange and distant now. I typed out a quick text.

We need to talk.

Failed to send.

My stomach dropped. He'd blocked me completely, erasing me from his life as thoroughly as if I'd never existed.

Was it that easy to turn his back on our relationship? To cast it aside?

My phone buzzed with another text from Gray, distracting me.

Coming to get you at 4. Got your car too. Will help with resignation letter and getting you set up in the new place.

The presumption in his message made my blood boil. I hit call, and this time he answered.

"You can't just ship me off to Lake Forest like I'm some problem to be solved," I snapped before he could speak.

"Mer—"

"No. You don't get to make these decisions for me."

"I think a fresh start would be good for you," he said carefully. "Away from Logan and all this... mess."

The way he said 'mess' made it clear he meant Leo. Made it clear he was trying to separate us. Sure, it could be to do with shooting, but Leo had said he'd sorted that out. Just recalling that made my stomach tighten, but I pushed past it.

"No." My voice was steel. "I'm not going anywhere until I get answers. Real ones."

"Mer, it's not that easy?—"

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