Page 58 of Fierce Secrets

This was the man who'd protected me countless times, who was always there when I truly needed him. The man who'd been hidden in the shadows after that fateful night, keeping his distance while still watching over me. I knew it, from my memories, from the way he spoke and what we'd shared.

But then he pulled away, his hands gentle yet firm on my shoulders.

"You're drunk," he said roughly. "We can talk when you're sober. Roman will be outside if you need anything."

Before I could protest that I was only tipsy and knew what I was doing, he was gone, leaving me with tingling lips and conflicted emotions yet again.

I sighed, heading down the hall to my room to change. Once in some comfy pajamas, I flopped onto the guest bed, still tasting Leo on my lips.

Leo was someone I wanted, despite the darkness he came with. He was lethal, shadowed, and yet he made my blood burn. He made me feel things I'd not felt before, even with Logan.

Even if we'd only shared the one night together, I couldn't stop thinking about it. About how he'd wanted me, and told me I was his. How he'd held me and caressed my hair through my panic attacks, revealing a soft side that I'd never known about.

I groaned as I buried my head under my pillow, the steady thump of an alcohol induced headache beginning to make itself known.

I had no idea what to do, and I only knew one thing for certain right now - tomorrow's hangover promised to be brutal in more ways than one.

The poundingheadache that I woke to was like some horrid little creature was trying to hammer its way out of my skull. I groaned, holding my thumping head as I eased myself from under the comfort of my pillow. Sunlight stabbed through the guest room windows, making me wince.

Yep, I'd overdone it last night. And if I'd overdone it, Sofia was going to be worse off.

My churning guts had me lurching for the bathroom, where the early morning fast food run made its reappearance. Along with what was likely far too much alcohol.

I allowed my body to expel my irrational bender until my stomach settled, and then I dragged myself into the shower, praying it would wash away my stupid choices and the mess I was in.

One could only hope.

After spending far too long under the hot water, willing my headache away, I stumbled to Sofia's kitchen and fumbled with the coffee maker. The rich aroma helped settle my still slightly queasy stomach as I searched through her cabinets for painkillers.

I downed them before checking my phone, hoping I'd manifest the headache away even faster as I opened my messages. I groaned at the text from my work.

By some sheer miracle, I must've sent a message last night calling in sick, but they were asking if I could send in some files.

I slumped against the cabinet, last night's adventure replaying in my mind, and ending with my ill-thought-out kiss with Leo.

Yeah, that had been smooth. Not.

At least my headache was nowhere near as bad as when I'd woken. I moved to the pantry, pulling out some bread and then jam from the fridge. I took my time making the jam toast, and took a few sips of coffee before polishing off two pieces for myself. I put on another two slices, deciding I might as well add to my list of bad decisions as I headed back to my room to change, intent to go into the office. Once done, I returned to the kitchen to load up a tray for Sof.

With a fresh batch of toast, coffee, and pills ready for Sof, I downed the last of my coffee, grateful that my headache had eased even more, and headed to her room. She lay sprawled across her bed, still in last night's dress, her mascara smeared around her eyes.

We definitely had revisited our college days.

"Rise and shine," I whispered, setting the tray on her nightstand.

Sofia groaned and pulled a pillow over her face. "Thank God I'm off today."

"Here. I made you coffee, there's painkillers too. And jam toast." Jam toast had always been her go-to back in our college days after a night out, and I'd picked up the habit.

"You're amazing. How are you alive though?" She groaned and peeked out from under the pillow, then immediately squeezed her eyes shut. "Why the hell are you dressed for work?"

I smoothed my pencil skirt as I straightened. "Because I'm going in. They needed some files and I figured I should just go in even if it's a half day."

"What?" Sofia tried to sit up but fell back with a hand pressed to her forehead. She squinted at me through one eye. "Are you insane? Aren't you hungover to high hell too?"

"Yes, but not as bad as you. I threw up and took painkillers, and I feel well enough. Besides, if I go downhill, I'll call out sick. I need something normal right now. Work is all I have left that makes sense."

"But Logan?—"

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