Page 70 of Fierce Secrets

"I understand why you did it," I said softly. "But Gray... did you know? About the beatings, before that night?"

"God, no." He set his cards on the table as he turned to me, his hand resting on my arm. "Mer, if I'd known, I would have taken you away from there. We would have run, hidden, anything to keep you safe."

The fierce protectiveness in his voice made me smile. Some things never changed. I knew he was telling the truth, it was written all over his face.

My big brother, so ready to protect me even if it meant running away. Maybe I should've told him all those years ago. Would anything have changed? Would my father still have found himself a bloody pulp on the garage floor at Leo's feet?

"After seeing my medical records, remembering more..." I covered his hand with mine. "I don't think badly of you for what happened. And I know you haven't killed since then."

He nodded slowly, a weak smile crossing his lips as he looked down at my hand on his. "The sight of blood used to send me into panic attacks after that night. Leo..." He swallowed hard. "Leo helped me through it, but he also moved me into a different position with their family. Made me the face of the legitimate businesses."

"Why did you get involved with the Donatis in the first place?"

"At first? I felt like I owed them. They protected us both, covered up what we did." He leaned back, glancing towards the hall. "But then I realized they were the lesser evil in this world. They have morals, beliefs. Sure, they deal in weapons, drugs, the usual stuff, but compared to some families? They actually care about civilian casualties."

"And now?"

"Most of my business dealings are legitimate. Leo helped me start clean companies alongside the... other ventures." His lipstwisted. "Plus, the Donatis offer protection. Turns out Dad had made enemies trying to play different crime families against each other. Put a target on his kids' backs. I'm just grateful he was an only child – at least our grandparents were gone by then."

I absorbed this information, pieces of our past realigning themselves in my mind. "So Dad was really involved in this world, more so than just assisting the Donatis with finance stuff?"

"Deeper than any of us knew." Gray's voice was low, tired. "He just wasn't very good at it."

I thought about Leo, about how naturally he moved through this dangerous world. How composed he was when bullets were flying, something he'd passed onto my brother.

"There's more you want to know," Gray said, reading my expression like he always could.

"I guess, but I don't even know what. It's all been so much to take in, my memories, the truth." I sighed heavily as I tightened my grip on his hand and held his gaze. "But I love you, Gray. I'm still coming to terms with what you did, but I know it's not something I'll hold against you. If it helps, I'll even say I forgive you, but truthfully, I know there's nothing to forgive. You protected me, saved me. If it weren't for what you both did, I might not be here today."

His expression softened, and it looked as if I had indeed lifted a great weight off his shoulders as he pulled me into a hug.

"You have no idea how much I actually needed that," he whispered, and I held onto him tight, my eyes welling at the way his voice cracked.

My big brother, always so strong, always there for me. He was still only human, and he loved me. That was all that mattered, nothing else.

Sofia's returning footsteps broke us apart, but he was smiling gently at me, and I returned it.

We were going to be fine.

Now I just had to sort things out in regards to Leo.

CHAPTER 25

MEREDITH

Leo's arrival brought a shift in the atmosphere – his presence filling the room like a storm cloud. "I met with the head of the Malatesta family," he announced, not bothering with pleasantries as he glanced at our now forgotten game of Monopoly. "He understands this was likely a frame job. We're working together to find who's really behind his nephew's death."

His eyes met mine briefly, and unbidden memories of our night together flooded back – his hands, his lips, the way he'd looked at me like I was something precious. Then our kiss just last night, fueled by alcohol and heightened emotions. We had so much we needed to talk about. Things to figure out. I shoved the thoughts aside, focusing on the present crisis.

"So what now?" Gray asked as he rose from his seat beside me. "We just go back to our lives?"

"Not exactly. Despite their supposed cooperation, I've heard rumblings. Some family members aren't content to wait for answers. A separate faction of the family, headed by Cosimo's father, Tullio Malatesta." He moved to the adjoining kitchen, pouring himself a drink from some bottles Roman had brought in. "We should stay here until we get to the bottom of this."

Sofia blew a raspberry, breaking the tension. "Well, guess we'll just keep playing Monopoly then. Unless there's something else you'd like to play?"

Leo scoffed, already heading toward the hall. "I have calls to make." He shot me another look, his expression masked, and disappeared from view.

Was he pissed because he'd learned about Andrew Sullivan and was annoyed I'd kept it secret? Or was it just because he was still hurt about my decision?

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