Page 9 of Fierce Secrets

I shouldn't have gone to her. Should have stayed where I was, maintained the distance I'd carefully cultivated over the years. But when had I ever been able to resist when she needed me?

"No... please..." Her voice was small, broken.

Before I realized what I was doing, I was beside the bed, my hand hovering over her shoulder. "Meredith."

She jerked awake, eyes wild until they focused on me. Recognition dawned, followed by relief. The sight made my chest tighten.

"Leo?" Her voice was rough with sleep and tears. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to?—"

"Don't." I stepped back, needing the distance. "You have nothing to apologize for."

She sat up, my t-shirt slipping off one shoulder. I forced my gaze away from the exposed skin, from the way my clothes draped over her.

"I… I think I saw a memory," she whispered. "My father…"

The rage bubbled up again.

"He's gone, Mer, it's okay. Don't let him get to you right now."

"I know. But he was so angry… breaking things. I can barely remember those things." Her brow was knitted, and she shook her head like she couldn't get a clear picture.

"You should try to sleep." I turned to leave, but her small hand caught my wrist. The touch burned through my skin, making my pulse jump.

"Le-Le."

That fucking nickname. She had no idea what it did to me, how it stripped away years of carefully constructed walls.

"Your knuckles… did you hit someone?"

"Some questions are better left unasked, Meredith."

A knowing look crossed her face, and she pursed her lips but didn't let go. "You've always looked out for me, haven't you?"

If she only knew. If she remembered that night, what Grayson and I had done...

"Sleep," I said again, gently extracting my wrist from her grip. "I'll be in the living room if you need anything."

"Thank you," she whispered as I reached the door. "For everything."

I didn't respond, couldn't respond. Because how do you tell someone that you'd kill for them? That you already had?

The whiskey was waiting where I'd left it, but somehow I knew sleep wouldn't come tonight. Not with her in my bed, wearing my clothes, trusting me to keep her safe.

If she only knew what kind of monster she was trusting.

My phone buzzed – Grayson.

"She sleeping?" he asked when I answered.

"Nightmare," I replied, keeping my voice low. "But she's okay."

There was a pause. "Logan's face looks like he ran into a wall. Repeatedly."

"Walls can be dangerous."

Grayson's dark chuckle came through the line. "You've done a lot for this family, and I'm grateful. Thank you for getting her tonight, for looking out for her."

"That's what family does."

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