Page 2 of Fierce Hearts

"What terrifies me is imagining her with someone who wouldn't." His gaze shifted to me, a strange depth in those eyes. "Someone who'd run at the first sign of danger."

Like I had. From my family. From my heritage. From everything I was born to be.

"Some of us prefer building rather than burning," I said, my voice sharp.

"Hey, I meant nothing by it, Sof. Besides, I know you, you won't run from danger. You're too stubborn," he said, offering me that wretched lopsided smile that still made my stomach knot.

I sighed, knowing he'd meant no harm by it. Tonight was just a sentimental one for me, seeing all the friends and family together.

"I know. Thanks. This is crazy though, isn't it? How everything has played out," I mused, wanting to change the subject, and he sunk into the seat beside me at the bridal party table.

"Tell me about it. It's all batshit crazy in my opinion," he said with a shake of his head, but his smile didn't falter.

He was right. From the whole brother's best friend, to the mafia revelation, then the blackmailing, to the quickness of their marriage. The whole thing had been a rollercoaster of a ride.

"Must be weird for you, seeing them together. When they fight, whose side will you take?" I joked, and he winced.

"God, I don't want to think about that, it'll be brutal," he said with a hiss before smiling at me. "At least you were always against Leo. You can side with Mer and not wind up hated by him."

"Eh, he's grown on me now. Seeing how he is with her, what he'd do for her. Meredith is my family, I just want her happy and safe." I pursed my lips as my gaze returned to the pair.

Having Meredith fully submerged in the shadows of our world was not what I'd call safe. But it was her choice, and I'd respect it. Besides, I knew Leo would tear anyone limb from limb if they tried to hurt her.

So would Grayson.

Again, another ache in my chest, but this time, it was something else. Having family that cared like that. People who loved you enough to fight for you. To protect you.

I'd had that in a way with my cousin, who'd been like a brother to me considering I'd had no siblings. But when I'd left, I'd cut the last of my ties, including those with even him. It was the safest move, and he’d understood. He’d even said it was for the best, for me to grow and become my own person, free from the family.

Meredith was all I had now.

When I'd come clean to her, and she'd been so mad, I'd thought I was going to lose the only family I had.

I thanked my lucky stars every day that we'd worked through it. There were no more secrets between us now.

"Meredith Donati. Still not sure how I feel about that," Grayson murmured, and I chuckled.

"Get used to it. Before you know it, you'll be an uncle, especially with the rate they're doing things. She might pop one out next week!" I joked, and he chuckled with a shake of his head.

"Damn, don't make those jokes. She's still on birth control, thankfully, although I know Leo wants an heir. Meredith will have trouble dealing with knowing her kids will be targets, I think," he said softly. "A mother's instincts are to protect and keep them away from danger. Leo is a magnet for it."

"No one left in this city will take on the Donati family. They'll be safe," I attempted to reassure him, although I knew I couldn't promise it.

His words about a mother protecting her children and keeping them away from danger made my throat tighten.

My mother had fled, abandoning me when my father had died. She'd tried to get me to go with her, but this was the world I knew, the only life I understood, so I'd declined, and she'd left. I was stubborn like that, something I'd inherited from my father. She’d tried hard to get me to go, so I couldn’t be too mad at her, I’d chosen not to.

She'd done what she'd needed to do considering her circumstances, and I understood, but it still hurt sometimes.

Then again, if she’d stayed, I doubted she’d be alive.

I blinked, tugging myself from the down thoughts. I didn't want to be feeling miserable about my own life on my best friend's special day.

"What about you? What's your thoughts on kids given your family?" Gray asked, his eyes not leaving his sister and best friend as they danced to another song.

"I wouldn't do it. If I were to have a son, he'd have some claim to the family head, and I don't ever want to go back to that. Marco is handling the Savoca family, and I'm happy for him to keep that title and job." I leaned back in my chair, not wanting to dwell on the whole idea of children.

"So you wouldn't do it because of that. But if you didn't need to worry about your family, do you think you'd want them?"

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