Page 26 of Fierce Hearts

It wasn't entirely a lie, just a reminder of the pain I was still enduring. I had lost someone—Marco, and it was not something I was going to easily move past. And I definitely wasn't in a good place.

Grayson had been understanding.

I get it. I'll back off. But if you ever need to talk about your patient, or anything else, I'm here. No benefits required.

I hadn't responded to that one. What could I say? That no patients had died, just my cousin who had been like a brother to me? That had set me free by taking my place and giving me permission to leave? That I had no idea if my uncle had plans for me or if his one call was something I needed to dismiss? That I was waiting for a call to figure out what the hell was going on, but I was too scared to make the call myself for fear of what my family wanted from me?

No. Better to let it go. Better to keep Grayson at a safe distance, away from the darkness that was creeping back into my life. He may be involved in this world, but not in the way I had been.

The blood on his hands was different than the one on mine.

The Savocas were not like the Donati. They didn't have such high moral codes.

I finished changing into my comfy clothes, trying to focus on the present. On the mundane details of my day. On anything but the storm I could swear I could feel gathering on the horizon.

For now, Ernesto hadn't called again. For now, I could pretend my life was still my own, that I was free from my family and all that entailed. For now, I could breathe.

But deep down, I knew it wouldn't last. The Savoca family never forgot their own. And sooner or later, they would come for me in some way, ask things of me.

Especially now with Marco gone.

CHAPTER7

SOFIA

Ihurried down the sidewalk, balancing two Starbucks cups while trying not to spill them all over my designer boots. The morning air had a bite to it, but the sun was shining, making it manageable.

My phone sounded off in my pocket. I shifted the coffee cups to one hand and fished out my phone, expecting to see Meredith asking where I was since I was running a few minutes late.

Instead, I froze mid-step when I saw the name on my screen.

Ernesto Savoca.

My uncle. Marco's father.

So he was finally calling back. His name alone had my heart fluttering anxiously.

I wanted to ignore it, to continue living in denial, but I knew that would only delay the inevitable. With a deep breath, I answered.

"Hello, Uncle."

"Sofia." His voice was deeper than I remembered in the last call, or maybe it was just weighted with grief now that he was no longer in shock. "It's time we talked."

I moved to the edge of the sidewalk, leaning against a storefront. "I'm sorry about Marco. I really am."

"Thank you. It has been hard. I'm sorry we couldn't invite you to the funeral. I know how much he meant to you. But the family… we didn't want to cause any unrest." He let out a heavy sigh as my heart dropped.

So I'd not been invited to the funeral. Go figure. But it stung, and tears welled in my eyes.

I'd not even been able to say goodbye to the man who'd freed me. A part of me wanted to scream at him for tearing that chance away from me, but the other part understood. I'd left that life. Why would I be granted the chance to say goodbye when I'd turned my back on them all?

"I understand," I murmured as my shoulders slumped while I blinked back the tears. "You said he was ambushed. By who?"

"It's been handled. We have more pressing matters to discuss."

I closed my eyes. Of course. So much for him grieving, for just reaching out in a familial way. I'd known better. This was no call to fill in the gaps. He wanted something, it was the only reason he'd called to tell me in the first place.

The family needed me. But why? What did he want from me?

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