Page 41 of Fierce Hearts

Leo nodded. "Already on it. And Gray?" He waited until I looked at him. "Be careful. This isn't just about you and Sofia anymore. If the Savocas and Ferences are aligning, that changes the balance of power in this city. They may be operating from Vintmere,but the Savocas and Ferences were here not that long ago. They may be wanting to make a move in Ironstone once more."

"I know."

I understood how this was bigger than my feelings and emotions, how I had to be careful of my movements now. But I also had to know that she was okay, to find out exactly what was going on, and waiting for Meredith to tell me was not good enough.

My patience was too thin right now. I'd get to her place in less than an hour with the local traffic at this time.

I headed out of Leo's office, my mind running wild.

I made a silent promise that no matter what was happening, no matter what forces were aligning against her, I wouldn't let her face it alone.

I wouldn't let her get hurt or sold off like some damn dog.

Even if she didn't want my help.

CHAPTER11

SOFIA

Ichewed my lip as I stared at Grayson's message on my phone screen, the same one I'd been mulling over for the past fifteen minutes, opening and closing it as I paced my living room.

Please call me. It's important.

My thumb hovered over the screen. Part of me wanted to ignore it since I'd already told him I was okay, but Meredith would be here soon. Better to handle this conversation now than have her walk in during the middle of it.

I had a feeling it had to do with my own mess, and not something to do with his sister, which was normally the case when he said it was important. And for my own mess, I really didn't want to get him involved.

I took a deep breath and hit the call button before I could change my mind.

He answered on the first ring. "Sofia, finally. Are you okay?"

His voice sent an unwelcome flutter through my chest. I closed my eyes, trying to ignore it.

"I'm fine."

"Okay, then what the hell is going on? I heard Ernesto is in the city. And Marco's dead? Jesus, Sof. I’m sorry. But now there's talk about some marriage alliance with the Ference family. Sofia, please tell me what's happening. I'm worried about you."

I sank onto my couch, suddenly exhausted. "I wanted to grieve the loss of my cousin alone. That's why I didn't tell anyone, not even Meredith until today."

"I'm sorry about Marco." His voice softened. "But why is Ernesto here? What does he want from you? Please, Sof… you're Meredith's best friend, I need to know these things."

My lip quirked at how he added Meredith in at the end, like an afterthought. She wasn't the reason he wanted to know, and I knew that.

My free hand drifted to my stomach, my fingers pressing lightly against the flatness that would soon change if I allowed it. My throat tightened as I battled what felt right and what was logical.

"He came to see me. Said I need to think of the family. That he might need my help." I kept my voice steady despite the tremor threatening to break through.

"Help with what exactly? This marriage alliance? Are you the one they want to marry off? I hear Juan Ference is in town, we know he's a bachelor."

So he knew about it all then, or enough of it. He was right on the money, but I knew confirming that was only going to turn this into a bigger mess. I needed time to figure things out first. To decide what to do.

"I don't know anything about a marriage alliance. Ernesto has a daughter, though. Maybe it involves her," I lied. I wondered if he could hear the falseness in my voice. I'd learned a long time ago how to lie well, so I doubted it.

"Are you sure?" He didn't sound entirely convinced to my surprise. "Tell me the truth, Sof."

I gritted my teeth, hating the guilty sickness settling in my gut. "I don't know what to tell you, Gray. Ernesto didn't mention anything like that to me. He just said there's some things in regard to my father's will and Marco's that I will be required for," I forced myself to sound casual, indifferent. "Look, Meredith will be here any minute. I should go."

"You'll reach out once you learn more?" The concern in his voice made my chest ache, but I squashed it down.

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