Page 49 of Fierce Hearts

Starting with the man who'd shattered her world.

"I'd like to speak with Ernesto."

"Gray, no, please. Just go." She moved to block me from going inside, but it was of no use as the man in question appeared behind her, his focus on me.

"Who is this?" he asked, a false smile spreading across his face. Too bad I knew a damn snake when I saw one. This was a man who preyed on others. Who loved the feel of power.

A man I would want nothing to do with, because he'd as much shake my hand as stab me in the back.

I looked to Sofia, stunned to find the distraught, panicked look in her eye, like she wanted to get the hell away from here, away from him.

An expression I'd never seen on her face before.

She was afraid of the man, and that cemented it for me. I sure as hell was not going anywhere now. I'd help her sort this all out and deal with him. I'd fix this mess that had been dumped on her, one she'd tried so hard to leave behind.

"I'm her boyfriend," I answered as I plastered on my most charming smile and extended my hand. "Grayson Cassaro. It's a pleasure to meet you, sir."It'd be a pleasure to never see you in our city again.

Sofia's eyes widened, her lips parting in shock for only a moment before she masked her expression.

I didn't care about giving him my real name. Maybe knowing who I was and who I was involved with would make him back off, drop this desire to use Sofia as a pawn for the family she'd turned her back on.

"I was unaware Sofia had a partner of any kind," Ernesto said, shaking my hand with a slightly perplexed look. "Unfortunately, it will need to end."

"Excuse me?" I stared at Ernesto, at the assured look in his eye. He expected me to just walk away. Sure, it was a fake relationship, but who the fuck was he to tell me what to do?

"I believe my niece has much to tell you," Ernesto replied as he shot a smile at Sofia that made me want to put him on his ass. "Especially regarding her upcoming engagement."

There it was, confirmation in the flesh. The whole reason the bastard had come back into her life.

"I'll collect you tomorrow for the engagement, Sofia," Ernesto said as he stepped around us to leave. "Wear something appropriate."

I waited for the door to close before I turned to Sofia fully.

"We need to talk." I kept my voice low, doing everything I could to keep my face masked and my emotions in check.

Sofia was not mine, no matter how much I wanted her to be, no matter how I'd said it to her.

Did I want to make her mine? Yes, and if she was already being pulled back into this world, then I'd do whatever I could to make her mine instead of some wretched Ference.

"Yes.” She sighed, her shoulders slumping as she turned towards the living room. "We do."

"This engagement, is it to Juan Ference?" My voice was low, controlled, despite the unease simmering beneath the surface.

I followed Sofia to the couch, watching as she sunk onto it, looking so weary and exhausted. I wanted to make it better, to hold her and promise her everything would be okay. To make her smile once more.

"Gray—"

"How long have you know?" I pulled out my phone, quickly texting Meredith.

Ernesto gone. Mentioned engagement to Ference. Talking to Sofia now.

I pocketed the phone, ignoring the immediate ping of a response. "When I called you earlier, you said you didn't know anything about this. You lied to me."

"I don't owe you anything!" Sofia's voice rose suddenly. "We're not together, Gray. We had one night—one night that we agreed would be no strings attached!"

"This isn't about strings," I shot back. "This is about your safety! The Ferences are fucking psychopaths, Sofia. And if you're supposed to marry Juan, that's even worse. I've heard the stories, I know his reputation. And you're keeping me in the dark about something that could get you killed! Not to mention Meredith is your best friend, someone they can threaten, my sister!"

"I didn't ask for your protection! This is my own shit-show, and yes, I know that Meredith is your fucking sister, why do you think I'm so stuck? Why I need to figure this crap out, make a choice, likely just play my damn part!" She was shouting now, her face flushed. "I didn't ask for any of this!"

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