Page 55 of Fierce Hearts

"I know. Thank you. But Gray, tomorrow… I'm supposed to go to his proposal," she mumbled.

"I know. I think, for now, we will need to go through with that. There's not much we can do overnight, but an engagement can always be called off. It'll buy us more time," I said carefully as she finished off her hot chocolate.

"Great, super keen for that," she groaned as she set her mug down.

"We just need more time. We'll handle this Sof. I'll handle it. Everything will be okay," I assured her.

She gave me a strange look, like she wanted to believe me, but she wasn't willing to. How could I promise her such things? She knew better than to believe my words.

Except, in this case, I was going to make sure of it.

“Sof, I want to ask, since you looked you so scared in regard to your uncle… did he, did he hurt you?” I dared to ask, and her brows knitted together as she pursed her lips.

“The Savoca men are hard on their women, but they’re hard on everyone. You don’t do as your told of be defiant, and you’re punished. Both my uncle and father didn’t care what gender you were, you got punished for disobeying or arguing. That’s all,” she said carefully, and my chest tightened as I ground my teeth.

“How Sof? What’d they do to you?” I asked, but she shook her head.

“The past is the past, Gray. Let’s leave it there. I did my therapy to get past it, but it doesn’t erase it either. Neither of them were good men, I can say that much.”

I nodded, knowing now was not the time to push, but my hatred for her uncle only grew.

If I had it my way, I wanted him buried. If he hurt her like my own father had hurt Meredith, then he deserved the full wrath of the Donatis alongside my own. He’d pay for it.

But for now, I’d accept her answer. Hopefully, one day, she’d tell me what happened.

"Rest, Sof. I'll stay with you. Get some sleep, it's been a hectic time for you."

"Okay, thank you," she said quietly as she slid down under the blanket.

I rose and circled the bed, sliding under the blanket behind her so I could spoon her.

"Are you okay with this?" I asked as I wrapped an arm around her waist.

"Yes," she whispered as she turned the lamp off, not resisting as I pulled her closer and nuzzled her hair. If anything, she relaxed even more, all the tension releasing from her body as I held her close.

I held her like that, spooning her as her breathing gradually slowed and deepened, her body so warm and fitting perfectly against mine. She fell asleep faster than I expected—exhaustion from stress, likely, and perhaps the pregnancy too.

In the quiet darkness, my mind spun. A life with Sofia. A child. A family of my own.

I'd never truly believed I could have that. My position in Leo's family, my own family history—it all seemed to preclude the kind of normal life others took for granted. But now, with Sofia carrying my child, that possibility existed. It was real and tangible and within reach.

And I refused to give it up.

I tightened my arm around her, an intense wave of protectiveness rippling through me. This wasn't just about wanting Sofia, though I did want her—desperately. This was about protecting what was mine. My child. This woman who'd worked her way under my skin and into my heart.

I would do whatever was necessary to keep her safe. To keep them both safe.

Even if it meant becoming the monster I'd never thought I could be.

CHAPTER14

SOFIA

Istood in my father's basement, the concrete floor cold beneath my bare feet, chilling me to the bone. Sixteen years old with a gun in my hand, nothing new, although this time, this time it felt heavier than usual. My father's voice echoed from behind me, his hand on my shoulder.

"Do what needs to be done, Sofia. Show me you're worthy of your name."

Bryce knelt before me, hands bound behind his back. His sandy blond hair fell across his forehead, and those blue eyes that had looked at me with such passion just days before now shimmered with tears.

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