Page 102 of Fierce Hearts

"I'm sorry I didn't believe you at first, sweetheart," Julia said gently, and I knew she was talking to Bianca. "But it's not something you think a parent is capable of… then Caterina showed me the proof."

"For that, I'm sorry, Julia. I wish Ernesto had never married in a way, but then I'd never have been blessed with such a wonderful niece and nephew," Caterina said, her voice soft.

“We can't undo it. He needs to pay for what he did, what he did to all of us. But we need to do this right." Julia's voice was oddly strong, surprising me. Julia had always been submissive to Ernesto, following his lead without question. I hadn't been sure if she'd turn on him, if years of conditioning would keep her submissive. But a mother's rage was clearly a force not to be underestimated.

Caterina nodded. "Then we need to figure out how we're going to do this."

"I want it done publicly," Julia said, surprising me with her vehemence. "I want everyone to know what he did to our son."

"We both agree," Bianca added. "Full display. The truth revealed to everyone."

I listened as Julia and Bianca outlined their plan—a family gathering where Ernesto would be confronted with evidence of his betrayal.

"Actually," Caterina said, a calculating gleam in her eye, "Grayson's attack might make everything more believable."

"What do you mean?" I leaned forward.

"If Grayson were to die, then that could alter everything. You're doing this to protect the family, and not be bound to another man. If he's dead…"

I tilted my head, trying to figure out what she was saying.

"What exactly are you getting at?" Julia questioned.

"That a meeting with a broken woman wanting to go along with the initial plan could be done, bargaining for new terms for a marriage alliance," I said as the idea began to form while Caterina nodded. "But as for getting the family all there for such a meeting…"

"We'll need to get smart. Play them into our hands," Caterina smirked as ideas bounced around my head.

I pursed my lips, nodding as one thought took front and center. "I think I have an idea."

* * *

I returnedto Grayson's hospital room, my mind still going a hundred miles a minute from the meeting with Caterina. The steady beep of the heart monitor greeted me as I pushed the door open. Gray looked better than he had this when I left—some color had returned to his face, and he was sitting up slightly against the pillows.

His eyes found mine immediately. "How'd it go?"

I sat on the edge of his bed, careful not to disturb any of the wires attached to him. "We have a plan." I took his hand, running my thumb over his knuckles. "But you're not going to like it."

"When has that ever stopped you?" His attempt at a smile turned into a grimace as he shifted positions.

"I need to meet with Ernesto and Juan." I glanced over at my mother, who was leaning forward to listen.

Gray's hand tightened around mine. "Absolutely not."

The door swung open right then, and I turned. Leo walked in with Meredith following close behind, both carrying coffee cups.

"Thought you might need this," Meredith said, handing me one of the cups. I'd texted her with a rough ETA of when I'd be back at the hospital, and her thoughtfulness made me smile.

"Leo, I need your help with something." I glanced at Gray, not wanting to argue with him on meeting with Ernesto and Juan, although he was frowning hard at me.

Leo raised an eyebrow. "I'm listening."

"We need to make everyone think Grayson died." I said it quickly, like ripping off a band-aid. "That he succumbed to his injuries—a blood clot, something. I'll act like the broken partner and go to my uncle and Juan to save my family."

"What the fuck?" Gray tried to sit up straighter, wincing at the movement. "No."

"I'm not fond of this either," my mother spoke up, her brows knitted together.

Leo didn't immediately reject the idea, which I took as a good sign. "What's the plan, exactly?"

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