Page 3 of Fierce Hearts

I turned to him, taking in how his brows were drawn together, an uneasiness in his features.

Grayson Cassaro was a handsome man, that was nothing new. When I'd first met him, I'd even been a little interested, until I'd met Leo, and I realized just who they were. Although Gray had never been involved in the shadows of the Donati family. Not until Meredith's life was put on the line.

That whole mess, when we were put into the panic room, seeing Gray getting shot at, and then when he got hit…

"Sof?" He turned to me now, and I looked away, realizing I'd not answered his question.

"What I want and what I can have are two different things. I learnt from a young age that we need to give up things because of the life I was brought into. The blood that runs in my veins." I clenched my jaw as I focused on the couple in the spotlight, their song coming to an end. "So I've not even thought about it, if I had been born with different blood, a different name, it’s just not something I’ve wondered. Why play that game with myself?”

"I'm sorry, Sof. I get that. Although, I sometimes wonder about it, about what having kids would mean. I always wanted to be a better father than my dad, but now, maybe it's safer I don't have them." He sounded defeated, and a sad smile touched my lips. I knew how he felt there.

"Safe. Such a difficult word in this life, isn't it?" I glanced back at him, and he bobbed his head slightly.

So much for not being miserable right now.

He sighed heavily then turned to me fully, extending his hand. "Dance with me?"

My heart skipped a beat. I'd been rather hyperaware of him all day, standing beside Leo as best man, giving his toast, the way his eyes had found mine across the room as he'd spoke of his sister and those closest. We'd grown closer over the past month, between helping with the wedding stuff and just being more friendly since the night we'd conspired to get Meredith to Leo's proposal.

"I don't know if that's a good idea." I stared at his outstretched hand, battling with myself.

"Why not?" His hand remained extended, patient, waiting. "We're practically family now."

Family. I'd left my own family behind, turned my back on that world as best I could, and now I was falling back into it in a way. And here was Grayson Cassaro, deeply embedded in it through his connection to the Donatis, asking me to dance.

I knew something was there between us. I'd known it the moment we'd been attacked and he'd rushed me to the panic room, sheltering me with his body.

Some would say it was for his sister's benefit, that I was important to her. But our friendly banter over the years whenever I'd run into him, of how we'd kept contact and communicated when we needed to keep Meredith in the dark… there was more there.

And it couldn't happen. For so many different reasons.

Not to mention he was Meredith's brother.

Although that hadn't stopped her from doing something similar.

"I've had too many drinks," I finally said, and he snorted.

"You, too many drinks? I've seen you drink, Sof. A handful of glasses is nothing to you."

Well, he had me there. Bastard.

"Come on, just one dance. Let's not both sink into the misery of what this life entails. It's a night of celebration." His smile widened as he moved his outstretched hand closer.

He wasn't going to let this go, was he?

Then again, one dance wouldn't hurt. I knew the lines, and I'd make sure they weren't crossed.

I sighed, frowning at him but accepting his hand. His fingers closed around mine, warm and welcoming, as he led me to the dance floor.

The quartet had shifted to something slower, more intimate after the host had called for others to step onto the dance floor. Gray's hand settled on my waist, proper yet somehow burning through the material of my navy bridesmaid dress. I rested my free hand on his shoulder, too aware of every point of contact between us.

We moved together seamlessly, his hand warm around mine, like we'd done this a thousand times before.

"See, is this so bad?"

I rolled my eyes, and he smirked as we continued to move to the tempo.

"It's funny how life works out. Nothing like what you picture. But seeing her happy," he glanced over at Meredith, wrapped in Leo's arms as they danced, "It's all that matters. Our lives are never promised, not once we sink into the darkness of this world."

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