Page 40 of Fierce Hearts

"Meredith was not involved in this world then."

"But she is now, and Sofia doesn't seem to have an issue with it."

He was wrong there. She had an issue with it. She was willing to remain as our friends, but not be further involved. Although, in my mind, she was just as deep in it by remaining best friends with Meredith than if she was with me. She classed Meredith as family, a sister, which made her a part of this in a way she was pretending she wasn't.

"You're right, but I still know how she feels about it all. I spoke to her at the wedding, we got… close," I said slowly, and Leo's brow lifted ever so slightly. There was no point hiding it, he already knew, well, he suspected. "We spent the night together after your wedding. It was supposed to be a one-time thing. She said she didn't want it going further because she didn't want to be pulled back into this world."

"That was stupid of you to do, considering who she is, Gray." Leo didn't bother to sugarcoat it. "Your sister's best friend, and a Savoca."

"You married my damn sister!" I shot back.

"She's not part of a rival family, the Cassaro's are not a potential enemy anymore, you and Meredith are all that's left really. We always knew we had to be careful with Sofia. Sure, we knew her intentions were true, but we knew that by just bearing that last name, she was someone we needed to keep an eye on. Getting involved with her was never something to be considered," he said, although his words were not as harsh as one would expect.

Then again, he'd crossed a similar line, and we'd accepted it. Pot calling the kettle black was something he was being understanding of apparently.

"I can't explain it," I admitted. "There's something about her. I can't get her out of my head now. I tried fighting it for ages, ever since I met her, I liked her."

Leo studied me for a moment, then sighed as he moved to look out the window overlooking the cityscape. "I'll help you keep her safe. But you need to be careful. The Savocas aren't people to mess with, and if there's an alliance with the Ferences in the works... whatever this is between you two, you need to find a way to let it die. She said she didn't want in with you, but if she's agreed to it with the Ferences, then we need to respect that. You're as much a part of the Donati family as Meredith is, and we can't go causing bad blood."

"I'm not letting them marry her off to some Ference piece of shit, we know their reputation."

"That's not our call to make." He turned back to me, and I had to bite back the curse that wanted to escape.

He was just looking at it from a business point of view, a logical one.

I was running on emotions right now. But the thought of allowing some Ference to have her was not something I wanted to entertain.

Leo's phone sounded off, and he checked the message before moving to the laptop at his desk.

"There," Leo said, turning his laptop around. On the screen was a feed from what looked like a security camera, showing Sofia's front porch. "I'm in her system. Let me see if I can access the interior cameras."

That was fast. Then again, he had the money and connections for such things.

I checked my phone again. No response from Sofia after I'd told her to call me. The sick feeling in my gut intensified despite knowing she was home safe. She was keeping this from me, avoiding me, and I knew it.

"Here we go." Leo clicked a few buttons, and the screen split into four views—living room, kitchen, front door, and what looked like a hallway. So Sofia had cameras all over her house. Even she knew she'd not be fully safe from this world.

The thought was both relieving and yet distressing.

Then again, after everything we’d been through, maybe they were newly installed.

"I need to see her." I pushed up from my chair. "I need to make sure she's okay. Find out what's going on from her."

"Meredith's with her. Let them talk first." Leo's phone rang again, and he answered it, his expression shifting to one of frustration once more. After a brief conversation, he hung up and looked at me. "The Ferences are staying at the Grand Hotel downtown. Juan Ference is with them."

Juan Ference. The name made my skin crawl. He was the eldest son, known for his cruelty and his particular taste for breaking strong-willed women. He’d been the reason the Ferences had expanded so rapidly, stepping up and doing the work his father hadn’t, despite his father still calling the shots. He’d take his father’s place before we knew it.

There'd also been whispers he'd murdered his last fiancée when she'd tried to end things.

Was it possible he was the one here for his future bride?

"If they think they're going to give Sofia to that monster?—"

"We don't know if that's what's happening," Leo interrupted. "Let's get more information before we do anything rash."

I knew he was right, but every instinct in my body was screaming at me to go to Sofia, to take her away from all of this. I checked my phone again—still nothing.

"We should set up surveillance on the Ferences too," I said. "I want to know their every move."

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