Page 61 of Fierce Hearts

I whirled around, fury bubbling up inside me. What was with men thinking they could just take and do what they wanted? "How dare you just move in without talking to me! This is my house!"

"Sof, I get that?—"

"Do you? I just got sold off like some livestock between men, and here you are, moving yourself in without talking to me about it!"

When I raised my hand to slap him, he caught my wrist midair, his grip firm but not painful. "I won't let you go through all of this alone, Sofia." His voice was calm, steady. "Meredith will be by tonight too. She thought you could use some girl time. I'll make myself scarce then. I understand I should have spoken to you, especially with everything that's going on. But I've been making calls and coming up with ideas today, and this is how I make sure that you stay safe in your own home. I'm not going to have security stationed inside your home when you're pregnant. I wanted you to be comfortable, so I figured I was the better option."

I yanked my hand free, unsure how to respond. Part of me wanted to scream at him to leave, to let me handle this disaster on my own, to butt out of it all completely. Another part—a part of me leftover from childhood, a part who longed for comfort and help—was relieved at the thought of not facing the coming weeks alone.

"I need a shower," I muttered, turning away from him.

I yanked the gaudy ring off my finger and tossed it onto the bed as I passed. From the corner of my eye, I could’ve sworn I saw Grayson smirk at the ring, but I refused to look directly at him to confirm.

In the bathroom, I locked the door and leaned against it, finally allowing the tears I'd been holding back all day to fall. The hot water of the shower masked my crying as I scrubbed at my skin, trying to wash away the feeling of Juan's lips on my cheeks, the weight of Ernesto's expectations, the suffocating reality of my situation.

Gray was only trying to look out for me, to protect both me and our unborn child. I needed to remember that, especially when my emotions were swelling so big. I could only assume it was the hormones, along with how much my boobs had been hurting as of late.

By the time I emerged, wrapped in my fluffiest robe with my hair twisted in a towel, I felt marginally more human. Empty, but calm. I'd cried myself out for now, felt the emotions that wanted to be felt.

Gray was nowhere to be seen when I entered my bedroom. The suitcase remained, a reminder of his presence, but he'd given me space. The ring sat where I'd tossed it, glinting accusingly in the late afternoon sunlight streaming through my window.

I dressed in my most comfortable leggings and an oversized sweater, armor of a different sort. When I finally ventured downstairs, I found Gray in my kitchen, unpacking what looked like grocery bags.

"What are you doing?" I asked, lingering in the doorway.

He glanced up, his expression softening when he saw me. "Making dinner. You need to eat."

"I'm not hungry." I knew I was being defiant, and he knew it too as he simply arched a brow at me.

"The baby needs food even if you don't think you do." He continued unpacking, setting vegetables on the cutting board. "Besides, Meredith will be here in an hour. I'll cook for you both."

I moved to the kitchen island, sliding onto the stool there as I watched him. "Why are you doing this?"

His hands stilled, and he looked up with a smirk. "Why do you even need to ask? I feel like we've gone over all of this. Because I care about you, Sofia. And because that's my child you're carrying." He hesitated, then added more softly, "And because no one should have to face what you're facing alone."

The sincerity in his voice broke through a tiny crack in my armor. It wasn't easy to be mad at someone who only had your best interests at heart.

"I don't know how to get out of this," I admitted quietly as he resumed chopping vegetables. "Ernesto won't just let me walk away. I don't know how you guys can stop this."

"That's why you're not doing this alone, we can get this fixed." Gray's knife moved with surprising skill across the cutting board. "Leo has connections Ernesto Savoca doesn't. We're looking into why he's so determined to make this alliance with Ference. And gauging the waters we're diving into."

"And if you can't find anything?"

His eyes met mine. "We will find a way no matter what. I promise you, Sofia—you will not be marrying Juan Ference."

I wanted to believe him. The certainty in his voice made it tempting to hope. But hope was dangerous—it only made disappointment hurt more when it inevitably came.

"What's for dinner?" I asked instead, changing the subject.

His lips quirked up slightly, acknowledging my deflection but allowing it. "Pasta primavera. Light enough for your stomach, but with plenty of vegetables for the baby."

As I watched him cook in my kitchen, moving with unexpected confidence between the stove and counter, I felt something shift inside me. This man—this incredible, unexpected man—was fighting for me when I'd spent so much of my life fighting alone lately.

I didn't know if I could trust it. I didn't know if I could trust him. But I was going to try.

CHAPTER16

GRAYSON

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