Page 81 of Fierce Hearts

His forehead rested against our joined hands. "We are okay. Everything is okay."

Meredith's brows knitted together as she sunk onto the couch to the side, glancing at her brother.

He'd been so worried, we both could see it, and my heart ached for him as I placed my other hand over his.

"I'm going to fight for us, Gray. All of us."

He looked up, managing a small smile. "I know you will. And you won't be fighting alone."

Gray's phone buzzed in his pocket. He checked the screen and frowned. "It's Leo."

"Take it," I urged. Despite everything, I needed to know what was happening with Ernesto and the Ference family after this whole fiasco.

Gray stepped out into the hallway, and Meredith took his place in the chair beside me.

"You really scared us," she said quietly.

"I know. I'm sorry."

She shook her head. "Don't apologize. Just focus on getting better, okay? On keeping that little nugget safe."

I managed a small smile at her nickname for the growing life in me. "I will."

Gray returned a few minutes later, his expression grim. "Leo's contacts found something finally, they've been trying to get information, and we were right. This push made Ernesto make a mistake, so now we know the truth about Marco's death."

My heart sank as I fisted my hand in the blanket. "What is it?"

"What we suspected. They found proof that Ernesto was involved in Marco's murder."

"Marco was his son." The thought made me sick. Sure, we’d considered it, but I'd hoped to be wrong. I hated being right.

"I know," Gray said softly. "But the evidence is clear. Phone records show Ernesto contacted members of the Ference family the night Marco was killed. And there were large transfers from his accounts to offshore holdings linked to known hitmen. My father was able to tap into some of their phones, and Ernesto made a call admitting it. We've got it recorded now."

I shook my head, struggling to accept it as my blood boiled. "He killed his own son? Why? All for money and power?"

"It seems Marco was planning to cut ties with the Ference family's drug operations, expand on his own and try to cut off some of their chains. Ernesto and Juan had a side deal that Marco discovered, along with his skimming. So yes, for the money he'd lose, and for the power he'd gain."

I'd known Ernesto was cruel, but this... "I don't believe Julia knows either, she'd never have been a part of it. And are Cara and Rosette safe? And Bianca?" The thought of Marco's wife and daughter, of my younger cousin Bianca, living under the same roof as the man who'd ordered Marco's murder, made my chest tight.

Were they safe?

"I don't know," Gray said, taking my hand again. "But I'll find out."

He made several calls over the next hour, speaking in low, urgent tones while Meredith tried to distract me with talk about the theater restoration and getting my opinion on things. It was a nice attempt to ease me, but not one that worked too well.

At least my cramping only continued to die down, and Lisa came in to check on me, taking down notes for my chart that I was improving.

"They're all okay," Gray finally said when he hung up. "Cara and Rosette are staying with Cara's parents. They left right after the funeral. And Bianca is with Julia's parents, she sent her there after the funeral."

I frowned as I pondered this.

"Do you think she sent her away because she suspects what he did?"

"Who knows for sure, maybe she just wanted her somewhere safer. Julia's father has increased his own security detail since she moved in with them, so that says something," Gray answered. "There's also stirrings within both families, Leo called again to share that. Our sources say they're planning something. Likely against the Donatis, and before the meeting Canzio has arranged."

"Because you interfered with the engagement," I muttered as I closed my eyes. I knew something like this would happen.

"Because we protected what's ours," Gray corrected firmly. "Sofia, none of this is your fault."

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