Fierce Secrets: A Brother's Best Friend Mafia Romance (Fierce Mafia Book 1) by Amelia Payne

Author:Amelia Payne [Payne, Amelia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2025-02-27T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 17

MEREDITH

Sofia found me on the kitchen floor, phone clutched in my trembling hands, tears streaming down my face.

The memories swirled in my mind, and all I could see was Leo and my brother, and my dead father. How they'd become ruthless in protecting me.

How they'd killed for me.

"Mer? What happened?" She dropped to her knees beside me, still in her robe, hair dripping from her shower. "Talk to me." Her hand touched my arm, and I flinched, causing her to frown.

Wordlessly, I showed her the photos, unlocking my screen to where they were still open. Her sharp intake of breath told me she understood exactly what she was seeing.

"Mer… I'm sorry. Those pictures…" Her voice gave it away. She knew more than she was telling me, and my brow furrowed as I looked hard at her.

"You know what these are, don't you?" My voice was so soft, but she still heard me. She sighed, deliberating for a moment before nodding, her face saddened.

"Of course you do. Everyone knows everything all around me," I muttered as the tears pricked my eyes again. But right now, I needed to speak to someone, and despite how I knew Sofia had hidden things from me, she was all I had right now.

"I remember," I whispered, my voice raw. "I remember everything."

The memories crashed over me in waves yet again – my father's fists, the crack of bone meeting bone, Leo and Gray's synchronized violence as they saved me. Leo in the backyard, flames reflecting in his eyes as he burned their bloody clothes and looked up at me in the window. An older man examining my injuries with gentle hands, saying he was a doctor. Leo's voice, thick with emotion: "We'll take care of you both. I promise."

"The funeral..." My voice cracked. "It was closed casket. Everyone said what a tragedy it was, the supposed car accident, but I didn't cry. I couldn't cry. Leo's father was there, telling us we could always come to him if we needed anything."

Sofia pulled me close as fresh tears fell, and despite my desire to pull away, I couldn't. Not right now.

"Mer…"

"The nightmares were so bad. I couldn't even go into our kitchen. Gray moved us away – said it was because I was starting college soon, but really..." I swallowed hard, and she squeezed my arm comfortingly. "I must have blocked it all out. When Gray wanted us to move here after I graduated, he said it was because his companies were here, but he'd been making that commute while finishing his own degree..."

"Honey..." Sofia rested her head against mine, her arm tightening around me.

My mind had finally revealed what I'd blocked out for so long, the pieces falling into place like a bloody puzzle.

"They're monsters," I choked out. "Both of them. They're both killers."

"No." Sofia's voice was firm as she pulled back to look at me. "Your father was the monster, Mer. They did what they had to do to save you. They're still

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.