Page 66 of Knot Your Business

“What’s a secret, Domenico?” Bianca asks, looking past Violet toward Dominic. “What are you chatting about over there in the corner like some cartoon villain? At least be helpful and get the wine from the cellar. Tu e i tuoi fratelli.”

Victor sighs, but Lorenzo is silent as he slips his phone into his pocket and joins Dominic and me.

“Your pick,” Bianca says to Violet. “Since it is you we celebrate. Tell the men what you would like to drink.”

Violet tucks her hair behind her ear and looks over her shoulder, focusing on me rather than Dominic.

“Mimosas?” It comes out as a question.

Sarah moans, low in her throat, her head tipping back. “Oh, yes, please. Those sound amazing.”

Bianca nods and motions her sons toward the hallway that leads to the large butler’s pantry and wine cellar. Once they’re out of ear shot, Alessia sighs.

“You brought brownies?” Sarah asks, and Violet nods, grabbing the pan again. “Let’s put them back here.”

She takes the pan and sets it on the back counter near the stove, moving around Alessia with ease.

“Now that the boys are gone and won’t growl over all of us,” Bianca says, dumping the tomatoes into the bowl and wiping her hands on a small towel on the island, “let us introduce everyone. Violet, this is my daughter Alessia and her best friend Sarah.”

The girls offer small greetings, Sarah and Violet dropping into an easy-seeming conversation about waitressing of all things. I cross the room, palming Violet’s hip, still enjoying the absolute fuck out of being able to touch her again. She leans back against me, though her head is tilted just enough that she can scent Rylan.

Just as Bianca points to two large, covered pans on the stove, another man walks in from deeper in the house, his black suit impeccably cut, his brown eyes shrewd.

“Hello, Dante,” I say quietly. He nods once in silent greeting. It’s the warmest Dominic’s father has ever managed to be with me.

“Mi dispiace, amore,” he murmurs, crossing the room and kissing the top of Bianca’s head.

She bats him away. “You can apologize later. The food is getting cold, and we have not even gotten a chance to celebrate Violet.” She looks up, pointing her knife at me and then Rylan. “Boys, grab those pans, per favore. Alessia will finish this and we’ll head outside. You,” she points at Dante, “go extract your sons before they get drunk in the wine cellar because of some stupid bet they made.”

Sarah and Violet walk onto the patio, laughing, as Rylan and I do as instructed.

The rest of the family settles in after a few minutes, Dominic on my right and Rylan on my left, Violet tucked in next to him. Some of my nerves ease away at seeing her blend in so seamlessly with Alessia and Sarah. I reach across Rylan and grab her elbow. She glances up at me, her eyebrows furrowed, before she relaxes and offers a small smile.

Conversations start between small groups. Lorenzo shoves Dominic, some joke I missed making them both laugh. I’m filled with contentment, especially as Dominic palms my thigh, his hand warm and strong. Bianca holds up her glass of wine, and the table quiets.

“Congratulations, Violet,” she says with a smile, her eyes crinkling at the corners with her happiness. “Welcome to the family.”

Thirty-One

VIOLET

“You good?” Jasper asks. When I say that I’m fine, he nods and reaches behind him without looking. Dominic laces their hands together, his gaze neutral. I tighten my hold on the bag Rylan handed to me and ignore the gnawing in my stomach of his clear disinterest in me. He hasn’t outright glared or sneered at me, so I’m refusing to worry about it right now. If anyone is aware that most matches aren’t actually love matches, it’s me.

Rylan opens the door of the restaurant and guides us inside. He nods once toward the hostess, and she points toward the back corner where several people are already sitting around a large table. I smooth the front of my shirt where I have it tucked into the same black skirt I wore the last time we went out like this. Rylan raises an eyebrow, and I scrunch my nose.

No way is he about to call me out for being nervous. It’s been a long ass day already with navigating Dominic’s family this morning and the concert this afternoon. Not to mention the absolute marathon yesterday was.

At least my dads aren’t angry with the match anymore. Will Mom survive their ire? I’m not sure. And I don’t honestly think I care at this point.

“Don’t you dare,” I whisper, and Rylan laughs, shaking his head once before taking my hand and starting across the restaurant.

“Same as before,” he whispers, low enough I’m not sure even Jasper can hear him. “Squeeze my arm twice if you need a break or want to go.”

I murmur a soft agreement and then pick a seat at the large table. There’s a ton of us here. I fucking hate working large tables like this. I make sure to smile at both waitresses as they take our drink and first round of food orders.

Liz sits wedged between two of her Alphas, her eyes glassy no matter how many times she blinks. Huntley sits across from Jasper, a man I recognize from the concert next to her though I don’t know his name. He nods once and holds out his hand.

“I’m Owen,” he says, his voice a warm baritone. “Nice to finally meet you.”

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