Page 19 of Knot Made to Break: Part One

By the time I reached her bedroom door, I was fucking shaking with pent-up frustration and the insatiable need to lay eyes on my girl.

My knuckles rapped against the sleek wood in a sharp staccato. “Kitania? It’s Gio… Open up,Dolcezza.” I fought to keep my voice level, gentling the command into an earnest request with a tacked on, “Please…”

There wasn’t a response from the other side. Not even a rustle of movement. My jaw ticked as I lifted my hand to knock again, louder this time. If she wouldn’t let me in, I’d just have to—

The door cracked open a sliver before I could follow through, those beautiful dusky-blue eyes I’d been dying to see peering up at me warily from the shadows.

seven

KITANIA

The dark shadowsof my nightmare clung to me as I jolted awake, gasping for breath. My hands flew to my throat, expecting the rough grip that haunted my dreams. But there was only smooth skin beaded with cold sweat.

It was just a bad dream. You’re safe now.

I panted in ragged breaths, my pounding heart slowing as the familiar surroundings swam into focus.

It all came rushing back to me, just like it did every morning. The rescue. The Alphas. The luxurious penthouse I’d been hiding out in for the last three days. Soft, silken sheets were tangled around my legs, the blanket more constricting than comforting as the dredges of my bad dream faded away. I kicked them free, curling into a ball as I hugged my knees to my chest.

Everything’s okay now, I promised myself, unsure if I believed the bravado I tried to infuse into my thoughts.

Calming my racing heart, I focused on what I could see. Warm sunlight filtering through the sheer curtains. The sunhanging mid horizon as it shone between the tall buildings, glinting off the glass and metal towers. All the furnishings in the room—a dresser, chest of drawers, and two nightstands in a deep wooden color that complimented the giant bed I was curled up on. The deep, rich green wall behind me that was decorated with a large art déco print spanning nearly the entire headboard.

When I felt a little better, I sat up slowly, noting it was after ten in the morning already. My stomach growled, but I ignored its plea as I rolled my shoulders, trying to relieve the painful knots that refused to ease. With trembling hands, I wiped the damp hair from my face and willed my lungs to expand with a deep, steadying breath.

Even though I was exhausted, I forced myself out of bed and made my way to the bathroom. The familiar routine of starting the day helped anchor me in reality, further distancing the lingering shadows of my nightmares.

Soaking under the spray of the shower eased the tension I carried in my neck and back. The hot water was heavenly, and I didn’t take it for granted. After months without the luxury, I savored every minute, taking my time to lather and rinse, letting the stream cascade over me until I felt a little more human.

Only when it cooled did I step out and reach for a towel. But the movement caught my attention and my gaze flicked to my reflection in the mirror. The face that stared back at me was almost unrecognizable, not because it wasn’t familiar, but because the eyes were strained with all they’d seen, the lips were dry and chapped, and the cheeks that had once been round and healthy were now too sharp.

I traced the outline of my jaw, the curve of my brow, as if searching for the remnants of the girl I used to be, but I wasn’t sure she existed anymore.

I turned away, unwilling to stare at her any longer, and quickly dried off. Dressing in yet another pair of borrowedsweats, I buried my nose in the shirt and breathed in the notes of lime, coconut, and mint, drawing comfort from the scent.

A sharp rap at the door made me jump. Pressing a hand to my chest, I blew out a breath, reminding myself that whichever Alpha was on the other side was my savior, not my enemy.

My enemies never knocked…

“Kitania? It’s Gio… Open up,Dolcezza.” The deep, smooth timbre rumbled through the wood.

I swallowed hard, my mouth suddenly dry. Why was he here? Did he sense my distress? I glanced toward the sweat-dampened sheets wadded up on the bed. Combined with the bitter edge of my scent that filled the room from yet another rough night of sleep, and there was no disguising how broken I was. The thought of facing him, of having him witness the aftermath of my night terrors, made my cheeks burn with shame.

But hiding forever wasn’t an option. Steeling myself, I crossed to the door on shaky legs and cracked it open. Giovanni stood on the other side, his hazel eyes sweeping over me with concern.

“You can’t stay cooped up in here,” he murmured, his intense gaze holding me in place. “You’re wasting away.”

My lips parted, but no words came. Part of me knew he was right—I couldn’t simply exist within these four walls. But the prospect of rejoining the world, of leaving this sanctuary, filled me with anxiety.

Giovanni seemed to read the turmoil in my expression. His features softened, the hard lines around his eyes relaxing ever so slightly. “Come on,” he said gently, offering me his hand. “Let’s get you breakfast.” He cast a scathing look at the tray of untouched food that lay in the hallway. “You need to eat and we can do better than cold eggs.”

I wavered, chewing my lip. Then, almost of its own volition, my hand slipped into his large, calloused palm. The simplecontact sent a jolt through me, warm and electric. As his fingers curled around mine, anchoring me, I found the strength to step across the threshold and into the hall.

His thumb traced slow circles over my knuckles as we walked, the roughness of his skin raising goosebumps along my arm. And God, did he smell amazing—the scent of earth, iron, and something uniquelyhim.It was somehow familiar and incredibly soothing.

I was utterly distracted as I breathed him in.

Perhaps that’s why I didn’t notice the dog until a vicious growl sliced through the air. I teetered at the top of the staircase, heart pounding like a runaway stallion as my gaze locked onto the enormous Doberman, who looked at me as if I were breakfast and he hadn’t eaten in days.

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