Page 50 of Knot Made to Break: Part One

He had pulled me aside before he left, taking the time to explain what was going on. He’d told me plainly what had happened to Nick, though I had the feeling he’d spared me some of the more gruesome details. While it meant the world to me that he valued me enough to confide in me, my heart was heavy for the loss of his friend.

If there was any silver lining to be found, it was that Dimitri’s blunt honesty showed the trust he had in me. My Alpha believedI was strong enough to hear the truth, and I wanted to prove him right, to handle the news with grace and fortitude.

But guilt gnawed at me relentlessly.

Nick would still be alive if Dimitri hadn’t sent him to hunt down the Valentinos because ofme. An innocent man was dead, and their friend Enzo was missing, all because they were trying to avenge me.

My eyes burned, and I angrily swiped at them with my sleeve. I couldn’t fall apart, not now. My Alphas had done so much for me, so I had to be strong. I owed them that. But it was hard knowing that Rocco and Vincent were still out there. That one of my Alphas could be their next victim.

Working to pull myself together, I focused on browning the meat, letting the familiar scents of garlic and rosemary soothe me. Cooking had always been cathartic. An escape. I dumped the beef broth into the pot and brought it to a simmer before adding chopped mint and peas. All the while, my potatoes cooked, and when they were ready, I drained them and mashed them with more vigor than they called for.

The workout did little to unknot the tension in my shoulders or vent my frustration. Guilt and anxiety were a bitch to shake. Almost as much as the fear over my Alphas’ safety.

Giovanni, who’d stayed home with me, approached just as I was spooning the shepherd’s pie into a ceramic dish before topping it with the mashed potatoes. The savory aroma of the meat and vegetables was mouthwatering, and my stomach grumbled, reminding me I’d barely eaten all day thanks to my nonexistent appetite.

“That smells amazing, Dolcezza,” Giovanni murmured, his deep baritone sending a shiver straight down my spine.

I flashed him a small smile over my shoulder as I slid the dish into the oven. “It’s my mother’s recipe. Shepherd’s pie was my favorite growing up.”

“I look forward to trying it.” Gio’s eyes crinkled at the corners as he smiled back at me.

Timer set, I turned to face him fully, my heart skipping a beat at the sight of him casually leaning against the counter, arms crossed over his broad chest. He’d changed into a soft-looking black Henley that stretched across his shoulders and biceps, the fabric clinging to every hard, delineated muscle.

Heat bloomed in my cheeks and I quickly averted my gaze, busying myself with cleaning up the mess I’d made.

“It’ll be ready soon,” I told him, my voice wavering slightly as it finally registered that we were alone together for the first time. “I figured making dinner is the least I can do to thank you for staying with me when I’m sure you’d rather be out with your brothers. Besides, I thought you might be hungry.”

Gio smirked, his mouth slanted sinfully. “I am, though not just for food.” His tone dropped an octave, and my pulse quickened.

God, how I reacted to this man.

Focusing on rinsing the pan, I tried to ignore the blatant innuendo. Gio was dangerously charming without even trying. And I was dangerously attracted to him, despite the fact that I was a mess of an Omega and far from worthy of his attention.

Gio’s smile fell, and he cocked his head, that all-knowing stare of his boring into me again. “How are you holding up?” he asked, seemingly concerned by whatever he’d seen cross my face.

I stilled, the cookware forgotten in my hands as I stared unseeingly into the sink. “I’m… managing.” Though it was a lackluster confession, the words still felt like sandpaper in my throat.

A warm hand settled on my shoulder and I jumped, whirling around to find Gio standing right behind me, his hazel eyes filledwith understanding. “This isn’t your fault, Kitania. None of it is. And my brothers are going to be fine.”

Tears welled up, but I blinked rapidly, determined not to let them fall. “I know that. Logically, I do. But I can’t help but feel responsible. Nick is dead because of me. Your friend is missing because ofme—”

“No,” Gio cut me off firmly, his hands coming up to cup my face, his thumbs brushing over my cheekbones. “Nick is dead because of the Valentinos. Enzo is missing because of the Valentinos. Not you. You arenotto blame for the fucked up actions of others. You’re a victim in this just as much as they are.”

A sob caught in my throat and I squeezed my eyes shut. Gio pulled me into him, one hand cupping the back of my head while the other ran soothingly up and down my back. I buried my face in his chest, breathing in the comforting scent of earth and musk while I let his strength seep into me.

“I’ve got you,” he murmured, kissing my hair. “You’re not alone in this, Kitania. We’re going to take care of everything, and we’ll get through it all together.”

I gave him a small nod, not trusting myself to speak. We stayed like that for a long moment, just holding each other, until the timer beeped, startling us apart.

Wiping hastily at my eyes, I turned back to the stove, slipped on oven mitts, and took out the bubbling pie. The cheesy, savory aroma made me groan in appreciation, and my stomach grumbled again.

“Perfect timing.” Giovanni walked over to the cupboard and pulled out two plates.

We dished up heaping servings and settled at the kitchen island, sitting side by side. It was casual, and just what I needed to take the pressure off our first solo dinner together.

Gio took a big bite, closing his eyes and humming appreciatively. “This is fuckin’ amazing.”

I ducked my head shyly, warmth suffusing me at the compliment. “I’m glad you like it.”

---