Page 63 of Knot So Broken

She shrugs her shoulders, “I mean, kind of. What does this mean for us?”

Theo relaxes his body, like her asking questions is exactly what he needs right now.

“I guess it really depends on where you want to be in regards to the organisation. If you want to stay as far away from it all as you can, we will make sure that we keep you away from it all. If you want to be involved, we can organise that. Introduce you to the life and work out where you want to be in it. I don’t want to push this life on you, Kennedy. It's not for everyone and I know that. I just hope that you can accept that this is a part of us. I can understand if it is too much.”

I watch as Theo deflates. He acts like not much fazes him. His cool guy act works well for him a lot of the time, but sometimes life is just too much. The pressures that fall on his shoulders get heavy. I know that he needs Kennedy more than his next breath of air. He needs her to accept him and his life.

I can’t blame him, I need it too.

She is fucking everything.

“I think that I would like to learn about your life. I want to give it a chance before I make a decision, if that's okay?”

Theo nods enthusiastically, “Yes, yes of course. I would love to show you my life.”

It feels like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. Like I am finally able to take a breath. Knowing that Kennedy at least wants to learn about our life is a relief in itself.

Maybe she will come to accept our lives and want to be a part of it. I also don’t necessarily mind if she doesn’t though.

This life comes with a lot of risks. Our lives are quite literally in danger every day. I don’t know if I could handle welcoming her intothe Mafia life and seeing her be hurt by it. The thought sends unnecessary pulses of anger through me.

No, if Kennedy is to be a part of our life, she will be safe and I will make sure of it.

Chapter Twenty Two

The last thing I expected to come from my Alphas was that they are a part of a Mafia. Let alone one of them destined to become the next Don.

My knowledge of the underground is limited. I know that my father has dabbled here and there but other than that, that's it.

It makes sense as to why his reaction to Theo’s last name was so dramatic. I didn’t even catch onto that during our confrontation in the parking garage. I slowly keep connecting more dots. Conversations behind closed doors that I just happened to overhear. Men that would come to visit my father. Ones that he was desperate to impress.

There is so much more to the world that I have been completely oblivious to, or rather sheltered from. It makes me feel juvenile. Innocent. Dumb.

I don’t want that for myself.

I want to be able to stand on my own. Jax, Ledger and Theo are such big personalities. Of course they are, they are Alphas. I don’t want to fade into the background though. I want to stand next to them as equals.

I was honest when I said to Theo that I wanted to know and understand this part of his life. It's what the three of them deserve.

They deserve for me to give them the chance. It also is incredibly interesting to me. I want to know the nitty gritty details. The going ons of a Mafia and what the life entails.

I’ve already asked for the guys to help me learn how to fight; to stand up for myself. This will just give me a bit of an extra edge, I guess.

Something I know I desperately need.

It broke my heart when Theo deflated with the thought of me not wanting to be a part of his life completely.

Crawling across the nest, I climb into his lap. He looks up at me in surprise but doesn’t stop me from closing the space between us.

We are both still naked but I ignore the lack of clothing. This isn’t about that. I just want Theo to know that I am here. That I accept him no matter how he comes to me.

He is my Alpha and already, I am head-over-heels for him.

I can accept his warts, just as he accepts mine.

I tuck my head into the crook of his neck, breathing in his scent that instantly brings me peace.

I feel Theo as he mimics me, putting his face into the crook of my neck, his lips trailing over his mating mark.

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