Page 98 of Knot Made to Break: Part Two

“Did you know,” he murmured, breaking the comfortable silence, “that this guy in your book has—and I quote—’eyes like molten amber that burned with the intensity of a thousand suns’?” He grinned, dimples flashing as he met my gaze. “How does that even work? Wouldn’t that just make him look constipated?”

The laugh that bubbled out of me was unexpected, almost jarring after everything, but it felt good. Healing. “Don’t judge my steamy romance novels.”

“Oh, I’m not judging,” Tommy replied, his green eyes sparkling with mischief. “I’m taking notes.” He winked at me before returning to the book, his smile softening the edges of his lingering worry. It was so like him to lighten the mood with humor and playfulness, but I still felt the rawness of the day, saw how he continuously peeked over the pages to check on me. As if reassuring himself I was still there. Still safe.

From the kitchen came the gentle clink of porcelain. Gio moved with surprising grace for a man his size, preparing a cup of tea exactly how I liked it—three spoonfuls of sugar with a splash of milk. Though focused on his task, his hazel eyes hadbarely left me since we’d settled in the living room. It was as if he feared I might disappear if he looked away for too long.

“You don’t have to keep watching me,” I said softly. “I’m right here.”

Gio’s expression remained serious. “Humor me, little Omega.”

I nestled deeper into Dimitri’s side, and the arm he had slung around my shoulders tightened. His phone remained clutched in his hand, though it had stopped buzzing hours ago. Deep lines of exhaustion and stress etched his face, but the fierce protectiveness in his eyes hadn’t diminished. His fingers skimmed along my arm, and he automatically turned his nose into my hair, breathing me in, pulling me endlessly closer against his solid warmth.

The clock on the wall read 2:17 AM, though the hour didn’t fully register—time had unraveled completely somewhere between the adrenaline crash and the warmth of my pack holding me close, helping me heal.

I’d never forget the gentle way they’d cared for me in the aftermath—like the way Gio had helped me shower. His large hands had been impossibly tender as he washed away the blood and grime, his eyes never straying despite my nakedness. Just a warm gaze, steady hands, and a low, constant stream of reassurances that held me together when everything inside me was threatening to unravel.

“I’ve got you,” he whispered, over and over. “You’re safe now.”

Marco had carefully dried and brushed out my hair afterward, his deft fingers working through the tangles with patience and skill. He’d braided it loosely to keep it from my face, murmuring the same reassurances as his brothers.

“It’s over, Angel. No one’s ever gonna hurt you again,” he’d promised, pressing a kiss to the crown of my head when he’d finished.

Tommy had been the one to treat my wounds, applying antiseptic and bandages with a gentleness that made my heart ache. He’d been so careful not to cause me any more pain, kissing each spot before moving on to the next. That lightheartedness I loved had been set aside, replaced by fierce concentration as he’d carefully iced the worst of my bruises.

“These will heal,” he’d promised. “All of it will heal, Kit.”

And Dimitri—my stoic, powerful Alpha—had shouldered the burden of dealing with the aftermath. He’d made the calls, issued the orders, updated his father, orchestrated the cleanup, all while shielding me from the details that would bring the night flooding right back. He’d only left my side when absolutely necessary, and even then, he’d made sure one of the others was with me—never letting me out of their sight.

“You don’t need to worry about anything else,” he’d told me, his deep voice a rumble against my ear. “I’m taking care of all of it. Just rest now, Kitten.”

Even Beretta, who was recovering from being poisoned with Ibuprofen, had done his fair share of cuddling, helping to ease my jangled nerves. My boy was a fighter through and through, and thankfully, the dose he’d been given wasn’t lethal. After a thorough visit with the vet, some activated charcoal, and a bag of fluids, he’d been allowed to come home. A few days and he’d be back to normal, ready to play ball and go for walks to his heart’s content.

Surrounded by all my boys—my Alphas, my dog, my whole damn heart—I finally felt like I could truly, fully exhale.

Gio brought me the steaming cup of tea, and his fingers brushed mine in the handoff. The simple touch was grounding, settling, and I gave him a smile I hoped reached my eyes. Takingthe spot on the floor in front of me, he leaned back, resting against my knees.

I cradled the warm mug in one hand, refusing to stop stroking Marco’s hair. Dipping my head, I inhaled the calming scent of chamomile before taking a sip. The warm liquid sluiced down my throat, bolstering me enough to ask the question I’d been holding back all night.

“Did you find out anything else about Enzo?”

The atmosphere in the room shifted immediately. Marco’s body tensed in my lap. Tommy stopped turning pages. Gio’s shoulders stiffened against my knees. Dimitri’s fingers tightened imperceptibly on my arm.

“What about him?” Marco’s voice had an edge to it now.

I swallowed hard. “Is he...” I couldn’t finish the question.

I knew there was no way he could’ve survived the fall, but I needed to hear it, anyway. The heavy silence that followed told me everything I needed to know. My chest constricted with a confusing mixture of grief and relief. Enzo had betrayed us all, had been working for Rocco, had put me in danger—but in the end, he’d saved me. The contradiction left me feeling hollow.

Dimitri’s thumb stroked a gentle pattern against my arm. After a long moment, he nodded toward his phone.

“He left something,” Dimitri told me. “A voice text. It came through while we were in the car racing to get to you. I only saw it when we got home.”

My heart stuttered. “A message?”

“Do you want to hear it?” he asked, his brown eyes searching mine. “You don’t have to.”

I nodded, setting my tea aside. “Yes. I need to know.”

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