Page 96 of Knot Made to Break: Part Two

We’re coming, Sweetness. Hold on.

Almost there, Butterfly.

Stay strong, Angel.

Nothing will keep me from you, Kitten.

Tears burned my eyes. They were coming anyway, walking straight into Rocco’s lair, tempting death. For me.

I glanced at Rocco’s men, studying their faces. Some looked resolute, but others... others looked uncertain. This wasn’t a negotiation or a hostage situation. This was an execution, pure and simple, against one of the strongest families. Against an Omega. I could see the hesitation in their eyes. Some of them were wondering if they were on the wrong side of this fight.

But not one of them moved to help me; not one raised a hand against their boss. Whatever doubts they had, loyalty—orfear—kept them in line.

Rocco flipped off the safety, his finger twitching on the trigger. “Any last words,micia? You know how much I enjoy hearing you beg…”

I squeezed my eyes shut, unwilling to give him the satisfaction of seeing me shatter. Through the bond, I sent one last message to my mates.

I love you.

The world seemed to slow down. I could hear my own heartbeat, could feel the sweat beading on my forehead, could smell the bitter scent of my fear and apprehension in the air. I waited for the shot that would end everything.

But it never came.

Instead, there was a growl. A rush of movement. A shout.

My eyes flew open just in time to see Enzo tackle Rocco from the side. That unfeeling mask he’d worn earlier was ripped to shreds. His eyes were fire, his expression set. Rocco snarled as they fought, but the momentum from Enzo plowing in him carried them both toward the window. Their bodies crashed through the glass, sending it shattering in an explosion of grimy crystal shards.

I jumped to my feet between one breath and the next, my heart thundering wildly, my eyes wide. Everything seemed tohappen in slow motion. The way they rotated in mid air. Enzo’s eyes somehow finding mine in the chaos of the moment.

I saw it then. The apology. The torture of what he’d done. Theatonement.

Time stretched impossibly thin as I watched them fall. Rocco’s scream of rage, of panicked realization, tore through the air as they plummeted five stories down. Then came a terrible silence, broken only by the tinkling of glass fragments hitting the asphalt like freezing rain.

I lurched forward, drawn by some morbid need to see, to confirm what had happened. I clung to the steel frame of the jagged, broken window, peering down at the sprawl of bodies below. Wind whipped at my hair, and then a hand snatched me back, hard and fast.

“Kitten.”

Dimitri’s voice broke through the haze of shock. He crushed me to his chest, arms locked tight, one hand fisting gently in my hair, just holding me to him. His scent wrapped around me just as hard—sandalwood and honey, cut through with blood and the acrid, bitter burn of rage. Tears stung my eyes, and I buried my face against him, clinging to his shirt as if he might disappear.

“I’ve got you,” he murmured hoarsely. “You’re safe. You’re safe, now.”

The sound of metal hitting the ground echoed through the cavernous space as Rocco’s men surrendered.

And then they were all there—Gio, Tommy, Marco—surrounding me, hands reaching out to touch, to hold, to confirm I was real. That I was alive.

Gio pulled me into his arms, pressing his face into my hair. “Dolcezza,” he breathed, his voice breaking. “Christ, we almost—”

Marco lifted my chin gently, his blue eyes scanning my face, cataloging every bruise and cut. “Angel,” he rasped, thumbs brushing away tears I hadn’t realized were falling.

Tommy clutched my hand, bringing it to his lips, his eyes never leaving mine. “Butterfly,” he breathed, the nickname a prayer of gratitude.

All of them were wrecked, shaken down to the depths of their souls—but I was alive. We all were. And we were together.

The danger was over.

I looked around at the flood of Dimitri’s men that had filled the room, their guns trained on Rocco’s crew. Each of our enemies had their arms raised, faces pale, hands shaky.

“Secure the building,” Dimitri ordered, using that familiar commanding tone he’d perfected. “I want every inch checked. Make sure there are no more surprises.”

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