Page 43 of Knot Broken

“Vi…” My voice is quiet, but she hums immediately, like she’s been waiting for me to speak.

I press a kiss to the top of her head, my hand resting lightly on her hip. “I need to tell you something. And I need you to hear all of it, okay?”

She shifts, just enough to lift her head and meet my eyes. Her gaze is open and curious, but calm. Steady. “Okay,” she says softly.

“I love you.” The words come out steady, clearer than I expected. “I think I’ve loved you since the moment we walked into that hell and found this angel standing bright amongst the chaos.”

She lets out a breathy laugh, but it quickly fades into stillness again. She doesn’t look away.

“You’re… incredible, Vi. You’re brave and loud and kind and chaotic in the best damn way. You didn’t just survive what happened to you—you got back up and helped us tear the whole damn place down. You never should’ve had to go through that, but you faced it head-on, and then turned around to protect others.”

My voice tightens, and I have to pause, swallowing down the raw emotion that rises next.

“And you forgave us,” I say. “Even after we disappeared for a month and left you in the dark. You still let us in. You let me in. I don’t think I’ll ever stop being grateful for that.”

Violet blinks, tears welling in her eyes, but she doesn’t look away even for a second. She shifts up, her hand gently cupping my jaw, her thumb brushing along my cheek.

“I love you too,” she whispers. “Even when I wanted to strangle you for being gone, I still wanted you. All of you.”

My chest tightens in the best kind of way, the kind that says I’ll never get enough of her. I pull her into my arms, holding her like the world could fall away and I’d still be okay, as long as she was here.

And for the first time in my life, I believe that’s true.

Dare

May 30th

1:06 P.M

Pouring over maps and surveillance images scattered across the table in our makeshift “war room” is about the last damn thing I want to be doing right now. I lean forward, elbows propped on the heavy oak surface, frustration gnawing at my patience. The dim light from the vintage lamp casts long shadows across the countless notes and intel files, making my head pound with tension. I’ve spent the last hour tracing patterns, seeking answers that stubbornly refuse to show themselves. We’ve mapped out the auction house and are trying to stake it out, but they keep things so erratic that it’s not as simple as taking out a few guards.

My thoughts shatter when Violet’s scream cuts sharply through the quiet of the house.

I’m on my feet instantly, knocking over my chair as I spin toward the door. Violet burst into the room barefoot, her short purple curls wild around her flushed face. Her eyes are wide with panic, tears streaming down her cheeks as she clutches her phone so tightly her knuckles have turned ghostly white. She’s wearing an oversized black sweatshirt that hangs loosely off one shoulder, paired with soft gray leggings, clearly dressed for comfort rather than going out.

“I—I need you to take me to the hospital. Now!” Her voice trembles, catching on a sob. She rushes toward me, desperation etched into her expression. “It’s Odette. She—she’s been hurt.”

My chest seizes at the anguish and fear written plainly on her face, and in two strides, I close the distance, immediately gathering her small frame into my arms. Violet wraps her arms tightly around my neck, her legs instinctively locking around my waist as I lift her effortlessly, cradling her close.

“Jex! Fox!” I bellow into the house, urgency sharpening my voice. I turn quickly toward the doorway, Violet trembling against me, sobs wracking her body. I’ve never seen her like this—not even after everything else she’s been through. Kidnappings barely fazed her, yet whatever’s happened to Odette has her shattered completely.

Footsteps thunder down the hall, shaking the hardwood floors as both men race toward us from opposite sides of the house. Jex bursts into the room first, skidding slightly in his rush, his eyes wide with alarm. Fox appears seconds later, concern darkening his expression as his gaze fixes immediately on Violet.

“What happened?” Jex demands sharply, already reaching for his keys, adrenaline clear in his tense frame.

“It’s Odette,” I tell them quickly, rubbing Violet’s back as she cries against my shoulder, trembling in my arms. “She’s hurt, and Violet needs to get to the hospital immediately.”

Jex nods once, expression hardening into determination as he bolts out the front door without another word, racing to start the truck.

Fox moves beside me, carefully brushing Violet’s hair away from her tear-streaked face. “Which hospital, doll? Can you tell us?”

“Mercy General,” she chokes out, her voice fragile and breaking with grief. “She sounded… It was bad.”

Fox’s jaw clenches, his brown eyes shadowed with worry. “We’re going now. We’ll get you there, sweetheart.”

“Grab her boots, will you. By the front door.” Fox leans down, snagging them. He leads the way outside, opening doors and guiding us toward the waiting truck, the engine already rumbling. Jex grips the wheel tightly, ready to speed off the moment we’re in. Violet stays curled against my chest, her sobs softer now, quieter, but still utterly heartbreaking.

I slide into the back seat, cradling her carefully. Fox jumps into the passenger side, giving Jex a quick nod. Tires squeal as Jex pulls out onto the road, accelerating rapidly toward Mercy General, tension thickening the air inside the cab.

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