Chapter 17

seventeen

DIMITRI

The scent hit me first—that midnight forest, mossy signature infused with moonflowers mingling with Tommas’ familiar musk. My feet froze mid-stride, and I had to back up to take in the sight I’d almost passed by. There in one of the hallway nest areas we’d set up with our future Omega in mind, Kitania lay curled against my brother’s bare chest. Her dark hair fanned out across his skin as they both breathed evenly, telling me they were both deeply asleep.

A growl rumbled low in my throat.

Mine.

A wave of possessiveness, raw and unfamiliar, crashed over me before I could rein it in.

Tommas’ arm was draped protectively over Kitania’s slim frame, holding her close. Her fingers were splayed over his abdomen, her head resting on his chest. Dark lashes kissed her cheeks. It struck me how peaceful her face was in sleep, free from the shadows of fear that had haunted her eyes since we’d rescued her. A sharp pang of jealousy twisted in my gut. She looked so goddamn comfortable with him. Serene. Content.

And I was a complete and utter asshole for the envy that rose and consumed me.

Clenching my fists at my sides, I wrestled with the urge to stalk over there, scoop her up, and carry her back to my room and into my bed, wanting to be the one to hold her close.

Fuck. I had no right to feel this way. I’d always planned to share a mate with my brothers, but I hadn’t been prepared for the jealousy I’d experience when their connections progressed ahead of my own. It was understandable that our relationships might grow at different paces. The logical part of my brain knew I was being a goddamn idiot.

But holy hell was the longing for her real.

The shrill ring of my cell shattered the quiet. I fumbled to silence it, glancing anxiously at the sleeping pair. Kitania stirred slightly, but didn’t wake. Thank fuck.

My father’s name flashed on the screen. Of course. Because things lately weren’t complicated enough already.

With one last glance at Kitania’s serene face, I turned and strode towards my office as I tried to control the storm of emotions roiling inside me.

It shocked me how much I didn’t want to leave her in order to deal with whatever business my father was calling about. But I knew she had trouble sleeping, had heard her whimpers and cries at night. Knowing she was finally relaxed enough to get some decent rest eased the jealousy and made me once again grateful that my brother had been there for her when she’d needed one of us.

Next time, however, I’d make sure it was my turn.

Closing the office door behind me, I leaned against it and took a deep breath to refocus. The smell of ink and paper that infused my sanctuary did little to calm my racing thoughts.

I swiped to answer the call. “Father.”

“Dimitri.” His voice was like worn leather, rough yet smooth. “We need to talk.”

Nothing good ever followed those four words.

I pinched the bridge of my nose, steeling myself. “What’s going on?”

“I could ask you the same thing. Rumor has it that you and your brothers have been seen with a mysterious woman. Care to explain?”

I should’ve been prepared for this call. Visiting Vino’s yesterday had been our best option, but I’d known the news of Kitania would get back to my father. My people were his people first, and we had eyes everywhere.

“Our last extraction didn’t go quite as planned,” I told him, choosing my words carefully.

He knew all about our foray into helping our friends in Pack Jacobs—and, by association, the Feds—rescue the stolen Omegas who’d been sold on the black market. If it had been for any other reason, he would’ve forbidden our involvement. The only tenderness my father, Emilio Cristenello, showed—beyond his family—was reserved for Omegas.

Thankfully, he’d given us his blessing to lend a hand, making a comment about how it never hurt to have a few agents who owed you favors.

“The woman we rescued, Kitania…” I trailed off, then decided to just spit it out. “She’s our scent match.”

Silence stretched across the line for a beat. Then, his booming laughter filled my ear. “You found your Omega! Dimitri, this is wonderful news!”

I smirked and shook my head at his enthusiasm. It was unusual to hear such unbridled joy in my father’s voice. “It was unexpected, but it’s been fuckin’ incredible.”

“Of course it has. Scent matches are a rare gift. I want to meet her,” he declared. “Bring her to our next family dinner.”

My smile vanished, picturing how overwhelming that would be for my timid little Kitten. Despite the power I wielded as the heir of my father’s empire, the one person I didn’t rule over was him. The only soul who’d ever said no to Emilio Cristenello and lived to tell the tale was my mother.

“She’s not ready for that,” I insisted, thinking of how Kitania still flinched at sudden movements and loud noises.

“Dinner,” my father repeated succinctly, expecting deference through submission. “We’re not animals, Dimitri. We won’t scare her.”

I ground my back molars together. “It’s not you I’m worried about.”

More silence. I could practically hear the gears turning in my father’s head. “Isn’t it?”

“Fine. Maybe it’s partially you,” I admitted, knowing I was fighting a losing battle. “But this is mostly about Kitania. Meeting the whole damn family is going to be too much at once. Our Omega is still… recovering.”

I went on to carefully explain the extent of the abuse she’d suffered at the hands of those fucking Valentinos. Kitania had barely talked about it with us, but it didn’t take a genius to understand what they’d put her through. My father’s breathing grew heavier the longer I spoke until his anger was palpable even through the phone.

“We’ll keep it to the immediate family only. I promise we’ll be gentle with her. But Dimitri,” he said, demanding my full attention, “she needs to know the force that now stands behind her. She’s not alone anymore. She has the entire family standing with her. The sooner she realizes that, the sooner she may feel safer. More secure. Two extremely important things for an Omega.”

I scrubbed a hand down my face. “Maybe you’re right.”

He scoffed. “Of course I am,” he assured me, none-too-humbly. “I do have some experience with Omegas. More than you,” he added with wry amusement.

One corner of my lips tipped up as I shook my head again. “You already won, old man,” I said with the barest hint of a chuckle. “We’ll bring her to dinner next Friday night.”

“Excellent. I’ll make sure Julia has a day pass so that she can join us and meet her soon-to-be sister-in-law.”

“Let’s not rush things. She’s only agreed to a courtship so far.”

“Don’t be foolish. You’re scent matched. It’ll take time for her to fall in love with you, but the bond between you has already started to form. Trust me, I remember what it was like,” he murmured, lost in nostalgia. “Speaking of which, you’ll call me if you need any advice. Your fathers and I are quite knowledgeable after spending most of our lives with your mother.” It wasn’t a question, but a gentle demand.

I hummed my agreement as memories of my late mother made my smile grow deeper and more genuine. It didn’t matter how old a man became, he always held a special place in his heart for his mom. “We will,” I promised, truly meaning it.

The line went quiet, and I knew my father was savoring his victory.

Just as I was about to end the call, he spoke again, his tone shifting as abruptly as if he’d flipped a switch. Gone was the fatherly intonation, replaced by the ruthless boss he was best known for. “The body we found tossed across the boundary line of our territory makes more sense now.”

My blood ran cold. Everything in me snapped to attention, mirroring the same shift my father had just undergone. Like a snake shedding its skin, I discarded my role as ‘son’ and morphed into the brutal animal I’d been trained to become. “What body?”

“One of our patrols found Nick this morning,” he growled, the statement clipped and precise.

The world tilted beneath my feet. I stumbled further into the room and groped blindly for my desk, my fingers closing around a heavy crystal paperweight. “Nick?” I echoed, my voice barely above a whisper.

“Yes,” my father confirmed grimly. “It seems your little rescue mission has stirred up quite the hornet’s nest.”

I struggled to breathe, my chest constricting painfully. Nick had been more than just an enforcer; he’d been a friend, a brother-in-arms. And now he was gone, another casualty in this never-ending war.

“How?” I growled, though I wasn’t sure I wanted to find out.

My father was clinical, detached. It was his way of dealing with the savagery of our world. “It wasn’t pretty. They made an example of him. He was beaten, bruised, and mutilated with a deep V carved into his chest.”

“Post-mortem?”

“You already know the answer to that.” His tone was patronizing.

Of course I did. They would’ve done that shit while he was alive. Tortured him for information before using him to send us a message.

I closed my eyes, willing away the images my mind conjured of Nick’s vacant stare, his body covered in blood that spoke to how violently he’d suffered before he died. I tightened my grip around the paperweight, needing something solid to anchor me.

“They’re going to pay for this.” The storm brewing inside of me grew, ravenous for destruction. “Every last one of them.”

“Yes, they will,” my father agreed with a hint of pride. “But first, we need to secure what’s ours. They were already moving in on our territory, and now you have the Omega they believe belongs to them. You took something precious from them, and they want her back.”

“Over my dead body.”

“I always felt the same about your mother. There is nothing an Alpha wouldn’t do for his Omega. I would’ve given my life to save hers.”

I breathed deeply, trying to rein in my anger over the whole situation. “Precisely. They’re not getting their hands on my mate again. They’ll have to go through me. Through us.” I amended, knowing my brothers would all feel exactly the same way.

“Through all of us,” my father added in solidarity.

And fuck if it didn’t hit me square in the chest. This life took sacrifice, but this was the benefit of all we’d built.

“This latest move proves how ballsy the Valentinos are getting,” he continued. “They’re desperate to expand their kingdom and take back what they believe is rightfully theirs. Your Omega—Kitania—they want her as badly as they want our downfall. What happened to Nick was merely a prelude to what’s coming. Keep her safe, Dimitri. At all costs.”

I nodded, just one sharp movement, even though he couldn’t see me. “With my life,” I vowed.

A chill ran down my spine as another thought struck me. “What about Enzo?” I asked, dreading the answer.

Like Nick, Enzo was more than a best friend; he was practically a brother. The three of us had been as thick as thieves and the possibility of losing him too…

My father’s pause was deafening. “You haven’t heard from him?”

Goddammit! My stomach dropped as I realized Enzo hadn’t checked in at his usual time. I’d been so wrapped up in taking care of Kitania that I’d let myself slip and neglected my duties.

I flicked back through my text messages and phone calls, trying to pinpoint the last point of contact I’d had with Enzo. “Not for...” I trailed off, quickly doing the math in my head. “Shit. Not for over twenty-four hours.”

“Find him,” my father ordered, his voice sharp with urgency. “And Dimitri? Use caution. The Valentinos aren’t playing games anymore.”

The line went dead, leaving me alone with the weight of everything that had just been dumped on my shoulders. With carefully controlled rage, I hefted the paperweight and threw it across the room, reveling in the way it smashed and shattered into a thousand glittering shards. The release grounded me once more, reminding me of who I was and what I had to do.

Shoving a hand into my dark hair, I stormed from the office in search of Marco and Gio.

We had an Omega to protect, a friend to mourn, and another to find.

And the rest of a fucking family to destroy.