Chapter 20

twenty

KITANIA

The sun had long since dipped below the horizon when I padded into the living room, my bare feet silent against the cool hardwood floors. After dinner, I’d changed into one of my new pajama sets—a sea green cotton ensemble that was as soft as a cloud. It was so damn comfortable I couldn’t resist putting it on, but the shorts barely covered my thighs, and the cami’s thin straps left my shoulders exposed. I tugged at the hem self-consciously, hyper-aware of how much skin I was showing—and the discolored bruises that were still fading.

As I ventured deeper into the room, my eyes darted around, taking in my surroundings. Gio was sprawled in the center of the giant couch, looking like a dark prince ruling over his kingdom. His attention was on the cards he shuffled effortlessly in his hands before dealing them out on the coffee table.

A flash of something teal drew my gaze, and my breath caught in my throat. Scattered in various piles across the couches and chairs were some of the new blankets and pillows the guys had bought for me, just waiting to be curled up with. My heart squeezed, warmth spreading through my chest at their thoughtfulness.

I beelined for the coziest looking one, something primal in me demanding fleecy comfort.

Gio’s head lifted at my approach, his hands stilling over the cards spread across the coffee table. His hazel eyes locked onto mine, sending a delicious shiver down my spine.

“What are you up to?” I asked quietly as I reached for the throw.

“Just messin’ around.” That deep voice rumbled through the room like quiet, rolling thunder. “Not playing anything specific.”

It was on the tip of my tongue to ask Giovanni if I could join him, but at the last moment, I changed my mind. Instead of asking, I simply cocooned myself in my blanket and stole the seat next to him, knowing that his answer would’ve been yes. Always yes.

I curled up, then dared a peek at Gio. A rare smirk graced his lips, and his eyes shone with pride. That look was as effective as a murmured ‘good girl’ and my heart stuttered before it restarted, pumping wildly.

It was unfair how this man, this Alpha, could steal the air from my lungs while simultaneously making me feel like I could finally breathe again.

“So… um… What’s your favorite card game?” I asked, desperate to fill the charged silence.

“Poker.” His gaze fixated on me, never wavering.

“Do you play often?”

“We usually host a monthly game and invite a few of the guys. I smoked ‘em all last month. Won a fortune.”

I bit my lip, studying the harsh lines of his face. It was challenging to ignore the desire to trail a finger down the straight line of his nose or over the sharp cut of his stubble- covered jaw. Giovanni was strikingly handsome in that rugged, could-kill-you-with-a-single-look kind of way. I ached to run my hands over his buzzed hair just to know what it felt like against my skin.

Something in his eyes heated, as if he knew the direction of my thoughts. And maybe he did. Maybe he was learning to read me just as I was learning to read him, deciphering his expressions and what they meant—like that tiny twitch at the corner of his mouth that preceded a smirk as he watched me watching him.

“Will you teach me?” The words tumbled out before I could think better about what I was doing.

This time, a full grin stretched across Gio’s tantalizing, kissable lips. “You want to learn poker?” Amusement twinkled in his eyes.

I narrowed my own. “Are you laughing at me?”

“No.” His smile widened, and then he shrugged unapologetically. “Maybe.”

I huffed indignantly, and then Gio did something that utterly shocked me—he laughed .

The sound was deep and rich, reverberating through my entire body. My mouth fell open, and butterflies erupted in my stomach. I clenched my thighs together, suddenly very aware of the heat pooling between them.

The mountainous man’s shoulders shook with mirth until he contained himself, grinning that earth-shattering grin at me.

“What? Why is that so funny?” I had to purse my lips to keep from smiling.

Reaching out, he smoothed the thick pad of his thumb a whisper below my bottom lip. “You don’t have much of a poker face, Dolcezza,” he teased.

I lifted my chin, meeting his gaze head-on. “Is that a challenge?”

Gio’s eyebrow quirked up, and he leaned in closer, his scent enveloping me. “If you want it to be.”

My breath hitched as he reached for the deck, quickly shuffled it, and doled them out. His fingers brushed against mine as he passed me my cards. The simple touch sent sparks skittering across my skin, and I struggled to focus on the hand he’d dealt me.

“Alright, sweetness,” Gio’s voice dropped low, sending warmth blooming in unmentionable places. “Let’s see what you can do.”

GIOVANNI

I sat back, watching Kitania with rapt fascination as she studied her cards. Her delicate brow furrowed in concentration, those plump lips of hers pursing ever so slightly. Fuckin’ adorable. Every few seconds, her gaze flicked up to meet mine before darting away, like she couldn’t resist sneaking a peek.

A smirk tugged at the corner of my mouth. This woman was amusing the hell out of me without even trying. Just by sitting here, existing in my space. I watched her, studying every facet of her expressions as her fingers hovered over the cards in her hand, wondering which move she wanted to make next. The harder Kitania worked to school her features into a neutral expression, the worse her poker face became.

Chuckling under my breath, I reached out and tapped the tip of her tongue, which had poked out from between those full, luscious lips as she focused. Quick as a whip, without even a thought, she snapped her teeth at my finger like a feral little kitten. The move was so startling, a boom of a laugh resonated from deep within my chest.

Instantly, she rolled her lips between her teeth, her shoulders hunching sheepishly.

“It’s nice to know you have some bite in you,” I rumbled in approval, drinking in the way her cheeks flushed that pretty shade of pink.

She sighed and shrugged slightly. “I’m often underestimated.”

“I have no doubt of that.” My gaze roamed over her petite frame, from the top of her dark hair down to the tips of her wiggling toes that peeked out from beneath the soft, fluffy blanket she’d curled up in. “Just means your super powers are a secret weapon.”

A shy smile curved her mouth as she tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. “I don’t have superpowers.”

“That’s where you’re wrong.” Lowering my voice to a murmur, I let my words caress her. “You’re pretty damn magical to me.”

The flush on her cheeks deepened to a rosy hue that made me want to lean across the table and nip at that soft, warm skin. Kitania dropped her eyes, but not before I glimpsed the way they’d darkened— heated .

Fuck. She was too adorable for her own good.

We kept playing, the cards almost an afterthought, as I let her win hand after hand. I was too busy getting drunk on the happy little wiggles she did when she bested me, the bright sparkle in those sky-blue eyes. Hell, I was pretty sure I was winning—just at an entirely different game.

An idea struck me then. One that would allow me to delve deeper into those fascinating layers that made up my mate while giving her a chance to do the same with me.

“How about we raise the stakes?” I suggested, watching the way her shoulders tensed, her cards drawing closer to her chest in a protective gesture.

An unsure little furrow appeared between her brows. “I’m not sure. What were you thinking?”

“Each hand we win grants the winner a question they can ask the other person. Anything they want to know.” A thrill of anticipation hummed through me at the hint of interest that flickered in her gaze.

She worried at her plump bottom lip with her teeth again while she considered it. Faster than I’d expected, she agreed, “Okay. I like the idea of getting to know each other better.”

The Alpha part of me perked up at the prospect of learning about my Omega, hungry for any morsel of information she’d trust me with.

Surprisingly, I noted the same interest in Kitania, her eyes a window to the questions already swimming through her mind. There were things she wanted answers to, and I wondered what she was curious about. Whatever she asked, I would answer gladly, secrets and all. Whether she knew it or not, with or without our little game, I was hers. And I wouldn’t deny her anything.

Wiggling in her seat, Kitania focused on her cards with renewed vigor. I kept my chuckle to myself this time, playing a bit more ruthlessly. I won the first hand with ease, watching in amusement as my Omega squirmed, awaiting my question.

Best to start gently and go easy on her.

I tapped my chin, pretending to be deep in thought about what I wanted to ask.

“If you could have any superpower for one day, what would it be?”

She didn’t miss a beat. “To fly.” Her head tipped back, eyes closing as her hands went out at her sides like she could take flight at any moment.

Of course, that was her fucking answer . That simple response had been loaded with so much meaning. It wasn’t hard to guess that it was the freedom that called to her. Anyone who’d been caged for as long as she had would crave the ability to fly away, to sail through the sky and go anywhere she damn well pleased. Even before she’d been kidnapped and sold, her wings had been clipped before they’d had a chance to spread.

Our beautiful angel, desperate to finally soar.

“I didn’t expect you to start with an easy one,” she challenged.

I arched an eyebrow. “Would you rather I have demanded to know every deep, dark secret you have?”

Her nose tipped up just slightly. “I don’t have deep, dark secrets.”

“Everyone has secrets.”

Those blue eyes blinked up at me. “Even you?”

Oh sweet, naive girl. “Probably more than most.”

Her head cocked to the side consideringly. “Are you gonna tell me what they are?”

I grinned again, smiling more than I had in fucking years. This time, however, it held an edge of challenge. “You have to win first.”

The second hand went my way as well, and the tiny, frustrated mewl she released was worth the scathing scowl she levied at me.

“I think you were taking it easy on me before.”

I shot her a wink, and she growled .

Goddammit. I shifted in my seat, wondering if I should grab a pillow to throw over my lap so she wouldn’t notice the effect she had on me. Seeing that flash of fire in her was sexy as fuck.

“I guess you get another question,” Kitania resigned.

I cleared my throat, distracting myself by coming up with something to ask. “I’m not sure if you know this, but Tommas shared some of your background with the rest of us. We don’t keep things from each other.”

Her eyes widened, but she took the news in stride, nodding. “It’s nice, actually. Not having to repeat everything to everyone.”

I understood. Sometimes, dating multiple partners could put strain on an Omega. The four of us sharing stuff with each other wasn’t an invasion of her privacy. It was just the way of a pack. I assured her that if there was anything she ever wanted us to keep to ourselves, all she needed to do was ask. Then, after confirming what I knew about her background in foster care, I dove into my question.

“Where did you learn to cook?” I asked. “Since your mom passed when you were so young… Was it at a foster home? Or a class at the OMA?”

Kitania shook her head. “My fondest memories are of my mom in the kitchen. She loved to cook, and from the time I was old enough to stand on a stool at the counter, she let me help. Once she was gone, and I was in the system…” She trailed off, nibbling on the already abused flesh of her bottom lip. When she spoke again, her voice was little more than a whisper. “There were lots of foster parents who expected me to do all the cooking and cleaning for the family. I was treated more like a maid or a servant than their child. One day, I pulled out mom’s old recipe book and just… started following the directions. Cooking became my escape, I guess. A way to feel close to her again. To pretend we were back in our tiny kitchen, side by side at the stove.”

I wanted to snarl, enraged at the mere thought of my precious Omega being forced into servitude as a child, deprived of a real home and family. But there was a softness in her expression too, one that hinted at the joy she’d found, even during those dark days. It was a testament to her strength. Her fortitude. Her fucking perseverance.

“I enjoy cooking, but I actually like baking best,” she confided, the hint of a smile playing at the corners of her mouth at the admission, as though she were telling me an illicit secret. “Before I designated, I’d hoped to save up enough money to open a bakery someday.”

Fuck. Whatever dreams she had, I’d make them a reality. Little did she know that my brothers or I would fish the damn moon from the sky for her if she so much as asked.

Her delicate fingers fussed with the edge of the blanket as she peeked up at me, waiting to see what I would say.

“That’s a beautiful dream, Dolcezza,” I told her gruffly, working to keep my Alpha in check. Instinct nearly drove me to storm off this couch and find the nearest commercial space to rent so I could make her vision a reality.

“It’s whimsical and far-fetched. An Omega would never be allowed to run a shop.” She shook her head, as if trying to dislodge the dream from taking root. “Ready for another hand?”

I let her change the subject, for now, knowing this wouldn’t be the last time we talked about what she wanted out of life.

I made a quick mental checklist of shit to do.

1. Secure her safety.

2. Make her mine.

3. Give her the fucking world on a silver platter.

I focused on my cards, searching for my patience, because damn-it-all if I didn’t want to check off every item on that list— tonight .

This time, I purposely lost, giving in to the temptation to know what questions Kitania had for me. Curiosity burned through me as her mouth opened and then immediately snapped shut again.

I ran my thumb along the lush curve of her bottom lip, soothing away the worry her teeth had etched there. “You don’t have to freak out. You can ask me anything you want. I’m an open book with you.”

Drawing in a deep, fortifying breath, those blue eyes of hers met my gaze head on. “On the way to the restaurant the other day, I heard you and your brothers talking. You, um, you referred to your ‘family.’ And the way Maison reacted to you at the shop, how Vino cleared your table so quickly…”

I went absolutely still beside her, holding my breath as she barreled on.

“I guess what I’m trying to ask is… are you… I mean, is your family…” She swallowed hard. “You said the Valentinos are your rivals. Are you part of the mafia or something?”

The air left my lungs in a harsh exhale.

Well, fuck.

It wasn’t as though we’d been hiding shit, but my girl was too smart for her own good.

Raking a hand over my cropped hair, I considered how to respond. We weren’t exactly low key about our operation—it was an open secret in this city which family ran things—but bringing an outsider, especially a fragile Omega, into our world? A deep part of me rebelled, wanting to save her from the darker side of our lives.

Kitania must have sensed my hesitation. “You don’t have to answer that. It was too personal, I shouldn’t have—”

“Yes.” The word slipped out, harsh and blunt, cutting off her rambling apology. No half-truths, no lies of omission—not with her. She deserved the truth.

“The Cristenello’s have been running Silver City for generations. Our fathers are in charge right now, but they’re looking to step down, to pass everything on to me and my brothers.”

Those blue eyes searched mine, seeing straight through to the darkness. I braced myself for her recrimination, the fear and disgust that was sure to follow.

Instead, she simply nodded, worrying at her lip once more while she processed my confession.

Forever a masochist, I couldn’t stop myself from asking, “Does that bother you?” I had to know. If the mere thought of what I was repulsed her, then there was no point in continuing this courtship, even if the idea of letting her go absolutely fucking gutted me.

“Should it?” She arched one perfect eyebrow with a quiet sort of defiance.

My Alpha stirred at the spark of fire in her gaze, instincts recognizing a mate brave enough to walk through the flames at our side.

“We’re not your typical pack,” I told her frankly. “The life we live, the things we’ve done…” I shook my head, pushing aside the memories that threatened to resurface, the deeds that stained my soul. “There’s ugliness there, sweetness. Darkness you can’t even imagine.”

“I’ve seen darkness, Gio,” she whispered.

The quiet admission sent an icy chill of rage laced with the searing need to protect what was mine . Without warning, I pulled her closer until she was tucked against my side, my nose buried in the tempting curve where her neck met her shoulder. Her cards fluttered to the floor as her hands gripped my t-shirt. I soothed myself with the mossy, floral scent of her signature, drawing it deep into my lungs until it branded my goddamn soul. Home. Mate.

“We shouldn’t be dragging you into our dangerous lives,” I growled. “You’re too innocent. Too pure. But I’m too fucking selfish to do the noble thing and let you go.”

It was more than that. Deeper. I didn’t trust the world with her. Too many people had failed our sweet Omega in her short lifetime, and there was no one more invested in her safety and well-being than me and my brothers. But I knew keeping Kitania came at a cost.

“Our world… it’s not for the faint of heart. But if you give us a chance, if you stay, we’ll protect you from it as much as we can.”

She leaned into me, her warmth and softness a balm against all my jagged edges. “I’m stronger than I look.”

The quiet conviction in her voice prodded at the part of me that still clung to shreds of idealistic hope, the foolish notion that I wasn’t too dark and damaged for this beautiful woman who carried so much light inside herself, it was fucking blinding. That I might be worthy of her.

I tightened my hold, a futile attempt to keep her tethered to me before this life swallowed her whole. “I hope to fuck you are, sweetness. Because once you’re in? There’s no going back.”

As if she sensed my self-recrimination, those hands gripping my shirt flattened against my chest, and she pushed. Surprising the hell out of me, she swung her leg over my lap, settling a thigh on either side of mine, straddling me.

“Good,” she practically purred, her palms sliding up until they cupped my face. “Because I’m not interested in going back, Gio. I only want to move forward. With you .”