Chapter 47

forty-seven

TOMMAS

“Just one round,” I said, holding up a deck of cards. Kitania shook her head, her eyes flitting towards the window. The anxious tapping of her foot on the floor echoed in the otherwise quiet room. I could practically see the wheels in her mind spinning out of control, grinding down whatever fragile calm she’d managed to scrounge together.

“Doesn’t have to be poker. We could play something easy, like Go Fish,” I added, hoping to sway her. “I think you’ll enjoy it.”

“I’m just… not in the mood,” she murmured almost apologetically, her voice a mere wisp of smoke. She pulled her knees to her chest, curling into a tighter ball on the sofa.

Kit’s gaze drifted for the hundredth time toward her phone, fingers twitching with every passing minute that went by without a message from the others.

I sighed and raked a hand through my hair. This was harder than I’d imagined. Hard being away from my brothers when they were in the thick of it. Hard being unable to soothe my agitated, stressed out Omega. I knew she needed time, but seeing her like this—so small, so scared—gnawed at me. I wasn’t used to feeling this helpless.

“Maybe a movie then?” I suggested, already rising to fetch the remote. “Something light. A comedy. Or maybe a Rom Com?”

She shook her head again. “I don’t think I can watch anything that happy when they’re out there in danger. It’s too much.”

I sank onto the sofa beside her and let out a soft puff of air. “Butterfly,” I urged, more insistent this time. “You can’t just sit and stare all night. It’s not healthy—”

“Tommy,” she pleaded, those ice-blue eyes piercing straight through me. “Please.”

I scrubbed a hand down my face in surrender. “Alright, alright. I just… I worry about you, is all.”

Her gaze softened, and for a moment, I thought she might say something to reassure me, to let me know she understood. But the moment passed, and she returned to her vigil, staring out the windows at the cityscape as if it held the answers to all her problems. As if she could simply will my brothers to be alright if she only kept watch.

I stood, pacing the length of the room. Our place was usually a sanctuary for me, the mix of the pack’s scents—sandalwood, honey, earth, leather, mint, moss, and moonflowers—grounding me no matter how tumultuous things got. But right now, the quiet felt oppressive.

“Maybe you’d like some tea?” I offered, and I thought I saw her give the slightest nod.

Progress.

Crossing into the kitchen, I filled the kettle and set it on the stove, then leaned against the marble countertop, studying her. The spark that made her shine, even in the darkest times, was dulled, her anxiety eating her alive from the inside out.

I couldn’t leave her like this. I had to do something .

When the tea was ready, I moved back into the living room and pressed the mug into her cold hands. Holding it between her palms, she breathed in the sweet scent, then took a sip, sighing appreciatively. My Alpha purred, and her eyes flew to mine.

“Come here,” I ordered gently, lounging against the corner of the couch and helping my Omega settle against me, her back to my vibrating chest. Instantly, she melted, her shoulders sagging and her taut muscles losing their rigidity.

Fuck, why hadn’t I thought about this an hour ago? I kept that purr humming, the soft burr lulling her into contentedness, if not peace. Tonight was too weighted, too stressful, to reach any kind of true tranquility, but I’d take whatever lull I could get in the underlying tension.

“They’re gonna be fine,” I promised, praying it wasn’t a lie. That everything turned out for the best and my brothers would be home safe and sound in an hour or two. “Dimitri knows what he’s doing.”

She took another sip of her tea and snuggled in tighter. “Thank you,” she murmured, so quiet I almost missed it. “For everything, Tommy. I know I’m being difficult. I’m just… I’m so scared.”

“I know.” My voice caught in my throat. “But you don’t have to be scared alone.”

For a long while, we sat like that, her in my arms, me purring for her, telling her any funny story I could think of from our childhood. Anything to make her smile. To keep her relaxed. To pass the time.

The moment her phone buzzed, she shot up, snatching the device and unlocking it with a desperate swipe. The soft low of the screen illuminated her face, and I watched the play of emotions flicker across it—relief, worry, something else I couldn’t quite pin down.

“It’s from Marco,” she gasped, her voice cracking with the sudden rush of emotion.

They were okay. For now, at least.

She read the message intently, gaze darting left and right, lips moving in silent rehearsal. They texted back and forth for a few minutes, and fuck, I was thrilled to see that spark in her eyes return. That fire was what made her her . The flame she carried may be quiet and persistent, but it burned just as hot, just as fiercely, despite the mountain of hurt she’d survived.

I’d fight like hell to make sure it never went out.

“He says they’re fine, and to tell you that he’s going to get you back for telling me the goat story.” The mischief in her grin was like the first warm day after a brutal winter, and my heart squeezed so hard I thought it might burst.

I chuckled, feeling a bit of the tension in my shoulders ease. “I’m not even sorry.”

And I wasn’t. That damn story had made her laugh, made her smile, and seeing her like this—more herself —was worth any payback Marco could dream up. I’d take it all and then some if it meant she’d be this okay.

Her attention returned to her phone. “I miss them,” she sighed.

Beretta, as if sensing her wistfulness creeping back in, came and curled up at her feet, resting his big head on her leg.

Gracing us with a small smile, she leaned forward and scratched between his ears. He sniffed her hand, searching for the treats she was constantly sneaking him.

Her giggle was the sweetest sound. “Sorry boy. Not this time.” Another few pets and she settled against me once more. “It’s different when everyone’s here. The noise… It’s comforting.”

“Pack is comforting,” I corrected gently. “You’re one of us now, Butterfly. That’s why it feels so empty when we’re not all together.”

Nodding slowly, she took in the weight of my words. “I never understood that before. The whole ‘pack’ thing. It always seemed so far out of reach. I haven’t had a family in so long. And now I do.”

“You do. For-fuckin’-ever, Butterfly.” I swooped down and placed a kiss against her neck, sucking lightly on the skin and enjoying the little shiver that wracked her.

Humming happily, she bit her lip and tilted further, giving me better access. “Tommy,” she sighed, “Do you think—”

My phone rang, cutting her off. I glanced at the screen: Enzo. Shit.

“Sorry, Butterfly. I gotta take this.” I tried to keep my tone steady and calm, but she was snapping to attention, same as I was. Maneuvering out from behind her, I strode toward the kitchen, fearing the worst.

Beretta padded along at my side, ears pricked, highly alert, as if sensing the tension.

I swiped to answer. “Zo, what’s going on?”

Enzo’s voice sliced through the line urgently. “We’ve got movement on the south entrance. I’m sending Dean and his guys to back up Xavier, Sonny, and Orlando.”

That shift would leave a hole in our defense. “How many?”

“At least ten fuckers causin’ problems.”

My mind raced. “Any sign of Rocco or Vincent?”

Enzo hesitated, as if verifying the details with the team before relaying the info. “We’ve got someone out there who matches Vincent’s description, but Rocco is MIA.”

Shit.

“Lonnie and I are here as your first line of defense, but Tommy,” he warned, “be vigilant.”

“Keep me updated,” I demanded.

“Will do.”

I hung up.

Fuckin’ hell!

I was already moving, and Kit was already standing, her face ashen, her palms rubbing nervously up and down her outer thighs over her leggings.

“Tommy?” Her voice wavered, a fragile thing on the brink of breaking.

“It’s going to be okay, Butterfly. But right now, I need you to do me a favor.”

I hurried toward her, taking her hands in mine. They were colder than before, and I fucking hated how frightened she was.

“How bad is it?” she questioned, but I silenced her with a kiss to the backs of her knuckles.

“Go hide for me, okay? I’ll let you know when it’s safe.”

She hesitated, biting her lower lip, those ice-blue eyes pleading with me. “But—”

“No,” I cut her off, shaking my head. “This isn’t negotiable. Please, Butterfly. We don’t have time. Don’t make me bark it.”

She opened her mouth to protest, then stopped herself. She knew better than to argue when things were this dire. Slowly, she nodded, then threw herself at me, wrapping her arms around my neck and hugging me as tightly as she could. “Be safe.”

“Always.”

I crashed my lips down on hers, kissing her with everything I had for too brief a moment before forcing myself away. Hands on her waist, I pushed her back.

“Go. Now. That’s an order.”

So damn reluctantly, I released her.

Turning swiftly, I headed for the nearest cache of weapons. We had stashes of guns all around the house, and I’d never been more thankful for the foresight than I was tonight. I moved with methodical precision, checking and rechecking each weapon. All my instincts roared to the surface, ready to kill for my mate.

No hesitation, no second thoughts. I’d protect her with everything I had.

I’d fucking die for her.

After making sure the firearms were loaded, I pocketed as much ammo as I could and tucked an extra piece into the back of my jeans.

“Butterfly,” I growled when I spotted her hesitating at the entrance of the hall, torn between my desire to reassure her and the primal need to protect.

Since she was still here, I stalked toward her and pressed a gun into her hands. “Use this if you have to. Don’t hesitate. Do you understand?”

Eyes wide, she nodded, then dropped her gaze to the weapon clutched in her fingers. Taking a deep breath, she gathered her strength. I saw it bloom, her mind pushing her worry to the background so it could focus on the tangible threat.

An innate calm washed over her, and I watched proudly as she examined the gun herself—checking the safety and dropping the mag to make sure it was loaded before popping it back in.

With one last hard, fast kiss, I nudged her down the hall just as we heard a commotion outside the door.

“Go! Now!” I commanded, letting the edge of a bark color my words. “I fuckin’ mean it!”

“I love you, Tommy.”

Goddamn my heart. “I love you too, Butterfly. So damn much.”

I watched her leave, and only when she’d finally fled did I turn back to the living room. Every Alpha instinct I possessed pricked to life, sensing the danger just beyond the front door. Beretta growled viciously, his hackles rising.

Cocking my gun, I took aim, waiting for the inevitable breach.