Page 237 of Knot What I Expected

I pull her fully against me.

“To save Matteo,” she whispers against my chest.

My hand cups the back of her head.

“To save myself.”

Her shoulders shake.

“I ran. My brother, Nando, helped. I send him money once a month to keep my secrets. And really, I guess I’ve been running ever since.”

After that, she breaks. Sobs rack her body, and I hold her.

That's all.

I just hold her through it.

No promises yet.

No demands.

No fucking questions.

I let her cry against my chest while I stare into the darkness over her head and feel something inside me changing. Because now I understand. Now, it finally makes sense.

The shitty car.

The two jobs.

The way she watches exits.

Why Matteo carries his favorite things with him when they leave the house.

Why she keeps secrets.

Why she was afraid to put him in school.

Why my Honey Girl has been living every fucking day like somebody might come rip her world away from her.

She's been running.

Alone.

Protecting her pup.

Surviving.

And she thinks I'm going to hear all of this and see something shameful. But all I see is the strongest fucking woman I've ever known.

I press my mouth to her hair.

“You survived. You saved him.”

She cries harder.

“You hear me?”

My voice cracks, and I don't give a fuck. I tip her face toward mine.