Page 41 of Knot What I Expected

Not so much.

And I absolutely do not have time to figure it out.

I have a kid to protect. A brother to pay. A Wake to hide from. And apparently two jobs now.

I finish my makeup, pull my dark hair up off my neck, and stare at myself one last time.

Black jeans. Low-cut black shirt. Curves I can’t hide even when I try.

Fuck it.

I look good enough.

Mrs. Donnelly already fed Matteo dinner. I kissed him goodbye upstairs and promised I’d check on him when I got home, even though he insisted he was staying awake until I did.

He won’t. The kid sleeps like the dead. And tonight, for the first time in forever, I’m grateful for it.

I grab my bag.

“Okay, Gabby,” I whisper to myself.

One night.

One shift.

One more payment.

That’s all this is.

And if slinging beers until two in the morning is what it takes to keep Nando happy and the Wake far away from my son?

Then tie the fucking apron on me.

I’ll do anything to keep Matteo safe.

Anything.

Chapter 4

Havoc

I stalk toward the bar.

Not walk.

Not stroll.

I. Motherfucking. Stalk.

Every step brings me closer to Gabriella, and every step settles something inside Monster while winding the rest of me tighter.

Her eyes widen slightly when she realizes I’m coming straight for her.

“Havoc? I mean, um, can I help you?”

“What are you doing here?”

Her eyebrows shoot up.