Page 55 of Knot What I Expected

Monster shoves against my skin.

Not angry with her.

Never her.

Frantic.

Protect.

Feed.

Shelter.

Mine.

I shove him back.

Gabriella takes one step closer instead of retreating.

Brave little thing.

“Look, I don’t know you well enough to take your unsolicited advice, Havoc. And even if I did, you don't get to come to my place of work and start telling me what to do.”

My entire body goes rigid.

She sees it. Her expression softens for half a second. Then she seems to remember she’s pissed at me.

“I’m a single mother. I have rent. Groceries. Electric. School supplies. Matteo needs new sneakers again because apparently his feet grow overnight. I do what I have to do.”

Something inside my chest cracks wide open.

Fuck.

I don't know what I’m doing.

I don't know how to do this.

All I know is that seeing her exhausted makes me violent.

Seeing her worried makes me want to fix things.

Seeing another male leaning across that fucking bar toward her makes me want to tear his throat out.

And none of those reactions are normal.

Not even for me.

Especially not for me.

“You shouldn't have to do it alone.”

The words come out before I can stop them.

Silence.

Her eyes search mine. Her voice is quieter when she speaks again.

“But I do.”