Page 75 of Knot What I Expected

Monster’s answer comes immediately.

Make it your business.

“No.”

Protect.

“She doesn’t need us protecting her.”

Liar.

My jaw clenches.

Fuck this Wolf.

Then Matteo stops. His entire little body practically vibrates as he stares toward a cookie kiosk. Even from here, I can hear him.

“Wow! Are those cookies? They’re huge!”

Gabriella smiles.

A real one this time.

And something inside my chest goes strangely warm.

The kid wants a cookie. I glance at Gabriella. Her hand slips toward her purse.

Stops. Just for a second.

Her smile never changes. But I see the hesitation.

Fuck.

Something clicks into place.

Two jobs.

Exhaustion.

The old car I’ve seen her driving.

The way she never orders food for herself at The Joint unless Frank tells her she can have something from the kitchen.

The money.

That’s why she needs the fucking money.

Monster growls.

Not at her.

At the whole goddamn world.

I look at Matteo again. Then at the cookies. An idea forms. Probably a terrible one.

Most of mine are.

But before I can talk myself out of it, I’m already moving toward them.