Page 101 of Believe it or Knot

Maddox rolls his eyes at me in a move I very much did not expect from the mafioso turned legitimate businessman. “Stay as long as you need, Sor. We don’t mind having you here.”

I scuff my bare foot on the floor and force that smile to my lips. The one that keeps me together when I want to fall apart. “I know. I appreciate it. But I need to go back to work, eventually.”

He nods slowly as Swift moves over to me and presses a steaming mug into my hands. “Let it steep a little longer before you drink it,” is all he says, before heading back into the kitchen. “I’ll make you some breakfast.”

Maddox is still watching me like he’s worried I’ll break. How embarrassing. Really. I clear my throat and cup the warm mug with my hands. “I was actually wondering if we could talk?”

His brows jump. “You wanna go to my office?” He slides his eyes over to Swift, standing with his back to us, silently asking if I need privacy.

I shake my head. “No. It’s fine.” Nerves crimp my stomach, and I take a deep breath before blurting out. “I was wondering if you could loan me thirty thousand dollars.”

My face flames red and unable to bear looking at him, I squeeze my eyes shut. This is so fucking hard for me, and a big ask.

But all he says is, “Of course.” Wide eyed, I look at him, startled by his easy acquiescence. “I’ll need to know what you need it for, though. If it’s to hire hitmen to take out the Cordova pack, I can save you some time and trouble.” His chin jerks at the other alpha in the room with us. “Swift can handle it, free of charge.” The blond man looks over his shoulder at me with a wide, manic grin on his face. “Though I have to warn you that Grayson is Luca’s brother, so he might have to be put on life support instead.”

“I didn’t know that,” I mutter, before shaking my head quickly. “No. No. It’s nothing like that. They went behind my back and paid off a loan my parents took out with a pack in Lake Kilrose and now I owe them thirty thousand dollars. I don’t want to owe them anything. Or have anything to do with them. I’ll pay you back with interest. I just need to not be bound to them for any reason.”

The prime alpha nods. “Understandable. What are the terms of the loan you have with them?”

I tell him as he types on his computer, taking notes, I assume, and then nods when he’s finished. “I’ll have our lawyer draw up the contract. We should have this taken care of in no time.”

Warmth infuses my chest and I give him a smile tinged with tears. But I don’t let them fall. I’m not crying over the Cordova pack anymore. “Thank you, Maddox, I really appreciate it.”

He nods and pushes to his feet. “I’ll call them now and get the ball rolling.” He retreats down a hall with his laptop in his hand, leaving me with Swift—by far the most unhinged of all of Sadie’s pack members—but it doesn’t bother me. Unhinged he might be, but he’s devoted to Sadie. The only reason he would ever dream of hurting me in any way is if I hurt his omega. Which I would never do. Ever.

“You like French toast?” he asks, glancing over his shoulder at me again. My stomach growls in response, and he chuckles. “I’ll take that as a yes. You eat meat?”

“Yeah.” I slide onto a stool at the island. “You really don’t have to go out of your way for me.”

The blond alpha glares at me. “You’re a guest and the best friend of my Cherrybomb, of course we’re going to go out of our way for you.”

Immediately, guilt hits, my shoulders droop, and it’s a struggle to keep that smile in place. I didn’t mean to be a burden to them, to make them have to take care of me. It’s not their job. It’s no one’s job. I can take care of myself. Lord knows, I’ve been doing it long enough. “I’m sorry. I’ll leave after breakfast. Promise.”

Swift tips his head back and glares at the ceiling. “Stop saying that, little flower.” His gold eyes drop to my face. “You aren’t a burden. Stop acting like you are.”

Properly chastened, I focus on drinking my tea as Swift finishes making my breakfast. I watch fascinated as he slices strawberries with a little paring knife, the blade moving so fast I can hardly track the movement, flipping it in the air every so often in a way that makes me sure he’s going to slice off a finger. But he never does.

In almost no time, he slides a plate full of eggy toast, drowning in maple syrup, fresh strawberries and whipped cream, with a side of bacon and sausage in front of me. He cleans up while I devour the food and watch him, curious. I know they have a lot of money. More than a lot.

“Do you always cook and clean up after yourself?” When he scoffs, I rush to explain. “I just mean, do you have a housekeeper or anything? Most wealthy packs do, right? The Cordovas never cooked, and they never picked up after themselves. They had a staff for that. I tried cooking for them once and I swear the chef was going to skin me alive for even suggesting it. I was just curious.”

He looks at me. “Before we were rich in our own right, we were…. Not poor, but we certainly couldn’t afford a staff. Besides, any good alpha should know how to feed his family, rich or otherwise.”

I nod in agreement. I think everyone should know how to cook at least a handful of things. “I felt so out of place in their house,” I murmur. “Being waited on like that. And they all just… told me I’d get used to it. I guess it’s a good thing I didn’t, huh?”

Swift eyes me, still casually flipping his knife in his hand. “You sure you don’t want me to kill them?”

I laugh. But it dies when he doesn’t laugh too. He’s deadly serious. I’m shaking my head in an instant. “No. No. Don’t hurt them. They don’t deserve to die just for breaking up with me, for hurting me.”

His brow furrows. “I beg to differ, Sorrel. Anyone who hurts you deserves to feel just as much pain.”

I squint at him. “Why do you think that?”

He shrugs and flips his knife, deftly. “You’re Cherrybomb’s friend. She adores you, which means I adore you, too. You’re family. We take care of family around here.”

Well, shit. My earlier resolve to banish anymore crying flees as my nose stings and tears fill my eyes. Swift gets this look on his face, like he’s horrified by the sight of my tears. “Shit, don’t cry!” He brandishes his knife at me. “Sadie won’t forgive me if I make you cry! She threatened no sex if we upset you!”

I chuckle and swipe at my cheeks. “It’s not your fault. I’m just really emotional right now, and that was… sweet, Swift. Really sweet. Thank you. I couldn’t ask for a better brother.”

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