Page 8 of Knot Letting Go (Knotty Streak Omegaverse #4)

I woke Friday morning with the sheets twisted around my legs and my panties wet from an intense dream.

Konstantin had come into my room wearing only boxers.

Tall and muscled, so very Alpha. He fucked me without mercy, and I wanted it.

I practically begged for him to do it. He felt so good in me, so right, as he knotted and filled me with his seed.

No, not right. Vivid as it was, thank God it was just a dream.

I’d been doing well in keeping my distance from him. I would never be rude about it or hurry out of the room with his daughter. Lillianna was always happy to see him, and she loved to show him the things we had been doing together.

But I’d catch him staring at me, his gorgeous dark eyes glittering with a sizzling energy. It felt as if he’d lassoed me with an invisible rope and was drawing me slowly to him. Each tug closed the distance and was so tight, I sometimes could barely breathe.

To make it doubly worse, Quill yanked me in the other direction.

A few times, he’d joined Lillianna and I outside as we played in the garden or when I was reading her a story in the sun room.

He was full of laughter and flirty quips.

One time he suggested I read him a bedtime story after I put Lillianna to bed.

I blushed and waved it off, but I had to take a cold shower when I finally returned to my room. His bright exuberance contrasted with Konstantin’s quiet intensity, and I found it more and more difficult to resist either Alpha.

Which was wrong. Absolutely wrong. One was my boss, and both were my best friend’s brothers.

The only thing I could do was excuse myself from wherever they might be as quickly as possible.

It didn’t stop my unconscious mind from sending me naughty dreams, though.

I was often left with a hot throb between my legs that I shouldn’t be feeling.

I’d never had sex. I’d never even been touched by a man.

My body shouldn’t ache for something it never had.

Callista would be home in a few days, and we’d visit with her next week.

Though I desperately wanted to talk about my urges with friends, I couldn’t with her.

And Kienna, as much as I loved her, had a big mouth.

Nicolette was the better choice, but she had newborn twins.

I didn’t want to stress her out with anything happening with me.

I was doing the right thing. I knew it. Just be professional and keep my distance. That’s why I chose to take Lillianna to Cannon Beach that afternoon. Out of the house and away from temptation.

Lillianna helped Enid pack us a picnic and then picked what bathing suits we should wear.

With the trunk packed with stuff, our driver Gavin took us to the west coast. He was a softly spoken Beta with gray dulling the edges of his rich honey blond hair.

We’d been to parks during the week, but this would be our first big outing, and he was pleased to see me taking Lillianna out to do the things kids should be doing during the summer.

Her previous nanny had stayed around the manor and rarely took Lillianna anywhere.

Gavin helped us carry everything onto the sandy white beach, but he stayed back by the car as he was dressed in uniform. Shiny dress shoes and trousers were not meant for a sandy environment.

It was a gorgeous day with only a little wind. The beach wasn’t crowded as it would likely be next month, but the lifeguard stations were manned and boats lined up on the horizon. In the distance, Haystack Rock poked out of the water and lazily soaked in some sun.

Not so patiently, Lillianna let me put sunblock on her and then helped me by rubbing some on my back. “Let’s get into the water! I want to swim with the dolphins.”

I laughed and put on my water shoes before chasing her toward the ocean. “The dolphins won’t come this close to shore, but maybe we’ll see them further out. The only thing we might see are some crabs or little fish.”

“And mermaids.” Lillianna splashed into the water and squealed, running back to me. “Ah! It’s so cold!”

A wave washed over my feet, and I let out a girlish yelp and giggled. “Definitely cold. But the longer we’re in it, the less we’ll notice. Should we take the plunge and just jump in?”

“Maybe we should go slow.” Lillianna gripped my hand, shivering. “Do you think mermaids get really cold?”

“I think any mermaids that live this far north in the sea are used to cold waters. Maybe they swim south in the winter to vacation in Mexico. They could get sombreros and explore all the sunken pirate ships.”

We talked about mermaid vacations until Lillianna gathered her courage, and then we dunked ourselves in the water. We played in the shallows, pretending to be mermaids, and collecting shells.

After a few hours, I called for a snack and hydration break.

I wrapped Lillianna up in her fluffy towel and we sat under the umbrella eating the fruit Enid had cut into fish and shell shapes.

While other young women on the beach were tanning and flirting with the lifeguards having their hot girl summer, I was happy to have a mermaid summer with Lillianna.

The more time I spent with her, the more certain I was that I wanted to dedicate my life to children.

Of course, it helped that she was an incredibly bright and sweet girl.

“I’m going to ask my Daddy to get me and you mermaid tails. That way we can swim down to the bottom of the ocean really fast.” Lillianna made a diving motion with her hand and punctuated it with a splashing noise.

“I think that would be an excellent project for us. We can design and make our own mermaid tails. I know how to sew, and that way, you can have a tail exactly as you imagine it.” I loved doing activities like this with kids, and she could pick up on my excitement.

“You can pick your favorite color, or more than one color, and design it with as many fins as you want. Long or short. With sparkles or no sparkles.”

“Always have to have sparkles.” Lillianna nodded sagely.

At times, she seemed more grown up than any five year old had any right to be. She had been through a lot in her young life. The loss of her mother, being torn from the only home she’d known, and thrust into a new house in a different country. That would be way more than many adults could handle.

Kids were resilient though, and I planned to make this the best summer of her childhood yet. I didn’t know how long I’d be her nanny for, but for the definite year I’d be with her, I was going to give her my everything.

I was so focused on Lillianna, I didn’t notice as the trio of men approached us until the eldest of them cleared his throat. Lillianna let out a squeal and jumped up to run and embrace him. “Nonno!”

She was so fast, I couldn’t get on my feet fast enough. Not that he was a stranger to her, it seemed. Yet I still wasn’t expecting anyone to know us on the beach, let alone someone who Lillianna would greet with affection.

“Lillianna, mia piccola tesoro .” He gently crooned and bent to kiss each of her cheeks.

The man was probably about seventy but a very distinguished seventy.

He wore a suit without a tie, and a gold watch that likely cost more than my father’s car graced his wrist. His smile felt genuine as he hugged Lillianna, and she spoke to him rapidly in Italian.

The two men with him stood back six feet. They did wear ties that seemed too tight around their thick necks and black sunglasses covered nearly half their faces. I immediately read them as bodyguards. I’d been around Callista’s mates enough to recognize the ready-to-spring stance.

I heard my name faintly on the wind and glanced back toward the parking lot where Gavin was scrambling to his feet. He yanked out his phone and made a call as he started to trot toward us.

“Let’s not be rude, my sweet. Please, introduce me to your guardian. She’s not the same one I met before.” The man straightened and stared at me. The softness in his face grew into something sharp and dangerous.

It then hit me hard that he was an Alpha. And no matter his age, the way he held himself, the authority radiating off him, said he was an Alpha of Alphas.

I wanted to curl up into myself, make myself small, and scamper away. I’ve never met any Alpha who scared me as much as this man.

But I couldn’t flee. Lillianna needed me. She stood grinning beside this predator as if he were nothing more than a beloved puppy.

“This is Aubrielle. We’re going to be mermaids.” Lillianna announced with glee. “She’s new because Paula didn’t do her job right and Daddy fired her. That’s okay, though. I like Aubrielle much, much better. We have so much fun. We’re going to make mermaid tails and swim to the bottom of the ocean.”

“You’ll make the most beautiful mermaid.

” He patted Lillianna’s cheek, but his gaze bore into me as he smiled.

I couldn’t help but imagine a row of shark teeth behind his thin lips.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Aubrielle.

More so hearing how happy you have made my granddaughter. I’m Lorenzo Pacetti.”

He didn’t offer his hand and I didn’t offer mine. I continued to inwardly curl into myself. My lower abdomen trembled, and I wrapped my arms around my middle. I was wearing only my bathing suit, but I could have been dressed in a snowsuit and still felt immensely vulnerable with him.

“Nice to meet you as well, Mr. Pacetti. I had no idea Lillianna’s family would be visiting or I wouldn’t have planned a beach day.

” The fact I got out all those words without stumbling shocked me.

I wanted to grab Lillianna and run away to the car with her, but Lorenzo was her grandfather.

No matter my nervousness, I wasn’t going to be rude or ruin this reunion for Lillianna.

Lorenzo chuckled in a dry way. His Italian accent was rich and even.

“I wasn’t expecting to be in town myself.

I had just finished a meeting and wanted to unwind with a short walk on the beach.

The Fates have shone their light upon me to let my path cross with my beloved granddaughter’s.

” He placed a hand on her shoulder. “I have missed you, mia piccola .”

“I miss you too, Nonno. Are you coming back to the house? I can show you my room and the kite me and Aubrielle made and have dinner.” Lillianna rambled on with all the plans she had for him.

Gavin huffed to catch a breath as he finally reached us. “Is everything alright here, Miss Smyth?”

No. Nothing was right at all. Even though Gavin was there beside me, I didn’t feel safe.

Nevermind that Lorenzo had two huge bodyguards—why did an old businessman need such security?

—but he was a powerful Alpha himself, even for his age.

I had a feeling one look from him could send Gavin running if he wanted to do so.

“This is Lillianna’s grandfather, Lorenzo Pacetti.” I couldn’t think of anything else to say, and I hoped I didn’t sound as distressed as I felt.

“Mr. Pacetti.” Gavin dipped his head.

“Is he your only escort?” Lorenzo frowned and shook his head. “Konstantin needs better security for my granddaughter. And for his new… nanny.”

My skin crawled with the way he said that. I didn’t like what he was implying. My mind flashed back to what I saw on Konstantin’s computer in his office. Trafficking Omegas. Bile rose in my throat and burned the back of my tongue.

I wanted to believe that Lorenzo was only worried about his granddaughter’s safety.

She was an Omega, and it wasn’t unheard of that young girls were kidnapped and then raised in brainwashing schools to be sold off to the highest bidders.

Unclaimed Omegas my age were more commonly taken, but I doubted a stranger cared so much for my safety that he would include me for any reason other than I was taking care of Lillianna.

“You’re going to come over for dinner, right, Nonno?” Lillianna pleaded with her big dark eyes, so innocent of the thick tension between the adults.

Lorenzo looked down at her with a smile. “I’m sorry, mia bambina . I have much work to do today, but I will call your father and we’ll arrange something, si ?”

“ Si .” Lillianna bobbed her head and gave him another hug.

They said their goodbye with Gavin hovering close, his hand in his jacket pocket. Lorenzo then extended a hand to me, and I had to take it. My good manners dictated it. Instead of a shake, my whole body stiffened as he slowly brought my hand to his lips and brushed a kiss across my knuckles.

I always worried what might happen if an Alpha did this very thing, but the only thing I felt was fear. Thank God there was zero compatibility. Inwardly cringing, I managed to keep a small smile on my face.

“Truly a pleasure meeting you, Aubrielle. I do hope to see you again very soon.”

Everything in me screamed that it was a threat and not good manners. I didn’t trust my voice this time, but nodded and then quickly retreated, drawing Lillianna to me.

Lorenzo chuckled again and said something to his bodyguards.

I didn’t understand Italian, but I did catch the words: Omega non reclamato .

I didn’t need to speak the language to know what that meant.

He knew I was an unclaimed Omega, and as he said it to his guards, one of them—the beefier one—turned his head to me and smiled.

The sly smile of a monster.

If Lorenzo was the king of the sharks, this Alpha was like a deep sea beast. I swallowed a whimper and bit my tongue to keep from crying. To help fortify myself, I hugged Lillianna closer, barely breathing until they were out of sight.

Gavin said there was a storm in the forecast and we best gather our things to head home. The sky was clear, and we already had a hard rain last night. Yet I didn’t correct him. I desperately wanted to be enclosed within the safe walls of Birk Manor and never see Lorenzo Pacetti again.

He’d left the beach, but I still felt his presence as if he were stalking us from under the waves as we packed up.