Stepbrother's Lust: A Forbidden Mafia Romance

Reagan’s POV

My phone vibrated just as i reached the stairs I’d decided.

I glanced at the screen and It was an unknown number. I almost ignored it but answered instead.

"Talk."

There was a pause on the other end. Then a low voice spoke.

I listened without saying a word, my expression slowly hardening.

"You’re certain?"

Another pause.

"How long?"

I clenched my jaw.

"Don’t do anything yet."

The person on the other end said something else.

My eyes narrowed.

"Keep watching them. I’ll handle the rest."

I ended the call and stared at the screen for a moment.

Fuck.

I slipped the phone into my pocket.

"This wedding is like throwing a bone to a pack of dogs," I muttered under my breath. "They’re all going to bite."

The timing couldn’t have been worse.

Everyone knew about the wedding now. Which meant everyone knew Father was bringing the everyone together under one roof.

And people who had been waiting for an opening didn’t need much more than that. A wedding meant attention, And attention attracted predators. I ran a hand over my face and continued my descent down.

I barely made it three steps before I saw my father.

He was walking up determined. He’d clearly been looking for me.

Our eyes met.

Something about his expression made me stop.

"What?" I asked.

"Come with me.", He said his voice calm.

"Now," he added when I didn’t immediately move.

I studied him. There was no irritation in his face, No anger. Just that controlled expression he wore whenever something had gone seriously wrong.

"What’s happened?"

"We’ll talk upstairs."

I stared at him for another second.

Then I nodded.

"Fine."

I started following him, but he stopped.

"Not here."

His eyes briefly moved toward the living room.

I followed his gaze.

Rose was sitting on the sofa with her mother.

My jaw tightened.

Of course.

Whatever this was, I figured he didn’t want them hearing.

I followed my father upstairs.

The moment the door closed behind us, the rest of the house disappeared.

I listened. And the more I heard, the colder my expression became.

At one point, my hands curled into fists.

"You’re sure?" I asked quietly.

My father answered.

I looked away.

"How long have they known?"

He answered again making my jaw clench.

"And you waited until now to tell me?"

He said something that made me exhale sharply through my nose.

I turned toward the window.

Outside, the garden looked completely peaceful.

People were still moving around downstairs.

The wedding preparations continued as everyone busied themselves preparing for a celebration.

Meanwhile, somewhere outside this house, people were already making plans of their own.

I shook my head.

"This is exactly what I warned you about."

My father didn’t respond immediately.

I looked back at him.

"And we’re still going through with it?"

His expression didn’t change.

I laughed once, without humor.

"Of course we are."

I turned away again.

There wasn’t much else to say.

The decision had already been made.

So had mine.

If someone wanted to test us, they were going to regret it.

A few minutes later, we left the room.

I headed downstairs first. I was still irritated, No. I was fucking furious. Not because of what I’d just been told but because I already knew what it meant.

The wedding was going to put a target on everyone’s backs.

And somehow, everyone seemed determined to pretend it was nothing more than flowers and expensive decorations.

I reached the bottom of the stairs.

Rose was still on the sofa. Upon hearing footsteps she looked up and her eyes immediately found me.

Her mouth opened ready to say something.

I could already tell what was coming and i was in no mood to entertain it.

"Hey."

I stopped and looked at her. "Hey."

She studied me for a moment, her eyes moving over my face as though she were trying to figure something out.

I raised an eyebrow. "What?"

"Nothing."

"If you have nothing to say, then I’ll be taking my leave."

I watched her expression shift before she spoke.

"Must a reasonable percent of the things that come out of your mouth be venom?"

I didn’t answer but simply looked at her.

She went still.

Then she called my name.

"Reagan?"

The way she said it caught me off guard.

It wasn’t sharp and neither was it teasing.

She sounded...Weary.

Almost hesitant.

My eyes settled on her properly.

There was something different in her voice now, something that made the irritation I’d been holding onto lose its edge.

I rubbed the back of my neck, trying to control my temper.

It wasn’t her fault.

I knew that.

But seeing her sitting there so calmly while my mind was filled with everything I’d just heard irritated me for some reason I couldn’t explain.

Maybe because she looked completely untouched by it.

Maybe because I knew she had no idea how dangerous things could become.

Or maybe because the thought of something happening to her bothered me more than it should.

I immediately pushed that thought away.

"Forget it," I muttered.

Rose frowned.

"Fine."

I nodded once.

"Good."

I turned away.

Then I heard my father’s footsteps behind me.

"Reagan."

I stopped.

Devon descended the stairs slowly, his expression still serious.

"Let’s go."

I looked at him.

He didn’t need to explain where.

I already knew.

I nodded.

"Okay."

I started toward the door.

Then, for some reason, I looked back.

Rose was still watching me.

Her expression wasn’t angry anymore.

She looked confused.

Maybe worried.

I should’ve ignored her.

Instead, I held her gaze for a second longer than I should have.

Something tightened in my chest again.

I hated that feeling.

I hated that she could look at me like that and somehow make everything I’d just heard feel heavier.

My jaw clenched.

I looked away.

Tsk

I walked out with my father.

Whatever was coming next, I couldn’t afford distractions.

Especially not her.

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