Stepbrother's Lust: A Forbidden Mafia Romance

Reagan’s POV

The moment I stepped outside, I pulled my phone from my pocket and checked the time. I was already late. Not by much, but enough that I knew Tyana would complain about it.

I spotted her near the entrance of the mall before she noticed me. She looked exactly like she always did—elegant without trying too hard, dressed in something expensive enough that I didn’t need to ask the price. Her hair was perfectly styled, and the small handbag hanging from her arm probably cost more than most people’s monthly salaries.

The moment she saw me, her face brightened.

"Finally."

I stopped in front of her.

"You’re late."

"By three minutes."

"Three minutes too long."

She gave me an amused look.

"It’s been nice seeing you again."

I gave a small grunt. "Likewise."

"That’s all I get?"

"What were you expecting?"

"Something warmer."

"You know me."

"I do."

She stepped closer and, before I could react, rose onto her tiptoes and pressed a quick kiss to my lips.

I stared at her.

She giggled.

"Did you see your expression?"

"I don’t have an expression."

"You absolutely do. You looked offended."

"I wasn’t."

"You were."

I sighed. "Are we shopping or are you planning to stand here analyzing my face?"

She laughed and slipped her arm through mine.

"Shopping."

We walked into the mall.

I immediately regretted agreeing.

Tyana, however, looked completely at home. She moved from one store to another with the confidence of someone who had already decided she was buying something before she’d even seen it. She picked up dresses, held them against herself, asked for my opinion, ignored whatever answer I gave, and bought something anyway.

At one point, she held two dresses up in front of herself.

"Which one?"

"The black one."

She looked at both. "They’re both black."

"The one on your right."

She looked down at it.

"This one?"

"Yes."

She smiled. "I knew you’d pick that one."

"Then why ask?"

"Because I like hearing you answer."

I gave her a look.

She only smiled wider.

She turned toward the mirror and held the dress against herself again, examining the way it looked from different angles.

"What do you think?"

"It’s fine."

"Fine?"

I glanced at her reflection.

"It looks good."

She smiled.

"Much better."

I didn’t understand why my first answer had apparently been a personal insult, but I had learned a long time ago that arguing with Tyana over things like this wasn’t worth the effort.

By the time we left the store, she had another bag hanging from her wrist. She tightened her grip around my arm as we walked.

"You’re unusually quiet today."

"I’m always quiet."

"Not with me."

I glanced down at her. "Maybe you’re talking enough for both of us."

She gasped dramatically.

"How rude."

I ignored her.

She laughed and leaned her head briefly against my arm.

We continued walking until Tyana suddenly stopped and tugged on my arm.

"Reagan."

I looked down.

"What?"

She pointed across the mall.

"That girl."

I followed her finger.

A white-haired girl stood near one of the stores, staring directly at us.

Not casually.

Not curiously.

Intensely.

I recognized her immediately.

Sierra.

My gaze remained on her for a moment. I hadn’t expected to see her here.

Tyana looked between us.

"Do you know her?"

I hummed.

"Yes."

Her fingers tightened around my arm.

I looked down at her. She was still staring at Sierra, but her expression had changed. She wasn’t smiling anymore.

"Have you..."

She hesitated.

"Have I what?"

She glanced at me.

"Have you two had anything?"

I raised an eyebrow.

"What kind of question is that?"

"You know what I mean."

I stared at her for a second before understanding.

A faint smirk pulled at my mouth.

"You mean to ask if she’s a past fling."

Tyana’s grip tightened again.

She nodded slowly.

"I’m a little jealous."

I stared at her.

She immediately looked away, her cheeks coloring slightly.

"I mean... it’s just..."

She glanced back at Sierra.

"She looks like she’s about to rip my arm off."

I looked toward Sierra.

She did, in fact, look like she wanted to rip Tyana’s arm off.

There was something almost impressive about the intensity of her stare.

Tyana looked back at me.

"You sure she’s not someone—"

"I didn’t know I was branded a liar."

Her eyes widened.

"No. I didn’t mean that."

She looked flustered now, but she was still pouting.

"I just..."

She went quiet for a moment, apparently trying to find a better way to phrase whatever was bothering her.

Then she looked back at me.

"Prove it."

I raised an eyebrow.

"Prove what?"

"That there’s nothing between you."

Before I could ask what she meant, Tyana rose onto her tiptoes and kissed me.

I didn’t move.

For a few seconds, I simply let her.

I could feel people watching. Some smiled at the sight, clearly finding it cute. A few others looked annoyed, but I didn’t care.

None of them mattered.

Then, for reasons I couldn’t explain, another thought entered my mind.

I’d kiss Rose in public if I had the chance.

The thought came so naturally that it took me a second to realize what I’d just thought.

Rose.

Why the hell was I thinking about Rose?

Someone was currently kissing me, and somehow my mind had decided to wander to her.

I frowned internally.

That made no sense.

I tried to push the thought away, but instead another image came to mind.

Rose standing in her room.

Her swollen eyes.

The way she’d looked at me when she’d finally confronted me.

The way she’d cried.

The way she’d told me I’d scared her.

My chest tightened.

I didn’t like that.

I forced my attention back to the present and glanced past Tyana’s shoulder.

Sierra was still standing there.

Still watching.

Her expression hadn’t changed.

If anything, she looked even more furious.

I almost wondered whether she was going to walk over.

Then Tyana finally pulled away.

She remained close, lightly panting, before settling back onto her heels.

"There."

She looked satisfied.

"Now I believe you."

She turned toward Sierra and gave her a small, smug smile before walking away, her hand still tightly wrapped around my arm.

I followed.

I glanced back once.

Sierra hadn’t moved.

Her eyes met mine.

There was something in them that made it very clear she wasn’t finished.

I looked forward again.

Tyana leaned closer to me as we walked.

"She’s intimidating."

"She can be."

"You weren’t kidding when you said she wasn’t a fling."

"I didn’t say anything about her."

"You didn’t have to."

I glanced down at Tyana.

She smiled innocently.

I said nothing.

She rested her head against my arm again.

For a few moments, we continued through the mall without speaking.

My thoughts, however, weren’t nearly as quiet.

I found myself thinking about Rose again.

I’d wondered whether she was here.

If Sierra was here, it was possible.

And if Rose was here...

I didn’t know why that thought made me want to look around.

Rose had nothing to do with this.

Neither did Sierra.

Yet I’d noticed Sierra almost immediately. I’d noticed the way she was staring at Tyana. I’d noticed Tyana’s reaction.

And I’d noticed myself wondering where Rose was.

I frowned.

What was happening to me?

Tyana suddenly tugged my arm.

"Reagan."

"What?"

"You’ve been quiet again."

"I told you. I’m always quiet."

"You are. But you’re somewhere else."

I looked at her.

She studied me.

"Are you?"

"No."

It was an automatic answer.

She narrowed her eyes.

"You are."

"I’m here."

"Physically."

I said nothing.

She smiled faintly.

"You think too much."

If only she knew.

We continued walking. I didn’t look back at Sierra again.

At least, I told myself I wouldn’t.

A few seconds later, I did.

She was still there.

Watching.

I couldn’t help the faint smirk that touched my lips.

Tyana noticed.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"You smiled."

"Did I?"

"Yes."

She looked behind us, then back at me.

"Is it her?"

I didn’t answer.

Tyana’s pout returned.

"You really are difficult."

"You’re still here."

"Unfortunately for you."

I glanced down at her.

She smiled before tightening her grip around my arm again.

I looked ahead.

The mall continued around us, people moving in every direction, music playing softly from the stores, voices blending into the background.

Everything felt normal.

Yet somehow, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I’d just walked into something.

Not because of Tyana.

Not because of Sierra.

Because of Rose.

I didn’t know why her name kept appearing in my thoughts. I didn’t know why seeing Sierra had immediately made me wonder whether Rose was nearby. And I definitely didn’t understand why the thought of Rose seeing Tyana kiss me bothered me.

That was the part I refused to examine.

I pushed the thought away.

For now.

Tyana continued talking about another store she wanted to visit, and I listened just enough to respond when necessary. She pointed out something in a window, complained about how long it had been since she’d gone shopping properly, and started explaining what she wanted to look for next.

I answered when she expected me to, but part of my attention remained elsewhere.

Every so often, I caught myself thinking about the house.

About Rose.

About the way she’d looked when I’d left her room.

She’d seemed better when I’d walked away.

At least, better than before.

That should have been enough.

Yet I still found myself wondering whether she’d eaten again, whether she was still angry with me, and whether she’d actually stay downstairs instead of disappearing back into her room.

I didn’t like how easily those questions appeared in my mind.

They were becoming too frequent.

Tyana glanced at me again.

"You really are distracted."

"I’m listening."

"What did I just say?"

I looked at her.

She smiled triumphantly.

I stared at her for a moment.

"You were talking about the next store."

She laughed.

"See? You weren’t listening."

"I was."

"Half listening."

"Still listening."

She shook her head, amused.

Then she glanced back one more time.

Sierra was still watching us.

Tyana smiled to herself.

I looked at Sierra.

She looked at me.

Neither of us looked away.

I had a feeling this wasn’t over.

And, strangely enough, I didn’t mind.

In fact...

This would be fun.

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