Stepbrother's Lust: A Forbidden Mafia Romance

Rose’s POV

"Rosey, wake up."

"Mmn... one more minute."

"Wake up."

"Oww, Mum, why’d you pinch my cheek? Wait... Mum?"

"Mum!! You’re back! When did you come back?"

She smiled and asked, "Wide awake now?"

"Well..."

"Don’t give me that. Go take a shower and come meet me in the living room. I have a lot to tell you, and I brought gifts!!" she cheered.

"Oh, and wear something nice. Devon’s here."

"Ugh."

"Rose..."

"Fine, fine. I’m coming."

‎I was left alone as Mum had already gone downstairs. I was tempted to give myself five more minutes of sleep, but I decided against it and instead groggily dragged my body up.

‎By the time I showered and got dressed, the smell of breakfast had already filled the house.

I had barely reached the living room when I heard conversation.

‎Mum looked up, spotted me, and beckoned me over.

I didn’t know how to address him, and the greeting died on my tongue. He seemed to sense my dilemma as he spoke first.

"You can call me Devon until you’re comfortable enough to call me otherwise."

"Good morning, Devon."

My voice shook a little. Calling him by his name still felt strange.

He nodded with approval before turning to Mum.

"I’ll leave you two to chat. I need to have a quick word with Reagan."

‎"Okay," she answered, giving him a light peck on the cheek as I quickly averted my eyes.

The moment they disappeared upstairs, Mum clapped her hands together.

"Oh! I almost forgot."

She hurried toward several shopping bags stacked neatly by the couch.

I hadn’t even taken a seat before she started handing me outfit after outfit.

"Try this."

"No, wait, this one first."

"Actually... this one."

I barely had enough time to change before another dress was pushed into my hands.

I was basically the star of my own one-woman runway show.

‎Every time I stepped out, Mum’s eyes sparkled.

She’d adjust a sleeve here, smooth a wrinkle there, then send me back to change again.

"You look dazzling, Rosey."

I stared at my reflection in the full-length mirror. The red sequined dress caught the light with every tiny movement, paired with a matching necklace, earrings, and red bottoms.

"I really do look dazzling," I admitted.

"I knew you’d love it!" Mum beamed. "I saw it and immediately thought of you."

Her excitement was contagious.

Before I could completely change out of it, she’d already pulled me down beside her on the couch.

She eagerly showed me photos from her trip, pictures with Devon’s family, sightseeing, dinners, and places she’d visited.

She talked nonstop, laughing as she recalled one story after another.

"...and then Devon’s father accidentally spilled wine all over himself!"

She burst into laughter before I couldn’t help smiling too.

Seeing her this happy made something inside me soften.

I was happy for her...

Truly.

But the warmth didn’t last. ‎The smile faded almost as quickly as it came.

Because underneath it all was a small part of me was still angry.

‎I couldn’t even explain why.

Maybe because everything was changing so quickly or Maybe i felt hurt that dads memory could fade so easily for her.

‎---

Reagan’s POV

"We’re meeting with Eli at his club, The House of Spades."

"He invited us to his opening and also said to use the opportunity to celebrate our successful partnership."

‎"I wasn’t aware of this arrangement."

"Now you are."

Neither of us spoke as we stood in a tense face-off before he finally sighed.

"Still as stubborn as ever," he said with a lazy smile.

"Tell me you’ve gotten something tangible."

"As regards to?"

"Don’t play dumb with me. You know what I mean."

‎"I’m working on it, Father."

"Work on it faster."

"Mmn."

I answered lazily before turning my back on him.

He hated that.

"Reagan!" he called sharply.

I didn’t bother responding.

I could hear him exhale through his nose, trying and failing to hide his irritation.

"Get ready. We’ll be leaving this evening."

"Going where?"

At the sound of her voice, both of us turned.

‎Rose and her mum stood in the doorway, both wearing confused expressions.

For the briefest second, Father stiffened.

He recovered almost immediately.

"What’d you say?" he asked casually, clearly trying to figure out how much they’d heard.

"You said you’d be leaving this evening," She replied. "I’m asking where."

Let’s see how you deal with this, old man.

I folded my arms, thoroughly entertained.

"An old friend invited me to the opening of his club."

Smooth

‎"And you were just going to leave without telling me?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

The expression on his face was priceless.

‎If only his subordinates could see him now. The all-powerful leader reduced to careful explanations by one woman.

"I was going to tell you."

"Were you?"

"...Eventually."

She crossed her arms.

"I see."

A dangerous silence followed.

‎Father cleared his throat.

"You’re welcome to join us, love."

Her expression brightened instantly.

"Really?"

"Of course."

She practically bounced on the spot.

"Oh, this will be fun!"

Before anyone could object, she’d already grabbed Rose’s wrist.

"Come on, Rose! We need to get ready!"

"Wait... what?"

Rose barely had time to react before she was being dragged away.

‎"I don’t even know what I’m wearing!"

"We’ll figure it out!"

"I don’t even want to—"

"Too late!"

Her confused protests faded down the hallway.

I couldn’t help the small chuckle that escaped me.

Looking back, I found Father rubbing a hand over his face, his shoulders slightly slumped.

For once...

He looked exhausted.

He noticed me staring.

"Don’t."

"I didn’t say anything."

"You were about to."

"I wasn’t."

"You were thinking it."

I smirked.

"...Maybe."

He let out a long, defeated sigh.

‎"Fuck me."

That only made me laugh.

‎

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