Taming My Mafia Stepbrother

Cara’s pov

“Thank you Dylan and Wanda for the excellent presentation.” Ms. Mitchell, my fashion design professor applauded as the two students stepped away from the front of the class.

My hands held tightly around my notebook when she called up the next duo, my heartbeat thumping because I knew I and my partner were up after.

The jitters I felt wasn’t because I was unprepared rather it was just due to the natural anxiety everyone had the moment before something of huge importance happened.

I was nervous as fuck and rightly so because the project presentation wasn’t just any presentation but a crucial determinant for my GPA as a fashion design pregraduate. Failing the presentation would mean a repeat year.

One I couldn’t afford the money or time for.

Out of my corner eye, I noticed Kevin’s consistent glances three rows below and just like I’ve been doing since that day Luca stopped us from leaving together, I ignored him.

I’d also quit being partners with him and had chosen someone else. A girl this time so I didn’t have to worry about sleazy ulterior motives. Kevin had tried to get us back as a team but I’d refused.

My resolve to pretend he didn’t exist hadn’t dissuaded him from trying to get back on my good graces though. He was determined to earn my forgiveness and my trust back which I’d admit was impressive especially after the scare Luca and his men had given him. He never actively approached me except when we’re in class like this because it’s the only place Sergio and the others couldn’t be. They would have beat the shit out of him if he tried to approach me anywhere else.

His determination would be cute if I forgot what he did wrong but I didn’t so I just found it annoying.

He’d soon find out how set in stone my own determination could be once I put my mind to it. I wasn’t going to take him back as a friend, ever. I didn’t have enough trust to allow that. I was already using up the feeling on one man alone.

The students were now concluding their presentation and my breaths grew even more erratic than they already were. I released my death grip on my notebook to wipe beads of sweat on my forehead.

You can do this Cara. You will ace the presentation then your final exams then begin a new journey as a fashion consultant.

Aside from my true dream, fashion consultancy was the only thing I could envision myself doing, bringing people’s biggest dream style to life. I’ve always had a knack for style, it’d always been a fun interest of mine but what I truly wanted to be was something else. Which was a child welfare worker, someone to be there for kids who were alone, kids like me.

I knew that a career path like that would never guarantee me a generous earning rate and that was why I also chose to be a fashion consultant. God forbid I result to taking bribes from abusive foster parents like my social worker had. I’d first stab my own eye before I become someone like her.

Fashion consultancy job would be my major source of sustenance and hopefully, fundings for the little outreaches I planned to do one day.

The students finished up their presentation and I braced myself, waiting for Ms. Mitchell to announce I and my partner next. She did and I sucked in a huge breath before I rose to my feet and headed for the front of the class, determination filling my bloodstreams.Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.

I would give it my all.

***

“Cara, Cara wait!” Kevin called after me as I made my way out of the classroom.

My good mood on how well my presentation had gone grew passive with each step that brought him closer to me. I quickened mine, knowing that he’d stay away from me the moment I got out of door to where my bodyguards waited outside.

Fortunately, I got to them before he got to me.

“Hi guys! Did you miss me?” I chirped, watching from the corner of my eyes as Kevin came out and continued down the hallway, his head bowed.

Nino had seen him and the nasty look he gave the poor dude’s retreating form scared and warmed me simultaneously. The man had slowly morphed into a similar version of Luca and was the most protective out of the group. He was basically our resident Luca. Not that I’d ever admit it but it felt really nice to have strong, capable men looking out for me.

Sergio gave me one of his soft smiles that I was still getting accustomed to. The man used to have a permanent scowl on his face so his new spontaneous show of warmth appeared just as scary.

“You might need to give me a warning before you smile like that Sergio, my heart needs the preparation.”

Nino snorted, the others suppressed their snickers and poor Sergio’s ears burned red.

Damn, he made it glaringly obvious that he wasn’t used to been flirted with. Which was his fault because no woman was going to approach him with the expression he had on most of the time. Instead, they’d be scurrying to the opposite direction the second they sighted him.

He cleared his throat before speaking. “The boss is waiting for you at home.”

The leaps of my heart waste no second. “Already, I thought he was busy until later tonight?”

“He was,” Nino answered me. “Plans changed.”

I said nothing as we took our leave, hating the unhurried steps the guys were taking, it took all of me not to run to where the car was parked.

I haven’t felt such excitement like this before since the last birthday I’d spent with my dad. He’d promised to take me to the aquarium the day before and I’d been a bundle of thrills throughout the night unable to sleep. I was even worse when the day finally came, so excited and impatient that I’d worn the wrong pair of socks and my dad had only noticed when we got to the aquarium. I hadn’t cared, my little self was only focused on having the time of my life and I did.

That was one of my best memories and happiest moments.

Just the thought of seeing Luca brought about such happiness. I felt like seven year old Cara all over again. I missed him, greatly, which was ridiculous because the last time I’d seen him was last night when I was curled up in his warm embrace after a terrific series of orgasms only he could give me and now I was going home to him waiting, my pussy throbbed in hopes of getting another.

The car couldn’t get home fast enough and the elevator was even worse. I practically jogged the moment the glossy steel doors slid open to the foyer.

I found Luca instantly, standing at the ginormous windows in the living room, looking like a living sculpture. I sprinted to him and bounded around him, hugging him tightly as I buried my face into his neck.

When I lifted my head to look at him, he was staring at me with dilated pupils. Also, I noticed that his body was stiff.

I tried to pull away, disappointment and hurt stabbing cruelly at my chest.

Surprise caught me when he jerked me back into him. A hand rose to tuck away a stray blonde curl from my face. “I’m just surprised bambina. You seem so happy to see me. You have never been like this before.”

I flushed with embarrassment, suddenly feeling shy. I was also short of replies to give him. It didn’t really help that I was wrapped around him like a koala to a tree.

Luca caught on my unusual coy demeanor and a pleased smile broke out on his face. “Did you miss me?”

My nod came before my thoughts.

Shit.

Luca’s smile grew bigger and I was filled with the immature urge to punch him.

“You did.” He couldn’t keep the elation from his voice.

“Only a little.” I mumbled.

“If you say so.” He mocked.

Our eyes met and we began grinning at each other like fools.

God, I was so happy at the moment. If this was how love felt then I wanted to be in love everyday until I die.

“Is this Netflix premium?”

My head shot to the direction this voice came from only to meet the horrified faces of Santino and some older man I haven’t seen before and the disgusted face of Dominic. They were all sitting stock-still at the dining table, their plates abandoned. I hadn’t even noticed them there, I’d been too zeroed in on Luca.

I jumped away from Luca, my cheeks heating up so bad I was certain it was redder than a beetroot at the moment. They had seen me jump on Luca like a wild cat, had witnessed our embarrassing interaction. I wanted to fade into nothingness.

I shot Luca a dirty glare when he had the audacity to let out a low chuckle. He pressed his lips together immediately but they still twitched with mirth.

“Oh, didn’t see you there boys.” I attempted to be casual but failed woefully. I sounded like a dying ostrich.

“Yeah, we gathered.” Santino said, a smile twitching at his lips. “You were too busy eye fucking each other to notice.”

My cheeks were going up in flames at this point. I turned to Luca for help but he looked away, a stupid smile playing on his lips.

The fucking traitor.

I hated that he was blessed with the ability to not be mortified in a situation like this. I on the other hand wanted to take out my eyes, ears and mouth so I wouldn’t have to see, hear or speak to anyone.

As if sensing my urge to flee, Luca grabbed my wrist and pulled me closer to him.

There was no explanation, the man was downright insane. I tried to pull away again but it only made him tighten his hold on me.

What happened to never letting anyone know about us? Not that it mattered now, we’ve already been caught in a compromising position and Dominic was already aware about our relationship, Santino probably knew as well but we could have at least pretended for the other man’s sake.

“What are you doing?” I hissed.

He ignored me, giving the men a pointed look.

The older man was the first to take the hint. “I’m off to gather more information on-” he caught himself, his eyes darting to me. “I’d be sure to be sure to report any updates as soon as possible.”

“Alright Grigori.” Luca said to the man.

Grigori nodded before scrambling out with impressive speed.

“We’d be leaving as well.” Santino said, pushing Dominic to the direction of the exit.

Dominic shrugged him off, eyes squinted at me. “What about Cortini’s new proposal you promised to discuss?” He asked Luca.

Luca’s voice was thick with warning. “Tomorrow is another day, Dom.”

“Yeah, man. Let’s go get you laid or something to take off all that work steam.” Santino said, pushing at him again and this time, Dominic let himself be dragged off.

“Try not to get caught by someone else.” He said in a dry voice before disappearing with Santino.

I turned to Luca immediately. “He really isn’t a fan of me is he?”

“Who?”

“Dominic. He obviously hates me.”

“He hates everyone.”

“Me especially.”

Luca pulled me to his front and locked his arms behind my back. “You’re overthinking it bambina.” He nuzzled into my neck.

My breaths grew choppy. “Am I?”

“Yes.”

I let him drop kisses up and down my neck until I was completely breathless then I remembered something and I jabbed him in the ribs.

He coughed out air. “What was that for?”

“Hopefully there won’t be a next time but if we’re ever caught again, try to salvage the situation will you?”

“I would if the people who caught us didn’t already know about us.”

I gaped at him. “Santino knows? The other man knows?”

Luca was holding me again, not at all looking like someone that had just been hit in the ribs. It made me ponder if my blows were that ineffective or he was just stupidly strong.

I hope it was the latter.

“Yes bambina they do.” He kissed the corner of my lips.

“Who else knows about us?” I rasped against his lips.

“No one that I know of.”

I pulled back to stare at him. “Are you saying someone else might know about us?”

He sighed. “That wasn’t what I said at all.”

“But that’s the implica-”

“Gina is returning tomorrow.”

I forgot what I was going to say, elation brewing in my chest. “Really?”

He kissed my nose. “Yeah. My father wants to throw a welcome party for them the day after. Just a small gathering with family and close friends.”

“I can’t wait to see her.” I sighed.

“I know. Now stop talking about others and focus on us instead.” He said before capturing my lips.

I opened up to his probing tongue and let him kiss me senseless. When he broke away, I could barely remember where we were.

“I’ve been thinking of you all day.” He whispered hoarsely.

“Me too.” I admitted.

“I missed you so much I thought I was going crazy.” He said before lifting me up and carrying me to the direction of the stairs and up the steps, all the while drinking from my mouth like a dehydrated runner.

He doesn’t hesitate to show me just how much he’d missed me the second we got to our room and I matched his ravenous hunger equally because I’d missed him just as crazily too.