Taming My Mafia Stepbrother

Cara’s pov

I didn’t know where I was going, had no idea where I was. All I had was one desire and it was to put a considerable amount of distance between myself and the dinner happening on the patio.

Luca is marrying Valentina, Luca is marrying Valentina, Luca is marrying Valentina. The realization resounded so loudly in my brain I wanted to claw it off. A steel band was winched tightly around my heart, squeezing it into nothingness.

I quickened my steps, basically sprinting my way through until I landed in a familiar hallway. I slipped into the library, slamming the door shut before slipping to the ground as huge sobs broke out of me.

I clutched at my chest, feeling physical pain, feeling my heart wrench and break into tiny pieces. The last time I felt this way was when I watched my father die before my eyes. That shattering, cloying pain of loss.

I’d mourned my father then but now I mourned my heart.

I wanted to scream my lungs out but my body felt numb and heavy like I was drowning in the deep sea.

My mind recalled the look Luca had given me and it dawned on me like cold, biting water that what I’d seen in his eyes had to be the fear of being caught.

Did he even feel guilty? Guilty towards the stupid, stupid girl he’d so expertly deceived. I wonder if he enjoyed making me believe our relationship was exclusive. I wondered if he laugh inwardly as I took his word to remain faithful.

I wondered if he mistook me for Valentina during sex.

Hot and acidic, bile punctured the back of my throat and hot tears poured out of my stinging eyes.

I’d give it to him, the only man that successfully broke through my infamous barrier, reached around my heart and made a mess of it.

I don’t know how long I sat there behind the library door, racking sobs jolting through my trembling body.

I needed to leave, I couldn’t bear to stay here where anyone could find me anyone second, especially a gloating Valentina.

I forced myself up and staggered out the door and back where I’d come from, holding the banister for support when I got to the stairs so I wouldn’t fall to my death. After a few seconds of sardonic musings, I concluded that it wouldn’t be such a bad thing if I did. Death was a much better option than trying to live on with what’s left of my heart.

I was halfway down when I saw them, the last people on earth I wanted to see and the sight before me was a second stab to my chest. I nearly almost fell to my death like I’d wished.

Valentina’s hands were locked around Luca’s neck, his head dipped as they kissed. The kiss looked angry and mad, something that two lovers would do during a heated disagreement.

Valentina was probably pissed at him and Luca was trying to win over with his expert mouth. A mouth that had succeeded in deflating my own anger many times.

I ran back up the stairs, seeking escape, fresh tears streamed down my face, marring my vision. I sought another exit, wandering until I found one that led to the foyer. I didn’t know how I was going to get home but I couldn’t find it in me to care.All text © NôvelD(r)a'ma.Org.

A sick chuckle reverberated through me as I realized what I’d said.

Home. I didn’t have one. I was living with the man I never wanted to see again and I was sure as hell not going back there.

But I needed my things and if I was going to never return I had to get them now.

I blindly walked out the large double doors of the mansion and I was so lost in my head that I didn’t notice there was someone heading my way until I bumped into them.

I stiffened immediately, dread taking over me as I feared it was who I suspected.

“Cara, are you okay?”

I looked up to the concerned gaze of Cadain. “Are you okay?” He asked again.

I tried to nod my head but it felt like it was stuffed with cotton wool.

“You obviously aren’t.” He observed.

“What are you doing here?” I managed.

His eyes coasted to the mansion for a brief moment. “Here to see Salvatore.” He answered, his voice sounding bitter.

I guess he had an axe to grind with Luca. I wondered if all my stepbrother did was go about hurting and pissing people off.

Don’t think about him.

“Well, you’d find him inside. It was nice seeing you again.” I said impatiently before proceeding with my escape.

“Where are you going?” Cadain asked.

I was about to say “home” again but I caught myself. “To get my things.”

Cadain paused behind me, obviously confused by what I’d meant but I wasn’t going to explain. I finished my walk down the stairs.

Then I halted.

It occurred to me that I’d have to walk all the way to the mansion’s gates and down the lonely avenue till I get to the main road. It might not sound much but that was one hell of a fucking journey.

I didn’t have my purse with me so no money or phone to order a cab. I’d left the designer piece behind with the hope that Gina would pick it up for me. But as I stood here now, I realized I should have fetched it before leaving. The fear of running into Luca and Valentina be damned.

From where I was I couldn’t even see the gates. I bit my lip frantically. Shit, this was one fucking dilemma.

“Cara, what’s going on?” Cadain asked worriedly.

I ignored him, whipping around to my right then to my right. Then that’s when I saw it, a sleek, matte grey tesla parked by the side of the mansion. And then, it hit me.

And I slowly turned to meet Cadain’s equally worried gaze.

A caustic laugh traveled up my throat and pushed out of my lips. Gosh, I was so stupid. The answer to my problem has been right here with me.

“Cadain.”

“Yes?”

“I need your help.”

“Anything.”

I looked at the car again. “Fucking get me out of here.”

He wasted no time. In the next second, he’d unlocked the car with his key fob and the two of us hurried to the car.

Cadain had barely reversed out from the space when Luca burst out of the mansion with a few men, looking really pissed.

“Cara! Get out of the fucking car now!” He boomed, sounding so frightening it made Cadain hesitate for a second.

I, on the other hand, was too angry to give a shit. “Have you changed your mind?”

Cadain’s gaze snapped to me. “No, no. It’s just… I’m confused by all of this.”

Luca was already reaching for his phone, it was only a matter of time before he’d give orders for the gates to remain locked. We had an extremely low chance of leaving.

But it wasn’t going to stop me from trying.

I held on to the grab handle above the window. “Ask questions later. Right now, you need to fucking drive.”

Cadain did as I said and sped off.

My heart was caught in my throat as the car slowed down, slowly approaching the shut gates.

“Please open. Please open. Please open.” I chanted under my breath, gripping the grab handle even tighter.

For a moment, nothing happened and my heart tumbled back down my throat and dropped all the way to my stomach. What was I expecting? Luca would never let me leave just like that.

The gates rumbled open.

My gaze shot to Cadain and he had on the same confused expression I was sure I had. We didn’t wait to process our luck though, we drove through without stopping and Cadain didn’t stop speeding until we got to the city road.

“Where to now?” He asked.

I sawed on my lips, unsure if he’d be willing to take me to Luca’s house. It was like asking a deer to walk right into a lion’s den. Plus, he’d know I’ve been living with him.

“Cara?” Cadain prodded.

“Luca’s house. I- I need to get my things.”

He stared at me longer than necessary then focused on the road, saying nothing.

“Do you need directions?”

“I know where you live.” Was his reply.

I didn’t bother asking how, didn’t want to process it at all. All I cared about at the moment was getting to the penthouse and leaving before Luca found me there. I told myself the reason was because the man was crazy enough to hold me prisoner but that was a bold face lie.

If he found me there, he’d try to talk me out of leaving and as much as it pained me to admit, I feared that I’d let him fool me once more.