DANGEROUSLY YOURS: INTO THE ARMS OF MY STEPBROTHER

la Leo

sweetly, and tucked me in at night. She gave me life-and took everything el

said over the phone-flat, emotionless.

marriage-gone, and she didn't flinch. This was the man who gave us shelter w

fingers tightening around the phone as if i

ike I'm the damn Grim Reaper who took his life!" Her voice hissed

I bit back the words, my jaw lock

t she-the woman who never seemed to care a

the venom still thick in her voice. "Steven was 78. That's old

dilated a

ne be this cold,

digger, nothing but an evil serpent!" I couldn't

tly, almost as if

had to so I could put food on the damn table. That's what's pathetic, huh?" Her voice was sharp, cutting through the air. "If you re

very word she said cutt

is hell?" The words were venomous as they slipped past my lips, shaking with fury. "You ruined ev

nience. "You think I wanted to do all that? You think I enjoyed it? Life doesn't give you the luxury of choices, I

d us?" My voice was growing tighter, the bitterness threatening to choke me. "He stayed

rial. You have to be back. That's the last time you're seeing him!" He

once. Steven was really gone. He wasn't coming back. He wouldn't be there

The tears I'd been holding back for so long

arp as ever, cutting through my raw emotion.

"I know... and I hate it so much. I hate the fact he's not m

ine went dead. My phone slipped from my fingers, clattering to

amed, my voice raw, my

andered to one person. One person I never thou

of Steven D'evon

six years since we spoke. And honestly, I hadn't been

ority about him. He was nothing like his father-nothing like th

at house again. I'd made my peace with never going b

myself, the words heavy on my heart.

-

ours in a cramped seat, staring at the back of the seat in front of

home felt like a blur. The cab driver chattered on, but I barely hea

e h

that had watched me grow up, watched me endure my mother's madness, my stepfather's love. A

miliar driveway, the sounds of music and shout

nerves. The sight that greeted me when I pu

ughed, running around like it was some kind of party. The house w

ots clicking sharply against the flo

hen I

boy were locked in a kiss. They didn't even not

the hell are you doing?!" I yelled, my voic

inconvenience. "Welcome back. You can go to your room..." she said, as

dead a week?" My voice shook with disbelief, and anger simmered beneath my skin. "Does

e. "Don't you dare mention it to him... Just go upst

you killed him! And now I'm starting to think-if you're not

ss what was happening, a s

it made my ears ring, my c

she wanted to tear me apart. "You miserable little thing, you hate it whene