Forbidden Love With My Mafia Step-Brother

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on top of us. Heavy, swollen clouds sag so

e. If I get soaked, it's no one's fault but mine. The air already smells like wet pa

le of homework, though that's bad enough but the way eve

gainst the desk like he's giving some kind of war speech, while I sat there trying not to scream, j

corner store. Saves me ten minutes,

are trouble, but ten min

ough, I hea

y. But when I pick up my pace, the steps

ch twist

ust walk faster." I mu

ool. They are older and they're not chatting or

oat go

cking against the damp grou

Not

olid. The impact jolts through me, and I stagger back

xa S

freezes me

k up.

o fast I swear it

eputation isn't just a rumor, it's fact. Fights,

ward, all in black like some bargain-bin gang m

e hammering. "What

to slice. "What do you th

s knit.

inst his palm with a steady crack. "Last week.

t. If I got caught, I'd lose everything.

y one. His guys follow like hyenas, and the sound boun

ng the stick along the ground. "You're not. I told you wha

I step back, but the wall catches me. Nowhere

ir, "Touch her, and it'll be

h the alley. Calm, even

turns to

g his face. He looks like he's got all the time in

"And who the

arly a speck on his shoes, his eyes bore

Jace off. He lunges at

never m

t, the next he's flat

xplodes int

moves like nothing I've ever seen, he's fast, sharp, three steps ahead of every swi

knife glinting in his

s wrist until the knife clatters to the pavement. A fe

s just their g

aightens and fin

t. He saved me, yes but something about him is too controlle

whisper, beca

r, he just turns

before I can stop it. "At

l ignore me. Then his steady and col

ar

en he'

lley, panic sparking all over again. I

I r

. Every slam of a locker makes me flinch expecting Jace to jump out of

d in, keep quiet, for

e, the unive

s hands. "Alright, settle down. We've got a new stu

r swing

here

ro

roken bodies just hours ago. His gaze sweeps the room, lands on me. H

ed here," the teacher says. "Make h

mpty seat is ri

sit and I feel the weight of him beside me. Every movement, every

He's just a guy. A terrifying, unr

ll bright smiles and questions. He brushes them o

with myself. I owe him thanks. B

y voice cracks. Perfect. "I'm Alexa. I..

dable. The silence drags so long my che

nd even, his warm breath brushes my

re we