Page 8 of Claimed By my Stepbrother
The noise dies out behind us as I open the door and walk into the parking lot beyond. Scanning the vehicles, I realize it’s not the same lot I parked in when I arrived. I skirt the building, keeping her firmly over my shoulder despite her protests. I shouldn’t be turned on by the feel of her, but I’ve never been this hard. I bite back a groan when a breeze carries her alluring orange blossom scent to my nose.
At the front of the building, I walk quickly to my Jeep, pulling the fob from my pocket and unlocking it. Opening the passenger door, I place Sirena on the leather seat, narrowly avoiding her feisty punch aimed at my face.
“Who are you?” she spits at me, as I lean in to pull the belt across her body, holding both of her hands in one of mine to keep her tame. “Why are you doing this?” At her innocent question, I pause, looking at her. She looks up at me with her serene eyes, and I’m undone.
“I’m Knox Valenti,” I growl, leaning in to press a gentle kiss to the sensitive spot right behind her ear, taking an extra moment to commit her intoxicating scent to memory. “We’re family now, and there are going to be some changes.” She gasps, looking at me when I pull back, blocking the door. “Starting with this thing you call a dress.”
Family means everything in my world. Mine is crude and unspeakably violent, but when push comes to shove, it’s family against everyone. And, Sirena just became a part of that.
Chapter five
Center Stage
Sirena
It’sofficial.Mynewstepbrother is deranged. Clearly, the apple doesn’t fall far fromthattree.
This ridiculously attractive stranger rushed up on stage, in the middle of my performance, and took me away so easily, with absolutely no explanation. And, not one person tried to intervene. I’ve never been so confused in my life.
Then, without preamble, he has the nerve to think he can impose new rules on me just because my mom chooses to ruin my life by marrying his dad.Think again, asshole.
“Starting with this thing you call a dress.” He gestures toward my dress, and I look down, not finding anything objectionable about the sequined garment.
“What about it? It’s clearly a costume.” I try to reason with him, but he shakes his head.Does he think I normally dress this way?“What is it with you Valentis? Just going ahead and taking whatever you want, to hell with what anyone else wants. Screw the consequences.” I’m clearly starting to ramble now, adrenaline coursing through me. “I thought I was being kidnapped, for fuck’s sake!”
I clench my fist, preparing to lash out again in a final attempt to get away from him and back to the safety of the school when I make the mistake of looking up into his dark eyes. There’s a danger there, just below the surface, that makes me shudder. He’s watching me, like a viper waiting to strike.
A dark laugh escapes his full lips. “What was I supposed to do, let you stay on stage, allowing another man to grind on your body while you’re wearing next to nothing?” He spits it out like an accusation.
“Let?” I shriek, enraged at the nerve of him thinking he can abduct me and dictate my life. “Allow?” I close my eyes, irritated at the sight of him standing before me, arrogance wafting off of him. “Listen here, mister. You don’t control me. You’re my stepbrother. Not my dad!” My tone is defiant, but inside— I’m terrified.
“Listen here, little girl,” he says, leaning down to get in my face. “I’m never going to be your stepbrother, but I do think you need a Daddy. Someone to take care of you. To punish you when you misbehave. To spoil you properly.”
Our gazes lock, and I can feel his hand brush against mine, resting there. I’m shocked and don’t know how to respond to what he just said. If I didn’t know any better, I’d swear this handsome devil was flirting with me. But, I heard what he said about my mom and me the other day—he’s just trying to prove that we’re after his family’s money.
“Stay,” he commands quietly, and to my horror, my body obeys. He shuts the door, cutting me off from the illusion of safety the crowd in the school offers. I watch surreptitiously as he quickly skirts the hood of the Jeep, opens the driver’s door, and settles himself behind the wheel.
He’s the most attractive man I’ve ever seen and has an air of domineering masculinity that makes it difficult to meet his eye. For the first time, I’m glad I’m sitting down because my knees are trembling, and I can’t help the indecent thoughts running through my mind.
Knox starts the car and backs out of the parking spot. He's silent as he drives quickly through town, managing to hit all green lights.
Finally, his luck runs out, and he pulls to a stop right over the line. He turns his head in my direction, fixing me with his intense stare.
"Are you dating that boy?" he asks, seething. I don't understand why he's so upset with my performance, but I enjoy his displeasure. Not only has he kidnapped me, but he accused mom and me of being gold diggers before he even met either of us. Deciding he hasn't suffered enough, I decide to have some fun ruffling his feathers a little longer.
Feigning innocence, I ask, "Which boy?" He glowers at me before taking off like a shot when the light finally turns green again.
“Any boy,” he spits out venomously. I have no idea what his problem is. Maybe he thinks we are going to sully his family’s reputation with our poverty. My dress isn’t nice enough, my dancing isn’t flawless—hell even the guy he assumes I’m dating isn’t good enough.
“No,” I say casually. “I’m not dating anyone.” I let the words dangle, hinting that I might not bedatingsomeone, but that doesn’t mean I’m notinvolvedwith someone. But in reality, that couldn’t be further from the truth. My handsome, infuriating, captor doesn’t need to know that, though.
“You’re sleeping with someone?” He asks, more like an accusation. I can’t believe the nerve of him. We’ve only just met, and he’s acting like he has the right to know everything about me.
“That’s none of your business!” Indignant anger flares inside of me. I turn my head to glare at him, crossing my arms over my chest.
“That’s where you’re wrong, babygirl. Whatever it is, with whoever it is, it’s over now. Do you hear me? I don't share. You’ll never see him again.”
“You’re unbelievable.” I spit, unnerved by his arrogance. “Just so you know, there isn’t anyone. But if there was, you couldn’t stop me from seeing him.”
