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“Don’t be so silly, Ella. I’ll be home before you know it. It’s only a week.”
Perhaps I’m being silly, but my new family isn’t exactly thrilled to have me here, and I’m not thrilled to be here. Leo and Luca are assholes toward me, especially after what happened outside my room. And Remy is as much of a jackass as the day we met whenever he opens his mouth.
“I miss it being the two of us.”
She shakes her head. “Ella, we could hardly put food on the table most nights. Your stepdad saved us from ruin; be more grateful.”
Grateful to Remy Morrone? The guy is wicked beyond compare. He’s horrible, and I don’t know how she overlooks what he and his family are involved in. While I don’t know the specifics, the mafia normally means guns and drugs.
Not to mention, we couldn’t put food on the table because she was off buying designer handbags with my money! I had to get a part-time job at a pizza place in between working on my next novel to supplement our income while she did nothing.
“You keep leaving me here alone with them, and it’s awkward.” This is her fifth trip in the three months since we moved in. I don’t know why she keeps going away to Vegas. I can only assume she has some kind of gambling problem that she’s kept under wraps.
Mom’s expression turns irritated. “Grow up. You’re twenty-one years old.”
I swallow hard, realizing that she’s never going to change. She’s always been obsessed with money, but now she’s unrecognizable. Lost to the lifestyle of the mafia world. “Fine. See you when you get back.”
She puts her sunglasses on and grabs her clutch. “Behave for your stepdad.”
I feel like making a smart remark, but I hold my tongue. “Have a good trip.”
I let out a deep breath as soon as she’s out of sight. The house feels empty and cold. For three months, I’ve tried to make myself feel at home here but I can’t. A part of the reason is because the other people sharing this house don’t make me feel welcome.
Leo probably creeps me out the most as he’s quiet but also looks at me with a darkness that scares me. And while relations have been strained between Luca and I since I refused his advances, he’s still more relaxed and easygoing.
Remy, on the other hand, scares and excites me in equal measures. He’s grumpy and quiet, always glaring at me with an intensity that makes me shiver. I hate how attracted I am to him.
Despite Mia suggesting we’d go shopping, I have only seen her in passing a couple of times, which is a shame. However, she’s a busy mom to Ronan, her son. I’m sure we will get on well if we find the time to go out.
I hear Leo and Luca chatting in the living room. My heart sinks. I don’t want to deal with them right now, but I don’t want to be rude. I take a deep breath and walk down the hall. As soon as I step into the room, I regret it when Leo’s eyes fall on me and drag down my body.
“Hey, Ella,” he says, his voice cold.
I try to smile, but it comes out as a grimace. “Hi, Leo.”
Luca grins at me. “Come join the party, little sis.”
I hesitate, but then I remind myself to be polite. They’ll never accept me if I don’t at least try. “Sure.”
I walk over to the sofa and sit down awkwardly. At that moment, I realize Remy is in here. His intense gaze shoots lasers through me. The man is as cold as ice, and he’s also insanely gorgeous.
“Not going to say hello to your stepdad?” he asks, eyes flashing with amusement.
“Sorry I didn’t see you there.”
His jaw clenches, and his eyes flash with irritation. He stands and walks closer. “Do you need glasses then, Ella? As I was sitting right there the entire time.” His eyes narrow as he glares at me, holding a whiskey tumbler. “I’m dry. Can you get me a drink?”
My lips purse as he often treats me like a server at a bar, and I can’t help but obey him. He has this commanding presence I can’t put into words. It doesn’t help that I’ve been a people pleaser all my life; it’s one of my biggest vices, especially since moving into the Morrone Mansion. “Sure,” I say, grabbing the glass from his hand and accidentally brushing my fingers against his.
Our eyes meet for a second, and my body blazes with heat.
Fuck.
Anytime I accidentally touch my stepdad, it’s the same. He’s so damn attractive, and it feels like there’s electricity flowing between us whenever we’re near.
I walk over to the dresser to put space between us as the three men snicker behind me, making me self-conscious.
Grabbing the bottle of scotch, I pour him a large tumbler full. I’ve learned that no one can get through scotch like Remy. He drinks a lot, probably to help him live with what he does for a living.
