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Chapter Six
Etienne
In the depths of my dreams, Lisette's body melts against mine, her breath hot and whispered in my ear. Her fingers trail down my chest, igniting a fire within me, while her lips taste like sin. The ache for her, it consumes me, swells inside me like a hurricane threatening to break free.
I wake with a start, sweat clinging to my skin, an insistent hardness beneath the sheets. Damnation. I groan, tormented by the forbidden fruit she represents. Claude's niece... But my body doesn't care for the rules of our world; it only hungers for her touch.
I force myself out of bed, muscles tense and throbbing, and step under the ice-cold shower, letting the shock of it numb me back into reality.
But the awareness doesn’t last long. I find my mind wandering, no matter where I am, all morning, even in the midst of training.
The sting of Bastien's punch reverberates through my jaw, jolting me back into the present with a sudden burst of pain. The ache pales in comparison to the turmoil that churns within, threatening to consume my focus and cloud my judgment.
"Etienne, are you here today?!" Bastien's voice rings out, tinged with a blend of frustration and concern. His words slice through the haze of my thoughts, a sharp reminder of the urgency that defines our training sessions. The intensity of his gaze tells me he knows something is amiss, that he can sense the turmoil that simmers beneath my calm exterior.
"Didn't see that coming, did ya?" he taunts, raising an eyebrow in challenge. "You're usually better than this. What's got you so distracted?"
I grit my teeth, a futile attempt to wrestle back control over my racing mind. But Bastien's unwavering scrutiny, his piercing gaze digging deep into the recesses of my thoughts, leaves no room to hide. He knows me too well, each subtle shift and flicker of emotion laid bare before him. There is no point in deflecting or denying the truth.
"Come on, Etienne. You can't hide shit from me," he says, his smirk tinged with both familiarity and genuine concern. "Talk to me, brother."
I cast a quick glance around the training area, ensuring no prying eyes or ears are within reach. Satisfied with our privacy, I lean in, my voice a low murmur. "It's Lisette," I confess, my words barely audible, as if afraid of their own weight. "She's been haunting my dreams, man. Taking over my thoughts."
Bastien's eyes narrow, a flicker of understanding lighting up his features. He leans back, folding his arms across his chest, his expression a blend of caution and empathy... and something else.
"Ah, Lisette," he murmurs, his voice laced with both sympathy and caution. "She's a forbidden fruit, my friend. And you know what they say about that."
My frustration swells, mixed with a gnawing desire that threatens to consume me. "Enough," I growl, cutting off his words and pushing away the swirling torrents of longing within me. "Let's finish this training session."
A heavy silence settles between us, the sound of our labored breaths filling the air as we catch our breath. The weight of my confession hangs in the space between us, palpable and raw. I wipe the sweat from my brow, my hand trembling with a mix of exhaustion and turmoil.
"Fine," I relent, my voice heavy with resignation. "It's not just lust, Bastien. I think... I think I'm falling for her."
Bastien's eyes widen, disbelief frozen across his features. He runs a hand through his tousled hair, searching for words in the whirlwind of emotions that churn within him. "Shit," he mutters, his voice laced with a mix of surprise and unease. "Etienne, you've got to be kidding me. Lisette? Claude's niece? Not some other, more available, less likely to make you alligator food in a swamp, Lisette?"
Frustration simmers beneath the surface as I grip a towel tightly in my hands. "Damn it, I know!" I hiss, my frustration spilling over. The realization of my growing feelings for Lisette, the complexity of our connection, threatens to overwhelm me. "But I can't help it. She's... she's different."
Bastien's eyes flicker, a mix of uncertainty and concern clouding his gaze. His voice falters for a moment before he meets my eyes again. "Look, man..." he begins, his voice heavy with hesitation. He turns away briefly, searching for the right words before locking eyes with me once more. "I've been feeling something for her, too."
My breath catches in my throat, shock pulsing through my veins. I stare at Bastien, disbelief etched across my face. We had shared women in the past, but this feels different. Lisette has burrowed her way into my heart, and now it seems she’s done the same to Bastien.
"Fuck! Are you serious?" I ask, my voice tinged with incredulity. The realization of our shared feelings adds a new layer of complexity to an already tense situation. Lisette isn't just some fling; she’s entwined in the very fabric of our lives, tied to Claude and our loyalty to him.
Bastien meets my gaze, vulnerability flickering in his eyes. "Dead serious," he replies, his voice laced with a sense of surrender. "But we have to remember our loyalty to Claude. We owe him everything."
His words strike a chord within me, the reminder of the debt we owe to Claude and the unyielding loyalty that has bound us to him. My resolve hardens, a steely determination overtaking the tempest of emotions. "Exactly," I agree, my voice steady and resolute. "We can't pursue her, Bastien. It would be a betrayal."
The weight of our oath to Claude rests heavy on our shoulders, a reminder of the sacrifices we have made and the lengths we would go to protect our family. With that understanding, we lock eyes, sharing a silent agreement to quell our desires and to stay true to our bond with Claude. The road ahead may be challenging, but our loyalty and commitment are unwavering.
A charged silence engulfs us, the weight of our unspoken desires and the complexities of our predicament hanging heavily in the air. Bastien's eyes narrow, a mischievous gleam dancing within them. He seems captivated by a mischievous notion, a flicker of audacity that I can't help but find both enticing and dangerous.
"Unless..." Bastien trails off, a wicked glimmer in his eye. "What if Claude approved it? What if he gave us his blessing?"
I scoff at his suggestion, my voice laced with a mixture of frustration and disbelief. "Are you out of your mind?" I snap, anger flaring within me. "Claude is fiercely protective of her, Bastien. One mafia man is overwhelming enough for him – he would never entertain the idea of his niece being involved with two of us."
