CHAPTER 3

A sudden knock on the window of the vehicle brought me back to consciousness. My heart began to race when I opened my eyes. The first light of day came through the foggy window but the rain had finally stopped falling. Enzo's body remained draped over my body because we were both squeezed into the tight space of the back seat. We were both naked while our clothes lay scattered across the floor.

I swore to myself when I heard the loud knocking sound. 

The second knock came with greater intensity than the first one. A security guard wearing a black uniform entered the room with his flashlight beam moving through the misty atmosphere. "Hey! You two can’t stay here. Parking lot’s closing for the morning shift. Time to move it.” 

Enzo moved beside me, remaining calm despite the surprising disorder. He stayed still while watching the window. He stretched out his body in a slow manner, resembling a predator who was waking up from sleep. 

The guard said something under his breath before leaving the area. I began to search for my clothing because my heart raced. Enzo observed my actions for a moment before he took hold of my chin to kiss me again. He used his tongue to touch mine as if he wanted to show me who had been in control the previous night. I moaned softly into his mouth before pulling away from him.

Enzo reclined backward while maintaining his half-naked position with his dark eyes staring at me with intensity. “Give me your number, Julian.” 

I delayed my response because I tightened my grip on my wet shirt. “No... this was just a one-night stand.” 

His face maintained its expression while his eyes showed the presence of danger. He stayed silent while he observed me with his calm yet possessive gaze as I struggled to button my shirt.

My phone began to ring from its location on the floor of the room. I picked it up from the floor after I heard the ringing. Mom’s name appeared on the screen. 

“Julian? Where are you?” Her voice wild in panic. “It's my wedding day! The ceremony starts in less than two hours. Have you forgotten? I’ve been calling and calling!” 

I stood frozen in place as reality crashed down on me. “Mom... I’m sorry. I’m on my way. I lost track of time. I'll be there.” 

“You better be. This is important. I need you here.” She sighed, but there was love mixed with the stress. “Hurry, sweetheart.” 

“I’m coming. Promise.” I hung up the phone and began to pull on my wet jeans and shirt quickly. 

Enzo leaned backward against the seat while he observed me with his forceful and relaxed stare. “Why the rush, pretty boy? You had all the time in the world to ride me like you needed it.” 

My hands trembled as I buttoned my shirt. “It's my mom's wedding day. I have to be at the church. I’m the only family she has there.” 

He accepted my information through a single nod. “Tell her happy married life.”

Enzo then gripped my wrist with his hand in a forceful manner that would not permit me to break free. “It wasn't a one-time thing if I decide otherwise.” He stared at me with his dark eyes which showed his possession of me. 

I swallowed hard before exiting the vehicle without providing a response to him. The cool morning air hit me as I hurried toward the street to catch a cab back to the apartment Mom had rented for us in Boston. 

I took the fastest shower of my entire life at home because I needed to remove all traces of sex and rain and Enzo's cologne from my body. My body still experienced the best-worst pain but my thighs felt fatigued because of the bike ride and my throat hurt slightly because of the hand. I put on a black suit that fit my body properly and then styled my hair before I went to the church. 

The ceremony was beautiful in a simple way. Mom wore a white dress that made her shine with happiness which I had not witnessed for years. The officiant asked her to take this man as her legally wedded husband and she responded with tears in her eyes. Dante, her new husband, said the same with a steady, warm voice. They shared a kiss while the audience gave them applause.

After the “I do’s” and the signing, | approached them. I had seen Dante twice before—brief visits when he came to Jersey. We exchanged only brief greetings which occurred at the door when I rushed to attend college and hospital rotations. 

I congratulated Mom on her achievement by hugging her tightly and saying, “You look amazing.” 

She displayed happiness through her radiant smile. “Thank you, baby. This means everything.”

Vante turned to me with a kind smile and extended his hand. “Julian. Good to finally have a proper conversation. I know we've only exchanged greetings before. You were always in a hurry.”

I shook his hand because I preferred to control the situation through my firm handshake. “Yeah, med school keeps me busy. Congratulations. Take care of her.” 

Dante pulled Mom to him before kissing her tenderly on the lips while facing me. 

“I love you so much, Elena,” he said, voice full of genuine emotion. “And | promise to give that same love to Julian. You're family now, son. We're in this together.” 

Mom's eyes filled with tears again. “See? Everything's going to be perfect.”

We exchanged a few more pleasantries with the guests—small talk about the weather, the beautiful vows, how happy they looked. The time had arrived for us to proceed to the reception. An old friend of the couple held them back because he wanted to take photographs. Mom waved me on. “Go ahead, honey. 

Take the car with Dante’s son. We'll follow in the limo in a minute.” 

I walked toward the elegant black vehicle that waited at the curb for me to approach. I opened the back door and slid in, then froze. 

Enzo sat there in the opposite seat, dressed in a sharp dark suit that made him look even more commanding than he had last night. He maintained his same intense eyes and his same calm and dominant posture. My one-night stand. Mr. Earth-Shattering Orgasm. 

I experienced a brain malfunction when I saw his face. I grabbed his arm to pull him out of the car without thinking. I pressed him back against the side of the vehicle, heart pounding. “What the hell are you doing here?” I hissed, voice low and panicked. 

Enzo looked shocked for a split second before that dominant mask slid back into place. He didn’t yank away. Instead, he gripped my wrist in return, strong fingers tightening just enough to remind me of last night. “Julian—” he started, voice low and rough. 

Before he could finish, I slapped my free hand over his mouth, heart pounding. My back was to my parents so they couldn’t see Enzo’s face properly.

“What's going on?”

 “Nothing,” I said quickly when they appeared, voice strained. “It’s nothing.” 

I released him like he was on fire and immediately reached for a bottle of water from the side compartment, trying to play it cool. The sudden movement shifted us, and Enzo’s face came fully into view. 

Dante’s expression changed instantly. A slow, knowing smile spread across his face. “Oh... I see you've already met my son, Enzo.” 

Water went down the wrong way. | started coughing violently, choking so hard that some sprayed out of my nose. Tears stung my eyes as | struggled to breathe. “Your... son?” I gasped between coughs, wiping my face with the back of my hand. “Enzo is... your son?” 

Mom looked concerned. “Are you okay? Breathe, honey.”  

Dante laughed warmly. “Yes, Enzo. My boy. Final year law student. | thought it would be nice for you two to get to know each other since we’re all family now.” 

Family. 

The word hit like a punch. I coughed again, throat burning, water still dripping from my chin. Last night | had ridden this man while moaning his name as he choked me lightly and called me his pretty boy slut. And now he was my stepbrother? 

Enzo leaned in slightly, voice low enough that only I could hear. “Looks like trouble found us faster than I expected, pretty boy.” 

I stared straight ahead, face burning, mind spinning with every filthy detail from the car in the rain. 

Mom patted my knee from the front. “You two will get along great. Right, Julian?” 

| managed a weak nod, still coughing lightly. “Yeah... great.” 

The couple climbed into their waiting limo, waving happily as it pulled away leaving us standing there. 

“I’m royally fucked.”