I’m My Step Brothers Obsession (Mafia Saga)

Rose... get up! Time for school!" Mum’s voice shattered the quiet, her call ringing through the hallway like a bell, demanding my attention. The same words she had said every morning for as long as I could remember. The same words that were supposed to get me out of bed, to face the world, to keep moving forward, even when the weight of the past tried to drag me back into the darkness.

But today was different. Today, my mind was a battlefield. My heart was a battlefield. And I wanted nothing more than to sink back into the sheets and pull the covers over my head, pretending the world didn’t exist.

I sighed, loud and dramatic, not caring if she heard. The day had arrived—the day that haunted my dreams and my waking hours alike. My father’s anniversary. The day he was supposed to be here, still alive, still laughing with me, still driving me crazy with his fatherly advice. And instead, I was left alone with my thoughts, my memories, and an aching heart that wouldn’t let me forget.

The thought of facing the world today felt like a cruel joke. But I couldn’t stay home. I had to go to school. There was no escaping it.

“Mum... I’m not feeling well. I’ve got a migraine,” I muttered, hoping my voice would carry the hint of distress that would convince her to let me off the hook.

I winced, letting the fake pain flood my expression. Maybe if I appeared weak enough, she would believe me. But I knew her too well. She could see through every excuse I made. She had spent years teaching me how to lie, how to manipulate my way out of trouble, but she had also learned my tricks. She could spot a lie from a mile away.

Footsteps echoed down the hallway, and I could hear her approaching, each step purposeful, deliberate. She was coming to check on me. I knew that tone—she was coming with that familiar mix of concern and suspicion.

“Rose?” She knocked once on my door before pushing it open, her eyes immediately assessing me. “Are you okay?” Her gaze swept over me, pausing for a moment on my face, searching for signs of the illness I had just claimed to have. She looked at me like a doctor evaluating a patient, but there was something more—something in the way her eyes lingered on me. A mother’s instinct.

I couldn’t fool her. Not today.

I turned my head slightly, just enough to make my pain seem more genuine, but not enough to hide the underlying frustration. "Yeah, I think it's just a bad headache," I muttered, already knowing she wasn’t going to buy it.

She didn’t even have to check my temperature to know I was faking. I saw the corner of her mouth twitch into that knowing smile, the one that mirrored mine when I caught someone in a lie. "You’re lying," she said softly. "I know today isn’t easy, but your education is important, Rose... It was important to him, too. More than you know."

Her words were like a punch to the gut. Every time she spoke about Dad, I felt the weight of his absence. The pain of remembering how he had been taken from us. How one careless decision had stolen the man who had shaped my world.

My breath caught, and I sat up in bed, my heart pounding in my chest. I wanted to argue, to tell her I couldn’t handle going to school today, but the words stuck in my throat. "I don’t know if I can do this," I whispered, barely loud enough for her to hear.

She sat beside me on the edge of the bed, her hand finding mine. Her touch was warm, reassuring, but I could feel the strength in her fingers, the same strength I had always admired in her. She had survived this pain for two years now. She had to, for both of us. And now, she wanted me to keep going, to push through the grief and the memories that still haunted me.

“Look,” she said, her voice steady. “If you’re really feeling sick, just text me. I’ll come pick you up. But please, try. It’s your last year. I want you to pass, Rose. I want you to be successful, for him. He would have wanted that.”

A lump formed in my throat. I wanted to tell her I couldn’t do it—that I didn’t want to do it. But I knew she was right. Dad had always pushed me to be better, to be stronger, to be someone who could rise above the chaos. And now, all I could do was try to live up to his memory.

I stared at the floor, feeling the weight of her words pressing down on me. “This day... it’s just such a reminder,” I said, my voice trembling slightly. “You know he was supposed to go pick out my dress with Felicity? I wanted to get it that day. I couldn't wait another day. They would still be here if I had just waited.”

The tears welled up before I could stop them. My breath hitched, and I looked away, ashamed of the emotion I was letting slip. I couldn’t be weak today. I couldn’t let the world see me fall apart.

Mum’s hand squeezed mine, her thumb brushing over my knuckles in a comforting motion. Her voice softened, and I could hear the sorrow in it. “Rose, it’s not your fault. What happened wasn’t your fault. It was the drunk driver who made the choice that day. And your dad... he wouldn’t want you to blame yourself. I know you and Felicity were close... before everything changed.”

Before Jace.

I flinched at the name, the memories rushing back in waves. The good, the bad, the things I had tried so hard to forget. “Jace...” I said the name like it was poison, letting the anger and hurt creep into my words. “He did to me what he did to Felicity. He took everything. He isolated me, kept me away from everyone. He threatened me, used me. He made me feel like I was nothing.”

Mum’s expression shifted, her face hardening slightly at the mention of Jace. “Have his parents reached out to you about the engagement?” she asked, her voice sharp, almost cold.

I could feel the tension in the air, thick and suffocating. I knew this conversation was coming. I had to know the truth, even if it broke me. “No, sweetheart, they haven’t contacted me. We settled that... a long time ago.” Her eyes flickered briefly, and I saw the sadness in them, the way she was trying to keep her own pain hidden.

I studied her carefully, piecing together the fragments of her words. They’re still reaching out to her. I could see the strain in her face, the way she was trying to protect me from something I wasn’t ready to face. But I wasn’t a child anymore. I could read her. I knew when she was hiding something.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” I asked quietly, my voice betraying the hurt I was trying to keep buried. “How long has this been going on? How long has he been contacting you?”

She sighed, the weight of it all settling in her shoulders. She looked at me, her eyes full of unspoken words, but she didn’t answer. There was too much history between us and Jace’s family. Too much pain.

I shook my head, forcing myself to stand. “Okay... I’ll go today. I’ll try.” My voice was small, resigned. It felt like I was giving in, but what choice did I have?

Mum’s face softened, her lips curving into a small, relieved smile. “Thank you. And remember, if you change your mind, I’ll come get you. But please... make an effort. For both of us.”

I nodded. “I will.”

She kissed my forehead before standing. “I invited the girls for breakfast. You should get up. It’s a tradition.”

I groaned inwardly. As much as I loved my friends, the last thing I wanted was to face them today. But I knew Mum wouldn’t back down. Not today. She wanted normalcy, even if I couldn’t feel it.

She started to leave, then stopped, turning back toward me. There was something different in her eyes. A flash of something I couldn’t quite place. “Rose,” she said, her voice soft but serious, “there’s something I need to talk to you about later. A big step for both of us. I wanted to tell you, but it’s long overdue.”

My stomach flipped at the words. What was she talking about? My mind raced with possibilities—What could this possibly mean?

“Should I be worried?” I asked, my voice shaky.

She smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “No. Just something important. I’ll explain later.”

With that, she left the room, leaving me to my thoughts. And I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. Something wasn’t right.

I forced myself to get out of bed, feeling the cold air hit my skin as I pulled myself together. As I headed toward the bathroom, I heard Mum call down the stairs.

“And don’t forget your homework, Rose! It better be finished!”

I rolled my eyes, a half-hearted chuckle escaping my lips. I couldn’t even get away with pretending to be sick for a day.

The shower helped clear my mind, if only for a few moments. The hot water pounded on my skin, and I let myself sink into the feeling of it, hoping to wash away the weight of the day. But no matter how much I tried to forget, Jace’s face kept resurfacing. The good memories—the ones I hated—kept coming back, dragging me deeper into the past I wanted to escape.

I finished my shower and quickly dressed, knowing that time was running out. Mum had set everything up, and the girls were already downstairs. I took a deep breath, pushing the thoughts of Jace and the anniversary out of my mind for now.

As I walked down the stairs, the smell of coffee and the sound of my friends talking filled the air. I braced myself, plastering a smile on my face.

“Hey, Rose,” Richelle greeted me with a teasing smile. “You look like you’ve been up all night.”

I nodded, forcing a laugh. “Yeah, didn’t sleep much.”

Janelle grinned, catching sight of my expression. “Must be something to do with the big day, huh?”

I winced. “Yeah, Dad’s anniversary... and Felicity.”

The room fell quiet for a moment, and I could feel the weight of their concern. But Richelle was quick to change the subject. "So, have you heard about the new guy?" she asked, her voice filled with curiosity.

"New guy?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

Janelle jumped in before Richelle could explain further. “Apparently, he’s a total bad boy—covered in tattoos. Rumors are swirling that he’s a gang member. But, girl... he’s hot.”

I snorted. “Janelle, seriously? You’ve got a one-track mind.”

She just laughed, ignoring my response. “I’m telling you, you’ve got to see him. I bet he’s huge everywhere.”

I rolled my eyes again. “God, Janelle, you never stop.”

But as I tried to joke around, I couldn’t ignore the nagging feeling that something was coming. Something was about to change.

I turned toward Mum and found her lost in thought, stirring her tea absentmindedly. I narrowed my eyes, sensing her unease.

“Mum, you okay?” I asked, stepping closer. “You’ve barely touched your tea.”

She snapped out of it, forcing a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “Just tired. Work’s been crazy.”

I didn’t buy it. Something was wrong. But I didn’t push her. Not today.

After breakfast, we all headed out, and Richelle’s mischievous grin returned. “Let’s make an entrance, girls.”

I knew exactly what she meant. I grinned back. “Alright, let’s do this.”

We walked into the garage, and there they were—our bikes. The sunlight caught the chrome, making them shine like jewels. But as my eyes lingered on mine, a pang of guilt hit me. The bike wasn’t mine. It was Jace’s. It was the one he had left behind, the one that carried me into the world of him—the world I had tried so desperately to escape.

But today, I wouldn’t let him haunt me. Not today. Not when I had so much to prove.

“Let’s take the shine away from the new guy,” I said, trying to shake off the memories.

And with that, we revved our engines, the sound of the bikes filling the air as we sped toward school.

But deep inside, I couldn’t shake the feeling that today would be the start of something new. Something that would change everything.