Lahat ng Kabanata ng My Stepfather's Deadly Obsession: Kabanata 161 - Kabanata 170

SALVATOREThe moment we pulled into the driveway, I saw Miguel standing out front in nothing but his black robe. His arms were folded and his eyes cut through the dark like knives. Worry was written all over him, even though he tried to hold it in. His curls were a little messy like he had been pacing.I’m sure that he had been pacing, and I didn’t like that I was the cause of it. I didn’t even let the car fully stop before I opened the door and stepped out.“Miguel,” I called.He was already walking toward me, very fast. Pietro and Luca said nothing. They slipped past us toward the side entrance like shadows. I met Miguel halfway and pulled him into my arms before he could speak. He buried his face in my neck.“You smell like smoke and steel,” he whispered against my collarbone. His voice was rough with sleep and frustration.“We went out for a quick ride,” I murmured, pressing my lips to his temple. “We handled a few things.”He looked up at me, smiling. His eyes shone even in the

MIGUEL“Pass me that book on the top shelf, Miguel.” Paul pointed to a fat book. His voice was low and a little raspy, like he hadn’t slept much. I hadn’t too.He nodded toward a thick, dusty tome—something that was about Baroque sculpture—and leaned his weight into the table.I stretched just a little too far and felt the soreness in my arms. “You’re lucky I don’t hate you,” I muttered under my breath, grabbing the book and handing it over with a small grunt. My shoulders ached. Carrying Leo and Isabella around all morning had left me stiff in ways I hadn’t noticed until now.Salvatore had spoiled them with air tosses, and they still didn’t understand that if they wanted to be tossed a hundred times, they should go to their dad. “You love me,” Paul said with a grin, flipping the book open without looking. “More than you love that walking mafia opera back home.”I snorted and slouched against the shelf. “Barely.”He looked up. “You are doing good keeping Salvatore focused on somethin

MIGUEL“Stay back, baby,” Salvatore murmured like a slut as he dragged me back toward the bed like I hadn’t just come in to get him up from bed. His fingers locked tightly on my hips, his thumbs pressing lightly against the waistband of my boxers. I half-laughed and twisted in his grip, but his warmth was impossible to escape. The sheets, still messy from the night before, bunched beneath me as I landed beside him.“Salvatore, back off.”He smiled mischievously then leaned forward to kiss me. It started softly but that softness didn’t last. His lips parted mine like he owned me, and I melted into him before I could talk myself out of it.His hands were already under my shirt, roaming like he was relearning me, his fingertips brushing just enough to raise goosebumps across my skin. I arched into his touch without meaning to. He knew what he was doing. He always did.“Salvatore,” I tried again, but my voice cracked when his mouth moved to my neck. “The kids are—”“Downstairs,” he fini

MIGUELI’ll be damned. I didn’t even realise how hard I’d been climbing the stairs until I reached the top, my breath snagging in my throat as I’d just sprinted out of something burning. My legs kept moving on instinct, refusing to slow down even though my chest was screaming for air. The house was quiet in that way that made everything feel louder. It took everything in me not to scream into the air.I got to the bedroom and almost slammed the door before my eyes landed on the bed. The moment I saw Isabella curled into one corner of the bed with her tiny arm thrown over Leo’s chest, my body sizzled like something cold was thrown over a hot surface.Every inch of rage and fire that had been blistering under my skin suddenly stopped mid-breath. The sight of them knocked the wind out of me in a way the fight downstairs hadn’t managed to.They looked untouched by all of it. I stood there, staring at the two of them fondly.My hands were still clenched, but I didn’t feel angry anymore. I

MIGUELThe house was still quiet when I slipped out of bed.Salvatore’s arm had been draped lazily across my waist, one leg hooked over mine like he thought I might run off in my sleep.Leo was curled up against my chest, and Isabella had wedged herself between Sal’s back and the pillow. We had all been tangled, but it was morning now, and I was tired of being toasted. Why were they all so clingy? I moved gently, easing out of their grip without waking anyone. Salvatore shifted and grumbled something indecipherable but he was still asleep. Leo curled tighter into the warmth I left behind.Downstairs, the kitchen was already alive. Bach was by the stove, flipping something in the skillet with a wooden spoon in hand. He was always up this early. I had no idea how he did it. “Do you ever sleep?” I asked as I headed toward the counter.Bach turned to me with a small smile. “You know, I was just about to ask you the same thing.”I returned the smile and reached for the cutting board. “Le