All Chapters of My Stepfather's Deadly Obsession: Chapter 41 - Chapter 50

MIGUELThe evening air felt strangely unreal as we drove. It was like a dream I didn’t want to wake up from. The roads were almost empty, the sky a deep orange melting into dusk.We had toured the city after leaving the restaurant, and I was shocked to see places I hadn’t dreamed of seeing before now. Salvatore knew all the secrets of the city, and it wasn’t really surprising—considering the nature of his job.Salvatore and I were still talking about our dinner and that quiet little restaurant with its soft lighting and warm atmosphere. Everything had tasted better simply because we were together.“That steak was perfect.” A smile tugged at my lips as I glanced over at him. The fading light cast shadows across his face, outlining the sharp cut of his jaw. “I don’t think I’ve ever eaten that good before. You picked a great spot.”He grinned with his hand resting gently on my thigh. He gave it a light squeeze.“Glad you liked it,” he said, his voice warm and low, his eyes flicking to me

SALVATOREUmm… that wasn’t a good look.I scratched the back of my head, matching John’s nervous energy without even thinking. Miguel’s gaze was piercing as he searched our faces for answers we hadn’t yet spoken aloud. He looked between me and John, his brow furrowing deeper with each pass.“What’s going on?” He crossed his arms. His eyes flicked from me to John again, and then back to me, waiting.I forced a light laugh, but it was hollow. The sound barely passed my lips before guilt tangled in my throat. I said nothing.Miguel’s eyes narrowed. He tilted his head slowly, staring at John with renewed focus.“Wait,” he said, his voice rising just enough to carry weight. He lifted a finger and pointed at John. “I know you. You used to come into the bar when I worked there. Always sitting in the back, watching. Then at the diner, after I quit the bar… you were there too. Weren’t you?”His eyes suddenly snapped to mine.“You’ve been keeping tabs on me,” he said. “All this time? You had h

MIGUEL“Miguel,” Salvatore said quietly and moved toward me, his eyes fixed on mine like he was trying to see if it was a joke. There was something heavy in the way he looked at me, something almost pleading beneath the controlled calm. When he stopped in front of me, his hands came up to rest on my shoulders.“We’re heading out on a mission. It’s going to be dangerous.”My pulse kicked up, thudding fast against my ribs, not from fear, but from that reckless, burning thrill that had taken root since the farmhouse. That event had cracked something open inside me, something feral and alive. I could still feel the phantom weight of the gun in my hand and hear the echo of those shots in my bones. The danger wasn’t something I wanted to avoid. I craved it. I needed it. It made me feel more real than anything ever had.I met his gaze squarely and stood my ground. “I’m coming with you,” I said firmly. Despite the fast thudding of my heart, my voice didn’t shake. “I want to be there, Sal.

MIGUEL“I told you I’m fine,” I grumbled, but the words were weak even to my ears as Salvatore tore open the drawer.He wasn’t listening to me, and I didn’t blame him. The fear I’d seen in his eyes in that warehouse was real. He grabbed antiseptic, bandages, ointments, and every other thing he needed to treat my cut. His jaw was clenched, his shoulders rigid. We were finally back at the warehouse, and the men were celebrating their victory, but the bustle outside was barely audible through the thick walls.My name was on the lips of the men. They were surprised that I did that. Hell, someone even said he was surprised I’d been able to hold a gun properly. What a joke.He placed the supplies on the desk and turned toward me, the muscle in his jaw twitching. “Sit,” he said. It was a command.I opened my mouth to argue, but his hand was already on my arm, guiding me toward the bed. His touch was gentle, almost reverent, but I could feel his barely restrained fear.“I don’t care what yo

MIGUELIt was annoying watching her being clingy to my man. Yes, you heard that right. He's mine. I had to stand back when the doctor stepped in, causing her to let go of Salvatore.“She is lucky her lungs weren’t punctured,” the doctor was saying, his voice touched with relief as he adjusted his glasses. He stood at the foot of her hospital bed with a clipboard in hand, his gaze flicking between her monitors and Salvatore’s bulky frame.The cause of the accident was annoying. It was clear from Salvatore’s expression that he didn’t want to be here, but, well, he was the one that was called. Salvatore turned to her, his arms crossed tightly, his jaw clenched. “Why would you get in a car with your friends when you were all drunk?” His eyes narrowed.Emily shrank back against the pillows, her face pale and blotchy from tears. Her fingers clutched at the blanket, twisting it between them as she mumbled something I couldn’t hear. Her voice was soft and cracked.She should have just died.