All Chapters of my mafia brother-in-law, stole my heart: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

Bella watched Lucas chatting with Connor like they were old buddies.Weird, right? Mark handed her a drink."Yeah, this whole thing reeks. Not buying it for a second."At least they weren’t at each other’s throats anymore."He’s just jealous and overprotective, mostly my fault.""Don’t do that. Don’t blame yourself for his crap.""Thanks, Dad." She rested her head on his shoulder. They sat there, sipping their drinks."Just tell her the truth, Lucas. It’s the only move that makes sense."He let out a shaky laugh. "I can’t. Lying to her eats me up, and now she’s giving me that look because we’re talking. What am I supposed to say? 'Hey Bella, I’m basically a walking bullseye, hope you’re cool with that?'"Connor just stared at him."What? I’m not dragging her into this. I need a plan to keep her safe. You know what someone told me once? If you love someone that much, you get ready to let them go." He downed his drink and headed back to the table.Connor shook his head, baffled, and fol

She stepped out of the shower, the scent of food hitting her nose. Maybe he could cook, she mused. After getting dressed, she headed to the kitchen. He had some twangy country tune playing on his phone, humming along like he was in his own little world. Too distracted to notice her yet, he tossed a handful of herbs into the pot before finally turning around.“I’ll turn it off,” reaching for the phone.“No, leave it. It’s better than silence. Smells good.”“Just soup. Sit down, it’s ready.”They ate to the soundtrack of country music, the soup surprisingly decent.“Thanks, Connor. This was good. Didn’t peg you for a chef.”“Just because I look like this,” he gestured vaguely at himself, “doesn’t mean I can’t cook.”She smiled, a real one this time, not the sad kind she’d been wearing lately. Bella was making progress.“Yeah, you do look scary. Like, ‘could snap me in half’ scary.”He laughed. “Years of training.”“Lucas told me you make him look like an amateur. What’s that about?”His

Bella smiled. I slapped him with such force. I felt guilty afterward.Wow, you were bold, especially since your "dad" just handed you over to them.Bold? No, more scared out of my mind.Alright, let's stop here and pick this up tomorrow. Go get some rest.She began to walk away, then paused, noticing he was still seated.Connor? What are you thinking about?You, he wanted to say, you’re always on my mind. I can’t sleep just yet, but you should go ahead.Okay, good night.Good night, Bella.After some time, he got up, walked past her room, then turned back and opened the door. The screen was stuck on a picture of Lucas; she had finally fallen asleep.Bella stirred awake to the sound of Max’s laughter. Rolling over, she caught Lucas’s face still frozen on the screen. “I love you,” she mumbled under her breath, swallowing the lump in her throat. She walked past the screen, her fingers brushing his image before flicking it off. If only she could shut off the ache just as easily. After a q

She felt his lips brush her cheek, soft but deliberate. Bella turned, and his mouth met hers, hungry and impatient.“Hmm, let me sleep, Connor,” half-heartedly pushing him away.“It’s two in the afternoon”“You’re lying,” she shot back, grabbing her phone. “Fuck, I missed the meeting.”“Good. Now we can continue,” his lips trailing lower.She grabbed his face. “Connor, kiss me later. I must get up.” But her body wasn’t on the same page. She glanced at the door.“It’s locked,” already tossing his shirt aside. Everything else followed, and it escalated quickly. She loved the way his hands moved over her skin, and he loved the way she tasted. She bit into the pillow, muffling her moans.Connor took his time, driving her to the edge before finally sliding in. Her body trembled, and he held her close, flipping her on top of him. She rested her head on his chest, his hand gently tracing her back.“My dad knows,”“Yeah, most likely,” he replied.“I can’t look him in the eyes.”He laughed. “H

Bella strode into the conference room, her tailored one-piece clinging perfectly, like she’d just stepped off a runway. Her hair was pinned up, sharp and polished. Damon’s gaze locked onto her, while Giana shot daggers from across the table.Bella took her seat, Connor to her right. She gestured between herself and Connor, her tone calm but cutting. “Let’s get this out of the way, we own everything you thought was yours.”Giana shot up from her chair, trembling with rage. “You’ll pay for this. You destroyed my brothers…”“Destroyed them?” Bella interrupted, her voice icy. “I was sold to them. Now I’m just taking what’s rightfully mine.”Damon sat in silence, then finally rose to his feet. “Is this revenge?”“Revenge?” Bella smirked. “No, Damon. It’s just business. Nothing personal. Now, sit down, everyone. I’ve got something to say.” She leaned forward, her tone firm. “I’m doing this because of Lucas. And trust me, he’d think I’m insane for even considering it. You can keep the mansio