All Chapters of CLAIM ME, STEP-BROTHER. : Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

Zara’s POVDAYS LATERAvoiding someone in a mansion this large shouldn’t have been difficult. And yet somehow, Matteo was everywhere.I hadn’t seen him since the argument we had. Since his cold apology. Since the way he’d stood there like I was just another mistake to be filed away and managed.Luckily for me, the mansion had enough wings, corridors, and unused rooms to house ghosts. And yet somehow, I felt him everywhere.In the echo of his footsteps downstairs, in the murmur of men’s voices coming from the study late at night. In the way the air shifted when he walked into a room, even if I couldn’t see him yet.I hadn’t spoken to him since that day. Since his apology, that wasn’t even an apology. Since the cold way he’d reduced that kiss to something procedural. Something to file away.And I hated that it still replayed in my mind. I hated that I remembered the warmth more than the humiliation.By Wednesday, I had perfected my schedule. Breakfast early. Dinner upstairs. Study in th

Zara’s POV“Isn’t that the man from the other night?” Sofia’s voice cut through the chaos in my head. The chaos I’d gotten from just staring at him from a distance.I didn’t answer her immediately. I mean I couldn’t. My lungs felt tight, like the air had shifted the second Matteo stepped onto campus. Like the entire university had tilted slightly off its axis.“Yes,” I finally muttered and Sofia’s grip tightened around my arm. “Oh, my God. That’s him, isn’t it? The fine one from the video.”I shot her a look. “Don’t.”“What? I’m just saying. He looks even better in real life.”I tore my eyes away from him, forcing my feet to move. “Stop staring.”“You were the one staring.”“I was not.”“You absolutely were.”Heat crept up my neck almost instantly. Not from embarrassment though but from irritation. At him, and at myself.He had been standing there like he owned the building. Like the walls had been built around him instead of the other way around.Watching. And I had felt it. The weig

Matteo’s POVThe moment her footsteps disappeared upstairs, I moved. I walked straight out of the dining room and down the corridor toward my study, jaw locked so tight it ached.The door shut behind me with more force than necessary.I mean my father’s presence in my house was already an irritation. Her sitting at that table tonight made it worse. Because he had seen it. The tension. The cracks between us.And Theo Ferraro never missed weakness. The minute I walked in, I poured myself a drink I didn’t need. The glass trembled faintly against the crystal decanter. And then came a knock at the doorBut I didn’t answer and it opened anyway. Of course it did.“Still slamming doors like a child?” my father’s voice echoed calmly behind me, but I didn’t turn.“You didn’t announce your arrival,” I finally said.“I shouldn’t have to.”I took a slow sip of whiskey before facing him. “You enjoy theatrics.”“And you enjoy defiance.” He said and then stepped fully inside, closing the door behind

Matteo’s POVI had just stepped into my study when my phone vibrated in my pocket. One vibration. Then came another.As I stared at my screen I realized it was a private line calling. And only three men I know used it in contacting me.I answered without greeting.“Yes.”Luca’s voice came through, tight. “We have a situation.”My jaw hardened instantly at the sound of that. Knowing there was trouble. “Define situation.”“There’s been movement at the docks. One of ours. He’s talking.”“Who?”“Rico.”My eyes went cold, Rico had been with us for more than six years. Handled shipments. Trusted routes.“If he’s talking,” I said calmly, “why is he still breathing?”A pause came from the other end of the call.“We wanted your word.” He said. And well of course they did. Because this wasn’t a minor betrayal.This was a crack in the foundation of what I’ve built. And cracks spread.“Where is he?” I asked.“Warehouse thirteen.”“I’ll be there in twenty.”I hung up. And just like that—The part

Matteo’s POVMy fingers still smelled like her. Sweet and dangerous but I walked out first.Because if I stayed another second, I would have forgotten every rule I’ve lived by.The hallway felt colder than it should have, too quiet for what had just happened.My footsteps were steady as I climbed the stairs. But inside? Chaos.I walked into my room and shut the door firmly behind me and then I locked it. It wasn’t even because I was afraid someone would come in, but because I needed silence.I went straight to the bathroom sink and turned on the water, letting the cold feel of the water run down my spine.I stared at my reflection as it ran as I tightened my jaw and I lifted my hand slowly but annoyingly her scent was still there, but a bit faint.Heat flashed through me again this time and I inhaled once. Then again, and before I could stop myself, my thumb brushed my lower lip unconsciously.And in that moment, I tasted her as a low exhale left me. I gripped the edge of the sink har