All Chapters of The Playboy Stepbrother's Rules: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

The bass didn’t just play at The Vault, it lived in the walls and crawled straight up through Alex’s shoes until it was in his chest. The air was thick with gin and smoke and something sweet that made his head spin. It was designed to make people forget themselves, and that was exactly why he came."Alex, we can still leave," Kevin said, his arm locked around Alex’s shoulders as they pushed through the crowd. His voice was tight. "Seriously man, this isn’t you. If Troy got in your head, don’t do something stupid to prove him wrong."Alex didn’t look at him. "I’m not leaving.""Then at least tell me why," Kevin pressed. "Because the Alex I know doesn’t walk into The Vault on a Saturday night. The Alex I know hides in the library.""This isn’t about who I was," Alex said, his voice flat. "This is about who I’m going to be."Kevin looked genuinely worried. "You don’t know what happens in this place. You don’t know what people do upstairs. If something goes wrong...""Then it goes wrong,"

Alex stood in front of the mirror and hated what he sawHe looked the same but he didn’t feel the same, his eyes were tired, his shirt was buttoned all the way up to his throatHe pulled the collar down with shaking fingersBruises, dark and ugly, right on his hips, and a mark at the base of his neck"shit" Alex whispered to himself "get it together"He let the shirt go and buttoned it again, every single button, then he tucked it in and ran a hand through his hairHe had to be normal, he had to be Alex Bennet, top grades, perfect stepson, invisibleDownstairs smelled like coffee and pastries, it made him sickHe walked into the dining room and stoppedSilas was at the head of the table with his iPad, Bridget was pouring tea, the sun was too bright"good morning sweetheart" Bridget smiled "you’re up early""morning mom, morning Silas" Alex said, voice steady, he sat in his usual seat across from Troy’s empty chairSilas looked up "Alex, perfect timing, I was just looking at the quarte

Alex woke to the taste of the words still in his mouth."I’m yours."The room was empty. Pale light cut across the bed. He sat up and the sheet slid down his bare chest. The bruise on his neck had darkened overnight, a deep purple that sat just above the collarbone. He pressed two fingers to it and felt the dull ache answer.He showered until the water ran cold. In the mirror he buttoned a white shirt all the way to the top, then checked the collar twice before leaving the room.Downstairs the air smelled of coffee and buttered toast. Silas sat at the head of the table, already dressed for the office, tablet propped against a glass of orange juice. Bridget moved between the counter and the table in her robe, pouring tea. Troy occupied the chair across from Alex’s place, black shirt open at the throat, hair still damp. He watched Alex walk in without smiling.“Morning, sweetheart,” Bridget said.“Morning.” Alex’s voice came out even. He sat. The wood of the chair felt too hard against

Alex woke up sore. Every shift of his body reminded him of the apartment—the couch, the bruises blooming on his hips, the way Troy had held him down and made him say the words again while he was still shaking. He sat on the edge of the bed for a long time before he forced himself to stand. The house was already awake. When he came downstairs, Troy was leaning against the kitchen counter with a coffee in one hand and his car keys in the other. He looked rested. Calm. Like the night before had settled something in him instead of breaking it open. “Ready?” Troy asked. Alex nodded. He didn’t trust his voice yet. Bridget was at the stove. Silas had already left for an early meeting. The normal morning sounds felt too loud. Troy waited until Alex had taken a single sip of coffee, then set his own cup down and walked to the door. “We’re leaving.” Alex followed. The drive to campus was quiet. Troy kept one hand on the wheel and the other on the gearshift, fingers loose, like he was r

Alex walked the rest of the way home with his hands shoved in his pockets and his pulse still too high. Every streetlight felt like it was watching him. Every car that passed made his shoulders tighten. He kept replaying the words he had thrown at Troy in the parked car. *I’m starting to hate you for it* and the calm way Troy had told him to get out and walk. The quiet order to wait in his room felt heavier than shouting would have. By the time he reached the mansion gates his legs were tired and his mind was louder than the night. He went straight upstairs. He didn’t turn on the overhead light. He just sat on the edge of the bed in the dark and waited, exactly as told. Time stretched. He heard Bridget come in downstairs. Heard Silas’s voice a little later. Normal evening sounds that didn’t belong to the knot in his chest. He checked his phone once. No messages from Troy. No messages from Kevin either. The silence felt deliberate. It was almost an hour before the bedroom door op