Falling For My Brother’s Best Friend

Mia. A sharp, intense pain visited my head as my eyes slowly opened to an unfamiliar room. I lifted my body to a sitting position, gripping my forehead with my palms. What the hell was I doing here? I remember going to the club with my best friend Anne, having the blast of all time. The club was then raided by armed gunmen. I was taken by a man wearing all black—cap and face mask—and then I felt something tingle on my neck before I succumbed to darkness. Just when I was trying to put the pieces together, the door to the room was pushed open. My eyes widened, seeing the familiar face staring right back at me. Stefano. "What the hell are you doing here?" I cracked out. Stefano is my brother's best friend and his lapdog, as I call him. My brother, Antonio, is a mafia boss and runs a casino business in Italy, making him not only a well-known man but also the most feared man in the mafia underworld. Stefano had been with him since day one. I harbored hatred towards him ever since he turned me down when I confessed my feelings to him. I had a crush on him the very first time he came to our house to see my brother. I was brave enough to express my feelings, thinking it was mutual with the way he was being all nice to me. However, it turned out it was a one-sided thing from my side. Since that day, he stopped being nice and always frowned. I took a dislike towards him because he made me look like a fool. Now, he just showed up and ignited the feelings I had thought had died. Stefano stopped coming to our house after a few weeks. Even with the way he turned me down, I still got worried. But he never showed up again. One day, I overheard my brother speaking to him on the phone, asking him about the business in Italy. Stefano moved to Italy and never came back. "Trust you had a good nap," he spoke. I didn't miss the smirk dangling around his lips. Of all the people I looked forward to seeing after landing in the city, it was him. After graduating from college and angry at how screwed up my life had been, I decided to go into a modeling job. After all, I have a model-like body—perfect curves in perfect places—and a natural beauty. My mom was against it at first, but my dad, who goes by whatever I want, didn't object. As for Stefano's friendship with my brother? I despise that too. In fact, he's the mastermind behind my brother's overprotectiveness towards me. He led me on with smiles and the way he looked at me whenever he visited, but he had the audacity to tell me he didn't feel anything for me. The last time we met was roughly six months ago at my parents' anniversary party. I don't know what made them think they could involve him in our family. My mother even praised him instead of her own daughter. I didn't answer him and proceeded off the bed. Being in the same room with him would only trigger what I wouldn't be able to control. "I advise you not to leave this room," his voice resonated in my eardrums, stopping me in my tracks. "Meaning?" I said turning to him. "For your own good." "Wait... I don't get you. Why are you here exactly? Why did you kidnap me?" "Kidnap?" He repeated. "You could say that. But I didn't kidnap you. I was given orders by your brother." I couldn't resist chuckling at his remarks. He thought he could disappear and just waltz back just like that? He must be crazy. "Given orders on my arrival back home? And what makes you think you could show up out of the blue?" One thing about me, I don't hide my feelings. I say whatever is on my mind, whether it will hurt that person or not. And he needed to know how much I despise him for what he did to me in the past. "Because there's a threat to your life. You should know being a sister to the biggest mafia won't make your life safe." I huffed. "I didn't ask Antonio to join the mafia. He can't expect me to be caged in one place. I'm a model, Stefano. A top model at that." Maybe he had forgotten my face had been on the front cover of a magazine for months. "It is what it is, Mia," he said in a voice that had my heart racing. I gulped down my saliva as I took a closer look at him. He hadn't changed much. "Whatever. I'm leaving," I said, turning around to leave when my body was spun around. Mesmerizing light brown eyes bore into mine. For a moment, my brain went blank. I won't deny the fact that Stefano has those kinds of eyes that make you want to keep staring. His eyes reminded me of how he used to look at me. It made anger surge through me. "Get the fuck off my face!" I spat, jerking my hand off him. He held it again. "You're not taking a step out of this room," he said. I wanted to laugh at his face. He must be nuts. "Says who?" "Me." Thought as much. "Then you can go to hell. You can't stop me from leaving this room." "Oh, yes I can. Because I have the right to, and I'm capable of doing that," he answered back, his tone calm. But mine wasn't. I was fucking confused. Why in hell would he take me away? What is my brother trying to do? My lips curved up into a smile. "Oh, I get it now. I know why you're hell-bent on keeping me here," I said. Stefano's brows shot up in confusion. "Is it because you haven't found a woman on all your stay in Italy? Or you're back now because I've gotten more beautiful? You want to have sex with me now that my curves have gotten rounder and fuller?" I asked. I didn't know why I was saying all that. Maybe because of the way his breath was fanning my face and doing all sorts of things to my heart. Stefano's confusion morphed into shock as he stared at me. "What?" I chuckled, deciding to use my charm. I'm very sure he can't resist that. Who can even resist Mia Di Salvatore's charms? "Come on, Stefano. Admit it. You turned me down back then because I wasn't mature enough. But you kidnapped me now because you want me all to yourself." His jaw tightened, and he shook his head. "You're delusional if you think this is about the past." I took a step closer, maintaining the playful tone. "Oh, Stefano, don't be so serious. Maybe if you loosen up a bit, you'll realize you don't need to control everything. Besides, I'm a beautiful woman, you know. My brother doesn't need to know we fuck each other, right?" I muffled out, my hand circling around his neck seductively. I trailed my fingers down to his visible chest and unbuttoned the shirt to reveal more of his body. I could swear I felt something in between my legs. Stefano's shock quickly transformed into a mix of irritation and disbelief. "Mia, I'm not here for games. I'm here for your sake, not for any of your fantasies," he retorted, pushing my hand away and stepping back. I felt something drop in my chest. He's rejecting me again. Now that I've gotten thicker and my curves have gotten rounder and sexier, he can't tell me he wouldn't be moved by the sight of my body. I've encountered a lot of men, but all they want is to have sex with me. The only one kind enough to be sweet to me is Lucas. An investor in my agency. And I haven't given him an answer yet. "You know... you can be open to me. We're not strangers. Are we?" He shook his head. "This is not a joke, Mia." I smirked, circling him, still maintaining the playful facade. "Well, isn't it more dangerous to keep a woman like me in captivity? You might find it hard to resist." My eyes traveled to his lips. The urge to touch them grew in me. I've always wanted to have a taste. Damn Mia! You aren't supposed to find him attractive. Remember you hated his gut. My inner voice rang. But I didn't listen. "What would it feel like to have a taste of these lips?" I inched my face closer to him. Stefano went silent. He didn't move, nor did he say anything, which gave me the upper hand. My core wasn't left out with throbbing. Damn! What the hell was going on with me? I thought you despise him for turning you down Mia. My inner voice rang. We met each other's gaze and just when I thought he would kiss me, he pulled away instead. "Nothing will change between us." He said and left the room. Leaving me in a confused state and wondering what he meant by what he said.