Jerked: A Stepbrother Mob Romance (City Series) Read Online Free Page B

rules if we’re doing this.”
    “Fine, what do you have in mind?”
    “First, my room is off limits. No more appearing out of nowhere.”
    He shrugged and didn’t answer, his face a mask of amusement. I decided to push forward, not letting him disagree.
    “Second, you’re a guest here, so act like a guest. And last, I can do whatever I want. If you have to follow me around like a little puppy, then fine, whatever. But I am not staying in this house forever.”
    “Is that it?”
    “Oh, and don’t call me Princess.”
    “Okay, I won’t call you Princess. But as for those other rules—“
    Suddenly, the front doorbell rang loudly, interrupting him. I could feel the redness in my cheeks as he stepped closer to me.
    “Better get that,” I said, looking away.
    “It’ll be the guys. Come downstairs soon.”
    I nodded. “Fine, whatever.”
    He looked like he wanted to say something else, and there was a short second there where I thought he was going to disagree, take me up in his arms again and run his full lips along my throat, but instead he shrugged again and turned around, shutting the door behind him as he left my room.
    I cursed softly to myself. What had he been thinking, grabbing me like that? And why did I always get so angry? There had always been something about Colin that drove me crazy in every single way, and apparently he still had that special something. It was frustrating and annoying and it drove me absolutely fucking wild, and I couldn’t get enough of it.
    For a second, I had completely forgotten about my dad and Vince, and there was only Colin’s perfect body and huge grin. And that was why he was so dangerous.
    I checked myself in the mirror, mentally steeled myself for what I was about to walk into, and opened my bedroom door, praying for the best.
    ––––––––
    “H ey there, Princess!” Davin called out, sweeping me up into a tight hug.
    I grimaced, and I could see Colin’s huge, amused smile in the background. Yeah, enjoy it now, asshole , I grumbled mentally.
    “Hey Davin,” I said, returning the hug.
    He pulled away and looked at me. Five years had passed, and he hadn’t changed all that much. His hair was thinning, and he had put on a tiny bit of weight, but the steely resolve and sharp intelligence were still plain as day on his face.
    Back when I was a kid, and still blissfully naïve, Davin had been around the most. When my mom died of breast cancer, Davin had helped out around the house, at least until my dad had hired someone to take care of that stuff. Still, even when he didn’t have to, Davin was constantly showing up, checking in on me, bringing me little gifts, and calling me the Little Princess. I only found out later that all the guys called me the Mob Princess, but obviously they didn’t do that to my face.
    Sometimes, when I remembered those happy days, I felt like an idiot. It seemed so obvious later on, so clear as day. I felt foolish that it had taken me so long to figure it out, and only because one of Dad’s idiot guys had gotten too drunk one night and let it slip. Once he'd said it, though, everything clicked into place.
    And I had lost it. I was furious with Dad, so beyond angry. I couldn’t believe he had been lying to me for so long, letting me believe that all those men were his employees at the pub. Worst of all, I was mad at myself for believing it, and for still wishing that it had all been true. I'd wished I could go back in time, back when I was still just an innocent teenager, but that was all ruined. I had to grow up quick.
    But I was pissed about it. And I took it out on my dad, like a bratty child. I regretted that most of all.
    “You look great, kid.”
    “You do too.”
    He stepped away, smiling bashfully. “Ah, well, that isn’t true, but thanks.”
    I scanned the room. A bunch of guys were milling about, grabbing drinks from the refrigerator, setting up a card game back at the kitchen table, and generally screwing around.