Stepbrother's Debt Read online

  “It’s okay, I want to try out that bathtub again.”

  Paige giggled as he lifted her off the bed, carrying her back through toward the bathroom. She really believed their marriage could work.

  Chapter Ten

  Donnie carried out the last case of Paige’s from her old bedroom. She was downstairs near the car with Jake.

  “How’s married life treating you?” Anthony asked.

  He turned to stare at his father, and all the years of pain this bastard had caused just came at him all at once. “Good.”

  “You need to learn to keep a woman in her place. Fear helps.”

  “Dad, your first wife, my mother, killed herself because of you. Your second wife can’t stand you, and I bet the whore you keep locked away despises you as well. Don’t try giving me marital advice. It’s not going to work. I’m not interested in knowing.” He turned to face his father, the current head of The Family. Many people were afraid of him, but Donnie wasn’t. He looked forward to the day he could kill him.

  “Well, you get married and now you think you can talk to me like crap.” Anthony folded his arms over his chest. “I can make your life miserable, boy.”

  “Go ahead, Dad. Do your worst.” He was waiting for the right time to strike the three most prominent members of The Family, the three that would bring the whole Family down, if given the chance. Donnie had a vision that he was going to die seeing through.

  “Paige has got a comfortable lifestyle, don’t you think? It would be a shame for anything to happen to her. Bad things happen to young girls.”

  Donnie smirked and stared at his father. “Go ahead.” He pulled his cell phone out of his pocket. When he’d heard the sounds of his father’s footsteps coming up the stairs, he’d turned his recorder on just in case. Over the years he’d missed many opportunities to take his father out. He wouldn’t be so stupid in the future. “I wonder what The Family would think of one of their highest members threatening a young girl, and not just any young girl but the wife of his son.”

  He replayed the conversation, and Anthony went red with rage. “You little shit.”

  “If anything happens to my wife, even a scraped fucking knee, I’ll take this to the entire Family, and your days would be fucking numbered. We don’t attack our own.”

  Donnie picked up the box and made his way toward his friends, who were waiting in the car.

  “Do we even want to know what’s going on?” Jake asked.

  “No, you don’t.” He handed the box to Tonio before turning back to his father.

  Placing his fingers at his temple, he saluted his father, and then climbed into the car.

  “What’s his problem?” Paige asked.

  “He doesn’t like being the only shark in the sea.” Turning over the engine, he waited for Jake to climb in before they drove back to their apartment. In a couple of days, Donnie was going to make contact with his father’s mistress. Everything was coming together, slowly, but it was coming together.

  “You’re gripping that steering wheel pretty tight. Are you sure everything is okay?” Paige asked.

  “It’s fine, baby.” He reached over, gripping her knee. Their wedding night had been truly amazing, and he’d not wanted to leave the confines of the house.

  He’d woken up with Paige wrapped around him, and instead of being panicked by her being close to him, he’d wanted to bask in it.

  Jake stayed silent in the back of the car. Tonio and Luiz were following behind them in another car.

  No one spoke, and the tension mounted. Paige began humming a tune as she looked out of the window.

  “Anthony looked really angry,” she said.

  Donnie and Jake both laughed.

  “What? What is it?”

  “Most of the time we keep silent, but you just couldn’t handle it, could you?”

  “Well, don’t blame me. We were having an awesome time, and then all of a sudden, you’re there and clearly pissed off. Anthony looked like he wanted to murder you on the spot, so forgive me for being a little worried.” She folded her arms across her chest.

  “It’s nothing, baby. My father likes to fuck with my head, and for the most part he succeeds. I’m not letting him win anymore, and he doesn’t like it. He prefers being the one in control.” He changed the subject talking about her hunt for a college online. She’d not been very successful as she’d not even picked any topics that she wished to study.

  She was going to use the summer to set up all of her classes. Donnie listened, and Jake even gave a couple of suggestions himself.

  “I don’t know. I don’t like business, or history, or science. I’m leaning more toward English, but again, I don’t know.”

  They pulled up into their parking spaces. Tonio and Luiz came in five minutes later. They all unpacked boxes, and they turned to watch Paige gather a couple of boxes herself. When she saw their gazes on her, she froze. “What is it? What’s the matter?”

  “Sorry,” Jake said. “They’re not used to a woman lifting a finger when they’ve got four strapping men.”

  “Please, I couldn’t handle riding an elevator being the only person without a case.” She shrugged. “Get used to it,” she said, smiling at him.

  Donnie could handle how different she was compared to other women. They made their way toward the elevator, and Paige even rested the boxes against the wall, clicking the button for the elevator.

  “I’m a serious multi-tasker. Are you afraid?”

  “No, but I can see why you’re going to need something to do. Sitting around the house all day is going to drive you crazy.”

  “Tell me about it. Today, I’m unpacking my stuff and mixing it with yours.”

  His three buddies were laughing, but Donnie was simply charmed by her. She really was fun to be around.

  They entered his floor. He keyed in the code, and they entered his apartment. He placed her case on the floor as it held her books.

  Paige went straight for his bedroom in the back of the apartment. Jake, Luiz, and Tonio followed in behind her. While Paige stayed in the apartment, they went and gathered the rest of her stuff. Donnie didn’t see why he was waiting to make contact with his father’s mistress, and made a quick decision.

  On the way back, Donnie placed the box he carried on the floor. “I’m going to go and see my father’s woman,” he said. “Keep her busy for me.”

  “Will do,” Jake said, herding the box into the apartment.

  He walked back toward the elevator and took it down to the third floor. When he found the number of the right apartment, he knocked on the door, waiting for her to answer.

  Seconds later, a woman with long blonde hair and green eyes, answered the door. She was sporting a baby bump, but what hit Donnie hard was the black eye and split lip.

  The moment she looked at him, she froze. He wouldn’t have seen it if he’d not seen the tension gather in her body.

  “Can I help you?” she asked.

  “You know who I am?”

  She shook her head.

  “Look, honey, I’m not in the mood to be lied to today. Do you know who I am?”

  “You’re Anthony’s boy,” she said.

  Donnie tilted his head to the side. “How old are you?”

  “I’m twenty-five. I don’t think you should be here. He’ll get really angry with me, and I don’t want him to get angry with me.”

  “You’re afraid of him.”

  She snorted. “Please, I don’t want any trouble.” She touched her stomach protectively.

  “I’m not here to make trouble. He’ll never find out, I promise. It’s time you and I had a chat.”

  He pushed his way into the apartment. Donnie paused once again when he saw how clean the space was. She was a clean person. The floors were immaculate and sparkled. There was no hint of anyone living in the room.

  She closed the door and stepped around him.

  “I don’t know your name,” he said.

  “It’s Charlene.�
�� She locked her fingers together, and her gaze stayed on the floor.

  “You’re my father’s mistress.” She didn’t say anything. “Are you here willingly?”

  Charlene looked up at him. “What?”

  “You heard me. I’m not a fucking idiot, and I wasn’t born yesterday. Are you with my father willingly? Most of the time mistresses are the other woman, and they’re happy, apart from the lack of being the main woman.” Donnie shrugged. He wasn’t going to have a mistress. Last night, and the last year he’d spent with Paige, had told him he’d never do anything to hurt her, not even take on another woman.

  She sat down on the nearest chair. “I was, erm, I was taken from my family six years ago. I was walking home from school when I was taken.” She laughed. “I’d never been so afraid in all my life. I wasn’t the only girl there. They had over a hundred girls. When we tried to fight back, one man pulled out a gun and shot two girls one after the other. Told us we were a dime a dozen. If we didn’t get in line, then we’d die, and he’d find more girls.” She looked up at him with tears in her eyes. “I was eighteen. I didn’t want to die. I stopped fighting.” She pressed a hand to her stomach. “We were divided up and sent into a truck to be sold. I was sent to a club that your father owns where they keep girls. They discovered I was a virgin, and Anthony, he, erm, he liked me, so he kept me for himself. I’m here because I didn’t have a choice.”

  “Would you like to have that choice now?” he asked.

  “I’m pregnant. I don’t have a choice. If I run he’ll find me.”

  “No. What if I can grant you the choice of going back to your family, or staying here without fear of ever having to serve my father? I take it, that’s his handiwork.” He pointed at her face, and she pressed her fingers to the bruises.

  “He was angry.”

  “I don’t care what he was. It doesn’t give him an excuse to hurt a woman. Well, would you?”

  He’d bring his father down, one way or the other.

  ****

  Paige stood in the kitchen, wondering where Donnie had gotten to. Luiz, Jake, and Tonio were all trying to distract her, but she couldn’t help but miss him. He’d not returned to their apartment for a couple of hours, and she didn’t like it.

  Pulling out a bag of pasta, she found several cuts of meat, sauces, and vegetables.

  She placed the ingredients on the counter, before checking out his food supplies. When she found what she was looking for, she started to work on their dinner. This was her first time cooking in her own kitchen. Was this her own kitchen? She was Donnie’s wife, so what he had, she did as well.

  “For a woman, you didn’t have a lot of stuff,” Luiz said, coming to sit at the counter.

  “I’ve not been the kind of person to keep material things. I did tell Donnie about it a couple of weeks ago.” She filled a saucepan with water before bringing it to the stove.

  Jake and Tonio came to join them. Their gazes were on her.

  “What?” she asked.

  “Donnie’s gone to see his father’s mistress. He’s not clearing his head, or worried he made a mistake in having you here,” Tonio said.

  “It didn’t enter my head. Isn’t it dangerous for him to interfere with Anthony’s mistress?” She really didn’t like the thought of him getting into trouble. His father could still cause them both enough trouble to last them a lifetime.

  “No, I won’t because he’s not going to find out,” Donnie said, rounding the counter. He walked up behind her, kissing her neck. “I’m sorry. It was kind of spur of the last minute in going to see her.”

  “I don’t want you hurt, Donnie.”

  “I know. I’m not going to do anything to get myself or you hurt.” He kissed her neck, and she closed her eyes, enjoying his touch.

  “Ew, is this what watching brothers and sisters is like?” Jake asked, wrinkling his nose. “Sick, guys, you’re both sick.”

  “And you don’t know when to keep your mouth shut.” Donnie picked up a carrot and threw it as his friend. “If you don’t want to cook for them, I can send them away. This is our honeymoon, you know?”

  She laughed, shaking her head. “No, it’s fine. I owe them a dinner. They did bring all of my boxes upstairs.”

  “Did you unpack everything?”

  “Yes, everything is unpacked.”

  Paige opened up a box of pasta and poured the whole lot into the boiling water. Donnie didn’t let her go, holding her around the waist as she diced vegetables for the sauce. She poured some olive oil into a pan, adding onion and garlic.

  “I’m going to talk with the guys. We’ll be out on the balcony.” He kissed her neck after she nodded.

  She’d not had the courage to go out onto the balcony yet. Paige hated heights and didn’t see her being able to sit on the balcony anytime soon.

  When they were gone, she concentrated on the food in front of her. Sharon was a great cook, and before they moved in with Anthony, she’d taught Paige a great deal in the kitchen. It was a shame nothing like that was ever going to happen again. She no longer trusted the woman she once called mother. Their friendship had died, and there wasn’t a chance of it ever reviving with Anthony in their lives.

  With the vegetables sautéing in the oil, Paige went and started the creamy wine sauce. When everything was simmering on the stove, she went to the table and set it. The door to the balcony was closed, but she saw all four men were in deep conversation. They were clearly planning something, but she didn’t know what. Donnie wouldn’t tell her everything. At first, she’d been gutted that he wouldn’t share his plans with her. Then, she’d seen and understood why with The Family all around. The more she knew, the more danger she was in.

  Adding the sauce into the vegetables, she tossed in the chicken, allowing that to cook up before tossing in the cooked pasta. With it all together, she served it onto the warm plates, and carried them through to the table.

  After that, she walked toward the balcony, opening the door. “Dinner’s ready.”

  She closed the door, giving them a chance to finish up. Kicking off her heels, she took a seat and waited for them all.

  They were silent on their way inside.

  “Can you cook?” Jake asked, taking a seat beside her.

  “I hope so, otherwise you’re going to have to be liars today,” she said, teasing.

  Donnie sat at the head of the table, and she’d taken the seat beside him. Luiz sat at the other end, and Tonio sat opposite her and Jake.

  “I didn’t know if there was any special protocol for eating,” she said. “You guys have so many traditions, I can’t remember them all.”

  They dived into their food, and she smiled, her cheeks heating at their enthusiasm. She’d known she could cook but not that well.

  After food was finished, she packed away the leftovers for all three men to take with them. Once the kitchen was clean, she made her way up to her bedroom. Staring at the large, imposing bed, she couldn’t help but wonder how many other women had been here before her.

  She jumped as Donnie’s hand wrapped around her. “What has you thinking rather than climbing on that bed?”

  “I was just wondering how many other women have been here before me.”

  “No one. This is my space, and I’ve not brought any other woman here.”

  “Seriously, you don’t have to lie to me.”

  “I’m not lying. I’m telling you the truth. I’ve not had any woman here. Never wanted to bring anyone else back here.” He kissed her neck. “I always knew I’d bring my wife here to live.”

  She closed her eyes, resting against him. “What’s going on with the woman you went to see today?”

  “It’s bad, baby. She didn’t have a choice in becoming my father’s mistress. Her name’s Charlene, and she was trafficked, with the intention of being sold. Anthony took a shining to her, and she’s been here ever since.”

  “Charlene, that’s her name?”

  “Yes, she’s a sweet woman, a
t least, beneath all the fear, I imagine she is.”

  He pulled away and started to unbutton his shirt. Paige stared at him, crossing her legs as arousal spiked within her.

  “What’s going on, Donnie?” she asked.

  Donnie released a sigh, but he didn’t pretend not to understand what she meant. “You’ll be at risk if I tell you.”

  She shrugged. “We’re married because of my father. I’m always going to be at risk. At least this time I’ll have a choice. I want to know everything that’s going on in your life. We’re young, and yet, it feels like we’ve been alive for centuries already.”

  Wrapping her arms around herself, she stayed in the same place, while Donnie pulled his shirt out of his pants, exposing more of his rock hard body. She wouldn’t be distracted until she knew what was going on.

  “The Family has changed a lot over the last five years. I’ve seen a difference, and so have Jake, Luiz, and Tonio. We want to change it for the good.”

  “How can you change something for the good? You’re not ready to take over. Your own fathers won’t let you take their place.” Donnie gave her look. “You’re going to kill your father?”

  “Luiz, Tonio, and I, have all been planning this for over four years. We’ve discovered an unsettlement within The Family. They no longer like the ruling of my father, along with Luiz’s and Tonio’s, and wish for it to be over.”

  “You’re going to kill them.”

  He nodded.

  “Can you do it?” This was his father. She couldn’t kill her own mother, but what Donnie was talking about was a hostile takeover.

  “I can do it. There has never been any love between my father and me. He’s the reason my mother killed herself and the reason my little brother died. Tonio and Luiz, they all have reasons for wanting to take their fathers’ places.”

  She rubbed at her temple. “You’re only twenty-one.”

  “And I have the reputation and skill of a man twice my age, Paige.”

  “This will mean you’ll be completely owned by The Family. There won’t be any getting away from it.”

  “Do you really think there’s any getting away from it now?” he asked. “They’ll hunt you all down and kill you before they allowed you to be free.”