Chapter 41: Valentina

Valentina's POV

Sheila and I exchanged nervous glances as the knocking continued. Taking a deep breath, I moved to open the door.

"Finally!" Raine exclaimed, pushing past me into the room. Her dark hair was pulled back in a messy ponytail, and she wore a leather jacket that was clearly a size too big—probably Jax's. "I've been looking everywhere for you two."

Relief washed over me. Just Raine, not Dante or Matteo or anyone who might have overheard our embarrassing confessions.

"What are you doing here?" Sheila asked, quickly composing herself.

Raine flopped down on the bed beside Sheila. "I should be asking you that. What are you both doing holed up in this motorcycle club? Last I checked, neither of you were into the biker lifestyle."

I shut the door and leaned against it, crossing my arms. "It's complicated."

"Someone broke into my apartment," Sheila explained. "And apparently, it's safer for us to stay here than at our own places."

"Someone broke in?" Raine's eyes widened. "Are you okay?"

Sheila nodded. "Nothing was taken. It's weird."

Raine's gaze shifted to me, a sly smile forming. "So, let me get this straight—your hot stepbrother whisked you away to his motorcycle club for 'protection'?" She made air quotes. "Looks like he caught you, Val."

I rolled my eyes, but heat crept up my neck. "It's not like that."

"Sure it isn't," Raine teased. "Just like it's not Matteo who caught Sheila."

Sheila gasped, her face turning crimson. "How did you—"

"Please," Raine laughed. "I saw the way you stared at him earlier. Subtle, you are not."

"Oh my god," Sheila groaned, burying her face in her hands. "Is it that obvious?"

"Only to anyone with eyes," I quipped, grateful the attention had shifted away from me.

"Speaking of obvious," Sheila said, recovering quickly and turning to Raine, "what's going on with you and Jax? That's definitely his jacket you're wearing."

It was Raine's turn to blush, though she tried to play it cool. "We're just hanging out."

"Bull. Shit." I moved to sit on Sheila's other side, the three of us forming a tight circle on the bed like we used to during sleepovers in high school. "Spill the details, now."

Raine bit her lip, unable to contain her smile. "Okay, fine. We've been seeing each other. Sort of."

"Define 'sort of,'" Sheila pressed.

"Have you slept with him?" I asked bluntly.

Raine's blush deepened, and she nodded slowly. "Last night. And this morning. And... maybe once in between."

"Oh my god!" Sheila squealed, smacking Raine's arm playfully. "You little slut!"

"Was it good?" I found myself asking, genuinely curious. The men in this club certainly exuded a raw sexuality that was hard to ignore.

"Good?" Raine's eyes glazed over slightly. "It was... incredible. The best I've ever had. That man knows exactly what he's doing."

I couldn't help but disagree in my mind. No way Jax was better than Dante. The memory of Dante's hands on my body, his mouth on mine, the way he'd made me feel things I'd never felt before... no, Jax couldn't possibly compare. But I couldn't say that out loud—they had no idea I'd already crossed that line with my stepbrother. It was too hard to admit, even to my closest friends.

"You're holding out on us," Sheila said, studying my face. "What's that look for?"

"Nothing," I said quickly. "Just happy for Raine."

Thankfully, they didn't press further. Instead, Raine steered the conversation back to Sheila's break-in.

"So, any idea who would want to sneak into your place? Ex-boyfriend? Stalker? Secret admirer?"

Sheila shook her head. "I can't think of anyone. Nothing was taken, which makes it even weirder."

"What about you, Val?" Raine turned to me. "Any exes who might be pissed off enough to pull something like this?"

Leon's face flashed in my mind—his anger when he'd seen me with Dante, the way he'd almost lost it at the restaurant. But no, that was ridiculous. Leon was a cop. He wouldn't break the law just because he was jealous. Would he?

"No one comes to mind," I said, dismissing the thought.

"Speaking of exes," Sheila said, giving me a pointed look, "what are you going to do about Leon? He's been blowing up your phone."

Raine perked up. "Leon? The hot cop? Are you getting back together with him?"

"If you get back with your ex, what about your stepbrother?" Sheila asked, raising an eyebrow suggestively.

I felt my face heat up again. "What about him? There's nothing between us."

"Nothing except enough sexual tension to power a small city," Raine snorted.

"I can't be with my stepbrother," I said firmly, though the words tasted bitter.

"Why not?" Raine challenged. "Why still resist him when it's so obvious you're into each other?"

I looked away, unable to meet their expectant gazes. The truth was, I wasn't resisting him—not really. Every time we were alone, we gravitated toward each other like magnets. I'd never met anyone like Dante. Sometimes I hated him—his arrogance, his controlling nature, his infuriating ability to see right through me. But other times, he was so caring and understanding, showing a gentleness I never expected from someone like him.

One moment he'd be cold and distant, the next he'd be passionately kissing me, making me forget my own name. It was confusing as hell. Did he really care about me, or was I just another conquest to him? Just another woman to add to his collection, like the owner of that burgundy lingerie?

"It's complicated," I said again, staring at my hands. "Even if there was something between us, it could never work. My mother is married to his father. Lorenzo Marino would never allow such a scandal in his gang. He has a reputation to maintain."

"So what?" Sheila challenged. "Since when do you care what powerful men think?"

"It's not that simple," I insisted. "Dante is the heir to his father's empire. I don't want to be the reason he loses everything."

"Sounds like excuses to me," Raine said gently. "What are you really afraid of, Val?"

I looked up at my friends, suddenly feeling vulnerable in a way I rarely allowed myself to be. "I have no confidence in whatever this is between us. I don't know if he actually cares about me or if I'm just convenient and forbidden enough to be exciting. And I don't know what to do next—keep playing this dangerous game with him, or walk away before I get hurt."

"Oh, honey," Sheila scooted closer, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. "You've already got it bad for him, don't you?"

I nodded miserably. "I think I do. And it scares the hell out of me."

Raine reached across to squeeze my hand. "For what it's worth, I've seen the way he looks at you when he thinks no one's watching. That man is not just playing a game."

"How can you be sure?" I asked, hating how hopeful I sounded.

"Because it's the same way Jax looks at me," she said softly. "And I know he's not playing games."

I wanted to believe her. But in the world we lived in—a world of mafia families and power plays, of motorcycle clubs and unwritten rules—nothing was ever simple. Especially not falling for your stepbrother.