Forbidden Temptation My Mafia Fiance's Alpha Father (Brooklyn and Aden)

Brooklyn

Hudson isn't going to set me free.

Deep down, I know it, and I also know that the choice isn't his. But I weep bitter tears anyway. Next to me, I feel Aden slump in his seat.

I turn to look at him then and see him looking out the window then, more pensive than I had expected.

I watch him, his stark profile against the light of the window. He doesn't move or say anything, but he must know I'm watching.

He hangs his head, letting out a sigh. And, shocked, I note that the lines of his face match Hudson's.

Is it possible that Aden feels guilt as well?

***

The next morning, I lay in bed and stare at the ceiling for a long, long time.

I skip breakfast and no one comes up to get me, which has never happened before. I guess they're giving me my space.

I'm grateful, I guess, but overall...I just don't really care anymore. About anything.

Things moved quickly last night after we got home. The three of us spent the rest of the ride in silence,

but when we arrived at the house, everyone was expecting us.

Jayde had made a beeline right for me-not even asking how Aden was doing.

Instead, she had wrapped her arms around me and bustled me up the stairs as Aden got himself patched up and Hudson-well, I didn't really know what Hudson did.

Jayde had rushed me right to my room and run a bath for me, stripping me of my clothes while I continued shaking. Then she helped me to step into the hot water and sit down.

"That's all right, Baby Brooklyn," she murmured to me, using a cup to pour water over my head like a little kid. "Shh, baby," she continued. "You'll be all right."

I had noticed, passively, that the water turned a little pink from the blood washing off of me.noveldrama

Not my blood, of course. Aden's. I couldn't stop staring at it.

After a long time, when the water was growing cool, Jayde helped me out, bundled me into warm flannel pajamas-too warm for the spring, but so, so comfortable against my skin-and then tucked me into bed. Before she left, she opened a cabinet in the corner with a television and put on some mindless reality show at extremely low volume.

"So you don't have to sit in silence

novelist

she whispered to me, kissing me on the head. Then, intuiting that I, wanted to be alone, she

disappeared.

I fell asleep almost immediately. A few times in the night I got the sense that someone was watching over me, but I wasn't afraid.

Someone must have been checking in

en

It's almost noon the next day before someone finally comes to get me up.

I sit up when I hear the door creak open. I rub my eyes, expecting to see Hudson or Jayde there, or the housekeeper, or the chef...

And get the shock of my life when I see Aden standing in my doorway.

He's dressed casually in a fine, camel-colored sweater and black slacks. I've never seen him wear anything but a suit.

"Come on, Brooklyn," he says, stern but not unkind. "That's enough of this."

I sink back into my pillows a little, resenting his command, giving him a little glare.

To my surprise again he laughs at me. "Don't pout at me, girl," he says, leaning against my doorframe. "It won't work."

He nods to someone behind him in the hallway-the housekeeper, apparently, who brings in a tray of food and a stack of clothing.

As she brings the tray closer, I sniff the air greedily at the scent of blueberry muffins. I'm shocked to find that I'm ravenous.

I'm ravenously biting into a muffin,

swallowing down it's sweet tender berries, when I look up and see Aden watching me hungrily, like I'm the thing he wants to eat.

I cough and look away.

"Good," he says clearing his throat. He nods to the clothes on the bed. "I'll see you downstairs in twenty minutes. Wear your boots."

He pauses in the doorway, like he's going to watch me get dressed, make sure I make it downstairs. But then he shakes his head and leaves.

I stare after him for a second, considering, and then I nod in agreement.

Because boots mean horses. I look towards the pile of clothing at the edge of my bed as the housekeeper leaves silently.

Riding gear.

Well, he's certainly found my weak spot. There's nothing, really, that could get me out of bed today except for Heathcliff.