My Toxic Stepbrother

** Riley** The lace on my dress felt like a thousand tiny needles pricking my skin. I stood in the back of the sun-drenched garden, watching my mother, Elena, beam like she’d just won the lottery. She wasn’t winning money, though. She was winning a "perfect" life with Marcus Voss. "I do," my mother said, her voice breathy and full of a hope that made my stomach churn. Marcus smiled back, a stoic, practiced expression that didn't reach his eyes. He was a man of stone and tailored suits. He looked like the kind of person who scheduled his emotions in a spreadsheet. I shifted my weight, the grass sinking under my heels. This was a mistake. I could feel it in the humid air. My mother was a dreamer, and Marcus was a vault. They were merging two worlds that didn't belong together, and I was the piece of luggage being forced into the overhead bin. The ceremony was quick. A blur of white flowers, expensive champagne, and polite applause from people I didn't know. Before I could process that my last name was now technically Voss, we were being ushered toward the waiting limousines. We were heading to the Voss mansion—my new home. The house was a monster of glass and black steel, tucked away behind iron gates that hissed shut behind us. It didn't look like a home; it looked like a high-end corporate headquarters. "Isn't it beautiful, Riley?" my mother whispered, squeezing my hand as we stepped into the marble foyer. "It’s big," I said, keeping my voice flat. "Give it a chance," she pleaded, her eyes darting toward Marcus. "We're a family now." "Right. A family," I muttered. A heavy thud sounded from the top of the grand staircase. I looked up, and my breath hitched in my throat. A guy stood there, leaning casually against the railing. He looked nothing like the polished Marcus. He wore a black t-shirt that stretched over broad shoulders, revealing arms covered in intricate, dark tattoos. His hair was dark and messy, and his eyes were the color of a winter sea—cold, grey, and turbulent. "Kai," Marcus said, his voice taking on a sharp, disciplinary edge. "Come down and meet your new family." Kai didn't move at first. He let his gaze drift over my mother before landing on me. He didn't just look at me; he dismantled me. His eyes traveled from my messy ponytail down to my scuffed heels and back up again. A slow, mocking smirk spread across his face. He descended the stairs with the predatory grace of a wolf. When he reached the bottom, he stood a good head taller than me, smelling of expensive cologne and something darker—like tobacco and rain. "So," Kai said, his voice a low, gravelly drawl. "This is the little sister I’ve heard so much about." The way he said *little sister* made my skin crawl. It wasn't a greeting; it was an insult. "I'm Riley," I said, crossing my arms over my chest. "And don't call me that." Kai’s smirk widened, showing a flash of white teeth. "Touchy. I think we’re going to get along just fine, little sis." "Kai, be polite," Marcus snapped. "I'm being a prince, Dad," Kai replied without taking his eyes off me. He leaned in closer, dropping his voice so only I could hear. "Welcome to the madhouse. Try not to break anything." He brushed past me, his shoulder hitting mine hard enough to make me stumble. I glared at his back as he walked toward the kitchen, his gait arrogant and entirely too confident. "He's just adjusting," my mother said quickly, sensing the spike in tension. "He’s twenty-two, Riley. He’s practically an adult. I'm sure he’ll be a great influence." "He’s a jerk," I said. "Riley, please," she sighed. "Just go upstairs and find your room. Your boxes are already there." I grabbed my bag and headed for the stairs, my heart drumming against my ribs. I hated him already. I hated the way he looked at me, and I hated how my body had gone completely still when he got close. The upstairs hallway was long and dimly lit. I found the door with my name taped to it and pushed it open. The room was massive—double the size of my old one—but it felt cold. I started shoving boxes around, trying to drown out the sound of laughter and music drifting up from the celebration downstairs. I needed air. I walked back out into the hallway, heading toward the balcony at the end of the wing. I didn't get far. Kai was standing there, blocking the path. He had a glass of amber liquid in one hand and a phone in the other. He didn't move as I approached. "Move," I said. He looked up, his eyes hooded. "You’re in my way, Riley. This is my side of the house." "I was told I could go to the balcony," I snapped. "And I don't see your name carved into the floorboards." Kai took a slow sip of his drink, his gaze fixed on my lips. "You’ve got a big mouth for someone so small. Does Mommy know you talk to people like this?" "My mother has nothing to do with this," I said, stepping closer until I was inches from his chest. "You think you’re so intimidating with your tattoos and your daddy’s money, but you’re just a bully." Kai laughed, a dry, humorless sound. He set his glass down on a side table and stepped into my space, pinning me against the wall with his presence alone. He didn't touch me, but I could feel the heat radiating off him. "You have no idea who I am," he whispered, his face inches from mine. "You’re a guest in this house, Riley. Remember that. You’re here because my father felt sorry for your mother. Don't get confused about your place." My hand moved before I could think. I shoved his chest, hard. "Go to hell, Kai." He didn't budge. Instead, he caught my wrists, his grip like iron. His eyes darkened, the grey turning to slate. "Careful, little sis. You don't want to start a war you can't win." "Let go of me," I hissed, my pulse skyrocketing. He held me for a beat longer than necessary, his thumbs brushing against the sensitive skin of my wrists. Then, he released me with a flick of his hands, as if I were something dirty. "Run along," he said, turning away. "Go play with your boxes." I didn't stay. I turned and bolted back to my room, slamming the door and locking it. My hands were shaking. I threw myself onto the bed, staring at the ceiling. I hated him. I loathed every arrogant, tattooed inch of him. The house grew quiet as the night went on. The party ended, and the hum of the air conditioning became the only sound. I tried to sleep, but my mind kept replaying the way Kai had looked at me. It wasn't just hate in his eyes; it was a challenge. At 2 a.m., a soft, rhythmic thudding woke me. It was a knock. I froze, pulling the covers up to my chin. "Who is it?" The door didn't open, but I saw a shadow block the light from the hallway. I got out of bed, my heart in my throat, and slowly turned the lock. I opened the door just a crack. Kai was leaning against the doorframe. He was shirtless now, his torso a landscape of lean muscle and dark ink. His hair was even messier than before, falling over his eyes. He looked dangerous and entirely too comfortable in the dark. He didn't say anything for a long moment. He just looked at me, his gaze heavy and unreadable. The arrogant smirk from earlier was gone, replaced by something sharper, something that made my stomach twist in a way that wasn't just anger. "What do you want?" I whispered. He leaned his head back against the wood, a slow, predatory smile curling his lips. "Just wanted to check on you," he said, his voice a low vibration in the quiet hall. "Welcome home, Riley."