Claimed By My Mafia Stepbrother

3 - Xander’s Warning

Lisa’s POV.

The last time I saw Xander was that fleeting second whereby our eyes had locked before I slammed my bedroom door shut.

He’d left after that and I’d spent the past six years convincing myself that I was completely over the crush I had on him. Although, with how fast my heart was pounding, I wasn’t sure if I had been honest with myself those past years. Dressed in a sleeveless tank top left his inked arms out in the open and I gulped on noticing how much he had grown in those six years.

If I thought he was insanely handsome back the, then I had no words right now. He had clearly matured, he didn't look like a grown teenager any longer— he looked like a grown man, a dangerous one.

Dad said he was handling business for his father, who’s a mafia lord, and that’s why he had to move to a different country throughout those years. I had felt relieved on hearing that, because that means I wouldn't have to see him and be flustered from just a single glance from him.

He looks way more handsome as I remembered, his jaw looked way sharper, and his lips looked more sinful. The tattoos peaking at his neckline made my stomach swoop with heat.

“What… what are you doing here?” My voice was more breathy than I expected it to.

He tipped his head sideways as he sized me up, making my skin prickles. His gaze is even more intense than I remembered.

“I have some business to take care of here in New York, this is a very pleasant coincidence” His eyes narrow on my bruised arm. “What happened to you? You seemed panicked when I pulled up.”

I shrugged and rubbed my arms when a blast of cold wind whipped past me. “I had a little incident at the parking lot.”

“Where’s your car?” His voice is even more tense now. I eyed him and noticed the telltale of anger in his eyes.

“It got… taken…” a casual way of explaining the fact that my car was literally hijacked.

He cursed and got off the bike, and I realised that he’s even taller than I remember, the anger in his eyes makes him even more imposing right now, and I almost cowered away when he inched closer.

“Your car got stolen? And those fuckers had the guts to hit you,” He resched for my arm before I could stop him and my breath skidded to a stop as heat shot through my veins from his touch. The shiver that coursed through me made him meet my eyes as he spoke next.

“Why don’t you have bodyguards? I thought your father would be able to f*****g do better?”

I frowned and shrugged my shoulders. “I like not having old men tailing me at all hours of the day, we have plenty of security in the house, I just want to feel normal out here.”

He goes silent at that, he scrutinises my face for a minute before sighing and tiping his head towards the bike. “Come on, I’ll drop you off at home.”

My eyes widen and I glance at the motorcycle skeptically. “I…”

“Then when we get home, you’ll give me a good description of the bastards who robbed you, do you understand?” His tone left no room for argument.

When I tried resisting getting on his motorcycle, he informed me that it wasn’t a question and threatened to bundle me on it if I don’t cooperate and I find myself nodding even though there’s an argument at the tip of my tongue.

He nodded towards the bike and smoothly hopped on it then he threw me a glance.

“Get on.”

———

When we finally got to my destination, I quickly slipped off the bike with my heart pounding from being pressed against his back throughout the ride to the speed at which he had riden. That was what prompted me into gripping his waist with a squeak at a sudden curve. He had stiffened for a fleeting moment when that happened, but he didn’t order me to let go of him.

“Are you okay?” Xander asked, voice gruff.

I nodded weakly and let out a sigh. “Thanks for dropping me off, um… you-”

“Xander!”

I winced at the sound of my stepmother’s voice. I turned to see the dark haired woman bolting towards us, she’s dressed in one of those long, satiny dresses of hers, clearly excited to see her son.

“Mum,” his voice softened as he slipped off his bike and she quickly wrapped her arms around him. It’s odd to see his face lagging harsh angles and displeased frowns.

“You didn’t tell me you were coming,” his mother whined as she pulled away and assessed her son, he’s over a foot taller than her small frame. “Last time we spoke, you said you were coming for Christmas!”

He smiled a little at the accusation in her voice, I nearly choked on air when I noticed his dimple. “I’m not supposed to be here now, I have urgent business to do.”

She snorted. “Doesn’t mean that you just show up without telling me!”

“I apologise.”

She humphed and turned back to me with an excited grin, sporting matching dimples as him, before he glanced at me.

“Welcome home, honey,” her face morphed into worry when she took note of my ragged appearance. “What happened?”

“Just a minor incident,” I try to wave it off, but trust Xander to butt his head in.

“She was robbed. Her car, her phone, gone. Shouldn’t she have some sort of security with her at all times?”

My Stepmother’s face sobered up and she looked at me worriedly. “Honey, are you okay?”

I nodded my head weakly, not liking the attention I was getting.

She reached for my hand. “I’m so sorry dear, let’s get you inside, your father will figure something out.”

“It’s no problem,” Xander interrupted. “I’ll handle it.”

“Oh, but Xan…”

He waved off his mothers’ protest and met my eyes for a moment. “I’ll take care of it.”

“Oh… well, while you handle it, come and stay with us for a while,” my stepmother smiled the most motherly smile a person could ever have. “It’s been years since I last saw you.”

His eyes soften. “I’d love to, Mum, but I really can’t, I still have things to take care of tonight.”

“Stay then, for dinner at least,” her eyes are sad and soft and I don’t think I’d be able to handle such a stare being directed at me. “Just for dinner.”

He sighed and nodded. “Dinner then.” My stepmother grinned, she linked one arm through Xander’s then the other hand was linked through mine.

“Did you siblings catch up on your way home?” She asked as she dragged us forward.

Neither of us responded.

“That reminds me, Xander doesn’t know about your engagement yet!” My stepmother spoke up excitedly.

Xander, whose spoon was halfway to his mouth, froze and glanced at me with a calculating, calm gaze that had my heartbeat accelerating because I already knew he wasn't gonna be pleased since Mortimer’s don, Dax, the person he had warned me to stay away from, is the same person I’m engaged to.

Dax and I had been dating for two years when he revealed why he and Xander hated each other, which had taken me back to how they’d glared at each other that night when Xander had tugged me away from the dance floor, years ago, and how Xander had warned me to stay away from him,

Apparently, Xander and Dax’s father were once friends, and Xander and Dax had been best friends, but when a fued broke out between their fathers, the kids had to take their father’s side and stay away from each other. He also revealed that Xander is as dangerous as his father since they both ran a dangerous mafia clan, before warning me to beware of him even though he was my stepbrother.

I forced a smile and avoided Xander’s gaze. “I don’t think that’s necessary, he’s not…”

“Don’t be silly,” My father interrupted, his eyes shining with pride as he spoke and I felt my stomach sink to the soles of my feet. “Xander is your older brother, he deserves to know what’s happening in your life.”

I shook my head slowly, Xander remained painfully silent and I had to fight myself to keep my eyes off him. “It’s alright Dad, I…”

“She’s engaged to Mortimer’s son, Dax. They’ve been dating for four years now,” my stepmother announced in my place, glancing at my father for confirmation, and he nodded proudly.

I could literally feel the rage oozing off Xander.

“They’ll be getting married in about a month! Isn’t that just marvellous?”

Xander doesn’t respond and I knew all hell was definitely gonna break loose.

“You’re not marrying Dax.”

My father looked shocked, but not quite as shocked as me at the audacity of this man.

“What do you mean by that? He’s my boyfriend and I…” I demanded at once.

“You’re not marrying him, end of story,” His eyes panned to my father. “Of all the matches you could have made…”

“I wasn’t matched with anyone!” I interrupted, my hesitance fades away and I find myself brimming with rage at the sheer boldness it took for him to act like he had a right over who I choose to marry. “Dax and I are together because we want to be, because I love him! You don’t get to tell me who I marry and who I don’t!”

“You’re making a mistake, Elizabeth.” The sound of my full name made me want to strangle him. “You don’t know him like I do. Dax is an insufferable bastard and you could surely do better than that loser.”

“Xander!” His mother exclaimed.

“I told you to stay away from him, didn’t I?” he continued. I bristled and waved my spoon in his face.

“Dax is a great person, I don’t know what your problem is! Again, I didn’t ask for your opinion, I don’t answer to you, so stop butting into my life!” I huffed and the table went silent and thank heavens, staying silent for the rest of dinner.

I was already planning to flee to my bedroom and hideaway until Xander leaves, but no, my stepmother had other plans.

Since we’re apparently siblings, she believes we should talk our little tuff out and reminded me that Xander was only looking out for me like an elder brother was supposed to, and as she spoke, Xander and I couldn’t meet each other’s eyes.

Then she forced me to see Xander off.

Of course I’d wanted to refuse but she made it clear it wasn’t up for argument, and clearly my father agreed with her.

Reluctantly, I trudged after him, dreading the fact that we’d be alone out there.

The silence stretched out between us as we inched towards his bike. Once we were beside it, I cleared my throat and wiped my sweaty hands on my shirt when he abruptly turned sideways, pinning me with a look. A sound stumbled in my throat and I tried to inch away from him, but his fingers firmly locked behind my neck, preventing that from happening.

He leaned down till his face hovered over mine and I ceased breathing.

“I’m only gonna say this once. There’s no way I’m gonna let you get married to that bastard. Keep in mind that it’s never gonna happen, not on my watch.”

Annoyance churned in my stomach as he spoke and I attempted to curse him out, but then he was tipping my head upwards and his fingers were sliding into my hair in order to hold my head in place as he took my mouth in a searing kiss.

It was fleeting. It lasted for about five seconds, but it was enough to render me light headed, weak-kneed and breathless.

I was yet to get my bearings together when he pulled away from me and smoothly hopped on his bike.

“Remember what I said, Lisa.” He said in a husky voice. It was clearly a warning, one that made my body tremble as I watched him zoom off without a backward glance.

What. The. Fu*ck?!