My Stepbrother's Dirty Little Secret novel Chapter 427

Chapter 427

Gianna

LET

I paced.

Back and forth.

Back and forth.

The soft carpet sank beneath my bare feet as I crossed the room for what felt like the hundredth time.

My heart still hadn’t settled.

Every time I closed my eyes, I saw the garage.

The car.

Raphael’s face.

The look in his eyes.

Then Jules.

God.

Jules.

A sick knot twisted deeper inside my stomach. I dragged both hands through my hair and turned sharply toward the window. Outside, the estate grounds were dark. The fountains glowed softly beneath the garden lights. Everything looked peaceful.

Meanwhile my entire life felt like it was collapsing.

What if Jules told Mom?

What if she told Salvatore?

What if she told Vincenzo?

My breathing became uneven again. I pressed my palm against my chest. Maybe Raphael caught her before she reached them. Maybe she hadn’t said anything yet.

Maybe-

The bedroom door suddenly burst open and I jumped. The sound echoed through the room. My head whipped around.

Raphael stepped inside first and Jules was tucked beneath one of his arms. She was fighting him. Actually fighting him.

Her little legs kicked wildly, her fists were swinging, tears streamed down her face. She looked absolutely furious.

“Mmff! MMFF!”

Raphael had one large hand pressed carefully over her mouth as she tried to scream. He was not hurting her, just stopping the noise because if she started yelling in the hallway, the entire house would hear it.

My stomach dropped, “Raphael-”

The second the door slammed shut behind them, he released her immediately. Jules launched herself away from him like he’d caught fire.

She ran straight across the room, straight toward me, “Gianna!”

Brother.

I closed my eyes briefly.

Jules shook her head violently, “I thought it was funny before,” she stated in a low voice, my eyes opened again. I thought you were teasing her like Dante does. I thought it was a joke but kissing her isn’t funny. That’s weird.”

My stomach dropped, “Jules-”

“No!” she shook her head again, “You can’t do that!” Her eyes moved back to Raphael, “She’s your sister!”

The panic that shot through me was immediate. I grabbed her shoulders gently, “Listen to me.”

Jules suddenly pulled away from me, her cheeks were bright red. Tears still clung to her eyelashes, making her green eyes shine in the bedroom light. She turned toward Raphael again, “Vincenzo told me you’re our brother. He said all of you protect this family but that’s not what I saw! You grabbed her! You pushed her against the wall and held her by the neck!”

The room fell silent except for Jules’ uneven breathing. She wiped furiously at her face with the back of her hand

“I thought you were supposed to keep us safe,” she whispered brokenly, “Not be the person we’re scared of,” then she looked at him with all the hurt and disappointment a child could carry, “You hurt my sister.”

Raphael looked away for a second, just a second then his eyes found mine and he looked lost. His jaw flexed, “I don’t know how to handle this.”

My exhaustion. My fear. My heartbreak. All of it rushed to the surface at once. I stared at him, “Of course you don’y

His eyes narrowed slightly. I kept one arm around Jules. My entire body felt like it was shaking, “Do you have any idea what you’ve done?”

“Gianna-”

“No. You don’t get to interrupt me.'”

Jules immediately buried herself against my side again. I held her tighter.