My Stepbrother's Dirty Little Secret novel Chapter 623

Chapter 623

I couldn’t help the tiny smile that touched my own lips.

“Life has… a funny way… of bringing… people home. Maybe… you’ve already… found yours… if the stars.. are smiling… on you.”

The words settled gently between us.

“Work with them,” her voice remained soft, “Don’t… fight… every hand… trying… to help.”

She looked into my eyes so carefully that I felt like she could see every secret I was trying to hide.

“Life…” she whispered. “…gets heavy. It becomes… lighter… when you stop… pulling… against… everyone… who loves you.”

My eyes filled with tears again.

She smiled, “Be gentle… be patient,” her thumb barely moved across my knuckles, “Try… to understand… before… you become angry.’

I nodded because she wasn’t scolding me. She was teaching me. The same way she always had.

“When someone… good… comes into… your life…” she paused for several seconds, “…don’t… keep looking… over your shoulder. Hold on… to him… with… both hands. Good men… don’t come… often in our… world.”

My heart broke all over again. Raphael’s face filled my mind. His hands, his voice telling me we were almost home, his lips brushing my forehead.

Then… I lowered my eyes before Mom could read anything on my face, “I’ll try,” I whispered.

She gave the smallest shake of her head, “No… promise me…”

I swallowed, “I promise. I won’t make life harder for the Capones anymore. I’ll listen. I’ll work with them instead of against them. I don’t want to be another problem they have to solve.”

Mom’s smile grew just a little, “There… My girl.”

I leaned forward as carefully as I could and rested my cheek against her chest, “I love you.”

“I love,” she whispered, “…you more…”

I stayed beside Mom for another minute, just listening to her breathe, listening to the quiet hum of the machines that had somehow become part of our lives.

Then I kissed her forehead, “I’ll go shower.”

She smiled, “Okay…”

I carefully untangled myself from the blankets and stood, the room swayed, not enough to make me fall, just enough to remind me my brain still wasn’t working the way it normally did.

I waited and then I reached the door before looking back. Mom was still smiling at me. I smiled back, then I stepped into the hallway.

The door clicked softly behind me and two guards immediately straightened. So did the nurse standing beside them.

Who are they?

I looked from one face to the next. They all looked completely serious.

My patience started slipping, “You don’t have to follow me everywhere.”

The nurse took one careful step closer, “We do.”

“No, you don’t.”

“It’s for your safety.”

I let out a slow breath, “I’m not going anywhere.”

“We know.”

“Then why are you following me?”

She offered me an apologetic smile, “Because Don Vincenzo instructed us that you are not to be alone anywhere in the house unless you’re with family.”

I stared at her, “Not even inside the house?”

She shook her head softly, “No.”

Something inside me immediately pushed back, “I’m not a prisoner.”

“No,” the nurse answered quickly, “You’re recovering from a concussion.”