My Stepbrother's Dirty Little Secret novel Chapter 537

Chapter 537

Salvatore stood near the bottom of the stairs leading into the jet, one hand in his pocket, this was completely normal for him.

A soldier approached him, “Aircraft and perimeter secured and runway cleared.”

We climbed the stairs. Mom’s wheelchair was lifted smoothly by a specialized aircraft ramp that seemed to appear from nowhere.

The second I stepped inside, warm air wrapped around me as we settled in our seats for take off.

Mom reached for Salvatore’s hand and he took it immediately. Her fingers squeezed his, “I’m sorry.”

Salvatore looked confused, “For what?”

“The trip,” she answered, “We came all this way because of me and-”

“No,” his answer came so fast she blinked, “Do not apologize. We came for Gianna. We watched Gianna, that means the trip was successful.”

Mom’s eyes filled with tears as she leaned forward then whispered something too quiet that was only for him and it made him smile.

I looked away before I embarrassed myself by crying.

I stared out at the darkness beyond the glass. Chicago waited on the other side of the night but for some reason I couldn’t stop thinking about Leone sitting in that restaurant.

Watching me, smiling and somehow that felt worse than if he had threatened me because people only smiled like that when they knew something you didn’t.

The cabin lights had been dimmed.

Mom had finally fallen asleep. Across the cabin, Jules had somehow managed to fall asleep curled up like a cat despite spending the last twenty minutes insisting she wasn’t tired.

Claire moved to one of the private rooms in the back. Madeleine was reading something on her tablet.

I sat alone by the window, staring at my reflection in the glass. My fingers drifted to the necklace again, the diamond rested against my collarbone, warm from my skin, hidden under my dress. My thumb rubbed over it absentmindedly.

I closed my eyes briefly and that’s when my phone vibrated. The sound startled me. I immediately looked down.

My heart jumped the second I saw his name.

Raphael.

The font he made for my phone helped. The letters didn’t move around as much, and I could read the message without struggling through every word first.

Raph: You’re safe.

I stared at the screen, and then second message appeared.

Raph: Always.

1/3

なべ

• 15 Borus

My throat tightened. For a moment I simply looked at the words, reading them and then reading them again.

It made me feel warm, which was honestly becoming a serious problem.

A smile pulled at my mouth immediately. I typed back before I could stop myself.

Me: We seriously need to talk.

Me: You’re acting weird.

Me: Way too nice.

Me: And frankly, I don’t trust it.

The reply came so fast it was almost insulting.

Raph: Weird how?

I stared at the screen.

Was he serious?

Me: You flew across the country.

Me: Handed me your mother’s necklace.

Me: Told me the engraving basically translates to “I love you.”

Me: Then vanished into thin air.

The little typing bubbles appeared. My heart immediately betrayed me and started beating faster. A few seconds later his message arrived.

Raph: In my defense, I was unexpectedly removed from the situation before I could continue confusing you.

I nearly laughed out loud.

Me: Raphael.

Raph: Gianna.

A new message appeared before I could respond.

Raph: Did you enjoy New York?

I glanced around the quiet cabin and to see if someone noticed me giggling like a little girl as a warmth settled in my chest.

Me: Yes… until I saw Leone at the restaurant.

Raph: I know. I took care of it.

Me: What do you mean “took care of it”?

Raph: It means you don’t need to think about him anymore.

My heart started beating faster.

Me: Raphael.

2/3

15 Born.s

Raph: Gianna.

Me: Did you hurt him?

Raph: No. I made sure he understood the situation.

Another message followed immediately after.

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