My Stepbrother's Dirty Little Secret novel Chapter 95

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Cold morning air brushed against my face as I stepped out onto the wide stone driveway. I pulled my phone out of my pocket and unlocked it.

The screen blurred slightly for a second as my eyes tried to focus. Too many icons. Too many letters. My thumb hovered before tapping the bright Uber icon, the small black logo standing out clearly enough for me to find without too much trouble.

I breathed slowly while the app loaded.

Pickup location confirmed.

Destination entered.

Orion Vector Technologies.

My thumb pressed the confirm button, double-checking the time before locking the screen again. A small message popped up:

Driver arriving in 4 minutes.

I slipped my phone back into my pocket and stepped closer to the edge of the driveway, shifting my weight carefully from one foot to the other. The bandages rubbed slightly inside my shoes, dull pain creeping up my ankles, but I ignored it.

Pain meant focus.

Pain meant control.

“You ordered a ride,” the voice came from beside me.

I stiffened slightly before turning my head. Vincenzo stood there like he had always been there, hands tucked neatly behind his back.

I straightened slightly, “Yes,” I said.

“You know,” he said slowly, “there are more than fifty cars sitting in that garage behind you.”

I glanced back automatically, “I know,” I replied quietly.

Vincenzo tilted his head slightly, “You could use one,” he added calmly, “Driver included.”

I shifted my weight slightly, pressing my hands together in front of me, “It’s okay. Uber works.”

“It won’t make you smaller,” he said quietly. “Using what’s already here.”

The words landed deeper than I expected.

I swallowed slowly, “I didn’t mean to be rude the other day,” I said slowly, “I wasn’t trying to insult you or disrespect you. You’re…” I hesitated briefly, searching for the right words that wouldn’t tangle in my head, “You run this family. I know that. I just... I’ve always done things myself. Pride gets in the way sometimes.”

“I’m not angry with you,” he said.

The words surprised me enough that my head lifted instantly. He watched me calmly, the corners of his mouth shifting just slightly, not quite a smile but close.

“If anything,” he continued, “I respect it.”

That caught me off guard completely. My brows pulled together slightly.

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