6. Niccolo
Myrelationship with Christine changed about a year ago. I can’t remember exactly what happened or when, but one day, I walked into the kitchen and saw her standing by the sink, filling a glass with water from the tap. Our eyes met, and in that instant, my heart yearned for her.
Christinehad grown up to be a rare beauty, as smart as a whip and just as funny. She looked at me for a moment, and something passed between us—perhaps it was desire or affection, or maybe even love. But whatever it was, it made me realize that we were more than just former family members living together under the same roof.
Itried to ignore my feelings after that. At seventeen years old, Christine was off limits in more ways than one. I felt like the world’s biggest creep even though I didn’t act on my feelings. I went as far as to go to a therapist to discuss what was wrong with me. He said that there was nothing wrong, per se.
“The wires in your brain have gotten crossed. You’ve been caring for this girl for years now, and it’s normal that the intimate feelings you have for her have changed as she’s matured. But you are her stepparent. Therefore, you need to put those feelings away.”
Itried to lock them up like he suggested, but it’s been difficult. Christine is more than just my stepdaughter; she’s my favorite person to be around, even when she”s being a pain in my ass.
Whenwe aren’t at odds with one another, it’s like being with my best friend. She’s insightful and intelligent in a way I’ve never encountered before. She makes me look at things differently and second-guess my preconceived notions.
Lastyear, she told me she wanted to become a therapist, and when I asked her why, she got shy. It took some coaxing, but she told me in the end.
“I guess I sort of knew when Kaye and her mom were going through everything with Owen. She used to pour out her heart to me like I was the only person in the world who could understand what she was going through. AndI didn’t, not really,” Christine added with a frown. Her home life growing up had been radically different from Kaye”s.
“But it seemed like she had some form of PTSD, and she still has a lot of anxiety about what happened. I keep thinking that if she talks to a professional, she can get the help she needs. But how do you tell someone you think they’re depressed without hurting their feelings? Anyway,” she waved me off. “I don’t know. I either want to be a therapist or a psychologist. One or the other. I think there’s a lot of kids like Kaye that could use someone to listen to them.”
Psychologyis a complex study. I worked my ass off to get my doctorate, and I still don’t feel like I know everything. ButI knew that day that I’d never been prouder.
Then, the day came when Christine turned eighteen, and I went out for drinks with my brothers. I got ass over elbow wasted until I was falling down in the streets. My brothers had to carry me home when I threw myself on the hood of a police car. ThankGod it was empty, or else the fuckers would have let me get arrested.
“What the hell, Nic?” Dante and Luciano had to haul me into my own home. My older brother was unimpressed. “This is why nobody wants to marry you.”
Theworld spun on its axis, and I was sure I would throw up. ThenI caught sight of Christine’s red hair disappearing around a corner with Kaye in tow. “Chris,” I mumbled.
“No,” Dante grunted as he forced me into my bedroom, “you leave that girl alone. You’re going to get your ass beat by the Lucatello brothers if you don’t cut this shit out.” He had a minute understanding of what was going on between Christine and me. Though he didn’t offer his opinion on my infatuation with my stepdaughter, I knew how he felt about it.
“You’re right,” I slurred, the words coming out in a soupy mess of unintelligence. “She couldn’t love me anyway. I’m old.”
Lucianosnickered as he came back into the room with a cup of water for my bedside. “You’re about to be thirty, dumb ass. You’re not old.”
“You only say that because you’re old, too!” I accused.
Dantetossed me on the bed without any concern for my landing. “Sober up, Nic. Figure your shit out. And leave the Lucatello girl alone.”
I’vebeen a mess ever since.
Ilove Christine. I’ve watched her grow up from pain in the ass teenage girl to pain in the ass young woman. I didn’t have feelings for her before, but now they’re unavoidable. And when she stands in front of me in a thin shirt with her nipples poking through the fabric, it’s hard to resist her.
One more day,the little voice in my head says. In less than twenty-four hours, we’ll be at BlackmoreUniversity. We’ll be away from my family and hers.
Maybewe can make some magic happen.
* * *
DarkDevotion includes the events preceding the start of DarkObsession. It is not meant to be a full-length novel; it is a prequel.
Marry once for duty; marry twice for obsession.
Iwas meant for more than teaching Psychology at BlackmoreUniversity. I am the second son of the Family’s consigliere. They married me to a widow who quickly passed. My inheritance—her daughter.
Iadmit that I have looked favorably upon her over the years. I admit that intentions have been less than noble.
Butnow she’s at Blackmore.
Awayfrom the Family’s watchful eyes…
Awayfrom her uncles who see right through me…
Awayfrom everything that keeps us apart…
Theycall our love forbidden.
Icall it endgame.