CHAPTER 13

Samira

I’d been avoiding Erin all day. I couldn’t avoid her at our last practice before the charity event though. She walked up to me with a smile, like she couldn’t sense the major bitch vibes rolling off me in waves.

“Hey, Sam,” she grinned.

“Hi.” I offered her a smile that was far too small to mask how fucking annoyed I was. I had to pull myself back though. I made it official with Santana. He was mine. I didn’t have to worry about him looking at Erin and I didn’t have to worry about her working whatever magic she thought she had on him either. He wouldn’t be interested.

Actually, Santana was the only man I ever trusted besides my father. I trusted him with my life. Even thinking about him made my belly flop.

“What’s wrong with you lately? You’ve been so bitchy and your head is somewhere else completely. We’re almost done with high school. This is no time for you to space out.” Erin flipped her waist-length braids to one side and folded her arms, looking at me for an answer.

“I’m sorry for being a bitch,” I shrugged.

“Okay…but what about your head being in the clouds? Do you have a new man or something?” I stopped unpacking my gym bag and looked at her. “You do have a new man. Ooh, spill. Is he older?” Erin was all smiles and giggles now.

“I don’t,” I said shaking my head. I couldn’t stop thinking about Santana though. How sexy he was when we were at the restaurant last night. The way his eyes turned black and murderous when he looked at Dom. The way he rubbed my feet when I sat beside him on the couch…

My throat closed up and I had to fight myself to get a breath in. When did the thought of Santana become so thick and heavy with emotion that it suffocated me? Suddenly, every nerve ending in my body started to hum and I felt compelled to go see him.

I wanted to hug him. To smell his scent. To feel his arms around me.

“What’s his name, Sam?” Erin’s face came back into view and I cleared my throat.

“I never said I had a man,” I creaked.

“It’s written all over your face. You’re about as red as a damn strawberry.” I pressed my palms to my cheeks and felt the heat on my skin. Fuck. I was blushing.

“It’s…new right now,” I said slowly. I had to tell somebody something or else I’d pop and since I had to wait until the charity event to see Santana, the next best thing was talking about him.

“Ooh, okay new. So what’s his name?” Erin asked again, slapping my arm.

“I can’t tell you. I want to keep everything a secret because bitches always try to use information against me.”

“This is true. So how old is he?” Erin asked as we started stretching.

“Twenty-one,” I smiled.

Erin paused and said, “Oh so he’s not that much older than us.”

“No. Not really.” I gave a quick shrug.

“He must be absolutely amazing if he has you on cloud nine like this. I mean, you’re not smiling a lot or anything obvious but you glow, I guess.” It was painful for Erin to compliment me. I could tell.

When things turned silent between us, her words became amplified in my mind.

Santana made me glow. He didn’t make me giggle every second of every day and we didn’t have pet names for each other but he made me content. I was truly at peace when I was with him. To me, that was better than being giggly and syrupy. To me, that was real.

***

I found it entirely too difficult to concentrate while I tried to set the cheer squad up. We were finally at Papa’s for the charity event and I kept catching glimpses of Santana out the corner of my eye. One second he’d be offering to help move something heavy then the next he’d be drilling me down with an intense stare that made me wet. My mind was all over the damn place.

“God, your brother is fine,” Erin sighed, leaning against me. Santana had just moved a booth out of the way so we could have enough room to cheer. I cleared my throat and turned to face her. I tried not to scowl but fuck, Santana made me crazy.

“He does have a girlfriend,” I told her.

“Oh? I thought you said he didn’t.”

“He does now.” I faked my smile and Erin stared at me for a few beats like she was trying to figure me out. Luckily for me, she didn’t have time to. Once Santana moved everything from the middle of the restaurant, Papa came out to introduce the cheer squad.

“Good afternoon everyone. We have the lovely cheer squad from Andrews High School here to perform for us. Half the proceeds from everything purchased today goes to the high school’s sports and activity fund, so eat up!” Everyone cheered then all eyes were on us.

I was front and center and I spotted a few familiar eyes on me. One set of blue eyes belonged to Brady. He was tucked away in the corner so I’m sure he thought I didn’t see him. I saw him though. I also saw Uncle Dom when he crept in and stood near the back.

Santana didn’t miss it either. I saw his demeanor turn icy. It made me throb and not just between my legs. My heart throbbed too. I loved that slice of darkness in him. It spoke to me on a deep level. So deep it made me forget the fucking cue to start the routine.

I blinked a few times and plastered on the smile I’d perfected my entire life. It was bright and upbeat and full of sunshine. Just like me…or at least what I thought I was like.

After seeing what really went on behind the walls of Papa’s restaurant, I’d become so intrigued I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I wanted to consume every drop of knowledge Papa had to offer. I wanted to devour it and use it in my own way.

I wanted in on the family business.

***

“You girls did great,” Papa congratulated me and wrapped me in a hug. Over his shoulder, I could see Erin slide her way over to Santana. My body went stiff as a board.

Papa set me on my feet then looked behind him to see what sent me rigid so quickly. Once his eyes landed on Erin grinning in Santana’s face his shoulders slumped and his eyes softened.

“Leave your brother alone. Maybe it’s good that he has other females in his life.”

“No,” I snapped.

“You know you’re his sister and not his girlfriend, right?” His words hit me in the chest and made me realize that although Santana and I were together under the cloak of darkness and secrecy, we weren’t together out in the open. Papa would have to be told with serious trepidation and care.

“Papa, I just don’t think one of my friends should be in his face like that.”

“Santana’s a grown man. Let him fend off the women how he wants…if he wants. Now, go change in the bathroom, I see Dom over there and his eyes are glued to you while yours are glued to Santana. Go, Sam.” He pulled me close and kissed my temple before sending me on my way.

I moved through my squad of girls and I could feel Uncle Dom’s greasy eyes sliding down my body. I grabbed my pink gym bag and tossed it over my shoulder before heading down the hall and to the bathroom. Air rushed out of my lungs once I heard the heavy thud of the door closing behind me.

I freshened up a bit then got dressed in a pair of denim shorts and a t-shirt. The moment I tugged on the bathroom door, it swung open and I ran right into Uncle Dom. His back was in front of me like a wall. I yelped a bit out of pure frustration because who the hell stands that close to a bathroom door but a goddamn pervert?

He looked over his shoulder and smiled down like he didn’t know I was plastered to his back like a fucking bug. He was watching me. He knew I was going to the bathroom. I wasn’t stupid or oblivious.

“Sam, I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were in there. I was waiting for the men’s room.” His eyes did that gross roaming thing that made me feel naked.

“It’s okay, Uncle Dom.” I forced a smile and tried to move past him. I wanted to be near Santana. Near Papa. Near anyone but Uncle Dom.

“You have got to stop calling me uncle. You can just call me Dom. You’re all grown up now.” He caressed my cheek and I slapped his hand away. Fury trickled into my belly like a creek determined to overflow and become a river.

“Don’t touch me,” I blurted with enough attitude to render him shocked.

“You know, I’ve always thought you were…absolutely fucking beautiful.” Dom found his stride again like I hadn’t just chopped him off at the knees.

“Yeah, she is absolutely fucking beautiful.” Santana’s voice was a surprise but a welcome one. I stood on my tiptoes and looked around Dom to see Santana standing right behind him and Papa was beside Santana.

“Jesus, guys. You follow little Sam everywhere she goes?” Dom grimaced as he moved away from me enough so that I could squeeze by. I went right to Santana’s side and he put a bulky arm of protection around my waist. My body hummed with pleasure and security.

“We still on to talk tonight, Dom?” Papa asked, his green eyes turning dark as moss.

“Yeah, of course, Chris. Wouldn’t miss it for the fucking world.” The tension circulating between everyone was high and I wished I had Santana’s gun because every thought in my head was screaming at me to shoot Dom where he stood.

It was more than him being a creep. Something unsettling took root in my chest and I couldn’t shake it. I wanted to see Dom’s blood. That was the clearest thought in my mind.

“Come on, Sammie,” Santana grumbled, tugging me away from the two old friends having a stand-off in the hall.

“Dom knows something is up,” I blurted. Santana pulled me out of the restaurant through the kitchen entrance. The noise of clanking plates and running water took over the noise of customers eating, laughing and talking.

A balmy breeze blew by and I pulled in a deep breath. There was definitely rain in the air. It was thick with the scent that only wafts up before a storm.

“Do me a favor, Samira and stay home when I go with Pop to talk to Dom. Okay?” Santana touched my chin but he couldn’t stop himself there. Soon, his fingers were mapping out my neck and collarbones. Soon, I was in his arms, holding on to him and pulling his lips close to mine for a kiss.

“I go where you go. End of discussion,” I said quietly against his mouth.

“Goddammit, Sammie. Why the hell can’t I ever tell you no? You’re trouble, you know that little girl?” He grabbed my ass and I giggled then I stared into his dark eyes until I felt captivated.

“Good.” I locked my arms around his neck and rubbed the tip of my nose against his. His hands slid along my waist then under my shirt so he could toy with my navel ring. His fingers were both smooth and rough at the same time. The contrast made me shiver.

“I wish we were alone,” Santana whispered in my ear before nibbling on my earlobe. My eyes fell shut and I found myself wishing for the same thing. I wished I could pull down the night sky like a curtain and cloak us from prying, judging eyes.

“Me too, Daddy.” I rubbed the growing bulge in Santana’s pants and a low grumble vibrated his wide chest. I pressed my thighs together and let out a soft whimper. Santana did things to my body that were sinful as fuck. I already knew my panties were soaked that didn’t stop me from making out with him though.

“Hey, Sam. Your girls are looking for you.” Papa’s voice sent ice through my veins. Santana and I jumped apart and shared a brief moment where we locked eyes. We were both so fucked.

“Okay, thanks, Papa.” I rushed past him half-scared that he would whack me on my ass for being all over Santana that way. I glanced over my shoulder and saw Papa step outside to talk to Santana and my heart sank.

What would he say?

Would he hit Santana?

Shit, would Santana hit him back?

I rubbed my forehead and found the cheer squad to take pictures.

***

I crept in the house after the charity event was done. I took my shoes off just to walk through the house because something in the air was off. I had to find Santana. His truck was in the driveway but he hadn’t answered any of my calls or texts.

I broke away from the squad early just to make it back home in time. If Santana was going to get chewed out then I was going to take the same punishment.

I pulled out my phone and started to text Santana again but I heard footsteps heading down the stairs.  I shoved my phone in my back pocket and rounded the corner.

A wave of relief washed over me when I saw Santana’s face. “Is Papa here? I don’t see his car.” I asked in a hushed voice. Santana shook his head, then rushed toward me and held me in his strong arms.

“What happened back at the restaurant?” I asked. We sat in his room shifting around on the bed in awkward silence

“Nothing. He asked me to come shoot with him early. He had Marco take over the grill.”

“You went shooting with Papa after he caught us making out? Have you lost your mind, Santana?”

“No,” he breathed, pushing a hand through his hair. God, he looked amazing when he did that. “What the fuck was I supposed to do? Tell him no?” He had a point.

“Well, what happened?” I asked, hungry for all the details. I ate them like morsels that my survival depended on.

We sat in his room and I found a home in his lap. Santana’s jaw flexed a few times before he spoke again. “He taught me how to have better aim. We worked on moving targets. He told me how to…” I cut his words short and held my hand up.

“Santana, I love you but get to the good shit. I don’t care about how shooting practice went. What did he say about us? I know he saw us. There was no way in the fucking world that he looked at us and thought it was totally platonic and something that all siblings do.”

Santana’s eyes lowered and he looked down at the carpet. “He didn’t say anything about it and that’s the fucking scary part, Sammie. We usually know what to expect from Pop. We know he flies off the handle and shouts and screams and if it’s me he’s pissed at then he’ll throw a few jabs my way.

This time though…he didn’t say anything. He only talked about how you and me used to be when we were kids.”

“Shit. He knows we’re fucking.” I tossed my hand in the air and let out a half-groan half-whimper. In the next blink, Santana had my face in his strong hand.

“We’re not just fucking, Samira. If we get in trouble or disowned or whatever the fuck because of what’s happening between us, I refuse to have anyone think that we’re just fucking.” He took a moment to breathe. I needed the same moment because I’d never seen Santana so passionate. It stole oxygen from my lungs.

“You’re right. We’re not just fucking. We’re together.” Those words felt good rolling off my tongue. They felt good in a way I would have never expected. I wanted to tell everyone. “How do we tell Papa that though? He’s our father no matter if we’re biological siblings or not. He raised us both, Santana. How can we tell him that we’re…together? It’ll break his heart. It’s probably breaking his heart right now.” I nibbled on my bottom lip thinking about how my father felt knowing about me and Santana.

Still, it didn’t change the way I felt about Santana. Stepbrother or not, he made me happy. He made me feel things I’d never felt before. I was in love with him. I would cross one million lines and break one million hearts if it meant I got to be with him forever.

“I think he went to talk to Dom without me,” Santana sighed. I sensed the irritation in him. His muscles tensed and I rubbed them until he was relaxed again.

“It’s probably best that he put distance between you and him right now. You know how hotheaded he is. He’s a lot like you in that regard. Whatever happens though, I want to be right there with you. I know he’ll come down on both of us but I don’t want to miss it.”

“You have no idea how much I love you, Sammie.”

“I think I have an idea if it feels anything like the way I feel right now. Santana, I’m so in love with you that it makes me ache and burn sometimes. Sometimes my heart feels like it wants out of my chest just to be closer to you. I don’t know what’s going to happen to our family because of all this but I’ll never stop loving you. Nobody can stop me from loving you the way I do.”

A look I can’t quite describe took over Santana. Words did his expression no justice so he showed me with a kiss and I melted from the heat it brought.

***