Read Online Taken - A Gangster Stepbrother Romance by Michaela Adams - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Michaela Adams
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remembered that warm, appreciative glow in Antonio’s eyes as she had walked down the stairs. She remembered the tingling warmth that had bloomed in her belly as she stepped down into the foyer.
She didn’t want to disappoint him.
It was crazy. But she realized she honestly didn’t want to disappoint Antonio. Before she could get a chance to mentally harangue herself for acting like a crazy person, Antonio interrupted her thoughts.
“And people will expect a closeness between us, as siblings,” he said, his voice wry with humor at the last two words. “So try and show an ease between us. A relationship, essentially.”
Emma must’ve looked quite skeptical at the request. Antonio’s lips quirked. He leaned towards her, his spicy cologne tingling her senses. “Don’t worry. I’ll help you look head over heels for your big brother.” He gave her a quick rakish wink.
Emma didn’t know if she wanted to blush or smack him over the head.
In any case, she didn’t get a chance to do either. The limo pulled into a line of cars, waiting to drop off their elite guests. Emma was sure she had just seen a famous actor walk out of the car in front of theirs.
As the limo pulled up to the drop off point, an attendant opened the door. Antonio extended a hand. “Let’s go, sweetheart,” Antonio said, grinning for the first time. Emma shakily put her hand in his, feeling like her heart would jump through her chest.
But his large hand closed over hers and pulled her out in the sea of flashing lights.
Chapter Eleven
“Antonio! Antonio!”
“Mr. Del Marco! Look here, Mr. Del Marco!”
Emma was nearly blinded by the number of flashes that were going off in front of her. She could hardly make out the crowded sea of photographers that were all jostling to get the best shot. Seeing the crowd of screaming photographers and the black suited security guards that kept them in line, Emma realized she was actually at Hastings Charity Gala, the mecca of the social elite for tonight.
Antonio effortlessly pulled her frozen body close to his, smiling charmingly for the cameras. She looked up, stunned, to see him look so warm and…human. So this was the public persona of Antonio Del Marco.
Bending his head towards her in what looked like an affectionate gesture, he whispered, “Say cheese.”
Emma realized she must look like a deer in the headlights. Trying her best, she swallowed and smiled shakily towards the cameras.
“Who’s the girl, Antonio?”
“Who’s your hot date, Mr. Del Marco? What’s your name, honey?”
But Antonio said nothing, only smiled and waved, holding Emma close to him. After a few minutes of posing, he guided her into the grandly decorated hotel ballroom.
“Didn’t you want to tell them who I was?” Emma asked as they walked up a beautifully lit staircase. “Wasn’t that the whole point?”
“Oh they’ll find out,” Antonio replied confidently, still holding her close to him. “You don’t tell the ants first, Emma. Once the lions get the news, the ants will eventually hear.”
Emma couldn’t think of a better analogy for the room. It felt like a lion’s den to her. She didn’t know if she could pull this charade off. Sure, technically she was Antonio’s stepsister, but acting like one was a completely different order of business.
As she entered
She didn’t want to disappoint him.
It was crazy. But she realized she honestly didn’t want to disappoint Antonio. Before she could get a chance to mentally harangue herself for acting like a crazy person, Antonio interrupted her thoughts.
“And people will expect a closeness between us, as siblings,” he said, his voice wry with humor at the last two words. “So try and show an ease between us. A relationship, essentially.”
Emma must’ve looked quite skeptical at the request. Antonio’s lips quirked. He leaned towards her, his spicy cologne tingling her senses. “Don’t worry. I’ll help you look head over heels for your big brother.” He gave her a quick rakish wink.
Emma didn’t know if she wanted to blush or smack him over the head.
In any case, she didn’t get a chance to do either. The limo pulled into a line of cars, waiting to drop off their elite guests. Emma was sure she had just seen a famous actor walk out of the car in front of theirs.
As the limo pulled up to the drop off point, an attendant opened the door. Antonio extended a hand. “Let’s go, sweetheart,” Antonio said, grinning for the first time. Emma shakily put her hand in his, feeling like her heart would jump through her chest.
But his large hand closed over hers and pulled her out in the sea of flashing lights.
Chapter Eleven
“Antonio! Antonio!”
“Mr. Del Marco! Look here, Mr. Del Marco!”
Emma was nearly blinded by the number of flashes that were going off in front of her. She could hardly make out the crowded sea of photographers that were all jostling to get the best shot. Seeing the crowd of screaming photographers and the black suited security guards that kept them in line, Emma realized she was actually at Hastings Charity Gala, the mecca of the social elite for tonight.
Antonio effortlessly pulled her frozen body close to his, smiling charmingly for the cameras. She looked up, stunned, to see him look so warm and…human. So this was the public persona of Antonio Del Marco.
Bending his head towards her in what looked like an affectionate gesture, he whispered, “Say cheese.”
Emma realized she must look like a deer in the headlights. Trying her best, she swallowed and smiled shakily towards the cameras.
“Who’s the girl, Antonio?”
“Who’s your hot date, Mr. Del Marco? What’s your name, honey?”
But Antonio said nothing, only smiled and waved, holding Emma close to him. After a few minutes of posing, he guided her into the grandly decorated hotel ballroom.
“Didn’t you want to tell them who I was?” Emma asked as they walked up a beautifully lit staircase. “Wasn’t that the whole point?”
“Oh they’ll find out,” Antonio replied confidently, still holding her close to him. “You don’t tell the ants first, Emma. Once the lions get the news, the ants will eventually hear.”
Emma couldn’t think of a better analogy for the room. It felt like a lion’s den to her. She didn’t know if she could pull this charade off. Sure, technically she was Antonio’s stepsister, but acting like one was a completely different order of business.
As she entered
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