Forbidden Temptation My Mafia Fiance's Alpha Father (Brooklyn and Aden) novel Chapter 63

Chapter 63
Aden

We stand like that for a moment, my hands on Brooklyn’s waist, her leaning back against me—just an instant, really, before she pushes away and loops her horse’s reins over his head, using them as a lead.

Finally, Brooklyn turns to me. She swallows, her smile faltering.

“Thanks for the lift,” she says, and we start to make our way back towards the stables.

“Last night,” I hear myself say, my hands in my pockets. “Before…everything…”

Brooklyn looks up at me, wary. Clearly, she doesn’t want to talk about it.

Still, I press on. “Did you enjoy it? Meeting your family?”

“Oh,” she says, surprised, and I wonder what she thought I was referring to.

“Honestly, I kind of forgot about the good part.” She looks forward again. “I mean yeah, I enjoyed it at the start. It’s surprising. I never knew I had such a big family.”

“It’s pretty standard for us,” I tell her. “In this world, people tend to come from large families and large packs. I don’t know what a family gathering looks like with less than eighty people.”

I pause. “Something in my blood, that pack mentality, must be drawn to it, too.”

Brooklyn tilts her head curiously. “So do you have lots of siblings?”

“No.” I shake my head. “I’m a rare only child. My mother could only have me.” When a look of confusion crosses her face, I explain, “Complications at my birth.”

“Oh.” She frowns as she leads Heathcliff into his stall. I follow her. “I’m sorry to hear that.”

“It’s alright.” I shrug. “My parents were each one of six. I grew up with lots of cousins who felt like siblings.”

I hesitate. I don’t usually share this part. “But that was why it was so devastating to my father when I denied my Alpha blood. When I chose the Mafia life instead. I was his only chance.”

She cocks her head. “Why did you deny your blood?”

I wink. “I didn’t like all the rules.”

“But the Mafia has rules, too,” she points out.

Clever girl.