Page 56 of Betrayed By Sin

His voicelowers.“And that means you need to start acting like one.”

For a moment, I let myself really look at Cameron, not as thehead of the Rusco family, but as my brother.And beneath the frustration, beneath the hardened exterior, I see what he won’t say out loud.

He’s worried about me.

Not as a mafia leader. Not as someone trying to control me.

As my brother.

The next morning, I’m called to the study.

It’s the first time I’ve been included in anything that even resembles a family meeting. I don’t know if Cameron wants my opinion, or if he just wants me to see the mess I’ve been dragged into.

Sin never listens to Bria’s ideas. Will my brother treat me the same way?

The room smells of old books, dark wood.

My mother is by the fireplace, legs crossed, a coffee cup balanced delicately in her hands. She looks serene.

Cameron sits behind the desk, flipping through papers with surgical precision.

And then there’s Bria.

I do a double take.

Leaning against the bookshelf like she doesn’t trust the floor beneath her, arms crossed tight, gaze sharp and restless. When I walk in, her eyes immediately find mine. Fear flickers there, but also relief.

I smile at her, small, confused, but hers. She exhales, like my presence is the only reason she hasn’t bolted.

I lower myself into the chair across from Cameron. “You wanted to talk?”

Cameron sets the papers down and studies me like I’m another document to dissect. “It’s time you understood what’s at stake.”

Bria rolls her eyes. “Here we go. Mr. Serious.”

Cameron ignores her, but the muscle in his jaw ticks. “This isn’t a game.”

Bria pushes off the shelf, stepping closer to me. “Could’ve fooled me. Dragging me here without Sin, under false pretenses? That’s not strategy. That’s cowardice.”

“Watch yourself,” Cameron warns.

“She’s fine,” I cut in before Bria can snap back. “What is this?” I look to Bria. “What do you mean under false pretenses?”

Bria smirks faintly and drops into the chair beside me, shoulder brushing mine in quiet solidarity. “Yeah, Cameron.” Her manicured nails circle the air. “What is this?” She shows me her phone, a text message from me.

Magnolia: Please come over, no one is here! We need to talk. It’s urgent.

I look to my brother, “You stole my phone?”

“I did.”

“To get Bria here, the girl who just last night you warned me not to be around?”

“Things can change in the blink of an eye Magnolia. We may need to form an alliance-” He blurts out, choking on his own words, “with the Donati family.” Cameron’s gaze flicks between us, cool and unreadable. “This isn’t about friendship. It’s about survival.”

“Friendship is survival,” I shoot back. “If you can’t even tolerate Bria in the room, how do you expect to handle her brother?” I can’t believe these words are coming out of my mouth, and I certainly can’t help the smile that comes to my lips from the sheer hope of it all.

Sin and I could be together. Unrestrained.