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Somewhere downstairs, a loud thump echoed through the house. The music paused. Five beats of Maxim’s heart against my ear passed before the melody picked back up.

A slight crease formed between his brows. As much as I wanted to keep him to myself, there were people downstairs who needed him. Needed us.

To save him the trouble, I handed him the discarded clothes. Despite not having siblings of my own, I understood the drive, the need. In the madness of it all, I hadn’t considered how they’d react to me dating their brother.

Dating?

I laughed to myself as I browsed the selection of clothes in his walk-in closet. Since when had that word even existed in my vocabulary?

In a strange twist of events, this turned out to be the best day of my life.

I slipped on a black dress shirt paired with black underwear and styled it just like he would, unbuttoning the top buttons. The only thing missing was a chain around my neck, but I much preferred his hands wrapped around it anyway.

Lost in flashbacks of the amazing sex earlier, I returned to the bedroom just in time to find Maxim’s colossal frame leaning against the doorframe, waiting. He took in my outfit without commenting, though his green eyes gleamed with something darkly possessive.

We faced each other, the same clip playing in our minds, before I jumped up, wrapping my legs around him in a piggyback style.

Voices drifted from the direction of the kitchen. There, gathered around the kitchen island, the rest of the family hung out.

Alisa was the first to spot us. Out of all these gangsters, she was probably the most observant. She shrieked with excitement at the sight, the sound loud enough to alert the rest of the men.

“Yes!” she yelled, surprising me when she ran straight to Enzo, her hand outstretched. He spared her a glance before reaching into his pocket.

Bouncing on her heels, she barely reached the top of his chest, but her attitude made up for the height difference. “Pay up, Italian.” She wiggled her fingers.

Her brothers, the poor souls who’d fallen victim to her shenanigans, smirked knowingly. A stack of hundred-dollar bills landed in her hand, her fingers trapping the cash before she stuffed it down her bra.

With a wide grin, she finally turned to us.

“I always wanted a sister.” A sloppy kiss landed on my cheek. “Even if you end up dumping his ass,” she whispered between hiccups and giggles.

“Hey!” Maxim protested, his voice filled with humor.

Ignoring his sister’s eye roll, Maxim embraced her. When his gaze landed on Enzo next, he didn’t miss the chance to tease.

“I guess you’re stuck with me now,” my man grinned.

“You’re a costly fucker,” my best friend shot back .

By the way things were shaping up, there was no choice but to accept the reality the two found themselves in.

“To Tay and Maxim,” Enzo smiled, raising his glass in a toast. “Let them live dangerously and love even more furiously.”

Everyone cheered. Even though it felt exaggerated, we lived for the small wins. The little moments that gave us a reason to celebrate.

When the crowd settled, a bittersweet laugh escaped the Sicilian. Before he opened his mouth, I knew the next words would come as a warning.

“If you hurt her, she and I will bury you alive.” A daring grin flashed on his face, but Alisa was there to wipe it away with a poke to his ribs.

I looked at the man and saw the brother I had never had. My legs carried me over to where he stood, and I squeezed his arm in appreciation for all he’d done and was willing to do.

We all fought hard for what we had, for where we were. And we’ll never stop fighting.