Fight: A Stepbrother Romance Novella by Stephanie Brother Page A

returning to it. It was cold and callous, but nothing less than I would have expected from the man.
    Mia had curled up on the bedside near Laura, her arm around my mother's shoulders. It was heartbreaking and also touching to see the bond between them, and I was grateful Mia had been here for her during the eleven years I hadn't been. It put a lump in my throat, and I had to keep clearing it as tears burn my eyes.
    A younger version of me demanded I not let Dirk see me cry, and it was the same young boy who had been tormented and bullied by his stepfather in the past. I ignored that voice and the judgmental gaze of my stepfather as he looked up at me upon occasion. My mother deserved to see my pain and know I was crying for her. I couldn't let her leave the world without her knowing how much she had meant to me, and how much I loved her.
    Fortunately, we’d managed a deep conversation a couple of days ago, during one of her lucid periods, though I had never fully revealed my reasons for running away. She hadn’t pressed me, and I hadn’t been able to fully pour out my heart to her, but I’d told her I loved her.
    I didn't even try to fight tears as her breathing grew shallow and raspier, the minutes between each exhalation coming farther and farther apart. I didn't even know if she could see me or hear me, and her eyes never opened, but I let the tears fall on our joined hands.
    It was a little after eleven o'clock when she started making a rattling sound. Her eyes snapped open for just a moment, though they remain sightless and unfocused. A single shudder ran through her body, and the rattling increased. After five minutes of that, she fell silent. The nurse who had hovered in the background stepped forward to check her vitals, and her expression said it all even before the woman said, "She's gone. I'm so sorry for your loss."
    It was difficult to let go of her hand, even as I wanted to run from the room. I knew this was the last time I would ever see her, and I struggled to burn the memory into my brain as I wiped off tears dripping down my face. A second later, Mia was there, her arms around me, and I drew her close as I took her strength. It seemed like a cowardly and pathetic thing to do, since she had been more of a child to my mother the last decade-plus than I had been as an adult, but I needed her. Like always, Mia was there for me.
    "Let go of my daughter."
    I jerked back with surprise, having completely forgotten Dirk's presence in the room for a long moment. I didn't let go of Mia, but I didn't hold her as tightly as I turned to glare at him. I had no words, at least no words that would be productive. Instead, I eyed him with disdain. I no longer had any reason to maintain even the coldest front of politeness.
    "I want you out of my house."
    Mia froze in my arms before lifting her head. She glared at her dad, and I could sense outrage rolling off her in waves even before she spoke. "What the hell? Laura just died, and you’re being a dick, Dad."
    Gaithway's eyes narrowed, and his thin lips pursed. "Don't take that tone with me, young lady. I already told you as soon as she was gone, I wanted him out."
    I stiffened, looking at Mia for confirmation. The trace of guilt across her features confirmed she had known her father's intentions.
    She firmed her lips. "I know what you said, but I didn't believe you would be so cruel. I didn't really believe you would do this. If Paxton goes, I go."
    Dirk's face turned an angry shade of red. "What the hell are you talking about?"
    "He's family, and I'm not going to let you treat him like this. His mom just died, and he's not going anywhere alone right now. So if you want him to leave, fine. He’ll leave, but we’re leaving together—and don't expect me to come back."
    Dirk seemed to swell like an enraged toad, and I hoped he’d have a heart attack and die right there. The justice of it would be delicious. Unfortunately, he took a few deep breaths. His face paled