Biker Stepbrother Read Online Free PDF

Sterling,” she said.
    “Care to elaborate?” I crossed my arms.
    “This is what Sterling wants. He’s done so much for us. For you especially,” she said. “Holden’s a nice boy. He’ll give you a good life and this will make him very happy. You’ll never have to want for a thing, Eve. And you know Holden’s like a son to Sterling.”
    I hated how she never stood up to Sterling. I’d witnessed too many times how he’d kindly ask her to do something and she’d willingly oblige with a smile and a kiss, like a trained puppy, even if it was something I knew she didn’t want to do. And believe me, I knew. Our bedrooms shared walls.
    “Holden can still be in Sterling’s life even if I’m not with him,” I objected.
    Mom’s eyes squinted, as if she were about to reveal some top-secret information. “Sterling and I have been talking. I know he’s not legally your adoptive father, but he thinks of you as a daughter. If you marry Holden, he’s going to leave everything to you and me when he dies, and he wants Holden to take over the company.”
    Sterling wasn’t a fool. When he married Mom, he made her sign an iron-clad prenup, leaving her with very little. She needed to secure her future, especially since he had a quarter century’s worth of years on her, and I was the golden ticket.
    “So that’s what this is about?! His legacy? Your security? What about my life?” The voice leaving my throat was not mine. It was high-pitched and nearly shrieking.
    “Keep your voice down.” My mom grabbed my arm, yanking it the way she used to when I was young and I’d ask a question she didn’t feel like answering.
    “I can’t say yes, Mom.”
    She released my arm and threw her hands in the air. “This isn’t up for debate.”
    I could go all night with her, round after round and point for point. There were a million reasons why I couldn’t marry Holden, and not all of them had to do with him. I was young. I didn’t know what I wanted. I wasn’t in a rush to get married or lock down a future for myself.
    And then there was the fact that Gray had just returned to my life. I wanted to get to know him again. I wanted to spend time with him, and there was no way on God’s green earth that Holden would be cool with that. He had no idea about my childhood. Mom told me to lock those years up in a tight box with a key and throw the key away. As far as she was concerned, that lifetime was dead and buried, like it’d never happened at all.
    “The car’s here,” Mom said as she lingered in my doorway. “Let’s go. You’re going to be late.”
    Thirty minutes later, I walked into Café Su behind Mom and Sterling, entering a reserved party room with tea light candles and an overabundance of pricey white flower arrangements covering the tables. The eyes of at least fifty guests were upon me, watching my every move as if they knew what was about to go down.
    “There she is.” A hand on the small of my back turned my attention towards Holden, who looked undeniably dashing in his gray suit and skinny navy tie. His hair was combed and slicked with brill cream, with nary a strand out of place. His mouth widened into a pretty boy smile as he leaned in and kissed me. “Looking stunning as usual.”
    “Thanks,” I said, forcing an appreciative smile as he ushered me to our seats. He pulled my chair out, the picture of a perfect gentleman. I scanned the room for Skylar. If I could find her in time and run off with her, I just needed five minutes of her time. Five minutes to spill my guts to her and get everything off my chest.
    “I think everyone’s here,” Sterling said to Holden, nudging his shoulder and flashing a wink.
    I wanted to throw up. Small, quick breaths left my mouth as the walls began to close in.
    It’s going to be okay. It’s going to be okay. It’s going to be okay.
    “Can I get you anything to drink?” a server asked.
    “Yes. Please. Amaretto and diet,” I said. “Double please.”
    I brushed