Forbidden Temptation My Mafia Fiance's Alpha Father

Chapter 54 Chapter 54 Brooklyn A whistle escapes my mouth as we walk into the country club. This place has a grand, old-fashioned kind of charm, with freshly buffed fine oak floors, brass chandeliers, and sweeping views.

As soon as we enter, waiter comes up to offer us champagne.

This is one of those times where I wish alcohol had more of an effect on me. My shifter metabolism processes it too fast, so any relief for my nerves will be short-lived.

Aden doesn't make eye contact with him, merely saying, "Whiskey, neat," and surveying the guests. Hudson is more polite, nodding and smiling as he takes two glasses from the tray, passing one to me. We only get a few steps into the room before we are bombarded with attention.

"Is it really you?" an older woman says, hurrying over and reaching out a hand to take mine. "Our darling Brooklyn?" "Um..." I try and smile, already a little overwhelmed. Okay, so maybe this isn't going to be as bad as it was with Louisa. "Hello-" "Yes," Aden says, stepping forward, not letting the woman pullaway. "This is Brooklyn. We're so pleased to be here, Emily." The woman pauses, smiling at Aden. "Well of course, we're always glad to see you, Aden." Her eyes dart between us.

"Emily is your aunt," Aden tells me, accepting the glass of whiskey that the waiter is quick to bring back. He takes a sip, looking to me, apparently allowingto continue the conversation.

I open my mouth, wondering what to say, but Emily picks it up for me.

"We remember you from when you were a baby, of course," she says, gushing, waving several people over from a nearby table.

It's so hard to imagine that all these people knew me. That I had biological aunts and uncles and cousins -people who lovedas a child.

One after another, I meet everyone in the large family, a family I never knew that I had. Everyone wants to say hello, pressing my hand, telling memories they had of me, welcoming me.

People from Hudson's side are here, too. Fewer, of course, but several cousins with the sdark hair and green eyes.

I'm pleased to meet them all, but I admit that I'm surprised that Aden stays at my side the entire time. Sometimes interceding with the answer to a question before I can provide it, sometimes guidingtowards or away from a certain person with a little tap from his hand on my lower back.

I try to ignore the way my back stays warm long after his hand leaves me.

He doesn't interfere-but he is a constant presence during the evening.

As we work our way across the floor, I see that we're heading towards my father and his wife at the front of the room. The children are there Logan stands on a chair to wave atbefore his mother tugs him down.

I hesitate. "I think I'd like to...visit the bathroom," I say, "before I take that on." I cock my head toward Louisa and my father.

"Of course," Aden says, turning with me, putting a hand on my back again to showthe way. "Dad," Hudson says, his face frustrated as he steps in front of us. "I'll take her." He shakes his head. "You've been hovering all night-" "Nonsense," Aden says, frowning at him and nudgingforward.

As a trio, we head towards the alcove with the little restroom sign. Hudson pushes the point further. "Seriously, Dad," he murmurs. "You can go, I'll stay by her side. I can handle this-" "No, you can't, Hudson," his father snaps, taking an aggressive step towards him, cuttingoff in my path.

"You have no idea what the politics are in this room. Who it might be dangerous for her to talk to-who is out for blood, who could be a possible friend." Hudson's face twists, angry. "And whose fault is that?" he asks, his anger not quite masking the hurt in his voice. "You never involvein these conversations!" "It is your fault, Hudson," Aden snarls, Hudson falling silent. "It's your fault. Before tonight you've never been interested in the family business-always more interested in college, and books, and whatever the hell it is you do all day." A pause hangs in the air, and in that moment, I wonder...does Aden know the truth? But Aden continues on. "And tonight, because she's here-" he throws out a hand towards me, "-what? Suddenly you know what you're doing in this world? Suddenly you're a boss, a Don, in the business? Know how to navigate everything it takes to walk between our world and the human world?" Hudson frowns at his father, crossing his arms across his chest, clearly hurt. "I can handle myself," he says, still angry but a little cowed.

He knows, deep down, that his father has a point.

Aden opens his mouth to speak again, but I push past him, eager to get away.

"Um, I'm going to go to the bathroom," I say, looking over my shoulder at them. "While you two...sort this out." They ignore me, turning to continue the argument even in my absence.

When I cout of the bathroom a few minutes later, Aden is still standing there, but Hudson is not.

"Where did he go?" I ask, though I'm not really surprised that Aden won out in the end. "He went to cool off," Aden murmurs, his arms crossed. I can tell he's still pissed, but he's putting on a controlled front for everyone in the room.

After all, with any humans in attendance, him giving off any of his shifter emotions wouldn't be om advisable. Just then, a waiter at the front of the room rings a gong. I jump and blink a little at the noise, surprised. What the hell does that mean? Apparently, everyone else knows because they start to filter away towards tables.

The waiter scurries over to us, bowing a little.

"If you would please, sir, miss," he says, gesturing towards the head table. "Just this way."

Aden nods, and we follow him to a last with long rectangular table with just three seats left. I watch as the waiter pulls out the farthest chair, smiling and looking directly at me. I glance back at Aden, who givesa smirk. I narrow my eyes at him a little, knowing that he's not going to be of any help.

I sigh, sinking into the chair seated directly next to Louisa, my new wicked stepmother.