Free Billionaire Stepbrother - Secret Lives by Madeline Du Bois

Essential Steel. Once Cynthia and his parents were gone from his life, the MC became his family and he cared more for them than his own parents. He never blamed Cynthia for any of it, of course.  She was so young at the time, and barely even knew him. He knew she had no idea what was going on, and he also knew her own father pretty much abandoned her as well.
     
    But the only relationships he’d ever had with women were nothing but sex, and there wasn’t even much of that to show for himself. He never did learn how to form any deep bonds. It had come naturally with being part of a group, but on his own he seemed to be worthless. He was fucking pathetic, and he knew it.
     
    Those surrounding him erupted in a cheer as he guzzled down his drink and ordered something else. Bryant came up and tried to take his keys, but Dante got in his face, feeling suddenly furious at the man he had so often considered to be practically a brother. But before he could totally ruin their relationship, he backed down. “You can have that drink I just ordered. I’ve probably had too many, so I’m gonna get out of here. Cover for me, okay? I just don’t feel like hanging around tonight.”
     
    Bryant slapped him on the back and walked him to the door, giving him a squeeze before he stumbled out the exit. As Dante looked around at the warm Detroit night, he could feel the humidity in his bones. It was going to rain; he could smell it, and the downtown skyline rose before him. He couldn’t see his own office from where he stood, but he knew it was just on the other side of downtown. He didn’t want to go home to his big, empty apartment. He was feeling down, and he knew he was a bit drunk. Despite this, he rode his bike up to the office, knowing it would be empty other than security and the janitorial staff. He could sober up there and think through his next move with the MC. It always felt more comfortable to him than his apartment anyway.
     
    When he got to the office, he hid the bike around the back; the side not facing the main road. He left his jacket on top of it so his patch wouldn’t give his secret away. His bike was recognizable, and he didn’t need questions later if any of the club drove by on their way home or to the after party.
     
    He swiped his card to get into the building and tried to look natural as he passed the two security guards on the first floor before getting to the elevator and hopping on. It was up to the fourth floor for him and to his office. Luckily, he only passed one more officer before reaching his door and unlocking it. He was sure to lock himself in and shut the shade.
     
    Dante pulled out a bottle of Jack Daniels from the drawer at the bottom of his desk. He kept it there for the occasional office celebration, but he was feeling like he might need a little liquid courage while he figured out how to take down the faction that was rising against him in the MC. He was almost sure it was only a matter of time before they did something drastic. But as he sat there thinking it through, he had the increasing urge for some help, a clear mind to go over the problem with him, but who?
     
    There was only one person who knew his secret and might be able to help him figure it all out. So he picked up his phone and texted Cynthia, telling her he needed her at the office for a work emergency.
     
    * * *
     
    Cynthia sat up in bed to the sound of her phone buzzing. She had laid down only an hour before and was trying to get some rest. Winslow had assaulted her with phone calls almost all night, and she was getting tired of it. She was ready to threaten a restraining order when she looked at her phone and saw that it wasn't her ex boss, this time, but her new one.
     
    The time read 12:07 a.m., and she wasn't sure why Dante would text her at such an hour. The message had a lot of typos, but he wanted her at the office for a work emergency. It wouldn’t be the first time she worked that late. Winslow often had her