Forbidden Temptation My Mafia Fiance's Alpha Father (Brooklyn and Aden)

Chapter 19 Aden

When I walk into my office, I'm surprised to see Hudson standing there, staring out the window, watching a car pull away.

"Who is in that car?" Hudson asks.

I cross to my desk and sit behind it, folding my hands. I take a moment to study my son. Hudson is tall, handsome, and intelligent, but he doesn't yet have the grit that he needs to lead this family.

He has the smarts, the cunning, but right now he couldn't stomach doing the things I do for our family.

"If you already know," I say, "then why don't you just tell me what you're thinking?"

"Fine," Hudson bites out.

I'm happy to hear some anger in his voice. He turns to stare me down, something very few people on this earth can get away with unless they want to lose their eyeballs.

"That's my girlfriend's family, riding away in that car. What did you do to them?"

"I did nothing to them. I did a favor for Brooklyn Knox, this girlfriend you never told me about. Tell me, how long have you been seeing her?"

"Cut the crap, Dad."

I smile. Finally, a little fire. I like seeing his wolf flashing the same bright green in his eyes that mine does. It's about time his wolf starts to show itself more.

"You know I've only been seeing her for a few months. You know—"

"I know," I interrupt, "that she is not who you thought she was. And I know that you've already heard all about this from your gossip of a bodyguard. So why don't you cut the crap and ask me your real question."

Hudson grits his teeth and puts his hands in his pockets, in so many ways the very picture of me "Do I really have to mate her?"

"You have been engaged to Brooklyn Remington since your childhood," I say. "It would be an

advantageous match. She has the pack connections, the family, the money you'll need to keep this family afloat. The question is...do you want her?"

Hudson looks away from me, and I can't quite place the look on his face. "She's fine. She's very nice. And funny."

I raise an eyebrow. "Is that all? She doesn't do it for you, Hudson? Doesn't raise your...heart rate?" Hudson clenches his jaw and scowls. "No, it's nothing like that. It's just "

"It's just what? Spit it out," I grind out. "Is there someone else?"

"No," Hudson says quickly, running a hand through his hair. "I have...I have lots of girlfriends, you know. Girls for different...occasions..." He mumbles this, and I shake my head, resigned.

I know my son has... proclivities. Frankly, I don't care, as long as Hudson does his duty by our family. He isn't the first wolf to prefer a "rougher" hand, and he won't be the last. But he'll provide an heir for this family, and if he's not going to be in love with this mate, he may as well take a mate who will benefit this family.

Without being part of a pack, there are no guarantees for us. With Remington being an Alpha, at least if something happens to me before Hudson is ready to take over, I know he'll be protected.

"You will take a mate," I say, my voice granite, final.

"I will," Hudson says, his head hanging a little, acknowledging his obligation. "I just want to make sure she's the right one."

I stand to put a hand on Hudson's shoulder, glad to see him acknowledge his responsibilities. "So, what are the objections to a girl like Brooklyn?"

Hudson shrugs.

"What," I press, giving him a little shake. "Is she...impure? Does she fool around with other guys?"

Hudson looks up at me, frowning. Almost as if he's a little pissed off at my implications. Good. He might not feel anything romantic for her, but he seems to care for he in some way.

"Come on, Dad," he snaps. "You know she's not. You know Brooklyn is...pure. I'm the only guy she's ever really dated. And I haven't touched her."

I raise an eyebrow at that, silently asking why not, but Hudson frowns and shakes my hand off his shoulder.

"We barely started dating, okay? There wasn't...time."

"She's a good girl," I confirm, looking over my son's shoulder out the window. "She's loyal, kind, innocent. But brave, too.

My mind wanders for just a moment as I consider my interactions with Brooklyn. Her wide-eyed

innocence, her creamy ivory skin, that long red hair. I was impressed with her performance today, too. She has grit that she doesn't know she has.

She reminds me of the Sicilian girls I met when I would go back to Italy with my mother as a boy-delicate by one turn, temperamental the next, at once a dove and a viper.

Brooklyn doesn't realize it, but she was built for this life.

It's in her blood, and I realize that I'm looking forward to showing her everything this life can be.

My thoughts turn to those moments

in the club, when I had been fooling Davis into thinking Brooklyn was my plaything Fooling myself, really. Kd been hard as a rock, looking down at her supple form, that soft curve of her breast after I snapped the strap ofher dress-

I blinks, bringing myself back to the room, and find Hudson looking at me strangely. I clear my throat,

keeping my face unreadable.

"She'll be a good wife and mate,

son," I say, patting him on the

shoulder again. "You can't do better and you could do a hell of a lot

outside of the arrangementenet

worse. And it's good you met

least

you two know you like each other to begin with. That will make things...easier."

Hudson shrugs, not meeting my eyes.

"What is it?" I demand.

"She's just kind of...mad at me," Hudson confesses. "We kind of had a fight. A big one." He looks up at

the ceiling. "And now she's upstairs. And we're engaged."

I frown at him, then, a little frustrated.

"Pull it together, boy."

My voice is cold, and I'm suddenly

tired of Hudson's behavior. For fuck's sake, he's being asked to take on a gorgeous spitfire of a she-wolf to be his mate, and he's acting like the world is crumbling down around him. And it's not like he's going to stop seeing his...lovers...on the side. He'll have his cake and eat it, too.

Hudson needs to man up and stop acting like a child.

"One day you'll have control of this family, and the least difficult thing you'll have to control is that girl. Toughen up, Hudson."

Hudson straightens his shoulders, trying, but still doesn't meet my gaze. "What should I do? How do I do

it?"

"Teach her," I explain. "She's not part of this world, and if she's going to survive in it, you've got to teach her how to be a mafia wife. Her life is in your hands."