Taken - A Gangster Stepbrother Romance by Michaela Adams

her in on their story and life.
     
                  She didn’t know how many hours had passed as she read but soon the light was much dimmer. Emma looked out the window and saw the orange light casting a beautiful glow over the large manicured lawn.
     
                  Antonio was still out. She hadn’t yet heard him return from whatever business it was that he did. Lowering the book, she instead rested her chin on the sofa back and stared out at the window, losing herself in the deep blues and golds of the sky.
     
                  Knock knock!
     
                  Emma’s head snapped up.
     
                  A man who looked just as surprised as she did was standing at the door. He looked to be about in his late forties. He had brush of salt and pepper hair that was kept closely cropped. He wore a formal three piece suit which was always an unusual sight in California. But the lines on his face were kind and his blue eyes twinkled with good humor.
     
                  “Can I help you?” Emma asked, wondering who this man was and why he looked like he was fighting back a pleased smile.
     
                  The smile won and the man gave her a warm one as he looked her over. “Well, so you’re the Del Marco sister,” he said as if relieved and happy.
     
                  Emma stiffened. She still did not identify with that name and was sure she never would. “I’m Emma,” she answered.
     
                  The man nodded then raised his brow, silently asking permission to enter. Emma nodded slowly.
     
                  “I’d always been curious about what you would look like or sound like,” the man said as he took a seat on the couch opposite her. “My name is Steven Wells. I’m chief legal counsel at DM Holdings.”
     
                  “Oh,” Emma said as if that made complete sense. “Er…how do you know who I am?”
     
                  Steven gave her another warm grin. “Well, I didn’t know who I’d find in the library. All I saw was the light on and the doors open and it’s been a long time since I’ve seen that,” he said, his eyes clouding over a little. But they brightened almost immediately once he looked her over again. “But once I saw you in here, I knew you were little Emma.” He gave an embarrassed laugh. “I’m sorry. You have to excuse me. I’m so used to hearing you called ‘little Emma’ that I forget you’re a woman now.”
     
                  Emma stared at the man, perplexed. No one in her life had ever called her ‘little Emma.’ Ever. “Who calls me that?”
     
                  Steven’s face took on an expression of instant understanding as he realized how little Emma actually was aware of. “Well, your father at first. Gabe was always calling you that,” he said. Emma tried not to flinch at hearing the mobster’s name used as her father. “And then Tony called you that as well up until a few short years ago.”
     
                  Emma began to regard this man under a different light. This was the first person to speak to her kindly while also divulging information. “You knew both Gabe and Antonio Del Marco?”
     
                  Steven nodded. “I’ve worked with the Del Marco family for years now. I met Gabe when he was trying to build some kind of munitions factory out in the Inland Empire. I told him it would never work and as plans came together, he saw that it wouldn’t either. Since then, he would get in contact with me every so often for some legal counsel or advice.” The lawyer smiled. “I was there when Gabe married Phyllis. And I was one of the first to hold Tony when he came home from the hospital.”
     
                  Emma was in awe. This man seemed like a good and kind person and yet he spoke of the notorious Del Marco men as if they