Fall for the one I called brother

"He is such a fine guy". Lora whispered to herself as she stared passionately at her brother, Justin who was busy supervising the maids on their duties.

She had really been admiring and thinking about him lately. She adored him, his quiet strength and his way of making her feel safe, she knew it was not mere admiration. It was more than that, it was a connection she couldn't yet name.

"Take a look at the sunrise, Lora," Justin said, leaning against the balcony railings, a bit distracted while on duty. The sun casted a warm orange glow across the sky illuminating the De Luca's mansion, a luxurious mansion made of glass and stone that sat on the hill in the city of Rome.

Lora smiled, distracted from her thoughts.

"It's so beautiful, but it is not as beautiful as your mom's smile", she said as she tried to cheer him up.

Her words triggered a memory of his mother's 15th year anniversary, pulling him back to that time. Justin was just 10 when death stole her away, it was sudden and no one expected it, 10 years old Justin was told it was a fever that turned to pneumonia.

She was very loyal, she had a passion for turning chaos into order. She got promoted to be the housekeeper after so many years of hard work.

"Lora, you remember how mom would always scrub the marble floor until they gleamed, her apron stained with soap bubbles, and she would laugh at your dad's torn jacket while she fixed it" Justin said.

"She was more than just a housekeeper, she was a family. I miss her, I miss her so much." Lora nodded, her eyes welling up.

He glanced back at the sun as the warm orange light faded slowly into the morning blue.

The two of them stood in silence, the memory of Justin's mom warming them like the rising sun.

After the death of Justin's mom, the De Lucas hadn't hesitated. Lora's parents sat Justin down in their luxury living room, and told him he was theirs now.

"You're not alone, Justin,"

Lora's mom had said, her voice trembling with kindness.

Her dad had added,

"You're a De Luca in every way that matters."

He declared firmly.

From that day, Justin grew up beside Lora and her younger brother. The couple's biological children, in a home where no one outside of their family could tell that he wasn't born into the family. Lora's parents loved Justin as dearly as their own, their affection covering the lines of blood. Justin carried that love like a badge.

"Oh, it's 6:45 a.m", Justin said as he pulled his phone from his pocket to check the time.

He jogged down the stairs and stepped into the kitchen. He knew the chef would need directions, as he listed the things he needed to put in check. His heart was filled with gratitude. He made a quiet promise to repay The De Luca for taking him in.

He wasn't just an adopted son, everyone in the house depended on him. The eldest who held the position while Lorenzo and Maria, Lora's parents, jetted off to their business trips.

The sunlight shone through the floor to ceiling and the windows of the dining room. Justin pushed the door open. The table was set for three; him, Lora and her brother, Smith. He adjusted the fork, his fingers lingered on the cool metal and a wave of memories washed over him again.

"Knife there, napkin here," Lora's mom's voice echoed in his mind, as if she was standing right beside him.

He remembered his 12 year-old-self sitting in the dining room as Lora's mom taught him table manners. Her patience was endless and her smile was encouraging.

He remembered how Lora's dad would show off his luxury watch across the dining table.

"One day, you will run things too, Justin," he would say, winking".

Justin smiled, remembering the playful chaos of that moment. Lora and her brother giggling as they flick peas at each other, their faces bright with naughty behaviour.

Back in the present, Justin smiled at the memory. He wasn't just grateful, he was proud. The De Lucas had given him a life he had never dreamed of, this is the family he replaced with the one he had lost.

Even tho the death of his mom had left a hole in his heart, but this mansion and these people got it filled. He had made a silent vow years ago, that he will make her proud, and he 'll be good to them, And he fulfilled his vows. He was the glue now, just like his mom had been, keeping the house alive while the parents were away.

Justin stood in the foyer, holding a clipboard in his hands, the smell of pancakes curling through the air.

"Lora! Smith! Breakfast is served!" he called, voice echoing up the stairs.

He was smiling, this was one of those quiet, full smiles that only came when the memories crept in. He didn't just feel grateful. He felt so proud.

"This... this was home now", he thought.

"The De Lucas gave me a life I never even dreamed of."

They weren't just a family he found, they were the family that had filled a space left raw and aching after his mother passed.

He'd made her a promise, years ago, to Make her proud and to be good to them. And he had.

A moment later, the door creaked open and Smith came out, entirely rumpled. His shirt was inside out, and his hair looked like he'd been caught in a blender.

"Yo, Justin," he yawned, hopping down the stairs. "You making eggs too?"

"Depends," Justin called back, eyeing his shirt.

"You planning to wear that inside out all day?"

Smith looked down and snorted.

"Fashion, bro. You wouldn't get it."

He ducked a playful swipe from Lora as he reached the bottom step.

"A 19 year old boy, still messy as ever," she said, rolling her eyes.

"Still dramatic as ever," he shot back, grinning.

Justin just shook his head, smiling as the siblings bickered lightly around him. The house was alive. Just the way he liked it.

The three gathered in the dining room. The table now piled with food, pancakes, scrambled eggs and fresh fruit. Justin sat at the head, and dished out plates. Lora teased him, snatching an extra pancake.

"You're too good at this, Justin. What's your secret?" He laughed, a low, easy sound.

"Years of practice, little sis." Smith chimed in, mouth full.

"Yeah, you're basically the younger version of your mom." They all chuckled.

The room filled with warmth, the bond between them was admirable.

Justin loved these moments, the chatter, the teasing. It was his proof that he belonged, that he had earned his place.

Lora sat across the table, her eyes locked on Justin's meticulous movements, she gently bit the tip of her finger with a weak smile dancing across her face.

"Damn it! He's so hot, but he's also family, not by blood though... but he's family " she debated, her thoughts clashing into each other.

She watched how he ran his fingers through his hair, leaving some strands to dangle aimlessly across his forehead, her heart raced faster, her stomach churned.

She crossed her legs beneath the table as she felt a sudden rush between her legs. "What will it feel like to be intimate with this young handsome man?"

she wondered as she gazed at him lustfully.

Smith called her name, jolting her out of her lustful thoughts......

He was oblivious, just enjoyed the chaos, his loyalty to Justin was unshakable. They ate, the clink of forks and the hum of a distant lawnmower was the soundtrack to their morning.

Justin had already instructed the gardener to start his work outside. He glanced at his phone.

"Ohhh.... it's 7:30 a.m. already", he stood up immediately

"Gotta check the pantry before the delivery guy shows up. Are you two okay?" He asked facing them.

He caught Lora stealing a lustful glance at him, it was a spark, he felt the heat of it. He met her gaze, a slow, deliberate exploration, his eyes mirrored the longing he saw in hers. He savoured the moment as he let his eye trace the lines of her face and her body.

He was about to lose himself in the moment when they got interrupted, pulling him back to the present. The tension in the air snapped.

"We're fine, boss man."

"Yeah, don't burn the house down without us." Smith grinned.

He rolled his eyes, heading out, but not before ruffling Smith's hair to distract him. His eyes drifted back to her, she stared at him lustfully till he disappeared.

Justin stepped into the pantry, a cool, shadowy room lined with shelves. He scanned the stock. Cereal, pasta, canned goods, his mind ticking through the week's needs. But then he paused, he couldn't comprehend. The sister he grew up with was now a source of intense , unfamiliar longing. The air around them seemed charged with an unspoken tension he couldn't ignore.

"What's this cravings?"

"She's my sister." he said, his chest tightened.

Upstairs, Lora flopped onto her bed with a long sigh. Her phone was in her hand before her head even hit the pillow.

Tap. Swipe. Scroll.

She navigated through her phone gallery. Her, Smith, and Justin at last summer's beach trip. Sunburnt, goofy grins, arms tangled around each other like they didn't have a care in the world.

She paused, thumb hovering over Justin's face.

"Why does your smile do that to me?" she muttered to herself, barely above a whisper.

She closed her eyes, and the world melted away, replaced by the image of Justin in her mind's eye. Their bodies glued to each other, the intimacy transcended words, each word and kiss was a sensation that resonated deep within her soul.

Her heart thumped a little louder.

"Get it together, Lora..." she said, bringing herself back to reality.

Across the hall, Smith was rummaging through his closet, tossing clothes aside until he found his fencing gear.

"Found it!" he grinned, texting one-handed:

Yo, on my way to practice. Don't start without me.

On his desk, a photo caught his eye. Him and Justin at a carnival. Smith chuckled.

"We look like idiots," he mumbled. "But man... he's the best."

He stuffed the gear into his bag, still grinning.

"Always got my back, huh, J?"

Meanwhile, Justin stepped back onto the balcony. The sun was climbing now, casting a soft glow over the waking city.

He took a deep breath, letting it fill his lungs.

" This day's gonna be full, " he thought. Better stay sharp.

Up in her room, Lora stood by the window, eyes quietly drifting to the balcony below.

She watched him. A quiet kind of watching.

"What happens when my parents come back? her thoughts whispered. When secrets start to spill.....