Page 51 of Step Daddy

Ted grunted. “I’m sure you’re stupid enough. Regardless, you get nothing out of me until I see for myself that you’re not making this whole story up to fleece me.”

Think. His brain was mush. Detective Lang had given him all the best things to say, but they’d all evaporated. He tried to imagine what he’d say if he actually did have proof on Ted.

“Then let’s at least agree on a price. After that, I’ll give you the key to the locker I put everything in. Then I’m gone and we never see or speak to each other again.”

Ted folded his arms. “I like the sounds of that last part. But to agree on a price, I’ve got to know what I’m buying.”

“Fake deposit slips.” Kit swallowed hard, his mind buzzing as he tried to come across credible. “And, uh, doctored…” What else might Ted have faked? “Invoices.”

Ted gritted his teeth. “What kind of invoices?”

Kit’s breath hitched. He’d struck a nerve.

“S-services. Like maintenance. Changing the invoices to higher amounts and keeping the difference.”

Ted regarded him as if he were trying to see right through him and into his mind. “Is that what you think I did?”

Dammit. Ted had to suspect something was up.

“It’s what I know you did. If you’re so innocent and didn’t do anything, then I suppose you have nothing to worry about and you won’t mind if I take all the invoices to the cops. What I don’t understand is why you told me to meet you here when I called.” Kit grunted. “What, you wanted to hang out? Missed me?”

“The only thing I miss about you, you little loser, is having someone to blame. When you took off like that, I had to stop taking—” Ted let out a low growl. “Never mind. How much do you want?”

Kit fought to keep from coming unglued. He’d been so close to getting Ted to admit to being the thief. Had that been enough? Judging by the fact that the calvary hadn’t burst through the door meant probably not.

“Twenty grand. That’s pretty cheap to buy your freedom.”

Negotiating with Ted was making him sick to his stomach. Why couldn’t Ted simply come out with it so this would all be over?

“Ha! Well now that I’ve been cut off, it’s a little rich for my blood. How about five?”

Kit’s disgust had reached critical mass. No matter what it was, he was going to cheap out. He couldn’t afford to have Kit live there unless he was paying rent, utilities and buying his own food. He couldn’t take his mom out or get her decent furniture because he had bills to pay. And right now, Ted was negotiating his freedom as if he were buying a used car.

“What happened to all the money you stole? Spend it all on your girlfriend?”

The moment Ted uncrossed his arms and balled his fists, Kit realized what he’d blurted. A shadow crossed Ted’s features like a coming storm.

“What did you say? How do you know about that?”

Ted took a menacing step toward Kit who stumbled back. “I meant uh…you probably have a girlfriend since you…uh…”

Oh shit, I don’t know what the hell I’m doing. Where are the cops?

Ted continued to advance on him until the backs of Kit’s legs hit the edge of the couch. He grabbed the front of Kit’s hoodie, but also got a fistful of shirt and wire as he forcefully tugged him so they were nose to nose. Kit shouted as the wire tore away from his skin. Ted paused, his brow creasing as he ripped at the hoodie, tearing both the jacket and shirt open.

“The fuck is this?” He snarled at Kit. “You fucking piece of shit! You set me up!”

Before Kit had the chance to make an escape, Ted wrapped his hands around Kit’s throat. Kit fell backward, landing on the sofa with a bounce, Ted following immediately after, his fingers digging painfully into Kit’s flesh as he tried to squeeze the life out of him.

Kit struggled and fought with all he had, gripping Ted’s wrists as he tried to wrestle them free from his throat, kicking and bucking, but Ted’s weight was like cement on top of his body.

Black dots danced in Kit’s vision and he couldn’t breathe, his strength leaving him as his struggles grew weaker. A rush of air burned Kit’s lungs as Ted was grabbed from behind and hurled over the couch. Kit caught a brief flash of Gareth before complete chaos ensued. He gulped in more air, his limbs shaking and head so dizzy he fell to the carpet as he choked and fought to breathe.

“Baby, oh sweetheart, are you okay?”

Somehow, Gareth was rocking him in his arms, enveloping him in the safety of his embrace. Kit lost all control, sobbing against Gareth’s chest as he yelled for someone to call an ambulance.

He didn’t need an ambulance. He needed his Daddy.

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