Page 2 of His Stepdad Wears Leather

Walt leveled a glare. “I don’t need your… demons… rubbing off on him.”

“Demons?” Brody surmised what Walt was getting at, but he wanted the asshole to spell it out and own it.

Walt hissed in a breath, teeth clearly on edge. “Your…homosexuality.”

Brody narrowed his stare. “There’s nothing wrong with being gay, Walt. Last I heard, you were gay, too.”

“I allowed myself to be tempted into sin, but fortunately for me, I was shown the light. Now I have a loving,godlywoman… one who helped me on the path to redemption.” Walt paused, searching Brody’s face. “It’s not too late for you, too, you know? To find redemption and forgiveness.”

“I’ve done nothing needing redemption and forgiveness.”

“Your very existence says otherwise.”

Hands clenched into fists, Brody wanted to unleash the anger brewing inside—but little footsteps sounded down the stairs behind him. Noah’s luggage clunked down each tread as he slowly marched down. The boy obviously needed help, but with the cast and crutches, he wasn’t exactly the one to do it. “You gonna help him?”

Walt didn’t move a muscle.

“I can do it!” Noah chirped while Brody moved closer to the foot of the stairs, worry straining his body.

“If you treat your children like they’re weak, that’s what they’ll become,” Walt said, smiling smugly.

No, you’re just a lazy asshole. Brody let out a relieved sigh once Noah had managed the stairs. Biting his cheek, he forced a smile. “All ready to go, little man?”

“Yep,” Noah cried happily. “I wanna seethe princesses!”

“Princesses?” Walt scowled. “Boys don’t like princesses. I thought you wanted to see Mike and Sully?”

“Them, too,” Noah chirped happily.

Walt didn’t seem appeased. “Take your bag on out to the car. I’ll be right out,” Walt said, urging Noah outside.

“I’m sure you really need to get on the road,” Brody spat as evenly as he could. He didn’t need a continuation of the holy lecture.

Noah was barely out of earshot when Walt continued. “Don’t give in to them. Don’t give in to those she-devils.”

“What?”

“Stace and Geena may have tempted you—as they did me—but there’s still time to repent before you create another life and trap it in this hell of an existence.” Walt cocked his head to the side. “I assume that’s why Stace married you. She wants another child. Am I right?”

Brody remained silent. No way was he answering that. It was none of Walt’s business what their arrangement was.

“Ah, I see.” He grinned, clearly pleased with himself. “What have they promised you in return? Whatever it was… itwasn’tworth it.”

Brody glanced down at his cast a moment before eyeing Walt again.It was absolutely worth it.“I think it’s time for you to go.”

“Don’t give them another child—they will twist its mind. Just like they’ve done to Noah.”

“They’ve given Noah a warm, loving,acceptinghome. Unlike you.”

“That’s what you think. Me? I’ve learned the truth. I won’t allow my son to suffer in this environment much longer.”

Brody’s eyes widened. “Is that a threat?”He’s the boy’s father… I can’t stop him from taking Noah. Could I?

“No,” Walt stated, his eyes narrowing.“A promise.I will protect him at any cost.”

Protect Noah.

Brody carefully stepped out onto the small porch after Walt stalked out to his decade-old Volvo, where his prissy, bleached-blonde wife sat on the passenger side. Noah happily waved from the backseat, oblivious to what was transpiring—thankfully. All the four-year-old realized was he was about to go to Disney World, which was a blessing, to some degree.

---