Page 73 of Stepson

"What kind of charges can you use here?" I ask as I scratch the back of my neck.

He blows out a breath, looking over his notes. "Blackmail on Mrs. Price, extortion or bribery of the police department, and…" he trails off as he looks up at me, "and possibly stalking. Other than that, we don't have much to work with. This isn't enough to rid Marcus of your life. He will fight this and probably get a slap on the wrist, a hefty fine, and then be able to walk free."

Now I’m the one blowing out a breath as I slump down on the edge of the bed. Bentley crawls up behind me, lying her head on my shoulder as she runs her fingernails lightly across my back. I know she’s trying to calm me, but it honestly isn't working. My father is going to get away with this shit again! What do I have to do to destroy this prick?!

"I know this isn't what you want to hear, but without further evidence of his work with the police department, or worse, we don't have a solid case," Kurt says.

I want to punch something. Preferably my father, but he isn't here. My jaw is tight and a headache grows at the base of my skull. I want to kill someone.

"So, we just let him walk away?" I ask through gritted teeth.

Kurt shakes his head. "No, he doesn't get to walk away." He moves his gaze to Bentley. "You were married to the guy for several years, don't you have anything?"

I feel Bentley shake her head more than see it. “He kept me in the dark on everything. I knew nothing.”

Glaring at Kurt, I beg the universe to throw us a bone. We need something concrete to take this asshole down. I think it’s time to play dirty just like he would.

Kurt stands up, putting his notepad back into his briefcase before he hands me back the phone.

“Send those photos to me, and I’ll build a case against him. In the meantime, lay low, move that Jeep, and don’t stay in one place for long. I’ll be in touch, Gabe.”

I walk him to the door before I grab the Jeep keys and follow him out. My nerves are wrecked and now I feel defeated. The evidence we found isn’t enough and watching Kurt get in his fancy Mercedes before he drives off makes me feel worse. If our lawyer doesn’t feel hopeful about taking him down successfully, there is no hope for us. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

As I move the Jeep to the backside of the motel, I think about other ways of taking him down. There has to be something so damning that the prick can’t get out of this, but what is it? I park the Jeep between the large dumpsters out back and walk around to the front of the motel before I go back to our room. I just can’t believe we’re losing all over again. Is there no justice against this asshole?

Bentley stands in the doorway as I approach. Our eyes connect but no words are said. I hate how I can’t fully protect her. As long as my father is free to do whatever he pleases, neither of usare safe. I know he’ll come after us until he gets us. We can’t run forever.

“Let’s go to bed,” she whispers as she holds her hand out for me to take.

When our hands touch, a shot of electricity runs through me and it only causes me to want to fight harder for her. But at the moment, I feel completely defeated and don't know how to fight anymore. Without that second lockbox or more evidence, we’re basically screwed.

I let her pull me into the room as I kick the door closed, locking it behind me before she tugs me to the bed. We crawl in without a word, our eyes doing the talking. I know I should say something, but I have nothing for her. How can I promise her safety when I’m so unsure myself?

She shuts the lamp off, letting the white glow of the TV be our only light source. We face each other as our legs entwine before she places her hand on my chest. The warmth of her palm slightly calms me, but I still have nothing to say. I can't even tell her I love her because I’m that wrecked.

Closing my eyes, she moves her hand to my cheek and brushes her thumb over my bottom lip. I curse my father for ruining everything. Again. But for now, I need to sleep before I jump in my Jeep and go murder the bastard.

Chapter thirty-eight

Bentley

Watching Gabe sleep is something I’ll never get used to. His soft features while his chest rise and fall are mesmerizing, and the ink that stretches across his skin tells stories only he can decipher. When he’s asleep, it’s as if everything has lifted from his shoulders and he can finally breathe. I can’t even begin to imagine what he’s been through at the hands of his own father, and because I love Gabe with my entire being, I’m about to do something stupid.

I carefully slip out of bed so I won’t wake him as I begin to get dressed. My eyes never leave him in fear he’ll catch me. How will I explain to him I’m getting dressed in the middle of the night? Plain and simple, I can’t.

The keys to the Jeep are in clear sight, but I won’t chance getting caught in that so I steal Gabe’s phone and slip out the front door. I’m lucky to find the number to a taxi service on a billboard just outside the motel, dialing it as quickly as I can before Gabe wakes and sees that I’m missing.

Within just a few minutes, the taxi service confirms they’ll pick me up, and now I just have to sit here and wait, thinking about what comes next. I know ways into the mansion most people don’t know about, and I know exactly where Maggie keeps all the keys. I’ll get in, grab the second lock box, and be out of there before anyone even knows what happened.

I know it’s stupid to do it alone or even at all, but it needs to be done. We can’t take Marcus down without it, and I refuse to let him walk away free. I’ll spend the rest of my life taking Marcus down if I have to.

The taxi shows up when it’s supposed to, and before I know it, we’re parked on the street just a few houses down from the mansion. My heart is pounding out of my chest as I pau the driver with my diamond studs, asking him to wait for me. He’s more than willing, especially since he spoke about his wife the entire drive over and how he doesn’t know what to get her for their anniversary. A pair of genuine diamond earrings should do the trick.

I get out and sneak up the street where I know there is an entrance to the back of the mansion through some shrubbery. All the security lights are off, which I think was strange, but make my way to the back anyway. And that’s when I notice the little red light on the security camera isn’t blinking. Why would they be off? I know the mansion didn’t lose power because I can see into the basement where the storage room is lit up like a Christmas tree.

This isn't a trap. It can’t be. How would Marcus know I’d choose tonight to come back? He wouldn’t. Not even Gabe knows what I’m doing, so what gives?

Sneaking into the basement, I make my way upstairs to the kitchen as quietly as I can. Maggie's stash of keys are just inside the pantry, and the sooner I find the office key, the sooner I can get the hell out of here.

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