Page 104 of Stepson

"Are you getting excited for your new adventure?" Maggie asks, pulling me from my mental place.

Excitement is an understatement. Gabe and I can finally have the fresh start we've always needed. In just a few hours, we'll be leaving for California and never looking back.

"Beyond excited, Maggie. We just wish you were coming with us."

She laughs. "Oh shoot, honey, you two don't need me anymore. I'll always be here, but you don't need me. You're about to be a mother, and I'm so darn excited for you." Shepeers over her shoulder before looking me dead in the eyes. "I appreciate you and Gabe not saying anything to Rachel about… well, about who her biological father is. She's been through so much, and I don't need her stressing over that too."

I smile warmly at her. "My lips are sealed, Maggie. If this is your wish, then I will make sure to keep it."

I don't blame her for not wanting to tell Rachel the truth. Finding out who her biological father is might destroy her. I barely know the girl, but I wouldn't want to find out that Marcus was my father.

"He'll be back," Maggie comments.

"What?"

She chuckles. "I can see you looking over at the clock every five seconds, sweetheart. He'll be back."

I nervously laugh, nodding my head. "I know he will be. He's just been gone for a while now."

And he has been. My nerves are all over the place already, and now I’m worried about him. Knowing those men were out looking for him makes my nerves spike even more. If anything happens to him, I’ll be the one destroyed.

The sound of a vehicle pulling into the driveway causes me to stop packing up dishes and jump to my feet. I run to the kitchen window that looks out to the driveway and feel my heart skip a beat when my thoughts are confirmed when I see the Jeep parked there. Gabe’s home. Everything is okay.

But when he steps out of the driver’s seat, I let out a sob and take off running. Gabe’s entire face is beaten and bloodied, and pure panic runs through my body. What the hell?! I run as fast as my legs will allow me to until the driveway pebbles crunch beneath my feet.

I run right up to Gabe, grabbing for his face when he stops me by grabbing my forearms. His right eye is swollen and blue, hislip is cut and bloodied, and his left cheekbone has a nasty bruise forming there.

“Gabe! Oh my God! What happened to you?!” I sob out, trying to figure out what has happened to him.

“I’m sorry I lied to you this morning. I didn’t run errands for our trip. I went to Tony’s to take care of things before we left. There was no way I was going to start a new life with you while my past still loomed over us.”

My hand covers my mouth as I gawk at him. His poor beautiful face is all battered up, and I’m speechless. Why didn’t he tell me? Who am I kidding? I would have tried to stop him and he knew it.

“Gabe…” I breathe.

He chuckles. “You should see the other guys. I’m fine, babe. It’s all over. Tony won’t be coming after me ever again.”

I touch his face regardless of him stopping me before. There is no way I can’t dote on him while he’s in this condition. Mama bear is coming out and all I want to do is bring him upstairs to our apartment and take care of him.

“What did you do?” I whisper.

“Tony wouldn’t let me walk out of there without a fight, so that’s what I gave him. I obviously didn’t walk out without a scratch, but the five men he put up against me are far worse than me. I’m pretty sure one of them will need to be hospitalized.”

I stare down at his hands, noticing that his knuckles are all bloodied and bruised from the fight. My sweet man did this for our freedom? I owe him everything, and now I owe him nurse Bentley.

“Come on, let me take care of you.” I grab his hand and pull him toward the garage and up the stairs.

Once we get into the apartment, I sit him down on the small couch and run into the bathroom for the bottle of alcohol and some paper towels. I hate that he went there alone, and I hatethat he had to fight his way out, but I believe his words. We’re finally completely free from our pasts, aren't we?

I kneel in front of him before I soak the paper towel with the alcohol and dab his open wounds. He inhales a sharp breath as I work, but doesn't move away from me. He watches my every move as I gently wipe and dab at him. Then I cover his wounds with some healing ointment before I move to his face.

He chuckles, turning his face away from me.

“Baby, I’m fine. This is nothing. I’ll heal before you know it.”

“Gabe,” I scold.

“Aren’t we supposed to be helping Maggie move? You can baby me later.”

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