Page 51 of Stepson

Marcus left early this morning and still isn't back. Good, I don’t want him here. Part of me wants to march upstairs and pack a bag, running from this home, but I know Marcus will hunt me down until he finds me. There is no place to run or hide. The only way out is if Marcus is six feet under or in prison; two things I know won’t happen anytime soon. I’m stuck in this marriage whether I like it or not.

Gabe’s face fills my mind as my bottom lip trembles. I miss him so much. Will Marcus keep his word and bail his son out? Or have I agreed to stay with the devil for no reason? This last week has been the best week I’ve spent in the last seven years, and I wouldn’t trade it for the world. I just hope Marcus keeps his word. Gabe doesn’t deserve to be in jail any less than I deserve to be here, but I’ll do it for him.

I hear the front door open and Marcus’s expensive leather loafers stepping on the marble floors. There is no way in hell I’ll still be sitting here when he enters. I never want to see him again.

Slipping from my spot at the kitchen island, Maggie watches me with careful eyes as I avert mine, heading for the back stairs and straight up to my bedroom. I don’t even want to look at Marcus let alone be in the same room as him.

I can’t even stare at my own bed without thinking about Gabe and where he is at the moment. It kills me not to know what’s going on, but I don’t want to give Marcus any reason to further punish Gabe for nothing. As far as Marcus is concerned, Gabe means nothing to me, and I want him to keep thinking that.

A light knock echoes from my door as my heart sinks, knowing it’s Marcus but hoping it’s just Maggie.

"Are you decent?" Marcus asks, but before I can reply, he marches in and looks right at me. His eyes fall down my body and make me shiver uncontrollably. My own husband makes me uncomfortable.

"Where have you been?"

The only reason why I want to know is to make sure he kept his promise. If Gabe wasn't bailed out, I agreed to stay with this monster for no reason and there is no backing out now. As long as Gabe sits behind bars, I’m bound to his father for the rest of my life.

"I had a few things to take care of; none of which concern you," he snaps.

My mouth opens and shuts several times before I just stand there, watching my husband look around my bedroom as if he were looking for something. There is nothing in here that can damn me, but the look on Marcus's face says otherwise.

"You look like shit. Have you been crying?"

I cross my arms over my chest and say nothing to him. He doesn't deserve an answer. I just want him to leave, but he isn't going anywhere when he marches right up to me and pulls my arms down and grabs my face.

"You're more beautiful than I remember," he whispers before he lowers his mouth to kiss mine.

I don't kiss him back as every muscle in my body tenses. There isn't an ounce of love in my body for this man and his lips on mine make me feel sick.

He tries to shove his tongue into my mouth, but I bite him.

"Ah, what the fuck?" He barks as he steps back from me. "What? A husband isn't allowed to kiss his own wife anymore?"

I look away from him as tears blur my vision. How do I tell him I never want him to touch me again without him freaking out? Marcus is a dangerous man. I may be his wife but I knowin my heart he could destroy me if I’m not careful. I mean, look what he’s done to his own son!

“Look at me!”

I jump from the volume of his voice, forcing myself to look at him. His brows are furrowed and his chest rises and falls with heavy breaths. Yeah, he’s livid.

“Answer me when I ask you a question, Bentley. Am I not allowed to kiss you anymore?”

I’m terrified to answer him truthfully, especially when he’s this wound up. Crossing my arms over my chest again, I slightly shake my head because I’m not able to use my words at the moment.

“So, I’m not allowed to kiss you anymore, but my criminal son can fuck you?”

Wincing, I squeeze my eyes shut and wish for this to be over already. If this was anyone else, I would have stood up for Gabe. I would have told the person to watch their mouth, and that Gabe isn’t a criminal.

“Answer me!” He screams.

When I don’t, he storms from my bedroom and slams the door behind him so hard a photo falls from the wall and breaks on impact. I let out a sob as my knees weaken and buckle beneath me. I fall onto the end of my bed and cry into my hands. How did I let things get this far? I should have walked away a year into our marriage when he changed and made me move to my own bedroom. What was I thinking?!

It’s obvious I wasn’t, though. Gabe wasn’t in the picture back then, and I had nothing to fight for. Marcus took care of me and brainwashed me into believing I needed him.

“Mrs. Price?”

My head whips up to find Maggie stepping into my bedroom with concern on her face. I let out a sigh of relief before I inhale adeep breath. Crying isn’t going to do me any good, but I just can’t help myself.

“I’m okay,” I lie, wiping the tears from my cheeks.

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