Page 54 of Stepson

I hold the door open for her as confusion takes over. Why the hell is Maggie here? Then my heart sinks when I think about Bentley. Is something wrong? Did Marcus put his hands on her? I’ll fucking kill him.

“Marcus can’t know that I’m here, Mr. Gabe.” It’s evident she’s terrified but I have no idea as to why.

“Your secret is safe with me, Maggie. What’s going on? Is Bentley okay?” I shower her with questions, needing to know what ‘s going on before I freak out. If a single hair on Bentley’s head is touched by Marcus, I’ll kill him and gladly go back to prison for murder. I may not be able to be with Bentley after that, but at least I’ll know she’s safe.

She nods. “Bentley is… well, she’s distraught, Mr. Gabe. Marcus has been hard on her since his return, and that’s why I’m here.” She reaches into her pocket and pulls out a key, handing it to me. “This is your entry back into the house. There’s one particular door that leads into the basement that is poorly watched by any of the cameras on the grounds.”

“Cameras?” The blood drains from my face as this is the first I’ve heard about any cameras. Then fear grips my insides, knowing what Marcus will see on those cameras and no doubt take it out on Bentley. I need to get back to her as soon as possible.

“The house is empty,” she pauses to look around as if we’re being listened to. “Mr. Price doesn’t allow cameras inside the home in fear that it will record his illegal activities. The grounds are covered in them, though. Do you know where the basement door is that the gardeners use to bring in the produce?”

“I do,” I reply as I remember using the door often as a teenager to meet up with friends or girls.

“I have inside knowledge Marcus will be out of the house all day tomorrow for business. If you get caught, we never spoke and I never gave you that key.”

I zip my lips. “I won’t say a word.”

Maggie turns to leave, but I still have one thing left to ask her.

“Hey, Maggie?” She stops and turns to me. “Why are you doing this?”

She smiles warmly. “Because you and Bentley are meant to be together. You forget that I’ve helped raise you, Mr. Gabe. Your heart is pure. Marcus’s… is not.”

I look down at the key in my hand as Maggie leaves, closing the door gently behind her. I don’t have a solid plan in my head yet, but I’ll go back to the mansion tomorrow and get my girl. After that, we’ll figure out what to do to take my father down once and for all.

Chapter twenty-eight

Bentley

Tears stream down my cheeks after Marcus leaves my bedroom, slamming the door behind him. He just tried to make me feel like a cheap whore and was angrier than ever when I turned him down. I’m just glad he didn't force himself on me, but now I sit here wondering what’s going to happen next.

Gabe might be out of jail, and I agreed to stay away from him, but my heart aches at his absence. Life without Gabe has been difficult, to say the least, for the last seven years, but now that I've had him in a more intimate manner, I feel like I'll die without him.

As I stand from my bed, my hands shake as I drop to my knees and slide out the box I had kicked under here a few days ago. Rummaging through the contents until I find the picture of Gabeand me makes my heart heavier. We had just met that night yet we looked so happy together. How could things have gone miserably wrong for me? What have I done in my life to deserve this?

Tears blur my vision even further before I blink them away, kiss the photo of us, and slide it all back beneath my bed. Those are memories I’ll cherish forever, and I pray I’ll get a chance to fix everything.

A light knock echoes from my door as I quickly jump up to my feet and wipe my tears away. Marcus was furious when I broke into sobs when he tried to kiss me. I don't need him to see that I’m still crying.

But Maggie's sweet face pops in, and I let out a sigh. Thank God.

"Am I okay to come in?" She whispers.

"Please." I gesture for her to enter before she steps in and closes the door gently behind her. I look over at the time and note that she’s here past her shift. “You’re here late,” I comment.

She looks around as if she really shouldn’t be here and that only makes me more nervous. What did she have to show me from earlier that couldn’t wait? Is it something about Gabe? Is he okay?

Slipping her hand into her back pocket, she pulls something out and sets it on the end of my bed.

“I found that while I gathered Gabe’s belongings from his room. I thought you might want to see it.”

I slowly step up to the item on the bed and pick it up as a sob tears from my throat. My knees buckle, and I land hard on the tufted bench at the foot of my bed. I stare at the photo in shock as my hands shake. There, right in front of my eyes, is a photo of Gabe and I from the night we first met. It was clearly taken by Gabe, and I wasn’t aware he had taken it. I’m sitting on his lapwith my arms wrapped around his neck as I kiss his cheek. He’s all grins, taking the photo with pride in his eyes.

My eyes tear away from the photo as I look up at Maggie. “He knows who I am?”

She slowly nods. “I don’t know why he didn’t tell you, but yes, ma’am, he remembers. I thought you’d like to have it.”

“Thank you,” I whisper as I clutch the photo to my chest.

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