Page 56 of Stepson

I slip through the shadows along the green hedges where the cameras won't pick up my movements before I wait and watch the camera on the north corner of the mansion. As soon as it turns, I haul ass to the back of the house before I slip into the bushes where I fucked Bentley against the house.

The gardener's door to the basement is in sight, and I only have one camera to get by before I’m in the clear. I watch it like a hawk as it moves in the direction I need it to go before I run like a bat out of hell from the bush and onto the basement terrace. I’m finally in the clear.

After I unlock the door and slip in, I notice a few security lights are left on in the hallways and make my way to the stairs leading to the kitchen. From there, I know I can slip up the kitchen stairs unheard and right to Bentley's bedroom.

Some of the stairs leading up from the kitchen creak beneath my feet as I freeze and hold my breath. I don’t know much about my father but memories from when I was a kid come rushing in. He was a light sleeper sometimes and the slightest sound would have him barreling out of his bedroom to yell at me for being out of bed.

When I don’t hear a peep, I continue on and quickly find Bentley’s door. My gaze moves to Marcus’s door just a few down from hers and it takes everything I have not to march into his room instead and smother him with a pillow. I want him dead, but I also want him to suffer for the wrongdoings he’s done in his life. I will put Marcus behind bars where he belongs and make him feel how I’ve felt for the last seven years. The only difference will be that I’m innocent and he isn’t.

My heart thunders as I slowly open her door and slip in, careful to shut the door behind me just as quietly. Then I turn to her bed and see her sleeping form and my heart races even faster. She’s okay. She’s still here.

I walk over to her side and stare at her face, pleased to find that she looks so peaceful. The bathroom light is left on and illuminates her bedroom just enough for me to be able to truly see her. I do a quick inspection of her skin that I can see, and I’m happy to not find any marks on her. If I had, Marcus wouldn't see the light of day.

"Gabe?"

My eyes shoot up to hers as our gazes connect. The last time I saw her was in our hotel room, and I've not been able to explain what happened to me.

"Hi," I whisper, gently rubbing her arm before she shoots up and throws both of her arms around my neck.

She sobs into my neck as I hold her tightly, thanking God that she’s okay. Her scent invades my nose, and I bury my face into her hair. We've only been apart for a few days but it felt like forever.

"What are you doing here? How did you get in? Marcus will be livid!" She sits back, looking at me with fear and confusion on her features.

I hold up a key. "Maggie told me the way in. I had to see you, Bentley. I'm so sorry for how things ended up."

She shakes her head. "Don't apologize. I'm just so thankful that you're okay and not still in jail."

My thoughts darken as I recall Marcus's words to me just yesterday. I have to know the truth even if my heart already knows.

"Did you seriously tell Marcus that you'd never see or speak to me again if he bailed me out?"

"I had to! He wouldn't have bailed you out otherwise."

My jaw clenches. "Was it his proposal or yours?"

"His!" She shrieks as if I’ve asked her the most insulting question in the universe.

I sigh. "Thank fuck." I cup her face, staring deeply into her eyes. "Are you okay?"

She nibbles on her bottom lip to keep it from trembling before she shakes her head.

"I never thought I'd see you again," she whispers.

"Fuck, baby, you and I both know that would never happen. I couldn't stay away from you if my life depended on it. You're the reason I get up in the morning. You have to know that."

Her gaze falls before I grab her chin and force her to look up at me.

“What’s wrong?”

She takes a deep breath before asking, “Why didn’t you tell me that you remembered who I was?”

The blood drains from my face as I stare deeply into her eyes. How did she find out?

“Bentley, I…”

“Things would have been so different if I had known! I walked on eggshells around you because I thought you didn’t remember me. I thought you were just using me for sex. I—”

“Are you kidding me? Using you for sex? Baby, I could have used anyone for that.” She tries to look away from me but I hold her face by her chin. “I didn’t tell you because I wanted you to choose me.”

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