Page 59 of Stepson

“Of course I know that, Marcus. I didn’t even realize that it was open.”

He marches up to me and grabs my chin hard, forcing me to look up at him.

“If I find out that you’ve been in there, you know what I’ll have to do to you.”

I gulp as I hold his gaze. He intimidates the hell out of me, but I don’t want him to know that.

“I didn’t go in there. I know the rules.”

“Good.” He releases my chin roughly before he turns and disappears down the steps.

My eyes move to the tightly locked office door, and I know I have to get back in there. There has to be something damning in there or he wouldn’t have it locked up like Alcatraz. I know it isn’t the photos that’ll take him down. He wouldn’t leave something that could criminalize him out in the open. No, thereis something else in there and once Gabe gets here, we’re going to find out exactly what that is.

Chapter thirty-one

Gabe

As the mansion comes into view, my excitement to see Bentley nearly clouds my judgment and I almost walk right up to the front door. But if I have it my way, Bentley will be leaving with me today and there won’t be a damn thing my father can do about it. He’ll have to find us first.

I see the back garden door as I duck behind the last bush, but I halt when one of the gardeners comes out. I don’t know many of them, so therefore, I can’t trust them to keep their mouths shut. Maggie is the onlyemployeein the mansion I trust with our secret. If Marcus gets wind that I’m sneaking in, he’ll be back in a heartbeat and I’ll be screwed out of my plan to take my girl out of here.

A few more men come out laughing about something while they carry some tools. I’m hoping this is the last of them and they’re on their way to the gardens to work. I don't need them coming and going while I try to sneak in and out.

After it’s quiet for several minutes, I finally make my way to the door quickly and slip in. The basement is quiet except for the low hum of the air conditioning blasting through the vents. Knowing I'll get to see Bentley soon makes my heart thunder in my chest. I didn't sleep much at all last night knowing what today would hold.

But before I can make it to the third floor to see my girl, Maggie stops me in the kitchen, nearly giving me a heart attack when she appears.

She looks around before slipping her hand into the front pocket of her apron.

"Marcus came back shortly after he left this morning and locked his office. Whatever you two need for her freedom is in there." She pulls her hand out and reveals a key to me. "If you get caught, I didn't give you this."

I take the key from her before I plant a kiss on her cheek. She flushes and swats me away.

"I can't thank you enough for helping us, Maggie."

"Oh, shoot, you know I'll always have your back, Gabriel. Now hurry along while you two still have time to dig around. I don't know what you'll find in there, but he keeps it locked for a reason."

I want to kiss her again, but she’s right, we don’t have much time and need to get the dirt on Marcus before he returns. I hold the key tightly in my hand and go up the kitchen stairs two at a time until I reach the third floor.

Turning in the direction of Bentley’s bedroom, I storm down the hallway hoping to find her in her room, but halt in my spotwhen I hear some rustling coming from a room I’ve never seen inside.

My feet carry me to the door as I peer in through the cracked door. It’s a fancy office with floor to ceiling bookshelves behind the desk, littered in books I know Marcus probably uses as decoration and not for reading.

And then I see her.

My heart thunders in my chest at the sight of her. She’s bent over a file cabinet, and I can’t stop from staring at her long legs and perfect thighs. Bentley’s the most gorgeous woman I’ve ever laid my eyes on and watching her now makes the hair on the back of my neck stand on end as my stomach fills with butterflies.

Her long brunette hair falls over one shoulder as she continues to dig, completely oblivious to my presence. I could stand here all day admiring my view, but that won't get us any further.

"Find anything?"

She screams and nearly falls over when she spins to stare at me. Her chest rapidly rises and falls as her hand goes to her heart.

"You scared the hell out of me!" She giggles.

I cock my head at her, biting my bottom lip as I stare at this incredible woman in front of me. It’s obvious she can't wait for me to get here before turning into Sherlock Holmes and the thought makes me feel all warm inside. She wants to find the dirt on Marcus just as badly as I do. Fuck, I love this woman.

"How'd you get in here?" I ask as I step further into the room and slowly nudge the door shut with my foot.

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