Page 71 of Stepson

He sighs. “That’s the dark part of my life I don’t like thinking about, but I know you want to know more so here goes…” After taking a deep breath, he continues. “My mom was starting to date again and I fucking hated it. I snuck out every chance I could. The first crowd of guys I hung out with were justpotheads, but we soon experimented with whatever we could get our hands on. Before I knew it, I was selling whatever I could to fill the void in my life. Marcus was still trying to be my dad and failing miserably at it, and all along, I just wanted my name to mean something.”

My heart breaks for the kid inside Gabe. It’s obvious he never got the childhood he so desperately craved and did whatever he could to make himself feel important. I just want to wrap my arms tighter around him until he feels how important he truly is.

“Selling drugs was easy for me,” he continues before he rubs a hand over his face, blowing out a breath. “That’s when I met Jeff. I was selling on his turf, something I didn’t really understand at seventeen, and he quickly took me under his wings. Before I knew it, I was one of the top sellers in the city. In one year alone, I sold more than two million dollars in drugs. I was the king of the streets.”

"When I met you, were you…?"

He looks over at me, pinning me to my spot. "I was still selling, yes. When we met, I was worth 7.3 million dollars but couldn’t touch it, and I answered to the biggest dealer in the city. After I got arrested, I figured he'd try to help me out, but he never came for me. I lost everything. Try telling the judge you have 7.3 million dollars in drug money."

I know it’s awful of me to think this, but I’m kind of glad this happened. Maybe it was the wakeup call that he needed. Being in prison for seven years got him out of that dangerous life. I just feel awful he had to endure all of this at the hand of his own father.

“What about your time at that club? The one where we…” I trail off, feeling my cheeks flush.

He smirks, lifting a single eyebrow at me seductively. “Where you rocked my world? Yeah, that was just an in for more drug running. The other bouncer was a loyal customer. I sold so muchdrugs out of that fucking place.” His smirk widens as he looks off, clearly remembering a time that seems to be fond for him.

I nibble on my lip, trying to piece everything together when I realize what he had said just moments earlier.

"What are we going to do? For money and food?" I blurt it out before I can stop it. At the mention of him losing everything, I realize I have nothing either. Marcus has footed my bill for years. I don't have a dime to my name.

His eyes darken before he looks away. "I'll do whatever is necessary to keep us safe."

Does he think he’s going to go back to dealing? Over my dead body.

"I packed a few things I can sell. The items will bring us some decent cash." I get up and walk over to my luggage, digging through it until I find what I’m looking for.

"No. I don't want you selling your things."

I snort. "I don't care about these things, Gabe. Marcus bought them for me. I'd rather burn them than wear them ever again. We might as well sell them so we can eat and buy our rooms."

I pull out a small bag of jewelry, knowing there is probably $35,000 in retail jewels in here. My designer shoes and dresses will fetch a pretty price as well. I bring the small bag over to the bed and dump it out next to him.

“These should fetch some good dough. Is there a pawn shop nearby?”

He reaches over and sifts through the jewels, sucking in a sharp breath when he picks up a diamond studded bracelet. He twirls it in his hand before he grabs my arm and holds it steady, draping the bracelet over my wrist. The jewels sparkle beneath the overhead light, casting rainbow reflections around the room.

“Beautiful,” he whispers before he looks up into my eyes. “You deserve all the riches in the world, Bentley. I can’t ask you to get rid of these. You brought them with you for a reason.”

He looks so sad when our eyes connect, and I want him to stop that immediately. I don’t want him to feel sad over something that means nothing to me.

I sit down, grabbing his face. “I don’t need diamonds and riches to be happy, Gabe.Youmake me happy, and I couldn’t ask for anything else. If being with you means I never wear a diamond for the rest of my life, I’m perfectly fine with that. I just want and need you.”

His eyes soften as he grabs my jaw and pulls me toward him, capturing my bottom lip with his before he opens his mouth and deepens the kiss. Our tongues lightly collide, tasting just enough to drive me crazy before he pulls back and rests his forehead against mine.

“I love you, Bentley,” he whispers.

My heart thunders in my chest. I don’t think I’ll ever grow tired of hearing him say those three little words. My love for him is bursting at the seams, and I have a hard time showing it, but one look down at my hand and I do something that’s a start. His gaze follows my movements as I pull my wedding ring from my finger. I had almost forgotten it was there, having worn it for the last several years, it’s become a part of me.

His mouth parts as his breathing picks up pace while he watches my every movement.

“I won’t be needing this anymore.” I put it in the pile of jewels, releasing Marcus from my life emotionally and physically.

When I look back up at him, I nearly sob when our eyes connect. He looks shocked but so relieved at the same time. It’s as if I’m looking at my emotions in his eyes. This action frees us both. I’m no longer Marcus’s—if I ever really was—but now I fully belong to Gabe.

He grabs my hand and brings it to his lips, kissing my knuckle that’s now bare.

“I’m going to put the perfect ring here someday,” he whispers.

I grab his left hand, running my thumb over his ring finger. “And I’ll do the same.”

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