Page 74 of Stepson

I realize\ the pantry light is on as soon as I slowly push the door open. Fuck! Someone’s still here!

"Hello?" Maggie's voice whispers from the other side of the door, and I let out a breath.

Pushing into the pantry, I freeze in my spot at the sight of her. A thickness fills my throat before a sob escapes. Her poor beautiful face is a battered mess. She can barely open her eyes from the swelling, her lip is all busted and bloodied, and more blood dried to her midnight black hair. The bruises are clearly evident beneath her beautiful black skin and anger fills me.

"Did Marcus do this?" I hiss out as I swallow another sob back.

Fear fills her eyes as she looks away from me, but I won't let her. I grab her shoulder gently and try to calm her.

"Why? Why would he—"

"He thought I knew where you were," she finally sobs out.

My bottom lip trembles as I fight back the tears. Maggie needs my strength right now, and I’ll give it to her.

"Listen to me, Maggie, you need to get out of here before he kills you."

She shakes her head. "I can't go home. Rachael will see and—"

"I'm not taking you home. Sneak out the basement and head north on the street. I have a taxi waiting for me there. I won't be much longer behind you."

Her lids open as far as they can while she looks up at me. "Why are you helping me?"

Her question hurts me. I may not have always been close to Maggie, but I never looked at her like my maid. She’s family.

"Because you mean something to me, and so does your safety. Go now!"

I help her to her feet before I turn to the key cabinet.

"Which one is his office key?"

She gives me a scolding look, shaking her head. "You're asking for a death wish, Ms. Bentley."

"I'll be dead if I don't get what I need out of there. Please help me so we can leave!"

Making her way to the key cabinet, she moves several before grabbing a gold one. She hands it to me slowly as our gazes hold for a long moment, saying things our mouths cannot. I lead her from the pantry and watch as she disappears down the basement stairs before I turn and walk up the other stairs to the second floor.

My thundering heartbeat makes it difficult to listen for Marcus, but I can’t help it. I’m freaking out. I’m just a few feet away from the Devil’s bedroom, and it takes everything I have not to slip in there and strangle him to death in his sleep. That would take care of him, but I want him to suffer for much longer. A life sentence behind bars would be nice.

But then I stop dead in my tracks when I hear the sounds of love making. Moans, pants, and grunts echo into the hallway as every hair on my body stands on end. Is that why he turned off the security cameras? He doesn’t want evidence of who’s here?

Instead of being angry about my husband is cheating on me, I’m furious because he’s fucking another woman as if he doesn’t seem to have a single care in the world. Fucking bastard.

Stepping closer to his room, I have to figure out who’s in there. I won’t be able to leave this mansion without knowing; it might help us in our fight against him. Gabe’s phone is still in my backpocket as I pull it out and get the camera ready, making sure to shut off the flash.

I poke my head in and gawk at the scene in front of me. Marcus is lying on his back while a beautiful, young brunette rides him on top, moaning her lungs out. He hasn’t fucked me like that in years, and it only makes me angrier. Why did he even destroy my life and his own son's if he truly didn't care about me? He’s a monster with a capital M.

After I snap a few pictures, I sneak down the hall to his office and block out the moans coming from his room. Knowing that I’m not jealous only pushes me forward. I want to take him down more than anything.

I quietly maneuver around his office, finding the hidden shelf before I try to open it but stop. The hidden door creaks, and the moans go silent. I squeeze my eyes close and pray he doesn't hear the squeak, and after another moment of silence, the moans are back.

The hidden door opens as the moonlight from the huge office window illuminates what’s behind it. I’m pleased to find the second lock box is still in its place and hasn't been moved. Marcus isn't such a smart man after all, is he?

I grab the box and don't even bother trying to shut the hidden door. I want Marcus to sweat over the fact he’s been "robbed." Prick.

Moving back down the hall, the moans get louder and louder, and all I can do is shake my head. I wonder what he did to get this woman wrapped around his little finger. Did he blackmail her boss and get her fired, too?

"Did you hear that?" A woman's voice comes from the bedroom, and I freeze at the top of the stairs. Shit.

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