Page 92 of Stepson

Maggie watches me for a long moment as she fills and sets the teapot on the stove. There is something in her eyes that tells me she wants to say something, but she doesn't know how to, and I think I know why.

"We're friends, Maggie. I've never looked at you like an employee and you're definitely not that anymore. If you have something to say, please tell me."

Her gaze softens as she leans back against the counter, glancing over at me while I sit at the kitchen island.

"I've been with the Price family for as long as I can remember." The look of happiness flashes across her face before it darkens and melts away. "And I've seen the good, the bad, and the ugly. Gabe has hated his father since he was a little boy, always trying to run away from him. I don't condone what he's doing right now, but I can understand it. The boy must be terrified of being a father in fear that he might turn out to be like Marcus. You and I both know that would never happen, but his fear is real."

She pushes away from the counter and comes and sits next to me, taking my hand in hers. I can't stop the tickle of anxiety from crawling up my skin as I look into her gaze. There is clearly more she wants to share with me, and it doesn't look good.

"Marcus was a mean son of a bitch, Bentley. You know how he can be, but you've never seen him like this. When Gabe was a little boy and after Eric was laid to rest, Marcus was relentless on Gabe. That poor sweet boy took a beating every single day from Marcus. Stephanie tried to step in and protect her son, but Marcus's wrath only turned to her. This went on for a while and it no doubt left some deep embedded scars in Gabe."

I feel nauseous, and I know it isn't from morning sickness. Marcus is a sick bastard, but I never knew it went this far. I’m almost too afraid to hear the extent of Marcus's damage on those around him. The list of emotional and physical damage has to be a mile long, and I want to kill him for it.

The shrill of the ringing phone on the wall makes me jump, pulling my mind from the dark thoughts that swirl there. Maggie goes to it, answering it immediately.

“Hello?” She looks over her shoulder at me and nods. “Yes, she’s here.” She pulls the phone away from her ear and holds it out for me. “It’s Kurt.”

Now my heart is pounding for new reasons as my shaking legs walk me over to the phone before I take it from her. I know Kurt has news about Marcus’s case, and I’m terrified it’ll be bad news. If Marcus walks away from this it’s going to be detrimental to mine and Gabe’s future.

“Hello?”

“Bentley, I’m glad I was able to find you here. I tried to call Gabe’s cell phone but neither of you answered.”

My heart sinks into my gut, knowing why neither of us have answered. The phone is still up in the apartment on the charger after a rough start to the morning.

“Sorry about that. Do you have news?” I change the subject before I start crying while our lawyer is on the line. He doesn’t need to know about our personal problems, and he definitely doesn’t need to know about the pregnancy. I may not be a lawyermyself, but I know it could be bad if Marcus’s lawyer finds out I’m pregnant with my husband’s son’s kid. Jesus, that sounds like an episode of Maury or Jerry Springer.

“I do have news. I have great news, Bentley. Are you sitting down?”

My heart thunders in my chest as I grip the phone cord tightly in my hand, feeling happy tears beginning to fill in my eyes. I can really use some good news right about now.

“Marcus has been found guilty on all counts. I won’t confuse you with all the legal mumbo-jumbo but he’ll serve a minimum of 40 years in Whitney Penitentiary. I’d like you and Gabe to come down to my office today to sign some things."

I think I stop breathing as I grip the phone tightly in my hand. This day felt like it was never going to arrive, but here it is, and I want to scream for joy. Marcus has been found guilty. He can no longer hurt me, Gabe, or anyone else for that matter. Justice has been served.

"S-so Marcus is…" I trail off, unable to catch my bearings. This is all just so surreal.

He chuckles. "Yes, Bentley, Marcus is gone. He was detained and they began to book him into the penitentiary this morning. He won't see the outside world ever again. Well, unless he outlives his 40 year sentence."

Now I’m the one chuckling. I mean, it wouldn't be unheard of for someone to still be alive in their 90's, but let's be honest, it’s extremely unlikely. Marcus is behind bars for good, and there isn't a thing he can do about it. Serves him right, the rat bastard!

The urge to run to Gabe with the good news is strong, but it only reminds me he isn't here, and we now have another hurdle to get over. Why can’t life be easier for us? If it isn’t one thing, it’s another.

I blow out a breath into the phone. “We’ll be there,” I finally reply.

After I hang up with Kurt, I turn to Maggie and grin.

“That was Kurt Lubbock. Marcus has been found guilty on all counts. He’s—”

She screams so loudly my eardrums nearly burst, cutting off my words. I grin as I watch how happy she is. It wasn’t just my life Marcus had screwed up, and I’m truly seeing that now. Maggie runs over to me and hugs me tightly to her chest.

“It’s finally all over with, Ms. Bentley. We can all live freely now.”

I laugh into her neck, holding her tightly back.

“Yes, it’s finally over.”

She holds me back and stares deeply into my eyes. “Don’t let Gabe slip through your fingers. Go find him and tell him the good news and then work through it.”

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