Paying the Price

by C Davis

  At the end of the day, this is where I belonged. With my family. The girl I loved. And, the miracle growing inside Jenna. My baby. I committed the crime. Paid my dues. Repented for my sins and compensated my faults. My father may have led me astray, but I found the road back to redemption. I was a changed man and I have one man to thank for that. And that man wasn’t my father. He was my brother—Benjamin Grayson. The man who saved me. Protected Chloe when I couldn’t.

  There was one more thing I had to do before I could be cleansed of my father. I had to confess that Benjamin’s parents accident wasn’t actually an accident. Come to find out, my father cut their brake lines. They were murdered by my father. He deserved to know the truth. I just had to find the right time to tell him.

  I’m sorry, Benjamin.

  Please, don’t hate me.

  “Benjamin, we need to talk. Alone.” I whispered.

  “Can we talk later?”

  “Sure.”

  “What’s it about?”

  “I—your parents. It’s about your parents.”

  “What about them?”

  “Please, Benjamin, I need it to be just you and me.”

  “Follow me.”

  I followed him to the garage and leaned on the wall, closing my eyes. Benjamin grabbed two beers from the fridge and held one out to me. “Something tells me I’m going to need this, and by the look in your eyes… you do too.”

  I twisted the cap and took a gulp from the bottle. “My father—it was him. I found out he—he was the one who caused the accident. I didn’t know. I swear if I did, I would’ve stopped him.”

  Benjamin looked up as he let the bottle drop from his hand and whispered. “What?”

  “My father is the reason your parents are dead. There’s something else. It wasn’t them he was trying to kill. For some reason, it was you. I never found out the entire story, but he told me you were the target.”

  He blinked, tears rolling down his face. I waited for him to do something. Curse me. Hit me. Tell me he hated me. But he did nothing.

  “Please, say something. Hit me, or at least cuss me out.”

  “I—I can’t—hate you. Your father did that, not you. So, no, I can’t hate you for something you didn’t do.” He whispered, painfully gazing into my eyes.

  “I’m sorry. I’m so fucking sorry.” I croaked as he pulled me in for a hug.

  “Tell everyone the party is over. I need to be alone for a while.”

  “I ruined everything.”

  “No, you didn’t. Your father did.”

  Chapter 23

  Benjamin

  Why?

  That’s all I could say. Why would Colton’s father want me dead. I bent down to clean up the glass. I let the tears fall. So much pain spread through my chest.

  “Benjamin?” Chloe squeezed my shoulder and sighed.

  “Chloe, my parents—” I choked, holding back a sob.

  “Benjamin, I’m so sorry.”

  I shook my head, not wanting to believe Mr. Davenport wanted me dead.

  Why?

  “Come on, Benjamin. Let me take care of you.”

  I stood up and wrapped my arms around her waist, burying my face into her neck. She ran her fingers through my hair and whispered, “Shh, Master, I’ve got you.”

  I looked up, defeated and broken from the news. “I have to know why. I need to know why he wanted me dead.”

  Chapter 24

  Jenna

  I found Colton in the bedroom with his head in his hands. Something happened, and it had to do with Benjamin’s parents and Colton’s father. I walked slowly, unsure if I should stay to comfort him.

  Should I tell him it would be okay?

  That I was here for him?

  I cupped his face, “Colton, what happened?”

  “Jenna, baby, no matter what I do—I turn everything to shit.”

  “That’s not true. I’m here.”

  “Benjamin, I-I—”

  “Look at me, baby. Take a deep breath.”

  Colton inhaled and exhaled. Tears leaked from his eyes as he croaked out. “My father— he killed Benjamin’s parents.”

  He pressed his cheek against my belly, making my heart break. I wrapped my arms around the back of his neck and tried to comfort him the best I could. “It’s not your fault. It was—”

  “No!” he cried out in frustration, “I could’ve stopped him—stopped my father from attempting to murder Benjamin.”

  “What?”

  “That’s right, it wasn’t his parents that he was trying to kill. It was Benjamin.”

  This wasn’t the strong and fierce Colton I knew. This was someone else. A broken man who felt responsible for something that was out of his reach. I heard a soft knock at the door, but I ignored it. Colton needed me more than whoever was on the other side of the door.

  “Why?” Colton whispered as he looked up with sad eyes.

  “Why what?”

  “Why are you so good to me when all I do is destroy everything?”

  I shoved him back and straddled his waist, cupping his cheeks. “Because I love you. Now, are you going to push away those terrible thoughts, or am I going to have to fuck you until you believe me. I. Love. You.”

  I closed the space and crushed my mouth to his, pouring out every emotion I could. Love. Lust. I wanted him. Wanted him to see that I loved him no matter what.

  “Jenna, baby. I love you, too.”

  I reached down and pulled down his pants, taking him in my hand. I stroked his member as our tongues clashed together. Like a damn hurricane, sweeping everything out of its path.

  “Babe, slow down.” He breathed out as I stroked him faster.

  “Tell me you’re worth it.”

  “Yes, I’m worth it.” He groaned, jerking his hips.

  “Tell me you’re a good man.”

  “Yes!” Colton threw his head back, parting his lips.

  His swelling member throbbed as I pumped him in my hand. Colton’s shallow breaths made me want him. Want his Daddy side to come out, but I pushed those thoughts away. This was about him right now.

  I pulled my hand away and watched his face scrunch up in pain. His eyes darkened as he gripped my wrist. “You’re not finished yet, babygirl. Finish Daddy off.”

  I wrapped my fingers around his member and pumped him. Hard. Fast. From the base to the tip. Making him let out a breath and suck in one as I brought him closer to the edge.

  “I’m going to come.” He moaned, guiding my hand. He spurted on his shirt as I continued to pump his cock. His hips jerked and his breaths slowed when he finally came down from his intense orgasm.

  “Christ, baby, what’s gotten into you?” Colton asked, still breathing heavily.

  “That, my love, is how much I love you.”

  ___

  I stepped out of the bedroom with Colton and made our way to the kitchen. Benjamin was nursing a beer as he sat at the table. His eyes was red from crying, and his face held so much pain. I knew what needed to be done. Someone was going to have to pay Colton’s father a visit. I knew if either one of them went, it would be chaos. So, that left two other people. Either me or Chloe. I didn’t want to, but it had to be done.

  Benjamin peered up to us and whispered, “I just don’t understand.”

  “Benjamin, I have an idea. Maybe if—”

  “No! Absolutely not.” Benjamin hissed, “I don’t want you to put the baby at risk.”

  “Please, if you—”

  “I’m with Benjamin on this. You’re not going near that monster. Look what happened the last time you faced him.”

  “I just want to help.” I whispered.

  “I know, but I can’t let you do this. We’ll find another way to find out.”

  “Colton’s right, Jenna. We’ll find another way. Perhaps, I can visit him.” Benjamin agreed.

  “Are you sure that’s a good idea?”

  Benjamin shook his head, “It’s a terrible idea, but I have to know the t
ruth.”

  I sighed and leaned my head on Colton’s shoulder. “Okay, you’re right.”

  Colton leaned down and whispered in my ear, making me freeze. “I’m going to go talk to my father with him.”

  Fear gripped me, making tears roll down my cheeks. “No, I can’t lose you again.”

  “You won’t baby, we’re going to bring someone with us. Someone that has a lot of power.”

  “You already planned it.” It was meant to be a question, but came out a statement.

  I asked, “Who is it?”

  “A friend.” Colton replied, a smile ghosting his lips.

  Chapter 25

  Colton

  Benjamin and I sat on the bench at the docks. I glanced to him and asked. “Are you sure he’s coming?”

  “He said he would.”

  I sighed, knowing that the man we are meeting is dangerous. To the world, he’s seen as a wealthy businessman. He owns multiple hotel and casinos. Also, owns the most luxurious clubs around the United States. At night, he’s known as someone else. Angelo Valentino is known as ‘The Boss’ of Las Vegas.

  I heard a car pull up, making me look up. Angelo stepped out of his SUV, wearing casual clothes. He stepped up on the dock and nodded. “Benjamin, Colton.”

  “Thanks for meeting us. I know you already did us a favor, but I need another one.”

  “We’re friends, yes? Friends help each other out.”

  “Yes. We’re friends.” I said.

  “How can I be of service?”

  “We need a sit down with someone. Axel Davenport.” Benjamin said through clenched teeth.

  “I’ll have Matteo arrange it. I just need his location.”

  “Livingston, Texas. He’s in the Polunsky Unit.”

  “Not a problem. I’ll have Matteo prepare for his visit.”

  “Just like that? Surely it can’t be that easy.” There’s no way.

  Angelo raised a brow and smirked. “How do you think you got out so easily?”

  “You—” I breathed out.

  “I’m the one who arranged for your release.”

  “Holy shit. Benjamin?”

  Benjamin shook his head, “All I knew was Tilly said she knew someone with connections. I had no idea.”

  Angelo pulled out his phone and pressed the phone to his ear after dialing a number. “Livingston, Texas. Polunsky Unit. Bring me Axel Davenport. I don’t care, just get it done.”

  “I thought we was going to him.” I asked Benjamin.

  “No.” Benjamin whispered, “I want answers and I want blood. Nobody gets away with trying to kill me. He killed my parents trying to kill me. Don’t you want him dead?”

  “I do. After everything he’s done, he needs to pay.”

  “Meet me at this address in an hour.” Angelo said pulling out a pen and paper, scribbling an address. I took it and smiled.

  My father was going finally face his Judgement Day.

  “I’ll see you soon, friends.” Angelo said and walked back to his car.

  “So, we’re really doing this?”

  “Yes.”

  “If you don’t want to go, you don’t have to.” Benjamin said.

  I shook my head and whispered, “I want to do this. I have to know that he’s finally out of my life.”

  An hour later, we stood in the warehouse as my father struggled to break free from the chains. He had been stripped from his shirt with his wrists bound above his head. Matteo was pounding his fist into his face as Angelo watched from the corner. Angelo smiled and stood as we took a seat at the table. My father raised his head and sneered. “Look who it is. The bastard son that ratted me out.”

  “I didn’t rat you out. I brought justice to the one’s you hurt. To Mom, Chloe. Even your own sister-in-law. You brought this on yourself.”

  “Axel Davenport, I’ve heard a lot about you. Even, brainwashed your own son. However, that’s not why we’re here. I want to know why you wanted to kill Benjamin. Why did you kill his parents?”

  “Fuck you.”

  “Matteo, step back. This one’s mine.”

  Angelo stepped forwards and pulled out a jagged knife. He pressed it to his cheek, dragging it down. Axel screamed out in pain as he ran it down his neck and angled it over his throat. “Why did you try to have an innocent boy killed?”

  “Because—he was going to get all my money. Benjamin’s father invested in the church and then one day, he withdrew all the money.”

  “That doesn’t explain why you wanted Benjamin dead. There’s more to the story.”

  “Benjamin’s father, mother, and I went to school together. I dated her for a few months at the end of our senior year. Then, one day she broke up with me. She said she was going to marry him—that she was pregnant with his baby. That’s why I wanted him dead. She was mine and he took her from me.”

  Angelo stepped back, removing the knife from his throat and glanced to Benjamin. “Is there anything else you want to know?”

  “No. I just want to watch him die. To suffer like his victims.”

  “Please, Colton. Help me.” Colton’s father whimpered.

  I scrunched my nose up in disgust and said. “You’re dead to me. Everything you get is what you deserve. I do hope you had the chance to confess before coming here.”

  “Forgive me, son. I’m sorry.”

  “You don’t deserve my forgiveness.”

  “Like you have any room to talk. You’re hands are dirty, too.”

  “I’m not that man anymore. You don’t get to control me. After I watch you take your last breath, I’m going to go home to my family and forget I ever knew you. I hope you rot in hell.”

  My father slumped against the chains and whispered. “You don’t mean that.”

  “Matteo, Axel’s time is up. You know what to do.” Angelo stated.

  Matteo nodded and pulled out his gun. Angling it at his forehead, Matteo pulled the trigger. The bullet seemed to move in slow motion, a feeling of freedom overcoming me. My father widened his eyes as the bullet pierced him between the eyes. Blood splattered against the wall as I took a deep breath. His body fell limp, causing the chains to rattle. I leaned back and closed my eyes, finally being able to be free.

  “Colton, are you okay?” Benjamin whispered.

  I opened my eyes and smiled genuinely “Yes. For the first time in my life, I’m okay. I’m free from him.”

  Chapter 26

  Colton

  Benjamin and I pulled up to my father’s house and he looked to me confused. “What the hell are we doing here?”

  “I have something here I need to pick up. I’m—I’m going to propose to Jenna.”

  “You are?”

  “I am going to make her my wife.”

  “What if she says no?”

  “Then, I’ll wait for her. I’ll wait until she’s ready.”

  “If you already have a ring, you’ve been—”

  “Holding it for the right time. Four years to be exact.”

  “Seriously?”

  “I never joke about these kind of things. I was going to propose the night I got locked up. I was supposed to go back to her house that night. That was the night everything fell apart. Now that I’m out, I’m not wasting a minute.”

  When Benjamin and I pulled back into his driveway, I glanced to him and asked. “What do we tell the girls?”

  “We tell them the truth. We tell them Axel Davenport can no longer hurt anyone… not anymore.”

  “What if they ask if he’s dead?”

  “We can never tell them about what went down today. Angelo lives by a code. A code of silence—Omerta. Whatever happened in Angelo’s presence has to remain secret. We have to take it to our grave.”

  “He’s not a businessman, is he?” I knew what Omerta was. Angelo was Mafia.

  “No. I think you know exactly what he is.”

  “Mafia.” I whispered to myself.

  I glanced out the window and sighed. Chloe and Jenna were sittin
g on the porch giggling to each other. I made my way to Jenna and spotted the notebook in her lap. She met my gaze, wide eyes as if she was embarrassed. She breathed out as she closed the notebook. “Colton, you’re back.”