Stepbrother Accused
A Stepbrother Romance
By: C.C. DeMille
Copyright 2015 - All Rights Reserved – C.C. DeMille
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form whatsoever, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any informational storage or retrieval system without express written, dated and signed permission from the author.
Johnny sat at his desk, reading the paper. His time as a warden was nearly up. Retirement was fast approaching and in his opinion it couldn’t come soon enough. He hated this place. It wasn’t the prisoners. On his first day as a warden he thought he’d be surrounded by a bunch of lowlifes; the bottom feeders of society, worst of the worst. Little did he know that some of these prisoners would come to see him as a friend.
It wasn’t the pay either. He’d stuck to it and knuckled down, managing to get a sweet pension and an increase in pay, year on year. No, none of this was the reason that Johnny couldn’t wait to walk out of those prison doors for the last time. The real reason, the thing that kept him up at night, was the bureaucracy. In all his time as a warden he’d got to know the inmates. Well enough to know that they’d been forgotten by the system. Medical problems, mental breakdowns, they were all ignored by the big guns upstairs. And by the time they did take notice, it was quite often too late. Suicide was not uncommon, not in this prison.
Despite this Johnny was in a cheerful mood. He had some good news for a particular prisoner of his, and it was time to deliver it. He got off is stool and fumbled through his set of keys as he walked past a row of cells. Sunny heard him coming. He was sitting on his bed, tapping his feet anxiously.
“Hey Sunny, how you doing today?” asked Johnny.
“Oh you know can’t complain.”
“Alright you know the drill,” said Johnny as he unlocked his cell.
Sunny got up, walked over to the far wall and put his arms up onto it. Johnny walked over to him and patted him down. He looked around the room for a few seconds and then walked back out. Sunny turned around.
“You’re free to go.”
They both smiled. He grabbed his duffle bag and they both walked out.
“So any thoughts on what you’re gonna do when you’re on the other side?” asked Johnny.
“You know.”
“Yeah,” replied Johnny. “Suppose there’s no way I can dissuade you?”
“Nope,” replied Sunny.
They made there way to the front of the prison and Sunny felt his heart start to beat a little faster. He could almost taste the freedom that was just a few feet in front of him. After signing a few papers he was all done. He walked out of the prison and stopped. He closed his eyes and took a deep, slow breath. He’d been dreaming about this day for a long time, of this exact moment. Unlike most of his fellow inmates though, he didn’t just stop at the euphoric feeling of finally being free—he’d been planning. His sentence was five years for manslaughter, and he knew he was innocent. There wasn’t a soul that believed him, as he soon learned pretty much every guy that get’s locked up protests his innocence. So he kept it to himself, kept mulling it over in his mind. Today was the day he was going to do something about it.
“Hey Sunny,” said Johnny as he came and stood next to him. “Cigarette?”
Sunny shook his head, and after considering lighting one for himself, Johnny put the pack back in his pocket.
“I know what you’re thinking,” he continued. “I’ve been here long enough to know what that look means, what you’re feeling right now? It’ll pass. Trust me.”
Sunny thought for a moment then looked at him.
“I gotta do it Johnny.”
“Yeah…I know,” replied Johnny with a hint of resignation in his voice. “Just remember, sometimes when you dig up the past, you often end up regretting it.”
And with that Johnny went back inside. Sunny let his words roll around in his mind for a while then took a deep breath. He unzipped his duffle bag and took out a letter. He stared at the handwriting, the hearts for dots and silly faces drawn on it made him smile. He looked at the envelope and began typing the address into his phone.
“Sarah honey can you set the table?”
“Sure dad.”
She came running downstairs singing to herself.
“What are you so happy about?” he asked.
Her phone vibrated.
I’m outside.
She smiled and casually walked to the door.
Okay Sarah just relax, she thought.
After composing herself she opened it.
“Hi”, said Sunny with a smile.
A huge grin grew over her face and she flung herself at him. He hugged her for what seemed like forever until they both were interrupted.
“What are you doing here?”
“Dad!” shouted Sarah with a look of shock on her face. “It’s you’re son!”
“I know exactly who it is, I thought I made it clear that you were no longer part of this family.”
“I’m not here to see you,” replied Sunny calmly. “I’m here to see my stepsister.”
She smiled and they hugged again.
“Can I see you for a moment Sarah?” asked Evan as he pulled her back in the house.”
Once they entered the kitchen he put his hands on her shoulders and looked her straight in the eye.
“I don’t want you seeing him.”
“What’s wrong with you?” she asked. “How can you be so cruel?”
“He’s dangerous, irresponsible and a killer. This isn’t a discussion Sarah.”
She walked off and reached the front door.
“If you step out that door there are gonna be consequences young lady.”
She ignored him and walked through. She walked with Sunny across the road to the local park and they began to stroll along the path.
“Sorry about your father,” said Sarah.
“It’s not your fault. Anyway he’s right.”
“What?!” said Sarah in shock.
“I was young and irresponsible, I never gave him any reason to trust me.”
“Yeah but you’re not a murderer Sunny, and at least he could have visited you, same goes for mom.”
“How is your mom?” he asked.
“She’s okay, Evan…I mean, your dad’s got her wrapped around his finger so things are all rosy at home.”
They watched as a small child cycled passed them on a tricycle. They looked at each other and smiled. Sarah’s mom and Sunny’s dad had met when Sarah and Sunny were both were that age and shared memories came flooding back to both of them.
“Do you remember when we ran into that crazy guy’s house?” asked Sarah.
“How could I forget, you were so curious, nothing I said put you off knocking on his door.”
She laughed.
“I still remember that dog jumping out of the window, I had nightmares about it for a week.”
Now Sunny laughed.
“Yeah it looked like it had rabies or something. I thought he was gonna bite you.”
“I know. I’ll never forget how you stood in front of me, how you tried to protect me, it was cute.”
“It was stupid,” said Sunny.
“No, it was romantic. I knew from that moment I’d always be safe with you.”
She felt a warmth come over her and she held his hand.
“Thank you,” said Sunny.
“For what?�
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“You were the only one who came to visit me. The only one who believed me, that believed I was innocent. I really needed that. Without you I would have been totally alone. You kept me going in there you know that? The thought of seeing you one day on the other side, it was everything to me.”
“You’re the most important person in my life Sunny, I would never leave your side.”
He smiled.
“Even if your parents don’t agree?”
“They can go to hell for all I care,” she replied.
They had circled the park and ended up back at the entrance.
“So what are you gonna do now?” she asked.
He smiled.
“Everyone keeps asking me that.”
“You’re gonna try to prove you were innocent right?”
“Do you think I should?” he asked.
“Yes, and I’m gonna help you.”
“I can’t let you do that Sarah, you should get on with your life. Father’s right, getting involved with me is a bad idea.”
“Hey you can’t stop me, and by the way, your father’s never right. Come on let’s go.”
He smiled again. He felt so lucky to know her, and he admired her, her passion—it burned so bright that he could feel it. It was intoxicating.
“Okay, I’ll bite, go where?”
Her look changed from one of concern to a sudden excitement. She took his hand and led him out of the park. Moments later they were at the library.
“I don’t understand, what are we doing here?” he asked.
She didn’t reply and instead sat down at one of the tables in the corner and so did Sunny. She took out a notepad and pen from her backpack and flipped through it. Sunny saw that the pad was full of notes and scribbles. He recognized the handwriting from the letters she’d sent him in prison. He still couldn’t quite believe he was sitting there. A free man. But most of all, he couldn’t believe he was sitting next to Sarah—the girl that never gave up on him. He watched her face wrinkle as she read through some of her writings. Some notes had been written down so fast that now even she was having a tough time understanding them. Sunny liked that about her—that the excitement of a moment could take her over so easily. She finally noticed him staring, and started to blush.
“What are you looking at?” she asked.
“Nothing, it’s just…I missed you.”
“I missed you too.”
She went back to her notepad and flipped to a blank page and began to write.
“So this is what we know so far,” she said, trying her best to sound like a serious newspaper journalist.
“You were framed for killing Eddy.”
“Framed? What makes you think I was framed?” asked Sunny.
“The bullet that killed Eddy was from your gun. Everyone knew you both hated each other, and pretty much the whole school saw the fight. And last but not least, you threatened to kill him. Everyone knew it, so someone decided to use you as the fall guy to kill Eddy.”
“I should never have threatened him,’ said Sunny in a distant voice. “I’ve been regretting it every single day since it happened. I was full of such anger back then, so much hatred, like the world owed me something.”
Sarah put her hand on his in an effort to console him.
“Hey don’t beat yourself up over it Sunny. You were a young guy, a different person. Besides, you were just protecting me. You have to stop punishing yourself for the mistakes of the past, forgive yourself or you can never move on. Anyway it’s all my fault, I should never have told you what he did to me.”
“Hey,” said Sunny as he put his hand on her shoulder. “I’m glad you told me, and like you said, let’s stop beating ourselves up for the past.”
She smiled.
“So,” she continued. “Since it’s fairly certain that you were framed, all we have to figure out is who would frame you and why.”
They both sat there in silence for a few moments.
“We need to find out if Eddy had any enemies,” said Sunny. “In order to do that we’re gonna have to somehow get his file.”
“His file?” asked Sarah.
“Police file.”
“What are you proposing Sunny? Break into the Police Department and take it? What if they catch you? You know you’ll go straight back to prison right?”
“Got any better ideas?” he asked.
She thought for a moment.
“What if I visit Eddy’s house,” she said.
“Forget it, his mom would never let you through the front door. Unless you distract her and I break in through a window round the back.”
“Would you stop thinking of breaking the law all the time Sunny? There are easier ways to get what you want, you just have to apply a little tenacity.”
“Really?” he replied, “there’s no way in hell you’re getting in that house without force, I guarantee it.”
She smiled.
“I guess that’s a challenge then.”
Jane Thompson was in the kitchen preparing dinner when she heard the doorbell ring.
“Hi Mrs. Thompson,” said Sarah.
“Sarah, what do you want?”
“Well I just thought maybe we could sit down and talk for a while?”
“I don’t have anything to say to you,” replied Jane and began to shut the door.
“You’re not the only one who cared about Eddy you know.”
“Excuse me?” said Jane, as if poised to explode.
“I mean, I cared about him too, a lot of the kids at school did. Yes I know you’re his mom but I feel his loss just like you do, we have to comfort each other, otherwise…otherwise what’s the point right?”
Jane’s anger subsided and she looked at the floor deep in thought.
“Oh, one more thing,” continued Sarah. “I brought lemon cheesecake.”
She extended her arms offering the dish to her.
“It’s my mom’s recipe, and my first time, so it might be a bit…lemony?”
Jane smiled.
“You better come in then, don’t wanna waste perfectly good cheesecake now do we.”
Sarah walked in. The house was dark and empty. She knew that Jane was still in mourning for Eddy’s death and felt a kind of guilt she had never felt before—guilty for deceiving her, for entering her inner sanctum under false pretenses.
“You have a nice house Mrs. Thompson.”
“Thank you. Please sit, I’ll make some coffee and we can cut that cheesecake of yours.”
She came back with two mugs and Sarah cut two slices of the cake.
“How’s Mr. Thompson? I haven’t seen him in a while.”
“He left,” replied Jane calmly.
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be,” replied Jane. “Sometimes the death of a child can make you see the truth about your marriage. We knew it was a sham, actually we knew it even before Eddy was born. We had hoped that having a child would bring us closer together. It worked to some extent, but what kind of life is that? It feels almost like a business agreement don’t you think?”
Sarah hesitated.
“I… wouldn’t know mam.”
“You know,” began Jane, “Eddy was rather fond of you.”
“Really?” asked Sarah.
Sarah already knew all about Eddy’s feelings of course. He had pursued her for months during their first year of high school. It was when she rejected him that he became violent towards her. He wasn’t a nice person at all. He was the type of guy that would end up in jail or dead, at least that was Sarah’s opinion anyway. She had never really thought about Jane, how she was caught up in all this. How her son’s death was affecting her, she felt shame begin to brew in the pit of her stomach.
“Yes, continued Jane, “he would never stop going on about you. I want to thank you for that.”
“I don’t think Sunny killed him.”
Sarah was taking a gamble. She was here to get information from Eddy’s mom, not convince
her of Sunny’s innocence.
“He beat my poor boy, threatened to kill him, he shot him. How can you say he was innocent? Is that why you came here?”
Tears began to swell in her eyes and her anger returned almost in a flash.
Stepbrother Romance: Stepbrother Accused (Bad Boy Romance) (New Adult Suspense Taboo Romance) Page 1
