Page 68 of Hell's Claim

“In the side table next to the settee,” I told Liv, who nodded and left.

Cherry turned a beady eye on Sunny. “Watch Primal. The man is a snake.”

“I’m well aware, Mom.”

Liv returned with a pen and pad, and Cherry began listing what she needed Liv to pick up. Pot roast sounded perfect.

Sunny

“Any update, Doc?” Sunny asked the doctor, who met him outside Primal’s room.

“None. Your father—”

“He may be my sperm donor, but he’s not my dad. His name is Primal,” Sunny interrupted.

“Um… Primal is unconscious, the next twenty-four hours are critical. Primal’s not stable, and his chances are pretty low,” the doctor said.

“I see. Thanks, Doc, for the update.” Sunny opened the door and stopped when he discovered a woman sitting by Primal’s bed.

“Who are you?” Sunny asked, surprised.

“Hi, Sunny. I wish I could say it’s a pleasure to meet you, but not under these circumstances. I’m Belinda, Jed’s wife, and your stepmom,” she answered with a smile.

Sunny stepped back in shock as he gazed at her. No way was she married to Primal. Belinda was beautiful.

“I don’t believe you. Who sent you?” Sunny demanded.

“Here, take a look at the photos,” Belinda said and tossed Sunny her phone. “It’s unlocked, and I’ve no reason to lie to you.”

Sunny caught it and began scrolling through the pictures. Suspiciously, he also checked her text messages and nearly threw up. They were sickeningly loving, and Primal clearly wasn’t abusive.

“What’s a woman like you doing with a washout like him?” Sunny finally asked.

“Jed’s been sober thirty years. I met him twenty-eight years ago, and we’ve been together twenty-seven years.”

“Bullshit,” Sunny spat.

“Jed changed. He hit rock bottom and got help. Since then, he’s not touched a drop of alcohol or drugs. Jed is clean and has quarterly checks up to prove it. We also have four children,” Belinda said gently, dropping another bombshell. “They’re not his but mine from a previous relationship, but Jed’s been more of a dad to them than their own father.”

“You expect me to believe this? Are you looking for congratulations on the fact he was able to be a good father toyour kids but an abusive cunt to my mother and me?” Sunny snapped.

“Jed thought about reaching out to you a lot during the years. He kept tabs on you and was so proud of your army career,” Belinda said softly.

“Lady, you seem nice. Might be wrong, but that’s my first impression. My mom and I have scars from your loving, wonderful husband. Physical ones. He beat my mom with a fuckin’ belt buckle. I don’t care what shit you come out with, I know how evil that asshole is. And more fool you for exposing your kids to him.”

“Why are you here then, Sunny?” Belinda asked.

“Because I want the information that cunt proclaims to have, and then he can slink back under whatever stone he crawled out from,” Sunny spat.

“You’re mistaken. He is a good man.”

“Yeah, whatever you need to sleep at night. What type of guy beats a child with a plank of wood? Or pours whiskey down a baby’s throat because he’s six months old, teething, and the asshole wants it to shut the fuck up. How about picking the kid up by his arm and throwing him, breaking it? That’s the man you let into your kids’ lives. Don’t talk to me what a good man he is because I’ve got many more stories about what he did.”

Belinda shook her head. “That was the drink and drugs, Sunny. They change a person. Jed is different.”

“Sorry, you seem a good person, but you are deluded. You ain’t my family anyway, nor are your kids. All I want is the information he claims to have. After that, he can rot in hell,” Sunny said. “Have a nice life, Belinda, and I wish you the best. Because you’re going to need it.”

On that note, Sunny walked away and didn’t look back.

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