Page 135 of Sins of the Father

“I can’t.”

“For God’s sake, you can find another man. Enough of this,” Steven growls so loud Hope screams. “Shit. I’m sorry,” he says to Quinn.

“It’s okay.” She gets up and picks up Hope. “Shh. You’re okay.”

“Beth, you need to leave him,” Jamison insists.

“He’s already warned me. If I leave him...” Her face crumples, and she covers it with her hands.

“What did he threaten you with, Mom?” Quinn gently asks and bounces Hope on her hip.

“He has stuff he’ll pin on me.”

“Like what?” Steven barks.

I put my hand on his. “Try to calm down a little.”

He blows out air and briefly closes his eyes.

“Things I’m not going to tell you. It’s not in your best interest to know.”

“I don’t care,” Steven shouts, and Hope cries again.

I rise. “Steven, let’s take a break.”

He scowls.

“Quinn, you go with them. I want to talk to Beth alone,” Jamison says.

Quinn’s eyes turn to slits. “Why?”

“Please.”

She shakes her head, irritated, but leaves the room with Hope.

“Let’s go,” I tell Steven.

“No. You go with Quinn. I’m staying.”

“Steven.”

“He can stay,” Jamison says. “Go with Quinn.”

I don’t argue. I follow Quinn into her bedroom. “You okay?”

“How could he do this to my mom? She’s devoted her entire life to that sleazeball, and now he’s going to frame her for something to do with the mob?”

I sit down, and Hope grabs my pinky. “I think we need to find out the details and go from there.”

“It’s the mob. This isn’t some second-rate criminal we are talking about. She could end up killed. And what does he want from Steven?” Quinn angrily asks.

A chill runs down my spine. It’s the question Steven keeps asking, but it doesn’t feel like we’re anywhere close to finding out.

21

Steven

Years of angerand rage toward Maximillion using my mom and treating her like dirt doesn’t add up to what I’m feeling right now. “Mom, tell us what everything means.”

---