Page 43 of Sins of the Father

I storm over to the door and swing it open. “Get the fuck out of my house, or I’m calling the cops. See how your voters like that.”

He shakes his head. “Don’t be ignorant. I own the cops. How do you think you got to stay at Quinn’s wedding tonight?”

My gut twists.

Another thing he’s going to hold over your head and tell him you owe him for.

“Get out. Now.”

“I’ll send over the financial data to your office Monday.”

“For the last time, I am not working on your campaign,” I growl.

He steps into the hall. “Those who resist regret it.”

“Are you threatening me?”

“No, Son, I’m simply speaking the truth.”

I slam the door and lock it then secure the dead bolt.

How did he get in here?

Why is he so adamant about having me work for him? What is he up to?

I pace for hours with the buzz of the night gone. The happiness I rarely feel evaporated in mere minutes, and the hate I feel for Maximillion only grows.

When I finally get in bed, I curse myself further. I should never have punched Mitch.

He insulted Harper.

You could have ruined Quinn’s wedding, and now you gave Maximillion another thing to hold over your head.

I don’t sleep very well and get up at five a.m. and go into my gym. Instead of doing my scheduled routine, I increase my weights, lifting more than I usually allow myself when I don’t have a spotter. I push past the point I should and keep doing more reps until I end up lying on the floor in a heap of sweat with my muscles spasming.

“Fuuuuck.” I grunt, gasping for air and unable to move for several minutes without my legs collapsing.

When I finally make it to the bathroom, I have to sit on the shower seat because my legs keep giving out.

I spend the early morning with ice packs on my quads. I pop a few anti-inflammatories and watch the sun come up.

I spiral about what Maximillion is up to and what I have he wants. The man only uses people. So I have something valuable he needs, but I don’t know what it is.

My alarm rings, and I stumble through the building and outside.

“You hurt yourself?” Ted asks when I get to my car.

“I’ll be fine, just had a hard workout this morning.” I get in before he can ask any more questions, wincing in pain, but am soon at Quinn and Jamison’s.

They stayed at a hotel last night but are having everyone over for brunch to open their gifts and say goodbye before they leave for their honeymoon. I do my best to try and walk normally, but there’s no getting over my limp.

Quinn’s eyes widen when I walk in. “Steven, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing, I’m fine.”

She hands Hope to Jamison and pulls me into the kitchen. “What happened?”

“Nothing,” I repeat. “Is Mom here?”

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