Book 2 Chapter 20

Colton

Benjamin and I arrived back to his house, and he gave me a sympathetic look. Almost as if he felt sorry for me.

“What?”

“I’m sorry, but I tried to talk Chloe out of it.”

“I’m sorry, but what are you talking about?”

“She insisted that we give you a party to welcome you home. You can still turn and run the other way.”

“It’s okay. I can’t do that to Jenna.”

We stepped into the house and my mouth went dry. Jenna was dressed in a black sequined dress that hugged her curves. Benjamin leaned over and whispered, “Go on, go get your girl.”

I stepped forwards, a heated gaze in my eyes. Jenna met my lustful gaze and bit her lip. She let out a squeal when my hands reached behind her and crushed my lips against her mouth. I kissed her hard. Dominating her mouth with my tongue. Showing everyone who she truly belonged to.

I pulled away and pressed my forehead against hers, “God, I missed you.”

“You weren’t gone that long.” She whispered.

“I know, but that’s how I feel every time we’re apart. I love you that much.”

“Everyone is staring at us.”

“Good. Let them. I want everybody to know you’re mine.”

My hands roamed down her body and rested on her swollen belly. I knelt down and placed a kiss to her belly and whispered, “I love you both.”

“Colton, Jenna, there you are.” Chloe announced, “Follow me to the back.”

I stood up and intertwined our fingers, bringing it to my mouth and kissed her knuckles. “Chloe, are you up to no good?”

“Me? Never!”

We followed Chloe to the back and it looked like everyone was here. Tilly and Dr. Alvarez stood together. Jeff and Amber were conversing at the corner of the yard. Well, more like a heated conversation. The entire graduating class stood smiling as they met my gaze. Jake, the quarterback, was the first to greet me.

“I heard you were out. How is everything now that Tommy is gone?”

“It’s good—really, wonderful.”

The smell of charcoal invaded my nostrils as I greeted each person. By the time I greeted the last person, the food was done. Benjamin cooked steaks, chicken, and baked potatoes on the grill. While, Chloe and Amber made salad and desserts. I pulled Jenna closer and whispered in her ear. “Is it bad I just want to take you upstairs and make love to you?”

“No. Is it bad I want you to take me inside and have your way with me?”

“Nope.” I replied, trapping her to the tree.

I leaned in, connecting our lips in a heated kiss. My cock twitched when she rubbed me through my pants. All I wanted was to take her inside and have my way with her. Take her. Make love to her slow and gentle. And if she wanted Daddy to come out, I’d give her that too.

“Daddy,” Jenna moaned, “I want you to take me inside.”

“Sweetheart, I want to do that too, but first we need to feed you.”

I led Jenna to the table and helped her onto the chair. Benjamin cleared his throat and announced, “Colton, you were a dick. A complete asshole, but you redeemed yourself. A reformed man and came back to the light. Chloe and I will soon be married, you will become my brother-in-law. I won’t lie. I used to hate you—loathed you. Sure, we’ve butted heads, but in the end we’re family. So, I would like to be the first to say this. Welcome home, brother.”

“Thanks for giving me a second chance.”

Chloe stood and smiled, “Brother, you were awful to me in the past, but I’ve moved forward. I didn’t have to, but I forgave you. At first, Benjamin was against it. He didn’t understand why I wanted to forgive you. I needed closure. To move on and make a new life with Benjamin. Also, we’ve picked out a wedding date. On July 13th, we’re getting married. That’s why I wanted to have Benjamin get the suits. I want you to walk me down the aisle and give me away.”

“Chloe,” I choked, “I don’t know what to say. This means so much to me. After everything—”

“Stop it, you’re going to make me cry.” She said, her eyes watering.

I stood and walked around the table, hugging her. My heart ached for her as I embraced her harder. All the things I’d done running through my head. Tears ran down my face as I buried my face into her neck and cried for her. I whispered, “I’m sorry—I’m so damn sorry for everything. I’ll never forget every bad deed I’ve done.”

“You’re my family. I love you.”

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 are, 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.”