Chapter 165

A cold sting shot through Will, like a shard of ice was plunged into his heart. The suspicion that his parents were involved always lived in the back on his mind. If anything, he’d goaded his mother out of anger. He hadn’t expected that reaction. From either of them. In that moment, he was that little boy. Hiding in the closet while his parents argued about him. He was the little boy, crying for his mommy in a hospital room, vying for his father’s praise, or alone during a scary thunderstorm.
“You two never loved me. Not for a single moment,” he said, unshed tears shining in his eyes.
Franklin’s dead eyes stared at him in the way they always had. Indifferent. Cold. Unseeing. Julia’s hands flew over her mouth, realizing her slip up too late.
“Mr. and Mrs. Stewart, we’ll need to take you in the back for some questioning.”
“Not without our attorney present,” Franklin said, still staring at Will. He had the misfortune of taking after his father. But those eyes, those cold, dead eyes were the one feature he didn’t inherit.
“Then call your attorney. Now,” Captain Whitlock crossed his arms over his chest, a look of contempt and disgust across his face.
“Just admit it,” Will said. “For once, just do something for me and admit it.”
“You ungrateful…”
“Admit you never loved me!” Will shouted, shaking the bars. A sudden, harsh silence fell around all of them. Julia let her hands fall from her mouth. She spoke but didn’t look at him.
“I got pregnant as a ploy to marry into the family,” Julia spat. “I was assured that I would be wealthy and live the lifestyle I always wanted. For Franklin, getting married and having a baby was the stipulation your grandfather put him in order not to completely cut him off financially.”
“The truth is, you were an insurance policy,” Franklin added. “The reason you exist is so that we can have money.”
“Say the words,” Will said through clenched teeth. “Say the fucking words.”
“We never loved you. We didn’t want to you love. You were nothing more than a means to comfort and luxury. It was impossible to love you anyway. You were such a needy, clingy little brat.” Julia snapped. “There. Are you happy?”
“Your grandfather loved you,” Franklin added. “That should have been enough. You were more valuable that way.”
“Get them out of my sight,” Will whispered, walking backwards from the bars. Captain Whitlock grabbed them and led them off to an interrogation room. Their words slapped him in the face. He fell back onto the bench and slowed his breathing to keep from hyperventilating. The tears stung his eyes, but he refused to let them fall. He’d shed more than enough for them in his childhood. They didn’t deserve anymore. Not a single one.
But that lonely, scared, neglected little boy… he deserved some. That boy, the one they murdered with their indifference, with their refusal… he deserved a few tears.
“William,” Sam’s voice was soft. “With your permission, I would like to begin drafting paperwork that prohibits those vile people from benefitting from you or your grandfather’s legacy.”
Will nodded as he didn’t trust himself to speak. He listened as Sam walked away and when he was alone, he cried. Thick tears fell from his face. With each one, he felt that child heal. He understood then. He’d been stuck in chasing a past, in chasing what love was supposed to be. He thought of Emma and Lizzie and vowed that they would never suffer as he had. He would love them, and they would be sure of it. They would know every moment of every day how much he loved them. Lizzie would have a sibling, or two… or three, and he would ensure until his dying breath that they would only know happiness.
Hurriedly, he wiped the tears from his face.
Enough.
Some time passed and he saw as his parents were being led out of the station in handcuffs. Captain Whitlock winked as he walked by the cells.
“Franklin and Julia Stewart, you are charged with being accessories to first degree murder and attempted murder, aiding and abetting a dangerous fugitive, racketeering, tampering with evidence, and obstructing a criminal investigation. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, will be appointed to you. Do you understand these rights as I have read them to you?”
Julia was in hysterics, screaming and carrying on about how they had done nothing wrong. But Franklin just turned to stare at Will. There was nothing in those eyes. No emotion, no spark, no life.
“Yes, I understand,” he said. Captain Whitlock pushed them along. Another officer took custody of them, and they were led out of the station into a car.
“They confessed to everything. He’s been contacting them; told them you were here. They knew about Robert’s murder and helped him to lay low after it. They also assisted in getting you arrested, and he was going to use them as front to buy that land. Your father is going to plead guilty and get a lesser sentence. Your mother might have a shot at that insanity plea.”
“Thanks, captain.” Will felt hollow. “When can I get out of here?”
“Soon. Still a few kinks to work out, but the District Attorney is all a flutter with ensuring you don’t sue the city.”
“Hmm,” Will smirked. “The sooner I get out the better. His shields are falling away. He may do something drastic sooner rather than later.”
“True. I promise, we’re moving things along as fast as we can.”
The captain walked away giving Will more time alone with his tortured thoughts. He pushed those away for the time being and let the alpha within him rise to the surface. There would be time to deal with feelings later. Right now, he needed to be the same man that once had another man’s hands chopped off for touching what was his.
***
He should have known better than to trust those two.
“So greedy,” he said of them. People motivated by money were only useful for a short time. Their greed would always get the better of them. And now he had to watch as they were hauled away. “I’ll deal with them later.”
Will would be released soon. There really was no reason to hold him anymore. They had to know by now that he was responsible for the explosion. It had been a silly, indulgent plan on his part. He’d always wanted to blow someone up. The impracticality of it had been enough to deter him before. But he just couldn’t seem to think rationally when it came to William Stewart.
He had no more allies. No one else he could hide behind. The next time he would have to face Will head on. He closed his eyes and let his head fall back. One of his many fantasies played like a movie projected onto his eyelids. Will… laying in pool of his own bright, crimson blood. Flowing like hot lava from smoking bullet holes. He imagined walking up to him, hearing Will beg for his girlfriend and daughter not to be harmed. Tell them I love them, he’d say.
How thrilling. What would he do with Will’s beloved little family after he killed him? There was no reason to kill them. Especially not the baby. Perhaps he would take them. As an affront to Will’s memory, he would take the people he truly loved most.
“Hmm,” he purred with satisfaction. “I quite like that idea.” But better still was the idea of them being there when he finally murdered Will. All of his friends could be there. “I guess it’s time to formally introduce myself.”