David smiled. “Wonderful.” He stood. “Walk with me.”
Steve caught Jane’s eye. “What will you do with Jane?” he demanded.
“Not to worry, Steve,” David said, clapping a large hand on his shoulder. Steve winced. “As long as she doesn’t give us any trouble, we won’t give her any. She’ll be in the guest cabins, safe and sound. I promise.”
Jane set down her fork, done with her meal. “I’ll be fine, Steve,” she said stiffly. “Come find me when you’re done . . . catching up.” She looked David up and down with such loathing, Steve wondered why his father hadn’t caught fire.
As Steve and David left the dining room, David leaned in to mutter, “A tight ass, that one. You bone her?”
Steve’s skin crawled. “That’s none of your business.”
“I’ll take that as a yes, then.”
David led Steve around a beautiful garden tended by women who wore short shorts and pushup bras, their hair tied back in braids. Sweat glistened on their toned bodies like oil. Steve pushed down his arousal. Clearing his mind of his filthy thoughts.
“I apologize about John’s aggressive methods of getting you here. He was instructed not to harm you. Even though he holds a grudge against you for putting him away. I will deal with him accordingly.” David said. Steve felt his wounded shoulder throb.
“It was so ironic seeing you in the news as the man putting John behind bars. I should have reached out to you sooner, but I wasn’t ready to face you, son. I could have stopped the pain for you both but I was not ready to confess to you. A vacation for John was something he needed for doing his own thing outside the community.”
“That man is a murderer, an escaped felon, and who knows what else. You shouldn’t be associated with him. He’s bad company,” Steve said darkly, furious that his father held John to such high standards. “John did what he had to do, does what he wants to do, is who he is,” David said. “All that matters is that you’re here. Plus…”
David took a deep breath in, then let out a small sigh with his exhale. “He’s family, Steve. We protect the family.” “Well, he’s not my family, and I will turn him in again and again if I have the chance,” Steve responded confidently.
David stopped in his tracks to turn to Steve. A long pause of silence hovered over the two of them until David finally started to speak.
“Do you remember Grandpa Matthew? Well, before he was sent to prison years ago, he had one last bang. I guess you can say that. He had a son while he was in jail and now that’s John’s dad also. Which makes him your uncle. My stepbrother. So, he is family if you like him or not. In fact, Steve, Grandpa ran this village for years and when he was finally caught, he asked me to take over as leader and look after John. I just couldn’t get him out of foster care until he left county jail. So, I have been looking after him ever since. Plus,” David smirked a little, “Don’t you see the resemblance of how we all love women. It’s a family trait.”
“Are you kidding me? That son of a bitch is my blood?” Steve yelled back at David. “That motherfucker tried to kill me.”
David put his hands up in defense.
“Calm down, son. John had it rough unlike you. He means you no harm. Just a little rough around the edges. All that matters is that you are here now.”
“Why did you leave me all alone for this place? I needed you. I have looked for you all these years and you were here all along. Why did you do this to me?” Steve asked, trying not to tear up after getting the courage to ask his father what he wanted to know. “I didn’t leave you, son. Your mother and I met here at this colony when your grandfather was in charge. Your mother didn’t agree with the policies here and ran off with you in the middle of the night. She told me to never contact you and stay away. I did as she asked but I kept an eye on you as much as I could. It wasn’t my idea to leave you. It was your mother’s. You have to ask your mother why she kept me away from you. But you are here now and that’s important to me,” David told Steve in a disappointed tone.
“Why am I here?” Steve demanded.
David reached for a pink rose. He snapped it off its bush, pricking his finger in the process. A droplet of scarlet blood blossomed on his thumb. He didn’t seem to mind—he popped his thumb in his mouth and sucked the blood away before gently stroking the petals of the rose as they walked. “Your grandfather created something wonderful here, Steve,” he said. “I helped see his dream come forward. But I won’t be around forever. I’m getting old—as some of the younger men here are noticing.”
He lowered his voice. “I believe they plan to overthrow me as their champion and leader.”
Steve felt no sympathy for the man in front of him. He remained silent. David began to pluck the petals from the rose.
“I need an heir,” David said. “Someone who understands what I’m doing and embraces it.” He stopped walking and looked at Steve square in the eyes. “We’re the same blood, you and I. I know you have commitment issues. A quivering desire to claim a woman, to possess her when you’d like and how you’d like. It’s in your nature.”
David placed a hand on Steve’s shoulder. Steve shook him away. “You do not have to fight your nature here, son,” David said softly.
Steve stepped up to David, shoving his face inches
