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Jewell knew Benjamin wasn't hearing most of the yelling between his father and the new arrivals. She wasn't sure it would make any difference if he did. None of it made any sense to her, and she heard every word.
"I've had it. I'm sick and tired of paying the price for your mistakes. I have been for thirty goddamn years, and I won't do it anymore," Jon yelled.
"Please. This isn't the way," Barbara called again.
Jon locked glares with Benjamin, his mouth twisting into a sinister snarl. "You want to know why I shipped you off to that school? Why I couldn't stand the sight of you?"
"Please," Jewell whispered, tears blurring her vision. She didn't know what she begged for, but she prayed someone would hear her and make it stop.
"I know why. You couldn't stand the thought of having an imperfect son. I wasn't worth your time."
"Wrong," Jon shouted, his eyes rounded wide with what seemed to be untapped fury. "I couldn't stand you. I couldn't stand the sight of you because you reminded me every single goddamn day of what your mother did to me. While I was building a life for us, she was screwing my business partner."
Benjamin's shoulders slumped and his arm slipped from Jon's throat.
"You're not my son, you little bastard."
"Oh, God," Jewell whispered and covered her mouth with her hand.
Benjamin stepped back and walked backward away from the door. His gaze darted from Jon Roth to Ben Prescott to his mother. No wonder there was such a strong resemblance between Benjamin and his godfather. They were father and son. Tears streamed down Jewell's cheeks and her lungs hurt to breathe.
Barbara Roth stepped forward, her face glistening with moisture. A small sob escaped as she crossed the space to her son. She reached out a hand, but Benjamin stepped back before she could touch him.
"Benjamin, please. Let me explain. Let us explain," she said, motioning back towards Prescott.
"No," he said through clenched teeth. "I don't want to hear it."
Echoed shouts came down the hall, and two Hartford police officers reached the suite door, followed by a security guard and the hotel manager. After another round of shouting and accusations, Jon Roth was handcuffed and escorted out of the hotel. The hotel manager explained to Benjamin, while apologizing profusely for the intrusion and that Jon had made it past the front desk, that several other hotel guests had called to report the disturbance. All Benjamin did was nod.
As the officers questioned his mother and Prescott about the events of the last half hour, Benjamin took hold of Jewell's arm and led her to the small kitchen area, his grip on her arm firm but gentle considering the tension in his body. Once there, he pulled her near a light and turned her so he could see her face. His fingers pressed gently against her scalp and felt the bump.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
Jewell nodded and gingerly touched the corner of his mouth. He flinched away, grimacing. "Let me get some ice for that," she said.
"No," he snapped and Jewell stopped. A face that was harsh and tense one second, softened slightly. "No, I'm fine."
Jewell didn't know what to say or do. Hesitantly, though she wasn't sure why, she looked up at him. The corners of his mouth were turned down slightly, and one tight muscle jumped along his jaw. Benjamin's stare shifted over her face. She took a deep, shaky breath and laid her palm over his heart. It still pounded ferociously with adrenaline. He touched his hand to her waist, and they moved together. Her arms circled his body and Jewell pressed her cheek against his chest. Neither said anything more. In his arms, holding him, Jewell felt some of the rigidity slip from his body.
"Could we have a moment, Mr. Roth? Ms. Kincaid?" said one of the officers, approaching them, and stepped into Benjamin's line of sight. His name tag indicated Sgt. Ryan.
Benjamin turned on the man, his arm still protectively around Jewell. "How the hell did he get out of jail? I was told bail wouldn't even be set until later today." His tone barely hid the shout Jewell heard just below the surface, only because she knew him.
"I'm not in a position to answer you, sir."
"Jon Roth holds a lot of power in this town," Ben Prescott said from somewhere behind the officer. "He threw his weight around until a judge heard the case late Thursday. None of us knew, not even Barbara."
Jewell relayed the information, indicating to Benjamin that it was Ben Prescott who imparted the details. Benjamin's jaw clenched when she pointed to indicate Prescott.
Ben Prescott stepped closer, but Benjamin didn't look at him, keeping his focus between Jewell and the police officer. Prescott continued.
"Barbara received a phone call from the hospital that Jon was trying to get in to see Victoria but was retained by security. He left on his own accord before they called the police. She called me, and we came here, thinking this might be his next stop."
Benjamin jerked a short nod, acknowledging what she relayed.
"Mr. Roth," interrupted Sergeant Ryan, and Jewell pointed to him to let Benjamin know he spoke. Benjamin looked up, meeting the uniformed man's eyes. "We need to confirm whether you wish to press charges against your father for assault."
Benjamin's lips pressed together so hard that a thin white line outlined his mouth. His lips twitched and he swallowed, drawing in a long breath. "I fully intend to press charges."
