Chapter One Hundred
Kelley pulled on his socks and shoes, grabbed his jacket and slapped Connor behind his head as he walked past him. Downstairs Mason and Lee stood in the foyer and turned towards their footsteps on the stairs. “Let’s roll.”
“Let’s roll? Shit, Mason, have you been watching teen movies again?”
“Trust me anything’s better than Moana.”
Connor grinned. “Moana’s not so bad.”
Lee, Kelley and Mason started laughing as they walked to the garage. “Not if you watch it on repeat for a whole weekend.”
They climbed into one of the upsized SUV’s with bulletproof windows. Connor climbed into the driver’s side with Lee in the passenger seat. Mason and Kelley climbed into the back. Kelley preferred to drive himself but Connor had received three more death threats against Kelley in the last week. It was becoming their new normal but Kelley couldn't be bothered to care and that irritated Connor. It was like Kelley thought he was invincable.
“You smell nice.”
Kelley turned towards Mason with a frown. “Uhm, thank you.”
Connor laughed as Lee turned in his seat to also look at Mason with a frown. “Like I said, the saga of Kelley and Mason, just dry hump his leg already.”
“At least you don’t have to sit through the Alexander's foreplay.”
Mason shifted towards the middle of the two front seats. “Foreplay? Kelley does foreplay?”
“I hate you, Connor.”
“Milana’s going to unhitch Kelley’s tent tonight with her mouth.”
Loud, rambunctious laughter spilled into the car and Kelley shook his head but smiled too. Mason wiped imaginary tears from his eyes and pulled Kelley’s head to his lap as he made gyrating motions. “Yeah baby!”
“Fuck off, Mason!” Kelley pushed himself out of Mason’s grip and Lee laughed loudly again.
“I’m glad you finally got laid, Kelley.”
Kelley mumbled something under his breath as Lee pulled his phone out. “Blaire just confirmed that Petey sent the message that you’ve accepted his invitation.”
“Some people never change.”
Connor came to a stop in front of the Johnson house. They all climbed out of the SUV and the front door was opened by none other than Marcus Holt. His eyes raked over them all as they strode to the house.
“I see you brought back up.”
“Nice to see you too, Marcus.” Kelley’s expression didn’t change and they all looked serious and ready for business.
“Petey’s in the library.”
“I know the way.” Connor fell into step behind Kelley and Lee and Mason followed behind Marcus.
Inside the library Petey sat in a wheelchair and Marcus moved to the bar. Kelley looked around at the room that hadn’t changed in seven years and then walked to the sofa across from Petey and sat down. Lee and Mason flanked him on either side and Connor took up his position behind Kelley.
“Hello, Kelley.”
“Petey, how are the brakes on that thing?”
Petey’s fist clenched and Mason bit back a laugh. Connor had already assessed the room and he eyed Marcus from time to time.
“You’ve got no remorse for what you did to me?”
“I didn’t do anything to you but I’ve heard that payback can truly be a bitch.”
Marcus was in front of Kelley in a flash and he looked at Marcus, unfazed by his anger. “You were always so full of it, Kelley! You became the biggest asshole of us all.”
“What do you want, Petey? You asked for this meeting, my time’s valuable.”
“Yeah … you have a tent situation at home, don’t you?”
Connor stifled a laugh and Lee chuckled. “Asshole.” Kelley’s whisper was heard by Mason and he grinned.
“I was hoping we could speak in private.”
“You see, Petey, I was warned to cover my ass, that’s why Connor’s here. Lee’s my lawyer and I don’t grant meetings without his presence. Mason’s just here to make things look pretty.”
“Thank you, Kelley.” Mason grinned again.
"You're welcome, Mason."
“Cut the crap!”
Marcus stepped to the side and sat down on a chair closest to Petey. “What Petey means to say is that we wanted to tell you in person that you’re going down. We’ve made an alliance with Basilio Giudice. We’ve bought out JenCorp’s shares and with the millions we’ll make in profit from that will ensure that we take Yorkdare Bay back.”
Petey smiled vindictively. “Your problems are much closer to home than you think, Kelley. There’s so much you don’t know.”
“I could say the same to you, Petey. The problem, besides you not being able to walk, is that you really think being an Elite makes you something.”
Marcus glanced at Petey. He was still sensitive about the fact that he was paralyzed. “I heard Andrea’s back in town. Ask her if she misses my dick in her mouth.”
Mason wrapped his hand around Marcus’s throat the moment those words left his mouth. Marcus’s hands grabbed Mason’s arm but he didn’t budge. He squeezed tighter, his face betraying no emotion.
“Let go of him!” Petey sounded hysterical.
Mason pushed Marcus backward against the sofa and leaned in close. “You don’t want me as an enemy, Holt.”
“Fuck you, Mason. I haven’t even started fucking up your life.”
“Mason.” Kelley’s voice was firm and Mason nodded his head.
“Let’s go, let them celebrate their short sighted victory.”
Back in the car, Mason swore under his breath and dragged his hand through his hair. "What the fuck did he mean by that? How is he going to fuck up my life?"
"I don't know, Mason, but we won't let him." Kelley's hand on his shoulder was reassuring.
Connor glanced at him in the rearview mirror. "You need to calm your ass down. Fuck, man, you're almost worse than Kelley."
"You need to ask Andrea some serious questions, Mase. He mentioned her name for a reason and I don't want to be the one to say I told you so, but that's your link," Lee said seriously.
"Fuck, you're right. But I still don't see how," Mason said.
"Take a breath, Mase, and really think about it. It'll come to you," Kelley said, hoping that he was wrong about the gut feel of trepidation that was running through him.
