Chapter One Hundred and Six
Kelley headed downstairs to the sitting room and found Connor standing in the doorway, arms crossed over his chest as he stared at Lewis Blackwell who stood with his back to Connor, looking out of the large windows onto the garden.
“Lewis, what brings you by?”
Lewis turned then and looked first at Connor and then at Kelley. “Can we talk in private?”
“That depends, are you armed?”
Lewis’s eyes told Kelley that the answer was no. “No, are you?”
“I don’t need to be.” Kelley nodded his head at Connor who turned and left the room.
“I don’t know if you’ve heard but Hanson’s been arrested.”
“I saw the news this morning but that doesn’t explain why you’re here.”
Lewis dragged a hand through his hair and sat down on the sofa. “We all invested in JenCorp and the money’s just gone. People are talking and they’re saying that you’re involved somehow.”
“People will always talk and I don’t waste my time with idle gossip.”
“We all know you and Chadney hate each other, I’m not sure why or what happened. I mean, it’s been years since you and Norah broke up.”
“You think I hate Hanson because he’s screwing Norah? I couldn’t care less about her.”
“You waited six years before getting your revenge on Petey, I’d say at this point anything’s possible.”
“Alleged revenge.”
“Back off, Kelley, let go of whatever vendetta you’ve got. This bullshit has to stop before someone really gets hurt.”
“Who’s going to get hurt, Blackwell? Petey was drunk and he crashed his car, that’s hardly my fault. Hanson getting arrested for insider trading isn’t my fault either. I haven’t done anything to him that he doesn’t deserve.”
“Then why, Kelley? Why go to these lengths?”
“Because of The Club.”
Kelley searched Lewis’s eyes, anything to tell him that Lewis was just as involved as the rest of them. “What club?”
“I’ll give you some friendly advice, Blackwell. Run. Run as far as you can from the Elites poisoning this town. Reject every business deal you have with them, every club outing that you participate in and you might just escape unscathed.”
“Are you threatening me?”
“I’m warning you. If you’re a part of The Club you will regret it. I will come for you.”
“Careful, Kelley … you wouldn’t want innocent blood on your hands.”
“Who’s blood, Lewis? My family’s all accounted for, you couldn’t hurt them even if you tried.”
“Drop your vendetta and retract the evidence against Hanson or you’ll find out exactly what we can do.”
With that Lewis stood up from the sofa and walked past Kelley to the front door. Kelley knew that Connor had been listening from the parlor and he’d already be checking in on their family, warning them to remain vigilant.
The front door closed and Kelley heard a car start. He swore under his breath as Connor appeared from another doorway. “Everybody’s fine, all accounted for.”
“Bastard’s trying to rile me up.”
Milana came bounding down the stairs, dressed casually, her eyes wide with fear. “Kelley! It’s Grace … Mason said last night that Marcus might be her father. They’re trying to go after Grace and that will hurt Mason, you and Lee. It will hurt this whole family.”
“Shit.”
Connor and Kelley ran for the front door and as Kelley slammed the passenger door closed Connor started driving. The tyres squealed as Connor floored the SUV and they made the fifteen minute journey to Mason’s house in six minutes.
“Mason!” Kelley yelled the moment he stepped foot inside the house.
“Kelley?” Mason appeared from the kitchen doorway and frowned as he looked at Kelley’s wide eyes.
“Where’s Grace?”
“Carey’s bringing her in five minutes.”
“Tell me everything about what Marcus is doing.”
They sat in the kitchen at the island counter as Connor made coffee and Mason showed Kelley the court order. He wasn’t sure how Milana had picked up on Lewis’s threat or figured out that it could be Grace they were targeting but he was thankful now.
“Lee should file an emergency order for Grace to remain with you until paternity can be established. Lewis said innocent blood would be on my hands if I didn’t retract the evidence against Hanson.”
“That’s why I’m not freaking out yet, Kelley. Lee called last night and told me that he got an injunction and that Grace is staying with me for the time being.”
Kelley nodded his head and exhaled a breath. “If you tell me to retract then I’ll do it, Mason. I’ll do anything for Grace.”
“If you let Hanson loose now then we might as well pack up the warehouse and call it quits.”
“Mason’s right.” They all turned to look at Lee who had silently crept up behind them. None of them had heard him enter the house.
“We need to keep our eyes open. They’re planning something and they won’t stop if we don’t.”
Lee nodded his head. “I called Marella and I’m moving back into the house with her.”
“That’s good, Lee, we need to keep family close now.”
“Mason? We’re back!”
Mason closed his eyes briefly as Grace bounded into the kitchen. “Are we having a breakfast party?”
“Hey, princess!” Kelley picked Grace up as Carey walked into the kitchen and looked at them all standing around.
“What’s going on?”
“Grace, let’s go unpack your clothes and plan a breakfast party menu.” Connor’s suggestion had Grace’s eyes lighting up as she grabbed his hand and practically ran out of the kitchen.
“Did Andrea do something?”
“Mom … I might not be Grace’s dad and I’m being sued for a paternity test by the man claiming to be hers.”
Carey’s anger rolled off her in waves as she glared at Mason. “You told me you did the paternity test, that Grace was your daughter.”
“I lied, okay … we’ve got bigger problems than that right now. We’re being threatened as a family so I need you to stop bitching about guards and accept that you now have two.”
“I refuse to lose her, Mason.”
“Carey … we’re all doing everything we can to avoid that happening. We all love Grace.”
