Chapter One Hundred and Ten
Kelley squeezed Carey's hand as they followed Lee inside the house where he placed Carey on the couch. Grace was asleep on the other couch with a Disney movie playing in the background. Kelley couldn’t believe that they were losing her. His world was crashing and it seemed that the waves just wouldn't stop coming. Grace was just an innocent child and a chill crept down Kelley's spine at the thought of her in the hands of Marcus Holt.
They didn't have much time left with her and Kelley knew for a fact that after today, Marcus would make sure that they didn't see her again. He wouldn't send her away immediately thanks to the home visits the judge had ordered, but after that it was open season on where Grace would end up.
Kelley looked towards the stairs and he blinked the tears away. “I’ll do it.” Milana’s voice was soft and low and he nodded his head at her.
Carey was crying silently, not wanting to wake Grace up. “I can’t believe it.”
“I don’t think Mason’s going to be here at noon. He’s too broken up about it. He can’t say goodbye to her.”
Kelley nodded his head. Lee was right about that. Someone had to go look for him and someone had to be here for Grace. She’d be looking for him, not understanding why she had to leave with a stranger that was now her father. Kelley's heart contracted painfully as he looked at her sleeping form.
They sat in the living room, just waiting for the doorbell to ring as they tried to call Mason. His phone was shut off and Kelley knew he was somewhere drowning his sorrows and that they’d be lucky if they saw him that same day.
At some point Milana sat down next to him and her eyes were red rimmed as well. They took turns to stare at Grace, capturing her features in their memories. Carey was inconsolable and she cried more when John arrived.
Jesse and Marley arrived and that’s when Grace woke up to a house filled with her family but the fact that Mason wasn’t there broke her. She cried as Kelley explained to her what was happening and she clung to Carey.
“I’m so sorry, Princess.”
“I don’t want to go.”
“I know and we don’t want you to go either.”
“Where’s my daddy?”
Milana had left the living room and Kelley found her in the kitchen crying. He pulled her into his arms and kissed the top of her head. “Can’t you take a hit out on him?”
Kelley almost laughed at Milana’s words. “That’s not how we do things, Mila. Besides, if something happened to Holt now all fingers would point at Mason and us.”
“He’s evil, Kelley … he needs to be put down.”
“Hey … whoa, Mila. I’ll take care of this, I always do. Don’t talk about death so lightly, it’s not an easy path to walk.”
“I know but now I also understand how someone can kill. I wouldn’t bat an eyelash in putting a gun to that animal’s head and pulling the trigger.”
“You’re not built that way, Mila. Leave the dirty work to me, okay?”
Kelley kissed the top of her head again just as the doorbell rang. Kelley took a deep breath as Grace started screaming again. He couldn’t even be angry with Mason for getting the hell out of Dodge, he didn’t want to do this either.
Lee gave Kelley a look as he headed to the front door and opened it. The usual gang stood there with Marcus in the middle, a huge smirk on his face. “I take it Mason ran like the coward he is.”
“Shut your mouth, Holt, or you might eat through a straw for the rest of your pathetic life.”
Kelley smiled at Lee’s threat, Marcus though looked unfazed. “You don’t scare me, Munroe, you are next on my list though. Seems like I’m taking someone from everyone.”
Lee grabbed Marcus around the neck and between Jesse and Kelley they had to pry his hands loose. “Let go, Lee!”
Lee came back to his senses and pushed Marcus backwards. He straightened his suit and chuckled as he looked at Lee. Marcus walked into the living room as if he owned the place and looked around. “Hello, Marley.”
“Go die, asshole.” Jesse smirked but stepped in front of Marley all the same.
“No, Grandma! Please don’t make me go with him!” Grace was nearing hysterics now and Marcus turned towards her.
“Hello, Grace. Come to Daddy.”
“You’re not my daddy!”
“Take her.”
Kelley had to physically grip the sofa’s backrest to not stop the man walking towards Grace, it would only make matters worse. He took Grace from Carey who started sobbing now and Grace kicked and screamed.
Her suitcases that stood by the bottom of the stairs were taken by another man and Marcus glanced at them before smiling cruelly and following the men out of the house. Lewis smiled as he looked at Milana and Kirk stopped at the door.
“I’m sorry, Kelley …”
Kelley closed his eyes as Grace’s screams and pleas faded and then went away when a car door closed. The revving of an engine told him that they were leaving and he rushed to the door finding Lee on the porch, crying.
“It’s okay, big guy, we’ll get her back, one way or another.”
“Kelley, I’ve been so stupid. Marella … my baby …”
“Go. I’ve got this.”
Lee ran down the porch and climbed into his car. He sped away and Kelley turned back to the house. In the distance he saw Mason, leaning against his car, his back toward him. He was crying on the corner, having watched his daughter being taken away.
Kelley had the sinking feeling that their family were being torn to shreds. The emotional turmoil of the last few days were too much and he wasn’t sure that Mason would ever recover from this. He wasn't sure if any of them would ever recover from losing her.
