Chapter One Hundred and Thirteen
“Kelley …”
Kelley opened his eyes and shifted. Milana was asleep on his chest and opposite him sat Jesse and Marley, both of them asleep as well. Kelley’s eyes focused and the waiting room came into view and then Drummond’s face.
“Lee?”
“He’s out of surgery.” The relief in his eyes were evident and he felt himself calm down instantly. Lee was okay, that was all that mattered.
Kelley got to his feet as he gently moved Milana so her head could rest on the backrest of the chair. His shirt was rumpled and they’d been waiting for hours. At the end of the waiting room stood David and Cecile with the twins.
“Is he okay?”
“He’s okay, he’ll be in a lot of pain when he wakes up. One bullet nicked his kidney, the other two went straight through, missed his spine by millimeters and another one settled into his hipbone."
“Thanks, Ulrich. What about Marella?”
“They couldn’t save the baby but she’ll pull through.”
Kelley rubbed a hand over his face and looked at Ulrich Drummond, the doctor that had stitched up his head the night Jule had died. They’d stayed in contact and now Ulrich was his go-to doctor on the side. He stitched them up, sent medication when it was needed and couldn’t be recorded.
“Shit.”
“She’ll probably wake up in the next half an hour and I don’t think she should be alone.”
“I’ll sit with her until she’s awake.”
“She’s in room 201, Kelley. I’ll keep an eye on Milana for you.”
Kelley looked back at Milana, sleeping peacefully. He nodded at Ulrich, knowing that he wouldn’t move from the waiting room unless Jesse woke up and if he had an emergency to attend to, he’d wake Jesse. Kelley could still smell the blood on himself when he headed down the hall.
Kelley took the elevator to the second floor and signed in at the nurse’s station. He slipped into Marella’s room and sat down in the chair next to the bed. The beeping machines told him that she was stable.
Kelley sat holding her hand and watched her intently. He sat up straighter when her eyelids fluttered twenty minutes later and he stood up as she blinked her eyes. “Marella?”
“What happened?”
“You’re in the hospital. Do you remember what happened?”
Marella looked around the room and blinked a few more times, the grogginess finally fading. Her eyes widened and then her hand went to her stomach. “My baby?”
“I’m so sorry, Marella.”
Tears flooded her eyes and she bit her lip as she nodded her head. Kelley had his own tears to blink away as she squeezed his hand tightly. Sobs wracked through her and she curled in on herself, pulling her hand away.
“Lee was there … oh God, Lee. Where’s Lee?”
“He took three bullets to his back and one in his hip. He just got out of surgery. What the hell happened, Marella?”
“I was at home. The front door was locked. I’m not sure, Kelley. Lee walked into our room and he was crying. It shocked me to see him like that and I moved away from him. That’s when I saw the two men standing in the doorway and Lee turned around. I heard the first gunshot and then Lee was in front of me, his body jerking as the bullets hit him. We fell to the floor but I wasn't shot. I must have passed out.”
“He covered your body with his. I found you like that, him on top of you.”
“I guess Lee finally got his wish …”
“Marella …”
“No, Kelley. I want to be alone, please. I don’t want to see anybody.”
Kelley stood looking at her but nodded his head. He turned again at the door and looked back at her. She had turned on her side and her shoulders shook as she silently cried. He walked out of her room feeling the world’s weight on his shoulders.
There was too much happening at once. They had no idea how much trauma Andrea went through. Marella had just lost her baby and Lee had been shot four times. He might have permanent kidney damage and they had Black and Kirk in the basement of his house.
Grace was with Marcus and Kelley had to wonder if Milana would be their next target so they could hurt him. He had no doubt that Jesse would keep Marley safe and other than those already mentioned there wasn’t really anybody else they could hurt him with.
The Elites had gone straight for the jugular with these attacks. They’d effectively beaten Mason and Lee in the same night but in doing so they had also hurt him, hurt their family. Kelley’s fists clenched as he went back to the waiting room.
“Kelley.”
“Have you heard anything more about Lee?”
Blain looked down and then motioned to an empty corner. Kelley followed him and looked back at where David and Cecile stood with Blaire. “What’s going on, Blain?”
“Marella called me from her room. She wants to leave, low-key leave. She’s asking for my help and I’m going to give it to her. In fact, I’m going to go with her. She’s my sister, Kelley, and I’m going with her to watch over her. She’s emotional and hurt and she wants to discharge herself against medical advice.”
“She can’t leave, Blain. We’re being targeted by the Elites. We need to stick together now.”
Blain remained unmoved. “I’ll be with her, Kelley, I’ll cover our tracks and I’ll keep an eye on her. She doesn’t want to see Lee or anyone else. She doesn’t want to be in Yorkdare Bay. She wants to go somewhere where she can start over.”
“Fine. Stay in contact. She’ll always be family and have our protection, as much as we can give it.”
“Tell my parents tomorrow, okay. Blaire too. I love them but Marella needs me.”
Despite his trepidation Kelley nodded his head and Blain left the waiting room. He knew that Marella would be out of Yorkdare Bay before nightfall. He couldn’t stop her but at least she had Blain with her. He’d prefer some actual guards but Blain could cover their tracks and disappear with her.
