Chapter One Hundred and Seventy-Eight
Lee walked back into the dining room and stopped in the doorway. Nobody was yelling anymore and he took a deep breath as his eyes found Marella. For a brief moment, he'd feared that Marella had slept with Kelley in that time they'd broken up. He knew it was stupid but he'd always wondered if they had feelings for each other.
Kelley had been quick to volunteer moving them to a motel after they'd found her in the street and the niggling feeling had always stayed there. It had been one of the reasons it had taken him so long to make a move and tonight had just proved how real that fear had been. He'd been so quick to believe the worst of him and in all honesty, Kelley had never done anything to make Lee doubt him. It was a shitty realization to have.
“That was quick,” Mason said.
“And he’s not bleeding,” Connor added.
“I didn’t talk to him. He was uhm … busy,” Lee said and sat down next to Marella again.
“Is he still pissed?” Marley asked with a worried look in her eyes.
Lee shook his head but couldn’t hide his smile. “He’s getting it on upstairs and Steel’s guarding the door like he’s the President.”
“You guys don’t get it, do you?” Marley said and laughed. “He is the President. When any of us have a problem, who do we go to? Who’s the first person that pops into our heads that we know will have the solution?”
Murmurs of agreement broke out and the room grew silent again until Kelley cleared his throat and they all looked up in surprise as he stood behind his chair once again. You’d never guess what he’d been doing minutes earlier if you looked at him. He was calm and composed, not a hair out of place.
“I shouldn’t have lost my temper. I’m sorry. I had sex with your wives and girlfriends before they wore those titles. Jeannie and Marella are like sisters to me now, I’d protect them with my lives just like you would. I love Grace as much as any other person here, I helped to raise her and that means we’re family.”
“I fucked Marley,” Mason said loudly and Lee started laughing.
“Mason,” Kelley said and closed his eyes.
“I’m shutting up now.”
“Kelley,” Lee said and stood up. He closed the distance between them and gripped Kelley’s shoulders. “We’re family. Brothers.” Then Lee pulled Kelley into a hug. “I’m sorry,” he whispered.
Connor grinned and looked at Kelley. “Since you’ve slept with ours I just think it’s fair that we all sleep with your wife.”
Kelley grinned and pulled his chair out. “She’d break your back, Connor.”
Milana sat down on Kelley’s lap and his arm snaked around her waist. “Who says I’d want to sleep with you, Connor?”
Lee laughed the loudest as Kelley looked over at Jeannie. “Don’t we have dessert tonight?”
“I thought you already had dessert,” Lee said and smiled at Kelley.
“Yeah but none of you are getting any tonight so you might as well have dessert.”
Milana laughed and leaned back against Kelley’s chest. His hand squeezed her hip and she smiled. Dessert was served and Kelley sat and watched them all. The mood had changed quickly and Kelley's earlier outburst seemed to be forgotten.
“Sylvie.”
She turned her head towards him and everyone stopped eating and talking. He was the focus of their attention once more.
“Yes?”
“This was not how I planned to welcome you to the family but maybe it’s better this way. I know Mason will do right by you and look after you and that baby. If he doesn’t you go to Jesse. He’ll kick Mason’s ass when you need him to.”
Sylvie smiled then and looked at Mason. “If he keeps it in his pants it might not be necessary.”
“I’m not that bad. How am I the bad one when Kelley’s gotten it on with literally everyone in this room?”
Connor grinned and even Jesse laughed. “I’ve never gotten it on with Kelley.”
Kelley choked on his Scotch at Jesse’s words and laughed. Nobody else said anything and Marella looked at Lee. “So you did? You got it on with Kelley?”
“Kelley’s got that whole bad boy vibe going for him, though I’m not sure he’s my type.”
“He’s my type,” Milana said and Kelley smiled.
The rest of their dinner party were spent laughing and talking. The only time Milana left Kelley’s side was to tend to Kyzer. It was close to midnight and Kelley was exhausted. He slept more since the coma and he couldn’t wait for everyone to leave.
Jesse was the first one to stand up and Marley hadn’t looked at Kelley for the rest of the evening. She felt too ashamed because she never should’ve said anything. He was her brother and she’d almost caused a family rift.
“It’s getting late and I still plan on getting some tonight,” Jesse said as Marley laughed when he pulled her out of her chair.
Kelley stood up and walked with them to the foyer as the rest of the family gathered their things to head home. Marley stopped in front of Kelley and hugged him. “I’m really sorry.”
“It’s okay, not the Mason part but the rest is okay.”
They said their goodbyes and Milana headed upstairs. Kelley locked the door and switched off all the lights. He shrugged off his jacket as he walked up the stairs and headed to his bedroom. Milana was in the shower and he undressed in the room before joining her.
“Are you trying to save water?” Milana asked him as his hands roamed up her sides.
“Tonight was … I’m sorry.”
“You were right though, Kelley. You do everything for everyone, all the time. Nobody really sees it, it’s become second nature that you’ll just take care of it all. You shouldn’t be blamed for things you did in the past, not when it hurt anyone.”
“Does that mean you forgive me for Sylvie?”
“She’s still in love with you.” Milana turned around to look at him.
“I don’t love her.”
“I believe you. You didn’t look at her once but you did keep looking at me. I should’ve stayed and talked to you,” Milana said.
“You can talk to me now.”
“I really can’t remarry when you die?” she asked him.
Kelley laughed and picked her up just before his lips smashed into hers.
