Chapter Sixty-Seven
By Wednesday Kelley realized that Ernesto had never given him the name of the Romano daughter he’d marry. Blaire’s initial searches turned up five Romano daughters living in Ernesto’s household. Two of the girls had been adopted after his brother had died and Kelley could only conclude that he'd marry one of them.
The first one was Fernanda, aged twenty-one. She was a beautiful young woman but something about her didn’t feel right to Kelley. She looked spoiled, pampered and shallow. Her hobbies included shopping, getting her nails done and pouting for selfies. She wore too much makeup up and in the attached photo most of her cleavage was visible.
The second daughter was Milana, aged eighteen. The smile on the photograph seemed timid, almost shy and she didn’t share her older sister’s beauty, though, she wasn’t ugly. Her face was innocent, too young and Kelley almost felt bad for her. She possessed a natural beauty Kelley hadn't expected, not after seeing the older sister's folder.
Kelley dropped the folder on his desk and realized that within two days he’d be a married man. Marella had organized a small ceremony at a chapel with a pastor he’d never met and didn’t know. Afterwards, they’d come back to the house for a small reception and Kelley already dreaded it. The less he had to do with Ernesto Romano, the better.
The wedding wouldn’t be made public until Charles had thought that he’d won. Lee had already checked the validity of both girls' heritage and at noon on Friday, the hotels would belong to him. He closed his eyes briefly and swallowed down the bile.
He didn’t want to get married and certainly not to someone he didn’t know, especially someone related to Ernesto. She’d be money-hungry, shallow and essentially a spy in his house. His life had turned into a shit show and he couldn’t get out of it. On the other hand, it seemed better that way, he wouldn't love her and she'd hold no real power over him, she wouldn't be able to hurt him like Juliana had.
The worst part of it was that he had to have sex with her otherwise the marriage could be annulled and he couldn’t risk that. She was a complete stranger to him and even though he could fool himself into thinking it was a one-night stand to get the deed done, she wouldn’t leave the next morning.
He'd made his choice though and he didn't care how many Romano daughters he had to marry, he couldn't let Charles have those shares. Those shares meant the world to Kelley and it also meant that Charles would lose.
The ringing phone pulled him out of his daydream and he looked at Lee’s name on the screen. He grabbed it from the desk and answered it. “Lee.”
“Kelley …”
Kelley sat up instantly, the tone of Lee’s voice telling him that something was very wrong. “What happened?”
“I … Kelley …”
“Where are you?” Kelley had his car keys in his hands and he ran from his office as he willed Lee to pull it together and speak to him.
“The warehouse.”
“I’m on my way!”
Kelley ran out of his office and down the stairs so fast he was surprised he didn't trip and break his neck. The wheels of the Escalade squealed as he spun away from the house and raced through the open gate. Connor had run from the house and seconds later his phone rang again, the sound deafening over the car speakers.
“I’ll call you if I need you, Connor.”
“I’m right behind you already.”
Kelley looked in the rearview mirror and saw Connor practically on his ass. “Connor?”
The call had ended and Kelley gripped the steering wheel tighter. He had no idea what awaited him at the warehouse or what the hell was going on. It had to be bad, Lee was never emotional. He kept speeding and Connor stayed with him until they reached the warehouse.
The docks seemed eerily empty even though it was five pm. Kelley punched in the code at the side door and pulled it open as Connor ran up to him. Lee stood in the foyer and Kelley halted in his steps. The blood on Lee’s face looked too real for it to be a prank.
“Lee …”
“I don’t remember doing it.”
“Doing what?”
Lee was practically covered in blood, his white shirt soaked through, his hands bloody, a smear on his forehead and droplets on his shoes. Connor’s sharp intake of breath brought reality home. Lee had killed someone.
“He’s in there.” Lee’s arm motioned to the open space beyond the entryway, a place where men trained and beyond that rooms where some of them slept.
“Who is, Lee?”
“I’ll go.” Connor stepped forward and Lee went down to his knees.
Kelley’s heart broke in that moment. The big, silent guy that always seemed so unbreakable broke down in front of him. Big, fat tears rolled down his cheeks and Lee’s shoulders shook as he started to cry. It was a release of sorts and Kelley knelt next to him.
“The name on the driver’s license says Keith Munroe.” Connor stood a few feet away from them and he looked worriedly at Lee.
“It’s his biological father.” Kelley’s arm was around Lee’s shoulders now as he continued to cry.
“What do you need me to do?”
“I don’t know, Connor.” Kelley had trouble keeping it together when Lee was breaking next to him.
“I killed him, Kelley.”
“It’s okay, Lee, I’ve got you.”
“I’ll get started in there, Kelley, you get Lee in a shower, and bring me his clothes and shoes when he’s done.”
Kelley looked at Connor who took control of the situation and left them in the entryway. Kelley got Lee to his feet and he numbly followed Kelley to the bathrooms in the back. Kelley got Lee undressed and under the water. Red swirled down his body and down into the drain as the water diluted the blood and washed it away.
“What happened, Lee?”
