Chapter Seventy-One
Kelley stood in his dressing room, a towel wrapped around his waist. He was getting married, to someone he'd never met, someone he didn't know and someone he didn't love, someone he'd never love. Kelley never did anything lightly, not even this marriage. His path had been decided for him when he was seventeen and he would see it through.
He started getting dressed in the suit Marella had picked out and he wondered what this new phase of his life would bring. Could he get to know this woman? Perhaps live an amicable life with her? It was too soon to tell but he knew without a doubt, she'd never get from him what Ernesto wanted most. Ernesto might think he'd have a spy in Kelley's house and the thought made him grin.
“Who’s Basilio Giudice?”
Kelley looked up from where he was fastening his cufflinks as Lee leaned in the doorway looking like himself again. Kelley hadn’t heard from him until now, Friday morning, and it was with relief that Kelley noted Lee's eyes. They didn't seem as dead anymore. He never wanted Lee or Mason to dirty their hands like he had, but perhaps this way, Lee had rid himself of one demon.
“Why do you ask, Lee?”
“Because I find it ironic that an unknown Italian businessman just started buying up everything in the upper districts that we don’t already own.” Kelley smiled and Lee shook his head. “You did it again, asshole. Why can’t you just tell us before you go off and do shit?”
“Shit’s a bad word, Uncle Lee.”
“Gracie! Don’t say shit.” Mason shot a glare at Lee and Kelley smiled as Grace bounded up to him.
“Hello, princess. You look beautiful.”
“Thank you, Uncle Kelley, you look pretty too.”
Mason stifled a laugh and Lee raised his eyebrow as Kelley picked her up and turned back to the mirror. Grace traced Kelley’s tie with her finger then kissed him on the cheek and smiled her toothless smile at him.
“That’s not something you hear in the same sentence, ever.” Mason’s mumble had Lee laughing and Kelley glaring.
"Don't hate my prettiness, Mason. Kids don't lie," Kelley said with a smirk.
“Go tell Aunt Marella we have to leave in ten minutes, Grace.”
“Okay, Uncle Lee.”
Kelley put Grace down and the moment her feet touched the carpeted floor she took off running in her sparkly white dress with a black bow around her waist. Her shoes were black too and Mason had just shrugged as Kelley smiled at her retreating form.
“Kelley … about Wednesday …”
Kelley pulled his suit jacket on and turned towards Lee. “There’s nothing to talk about, Lee. Everything’s been dealt with.”
“Thank you.”
“I didn’t see that shitshow coming.” Mason stood near the doorway with his hands in his pockets.
Kelley’s brows pinched together in a frown as he looked at Mason. “You didn’t?”
“Well not the stabbing part. I think it’s good though, now it’s out of your system and the bastard’s dead. You can move on from your demons, Lee.”
“I thought I’d moved on a long time ago.” Lee looked down briefly and Kelley stepped towards him.
“You did nothing wrong. Mason’s right.”
“I know and I’ll be fine, I promise.”
Mason smirked and Lee gave him a look. “Now it’s your impending doom you need to focus on.”
Kelley looked at each of them in turn. “What impending doom?”
“You’re an asshole, Mason.” Lee shook his head wishing he could rip the tie off because it felt like he couldn’t breathe.
“He doesn’t want to tell you because you’ve got today’s shit to deal with.”
“Forget my shit. Talk to me, Lee.”
Lee dragged a hand through his hair, disheveling the previously styled mop into disarray. “It’s time to leave, I’ll talk to you later.”
“I’m not leaving this room until you tell me what the hell’s going on.”
Kelley steeled his expression and crossed his arms across his chest, looking Lee squarely in the eye. Lee held his gaze for a few seconds before he sighed, glared at Mason again and stuck his hands in his pants pockets.
“Marella’s pregnant.”
“I see.”
Mason’s face morphed into a frown. “You see? That’s your reaction?”
“What do you want me to say, Mason? Congratulations? Lee doesn’t want children, everyone knows that.”
“Well Marella didn’t know that, asshole.”
Kelley smiled as he looked at Mason. “Yeah … you didn’t know either.”
“Let’s just go and get your fat ass married.”
Lee laughed and shook his head. “You two are worse than a married couple. I swear sometimes I think you two should just say fuck it and move in together.”
Both Mason and Kelley stopped mid-step and looked at Lee. “We’re not that close.”
Mason had beaten Kelley to that punchline and Lee shrugged his shoulders as Mason walked out of Kelley’s bedroom. Kelley hovered for a minute before blocking Lee’s exit from his room. They stood inches apart and Kelley’s eyes were hard.
“I get it, Lee. I don’t think Marella does. I don’t think she will ever really get it. You’re scared shitless that the evil’s in your blood. I’m telling you now that it’s not but only you can believe it. I’ve got your back no matter what you decide. I’m your brother.”
Lee looked emotional for all of ten seconds before his expression went blank. “That I appreciate more than you know. Now, let’s go get your ball and chain.”
Kelley laughed then as Lee slapped him on the back and they went downstairs, already ten minutes late. Kelley stopped on the steps and looked down at his domain, his people, and his family. Staff and friends alike stood in the foyer and they all smiled up at him.
“Move your ass, Kelley, you’re late as it is.”
“Yes, Sir, Connor, Sir.”
Connor shook his head and they filed out of the house and into five SUVs that had been waiting in the driveway. Kelley slid into the backseat with Connor seated next to him one on side and Lee on his other side.
