Chapter Ninety-Three
The drive back to Yorkdare Bay was filled with tension and Connor's pulsating anger. Kelley was pissed as well but his anger was under control. His hot-headedness had given them an advantage.
Things were about to change and he still had to talk to Milana, really talk to her and he dreaded that conversation the most. He could handle Connor's anger but he had no idea how to go about to undo the things he'd done when he'd still thought of Milana as the enemy. The realization that she was a victim and he'd somehow missed it, gnawed on his insides.
He'd never wanted to be the type of man that a woman feared and their situation was a unique one but he still felt like a major asshole. Milana was a brave woman, going to his room and waiting for him on her knees and he should've stayed and talked to her instead of yelling at her, again.
Connor pulled the SUV into the garage and the doors closed behind them. Connor was still gripping the steering wheel tightly as he turned to look at Kelley. “Next time I’ll shoot you in the leg.”
“I’m sorry.”
“You can’t go rogue like this, Kelley. This whole operation falls apart if something happens to you. You’re the core component keeping it all together, don’t you get that? Every single person you employ, those in your inner circle, they all depend on you.”
“I get it.”
Connor bristled. “Do you? You shot my fucking tires out, Kelley!”
“I didn’t know I was going to do it. But I kept my head, Connor, I got valuable information we wouldn’t have had otherwise.”
“Someday your luck’s going to run out, that’s why you have a brain, Kelley. For fuck sakes, man. You know what, there better not be a next time.”
Connor climbed out of the car and slammed the door closed. Kelley rubbed a hand over his face, he knew Connor would be pissed off but he hadn’t bargained on Connor’s rage exploding like this. He hadn’t thought and Connor was right.
He climbed out of the car and walked into the house via the garage. As he walked down the hallway to his study Milana’s bedroom door opened and she wrapped herself around him, surprising the hell out of him.
“I was so worried.”
“Why?”
Milana looked up at him and then took a step backward. “I mean … you’re safe and I’m glad you’re okay.”
“Would you have missed me if I hadn’t come back?”
Milana blushed slightly and shook her head. “I don’t know.”
“Come with me.”
Kelley walked to the study and took off his jacket and tie. Milana followed when he started unbuttoning his shirt. He turned as he pulled his shirt off and then started on the t-shirt. “Uhm, what are you doing?” Her eyes were wide and Kelley chuckled as he looked at her.
“Taking the bulletproof vest off.”
“Oh.”
Milana averted her gaze, not looking at him as he pulled the vest off and unlocked the safe with his thumbprint and retina scan. He picked his clothes up and walked towards her as she looked him up and down, scrutinizing him.
“I really think we need a do-over.”
Milana nodded her head and Kelley walked out of his study. Milana turned towards her room and Kelley stopped and turned to look at her. “Where are you going?”
“To my room.”
“From now on you sleep with me.” Milana’s eyes widened and her mouth opened to say something but she closed it again.
Kelley walked into his room and switched the lights on and Milana hovered in the doorway. She stood staring at the spot where he’d found her earlier and yelled at her … again. Kelley took her hand and led her to the bed.
“I won’t touch you, I promise.”
She nodded her head but still eyed him suspiciously as he walked to the bathroom and he could feel her eyes on him so he did what any man would do. He took his clothes off and got into the shower having left the bathroom door open.
Kelley smiled to himself as he showered and decided to do the honorable thing. He pulled pajamas on in the dressing room and even pulled a t-shirt over his head before emerging. He switched off the main lights but left the lamp in the corner on.
Milana was on the far side of the bed and she sat upright as she watched him. He lifted the covers and climbed into his bed. It was a king size with extra length to accommodate his height and he felt the tension ease as he lay down.
“I won’t bite, Milana.”
“Can I ask you something?”
Kelley turned to look at her where she still sat on top of the covers. “You don’t ever have to be afraid to speak your mind or ask me whatever you want to ask. I’m used to being an asshole but I’ll never physically hurt you. I might yell and you can yell back without fear of anything happening to you.”
“If that’s the case ..”
“It is.”
“Why am I sleeping in here?”
“I went to Meadow Lake with the intention of hurting Ernesto.” Milana’s eyes widened suddenly. “I didn’t. I did get access to his computer and I found documents referencing playhouses and then I found photos of you, taken while you were here.”
“What?”
“The photos are of you in your room. So, until I know if that person is an employee or someone gaining access to your balcony I don’t want you in there.”
“I’m glad you didn’t hurt Ernesto.”
Kelley propped his head up on his hand and looked intently at her. “Why?”
“He has my mother, Kelley. He took her five years ago right after my father died. I haven’t seen her since but he always threatened me that I’d end up like she did, sold.”
“I’ll do everything within my power to find your mother.”
