Back in the car Mason started to laugh and Kelley glanced over at him. “What?”“Did you know your so-called friend uses no-hair products?”“Why would I know that?” Kelley’s frown spoke volumes, he didn’t want Mason to answer that question.Lee gave a half smile from the back seat. “What did you do, Mason?”“I mixed it with his hair gel.”They all laughed at the image of Hanson’s hair falling out in clumps as Mason drove back to lower Yorkdare Bay. They settled in the living room with a clear view of the dining room where Marella sat doing her homework.“There will be retaliation.” Lee’s voice was low even though Marella had her earphones in her ears.“The way they think … they’ll try to hit us where it hurts the most … Marella.” Kelley glanced at her.“We already foiled that plan but nothing stops them from coming after her again.”“Not if we strike again … before they can retaliate.” Mason smiled as he said that.Lee’s interest was piqued now. “How?”Kelley pulled his ringing phone f
It had been a few days since the truce had been called and things seemed peaceful for the time being. Something was bothering Lee though. He’d been broody ever since and pacing up and down whenever they met up. “What’s going on with you?” Mason had had enough of Lee’s mood swings now. “Nothing.” Kelley taped a box shut and turned to look at Lee. “Lee, come on, it’s us. If you can’t talk to us then who can you talk to?” “Steve Jones is getting out of jail next week …” Kelley looked up at Lee with the tape roller still in his hand. “Who’s he?” “He’s the man who turned himself in so he could save me.” Lee’s jaw clenched and Kelley put the tape down on the closed box. “How can we help, Lee?” Mason stepped closer to them and Lee swallowed emotion away, his eyes betraying nothing. “I feel like I have to do something for him.” Mason clasped a hand on Lee’s shoulder. “I get that … have you gone to visit him?” “No. He’s in jail because of me.” Kelley shook his head. “He’s in jail bec
Lee turned his head away from her. She more than liked him. He didn’t know how to respond. Lee stiffened as Marella’s hand landed on his arm. He gritted his teeth and clenched his eyes shut. Marella removed her hand and Lee started the car. Marella stared out of the window with her heart in her throat. Lee wasn’t a talker or a toucher, he never touched her and the only time he had was that night with the fight, to prove his claim on her. She wasn’t sure what claim that was though. The night Lee had stopped next to the road to help her change that tyre had been a turning point in her life. She’d liked the quiet, broody boy. He was huge and at first she’d been frightened when he loomed over her. “Give me that,” Lee had said and then proceeded to change her tyre. He could text just fine but speak? He couldn’t hold a conversation and he preferred to just watch and listen. She was completely in love with him, since that first morning when she woke up to find him asleep on the floor next
Things had quieted down and it had been weeks since the truce. Mason, Kelley and Lee relaxed and Marella started working at a clothing store after school and on weekends. It was early on Saturday morning and Kelley had just finished his shift, now loading trucks with Mason and Lee on the docks since his wrist had healed and rehab had strengthened it.Kelley pulled out his ringing phone as he walked to his Escalade. “Hello.”“Is this Kelley Alexander?”“Yes, who is this?”“This is John Campbell and I’m sorry for calling so early but I’ve been looking for you for months.”“Okay.”“Can we meet? I need to discuss your father’s will with you.”“My father’s will?” Kelley questioned. “As far as I know my father’s alive and well.”“You don’t know … where are you? I’ll come to you, this is quite urgent, Mr Alexander.”“I’m in Yorkdare Bay.”“I’m in the city. I can be there in an hour. Is there somewhere we can meet?”“There’s a diner on Long Road, I’ll meet you there.”The call ended and Kelle
Kelley stewed with the news for two weeks, not saying a word and knowing that Carey wouldn’t say anything either. It was hard to make peace with all the facts that he now knew. He hadn’t touched the money John had given him but he knew what he wanted to do.“Campbell.”“Hi, it’s Kelley.”“Hi, Kelley, I’m glad you called. How are you holding up?”Kelley took a big breath and chuckled. “It’s surreal but I wanted to ask you something.”“Shoot.”“Can I buy property through my trust, meaning with the money in the trust?”“Of course you can. Property is seen as an investment. Send me the portfolio of the property and we can talk after I’ve talked to the owner of the building.”“It’s a warehouse down by the docks, it’s been empty for years and I don’t know who the owner is.”John was quiet for a few seconds. “A warehouse? What do you want with a warehouse?”“It’ll be a base of sorts, it also holds sentimental value for us, for me. I can send you the address.”“Okay, do that and I’ll try to f
Kelley quickly changed out of his suit and stood in his underwear in front of his closet when the door of the room he shared with Mason opened and closed quickly. Kelley turned around not sure who it was since Mason, Lee and Marella had already left for the party.“Hi.”Juliana looked at Kelley as he stood facing her in all of his half-naked glory. “I heard you went on a date tonight.”Kelley laughed as Juliana smiled. “It was fun.”“Not even a morsel of remorse from you.”“That’s because I’m not sorry at all.”Juliana laughed as she stepped closer to Kelley and her arms went around his waist. “I’ve been wanting to talk to you.”“About?”Juliana didn’t say anything but pressed herself closer to Kelley and kissed him. The jeans fell from his hand as he gripped her hair with one hand and other one went to her back. Feeling the need to breathe more deeply he broke off the kiss and gazed into her eyes.“You’re killing me.” His erection throbbed between them and Juliana loosened her hold f
Kelley was transported to the hospital in an ambulance as the paramedic tried to staunch the bleeding in his head. Lee and Mason were following behind the ambulance and Kelley knew he was in shock. He kept staring out of the small windows of the back doors at the ambulance behind them transporting Jule’s body.“You’ll need stitches.”Kelley didn’t say anything as she kept the gauze pressed against his head. A police officer had already asked him if he’d been drinking and they followed behind the ambulances to do a breathalyzer test and most probably a blood test too.He felt numb not knowing how to deal with Juliana’s loss. He sat in an almost catatonic state and lay back on the gurney when they told him to and wheeled him inside the emergency room and into a trauma bay.“Kelley Alexander … we’re brothers!”In a few seconds Mason and Lee’s faces appeared through the curtain and then Carey was speaking to a doctor as a nurse dabbed the area around his wound and placed a tray with equip
Ulrich Drummond pulled the curtain open and gave Kelley and Mason a smile. “How big is your family exactly?”Mason smiled as Kelley pulled his shoes on. “Why?”“Well, you have thirteen brothers in the waiting room and an uncle.”“We don’t have a tv at home.” Mason’s laugh reverberated through the room and even Ulrich chuckled as Kelley’s expression remained stoic.“Your uncle, though, wouldn’t take no for an answer, he’s right outside, a Jesse Owens.”“He’s my uncle, for real.”Ulrich shook his head lightly and stepped to the side as Jesse slid past him. “Shit, Kelley, I just heard.”Jesse pulled him into a hug and Kelley’s arms clasped around Jesse’s back. “Thanks for coming but I just got discharged.”“Let’s get you home, kid.”Jesse slapped Mason on the back too and the three of them walked out of the trauma bay. Kelley’s steps faltered as Charles and Laura stood to one side with Petey’s parents. Kelley nodded his head at Mason who understood instantly and he led Jesse to the waiti