Kelley stood in the foyer of his own house and listened to the argument in full swing in the sitting room. Grace’s body was clutched tight against his with her arms around his neck. She hadn’t let go once and even in the car he’d had to sit in the back seat with her clinging to him.“He’s so big into family and caring for everyone but he couldn’t even be bothered to show up to Blain’s funeral!” David yelled.“I’m sure he had his reasons,” Lee said in an even tone.“I don’t care about his reasons!”Footsteps were muffled by the thick carpet. “I don’t have time for this shit. If you don’t want to be a part of this family, then leave, David,” Mason said angrily.He stopped short in the foyer and Kelley smiled at him as his eyes widened. He nudged Grace in his arms and she turned her head to look at him. “Daddy?”“Gracie,” Mason breathed as Kelley put her down on the floor.Mason sank to his knees as Grace ran toward him. Tears flowed unashamedly down his cheeks as he grabbed her and one

Lee unlocked the front door and swung it open. He hadn’t been back to his house since the shooting. Marella followed him inside and they both stood in the living room not saying a word. Lee took her hand and pulled her toward him.“If you don’t want to be here we can go back to Kelley’s house, sell it or demolish it. I’ll buy us a new house,” Lee said.“This is our home, the one we chose together and the house we furnished and restored. I love this house,” Marella replied.“I know but it’s just a house. I care more about what you’re feeling right now.”Marella squeezed his hand. “We’re staying.”She led Lee up the stairs and switched the lights on. The carpet in their bedroom had been replaced and everything was in its place. “Kelley,” Lee murmured as he sat down on the bed.Marella switched the lamp on the nightstand on and closed their bedroom door before switching the main light off. Lee pulled his shirt over his head and stood up to discard his shoes and jeans. He lay back on the

Two months later …“Every single time I’ve asked you why, you say that it’s time for a new regime,” Arlo said as they sat in a coffee shop in Yorkdare Bay.“Arlo, please, you know that this change was needed. You being sworn in as mayor tomorrow is the best thing I could have hoped for,” Kelley said.“And your financial backing and all you’re A-list friends that have attended my fundraisers … what do you get out of this? I’m not ungrateful, Kelley, but I have to wonder what you want out of this,” Arlo said.“The former mayor was in the Elite’s pockets. I want truth and justice to be just that, truth and justice no matter who the person is. I’m tired of corruption in the places where the people are supposed to be honourable. I don’t want anything from you, not even a favour,” Kelley said.“Not even getting out of unpaid parking tickets?” Arlo joked.Kelley smiled and emptied his coffee cup. “Not even that. I’m your friend, Arlo, and this is business, your business now. I just want thin

Kelley spent two hours on the conference call, securing the land he wanted to buy and put up another hotel. The deal was a lucrative one, for both sides, and they were basically just dotting the i’s and crossing their t’s.“Thank you, Phillipe, we’ll talk again once the plans have been accepted by the municipality,” Kelley said and ended the call.He sat back down on his chair and winced slightly. Sylvie had really gone all out on his back. He didn’t regret it though. She had blown his mind, in more ways than one. She wasn’t petite like Milana and he hadn’t been afraid that he’d hurt her, well not as afraid.He should get Blaire to trace Milana’s whereabouts, talk about a financial settlement and get divorce proceedings underway. He hated to do it, he didn’t believe in divorce but there was no other way around it.He and Milana were history and Sylvie could possibly play a big part in his future. He liked her, knew that she liked him too. She wasn’t overly shy, never looked down and s

Kelley sat on the couch in his hotel room and looked out of the window. It was destiny hearing from Milana now. Lee had drawn up the divorce papers for him months earlier but he hadn’t actively been looking for her.His mind had been on other things, Sylvie mostly. He’d taken her to Maisina with him for the ground breaking ceremony and they’d spent a week there, having a little vacation of their own. He’d spent time with her, getting to know her and he liked her, a lot.The settlement he’d agreed to with Lee was a generous one, one he thought Milana would take in a heartbeat. The monetary offer was a good one with the exception that she needed to sign a non-disclosure agreement and change her name back to her maiden name and relinquish her rights on those twenty percent shares of the hotel in exchange for ten million dollars.Kelley had concluded his business in the city and would be checking out today. Her call had come at a good time. He could stop by her place, discuss the divorce