17

The following day, Nathan and Joey were sitting on the balcony, laughing, drinking in the sunset; I walked out, threw on some ray bans and sat down with my legs crossed in the chair next to Joey

"What are you two doing out here?"

Nathan handed me the bottle of whiskey they were drinking

"Getting drunk how bout you baby girl?"

I grabbed the bottle

"Ew, whiskey? No I'll be right back."

Joey jumped up and followed me; I climbed on top of the counter to grab another bottle from the top shelf; as I turned I nearly fell into his arms and dropped the bottle on the tile floor. He caught me as I fell forward; he laughed

"Be careful."

I laughed

"I'm clumsy today."

I backed away from him and looked at the shattered glass and alcohol flooding the floor. Nathan ran in

"What's going o... Oh I didn't realize."

Joey corrected him

"Nothing happened, she just fell and dropped the bottle

I bit my lip nervously

"Yeah like he said, I dropped the bottle when I fell, um... I'm going to get some paper towels and a broom for the glass."

As I walked away I exhaled nervously; Nathan snapped at Joey

"This isn't a game, do you think boss will like you mouthing it with her?"

Joey laughed

"I didn't kiss her, she fell and I caught her that's it. I wouldn't do Connor like that."

Nathan rolled his eyes

"Well I'd watch it with Kayla; unless you want your ass fired."

Joey grabbed a roll of paper towels off the counter

"I'm into Amelia; Kayla is more like a sister to me so chill out man."

I came in with the broom and dust pan; I leaned them on the counter and grabbed the paper towels from Joey

"I got it, my dumbass dropped it."

Joey reached his hand out

"I'll help you, give me some paper towels."

I got on my hands and knees on the floor

"Thank god the girls are asleep; they don't need to be around you guys drinking."

Nathan mumbled something to Joey and walked back to the balcony, Joey kneeled to help clean it up, looked up

"You were drinking too."

I smiled

"I'm off today, give me a break."

He laughed

"The kitchen's going to smell of this you know?"

I sat down on the floor and laughed

"I know, it's my fault."

He grinned

"No it's not, you're short, I should've gotten it for you."

I threw the paper towel roll at him

"Be quiet."

I stood up and grabbed the broom; I swept up the glass and threw it in the trash. Lonnie walked in

"What happened in here?"

I stood up from bending over

"I dropped a bottle."

Lonnie looked at Joey

"Boss wants to come check up on everything next week."

I threw the glass in the trash

"Great! Months later and I'm finally meeting him just hope he's not some dick."

Lonnie cleared his throat

"Kayla I think the girls are awake now."

I exhaled

"They didn't sleep too long."

I went upstairs to check on them; Lonnie whispered

"Boss will not be happy with Nathan and Zack training her."

Joey shrugged

"Man it isn't my problem now; it's better if she knew in the worst case scenario."

Lonnie nodded

"She's impressively good and full of skill."

Joey leaned down to pick up a missed big piece of glass

"Look who her father is, of course she is man."

Lonnie looked through the doorway to the staircase

"Makes sense why Connor's family wanted them together."

Joey laughed

"Crystal had more money and skill, no he fell for Kayla."

Lonnie looked at him grinning

"So Nathan was right."

I walked in holding Arabella

"I told him to be with Crystal, he wanted to be with me but thanks."

They both turned to my direction, Joey frantically said

"I didn't mean it the way you took it Kayla! I swear."

I faked a smile

"Don't worry about it, I wasn't all that special."

Lonnie tried correcting him

"No he wasn't saying you were a mistake, he was saying..."

He stopped and froze

"Boss? I thought you weren't... coming till next week."

I turned around to the guy in black with a mask on; he kind of looked away; I wrapped my arms tighter around Arabella and quietly

"I'll be upstairs."

I began to walk out of the kitchen when the guy in black said my name. I turned to look at him; he looked down again and backed up; I stood and waited for him to speak. Zack walked in

"Hey Kayla I was wondering if you could... Boss? What are you doing here?"

The person in black cleared his throat then took off his mask

"I came to check up on everyone."

I recognized the voice and looked up, I couldn't believe my eyes who I saw. I was angry, happy, sad but mostly pissed. I couldn't say anything to him; I was a tornado inside. He looked at me

"I'm sorry you had to go through that alone."

I faked a laugh

"It'll take a lot more than an apology to fix this."

I went upstairs with the girls; I tried to hold back the emotions, I couldn't. I had to jump up and run to my room to cry my eyes out, I couldn't believe I was lied to. I walked out of my room and hollered for Zack; he came to my room; I paced back and forth

"Am I going nuts? Is he really here?"

Zack sighed

"I didn't feel right lying to you, I'm sorry."

I stopped dead in my tracks

"Wait... you knew?"

He looked down

"I did, I'm sorry."

I could feel myself get angrier

"Please get out"

He tried to calm me down

"Be happy he's back, it's what you..."

I cut him off

"He lied to me! I thought he was dead! All of you knew didn't you?"

Zack nodded his head quietly but didn't say anything; he left the room after I started pacing again. I paced for a while until someone knocked on the door

"Come in!"

The door open and Connor entered the room, I looked up

"Wonderful, just the person I want to see."

He looked down

"I did it to protect you; it killed me forever to hide I'm still alive from you."

Tears filled my eyes but I held them back

"I can't look at you right now, I really believed you were dead."

He walked slowly toward the bed

"I had them bring you here; this has nothing to do with my dad; he thinks I'm dead too."

I looked up but didn't lift my head

"Why? Why are you lying to your family?"

I stood up reaching my hand behind my back on top of my gun

"Games over, take off the mask."

He looked at me confused

"What? You really don't believe I'm your husband."

I shook my head not wanting to believe it

"I saw you lifeless in your casket and watch them bury you."

I pulled the gun and put it to his chest

"Take it off or I pull the trigger."

He put his arms up

"Kayla, babe it's me, Connor your husband."

I slowly moved my hand close to his face and felt for a mask but it was really him. I tried to keep from being happy so I smirked

"Okay it's you but how do I know you aren't working with your father or someone else."

He looked into my eyes and said

"Because I would never turn on you or put you in harm's way, please put down the gun."

I slowly lowered the gun and put it in my back holster

"It's you, doesn't mean I will ever want to talk to you again."

He exhaled

"Well you're... different."

I stared at him hard

"I'm sure you have a clue why right?"

He nodded his head

"I know about everything; I also know they've been training you."

I put my index finger to his face

"One day of training, the rest is survival skills I learned being married to you."

He smirked

"I never meant to put you in danger or hurt you."

I fixed my shirt to cover the gun and smirked

"Go see your daughters, I'm done talking to you."

I began walking out of the room as he said

"I have; multiple times. I've visited you too."

I stopped and turned around

"The funny thing about this whole thing is I was just getting over the fact you were, quote killed now it's like the wound has reopened."

He stood quietly, I pulled my ray bans from my shirt

"Amelia and Ashley are coming over, spend some time with the daughter who asked for you for months."

He looked up

"You won't let me explain anything will you?"

I shook my head

"I can't even look at you right now, it was heartless what you did to me. I don't know if I could forgive you this time."

He began walking toward me; I stopped him

"I wouldn't come near me right now."

He sighed

"I don't give a shit if you hit me, punch me or spit in my face right now; I just want to hug and show you how much you mean."

He came closer

"Please give me a hug, I really missed you."

I stood and stared at him but didn't say anything; he moved a little bit closer

"You have a right to be angry at me; it was a stupid move but I did it to protect you, we have more security, more money coming in. I did it for you girls not just me."

I faked a laugh

"So money and security is more important than being here for your family who believed you were dead? I don't think that's a good enough excuse for lying."

As I began walking out of the room, he grabbed my wrist to stop me

"Kayla!"

I turned around quickly and twisted his arm to his back and slammed into the wall

"Don't ever touch me without my permission."

Lonnie ran in

"What's going on?"

I let his arm go and walked out of the room giving him a hard stare. He twisted his arm to get back feeling in his arm

"What the hell did you guys teach her?"

Lonnie shrugged

"Just the basics, she knew most of the expert moves."

He exhaled

"I can tell; she doesn't trust me much right now."

Lonnie handed him a phone

"You did lie to her for months; she's also been into Zack the past few months."

Connor chuckled

"No way, he ain't going to have a job if he has been."

As Connor began walking out the room, Lonnie jumped in front of him

"Don't be rash bro, remember the girls are here."

He exhaled

"I will get Kayla back on my side; give me time until then watch both Nathan and Zack and stop this training they have set up for her."

Lonnie cleared his throat

"You can't pull her from the training now man, we could use her on our side."

Connor snapped at Lonnie

"True but I can't risk her getting injured again or being killed, pull the plug on that plan because I'm not risking it."

Lonnie nodded his head

"Of course, she's our concern."

He moved out of Connor's way; I was standing at the balcony of the stairs. Connor stopped and watched me for a few seconds before he exhaled and walked past.