CHAPTER 26

What did occur?" ISAAC asks.

"It was, uh, nothing." KY refuses to admit what he said to KY or tried to do. It's simply too humiliating. First XENDER FISH and then Calcedonio. KY's father taught KY how to shoot a weapon, and KY's so freaking appreciative of that right now. KY'm pretty good at it, and KY keeps KY's talent in line every once in a while at the target shooting range. When VINCENT DANZA's sister Anni Marchiano is visiting, we usually go practice together because she's a decent shot as well. Although, KY doesn't think that her arranged husband wasn't besotted when he realized what she could do to a person with a gun.

"You're a bad liar, KYOLINE. You don't shoot someone for no reason."

KY moves for the door. KY knows KY's not good at lying, but KY just can't talk about Calcedonio thinking KY's a whore.

"Wait!" He catches KY's arm. "There's something amiss with your dress," he traces the palm of his thumb over a rip on the sleeve of KY's dress, a shiver running down KY at him touching KY's skin. "Did Calcedonio do that?"

KY deflects attention away from him, hoping he will not see the truth in KY's eyes. "No." It is utterly degrading to acknowledge that men think KY an easy target because of KY's last name.

He clenches his jaw.

"I handled it and escaped from him," KY answers quickly.

"What did he actually say to you?"

The silence beats between them, and KY can tell he's not going to leave it alone until he gets an answer from KY. "He called me a whore." KY flicks KY's hair over KY's shoulder, trying to appear strong, although KY'm actually pretty shaken.

His eyes narrow. "And then the fucker put his filthy hands on you?"

KY presses KY's lips together and don't answer, but the look on KY's face must give KY away.

Before KY can say anything else, he strides off.

KY follows him. "You don't need to say anything to him." KY speaks quickly. "I've made sure he won't ever try anything like that again on me…"

But the second they're out there again, his gaze settles on Calcedonio, clutching his injured hand and having a conversation with his brother, fury on his face.

KY's gaze darts wildly around, looking for VINCENT DANZA, because KY isn't comfortable with ISAAC losing his volatile temper.

But VINCENT DANZA nowhere in sight. Shit.

And without delay, ISAAC charges at Calcedonio and beats him in the face. "Don't you ever touch KYOLINE's hand again!"

"I don't know why I'm defending her," Calcedonio gurgles as he stumbles back. "So what did I try to do? Get in her panties? KYOLINE DIEGO is just a stupid slut like her mom."

ISAAC pulls out his gun. "Pop! Pop!

But one of Calcedonio's men gets in the way and gets hit instead, falling back into the pool with a gagging sound and clutching his neck. 

Women start screaming. The men automatically reach for their guns. 

Calcedonio assaults ISAAC, but ISAAC decks him again and pushes him into the pool. Calcedonio catches him when he falls, pulling ISAAC with him into the pool with a huge splash.

Gasps and screams ring out all around them. KY's paralyzed where KY is witnessing the men struggling to fight as they struggle with one another, punching wherever possible.

But ISAAC gets the upper hand. He's sober, unhurt, and he's a superior fighter. And he readily defeats Calcedonio into submission. And then grabs a knife and stabs him.

There are a few more strangled yelps from the females in the crowd. But all KY can do is remain where he is gaping at the wonder in front of KY.

Finally ISAAC hauls himself out of the pool, leaving the two dead bodies behind in there. Both are bleeding profusely, making the pool a blood-red sea around them.

ISAAC fluffs out his wet suit as he strides past KY.

VINCENT DANZA comes out of the mansion with a gun in his hand. "What the fuck's happening?" And seeing ISAAC dripping water everywhere as his expensive handmade shoes squelching at every step he takes, he looks angry at him. "You decide now to take a fucking swim, ISAAC?" ISAAC scowls angrily back at his Capo.

VINCENT DANZA catches sight of the dead bodies in the pool. "For fuck's sake, ISAAC, in case you've forgotten, this is supposed to be a fucking funeral!"

KYOLINE DIEGO

VINCENT DANZA has summoned KY to his office. He knows that KY shot Calcedonio in the hand, and KY knows he doesn't blame KY for it after that awful man tried to rape KY, so KY have no idea what he plans to talk about today. KY knows ISAAC ended up killing Calcedonio, but VINCENT DANZA can't blame KY for that, can he?

"KYOLINE, I am very concerned for your safety, especially since Calcedonio tried to attack you during the funeral."

KY has no idea where VINCENT DANZA's going with this, but KY can't help feel that KY won't be too happy about it.

"Unfortunately, your family name makes you a target in the eyes of assholes such as him. And the one thing that worries me is Calcedonio's brother, Carmine." Carmine is another underboss. "Carmine's upset at what was done to his brother and is hell-bent on revenge. I've warned him to stay away from you, but he's a crazy son of a bitch who's hot-headed and unstable. You're not safe with Carmine on the streets."

Holy crap. "I can handle it myself." KY is trying to sound tough, but KY can't keep the tiny shake out of KY's voice.

"No, you can't." VINCENT DANZA clamps his jaw. "And you need to take this seriously because the danger to you is reasonably real."

"Are the kids in danger?" KY whispers.

He shakes his head. "He doesn't go after kids. At least we can be thankful for that. I'm one hundred percent positive about that."

KY breathes out the air KY wasn't aware KY was holding.

VINCENT DANZA fixes KY with his gaze. "So, this is what's going to happen. You're going to marry one of my men."

KY shakes KY's head. "Uh, thanks for saying that, but no. I'll be okay. I'm fine just the way I am."

"This is the best way that I can get you protected. And I will get you protected. I'm responsible for what was done to you at an Imperiosi funeral and by one of my underbosses, and I'm not going to let anything else get done to you.".

No, no, no. No way. KY stands for, who's going to want to marry someone with KY's history? They'll only be marrying them because VINCENT DANZA is commanding them. Made men aren't exactly known for being loyal, and KY'm certainly not going to chance ending up stuck with someone who disrespect KY.

"GERARD has consented to marry you."

KY's face falls. "Jeez, VINCENT DANZA, he's old. He's at least eighty-five."

VINCENT DANZA gives KY a chilly glare. "He's forty-four."

Uh, well, the age thing isn't going to work for KY. And KY knows what VINCENT DANZA really is saying is that if KY'm with GERARD, then nobody will have the nerve to call KY a whore. Without KY even realizing, KY's hands automatically reach for KY's bracelet, opening and closing it, discovering a small comfort in the familiar movement and soothing click. VINCENT DANZA's trying to be an all-around good guy, but KY'm darn well not going to marry someone KY don't know, especially now that KY have the kids to take care of. We already had to deal with so much crap with KY's mom's boyfriend, and KY don't want to take any chances.

All KY wants is somebody who'll love KY for who KY is—is that really too much to ask? Coming back to the apartment, KY knows that KY can't marry GERARD. But KY'm also not safe with Carmine Cicconi determined to exact revenge on KY.

Which doesn't leave KY with a lot of options.

KY is aware VINCENT DANZA informed him that the children are safe, but what if Carmine goes after KY when they're with KY? That would endanger them as well. KY doesn't want to risk the children getting hurt due to Carmine going after KY. The entire purpose of them staying with KY was so they could be kept safe because they weren't safe with our mom.

It doesn't take KY long to realize what KY has to do.

When the kids come home from school, KY tells them that one of KY's friends in San Diego fell over and needs KY to pop round and take care of her for a bit until she's okay again. KY crosses KY's fingers behind KY's back when telling them this because KY'm terrible at coming up with believable lies.

"Can we come too?" L'OREAL asks. "It'll be like a family vacation!"

"I wish you could come, sweetie," KY replies, really meaning it. "But you've got school. And she'll have lots of medical appointments, so it won't really be like a vacation." Her shoulders slump in disappointment, and KY seethes with rage through KY at the whole situation. "PELLA and her family will take care of you until KY'm back.". It's just for a little while." And her face lights up the minute she hears that she'll be staying with PELLA. Ten minutes more and KY'm stuffing clothes into a duffle bag.