40. Hades
Hades
CHAPTER FORTY
To my surprise, she doesn't protest. She just says, "And Ernest?"
"He can come along."
"I need to notify the judge if I leave the state. From what the lawyers told me, every time I move within the United States, a notice needs to be attached."
"Don't worry about that. The new team will take care of it."
"You're arrogant, Hades," she accuses, and despite using a neutral tone, King repeats, "Gaaaant!"
"Jesus! Just a moment," she says, kisses our son's forehead, and hands him over to Ernest. Then she comes back to me. "I didn't intend to say that in front of him."
"He has no idea what it means, Kennedy."
"I know, but kids understand the tone we speak in, read our body language, and I don't want us to argue in front of him."
"Then accept the lawyers."
"Fine. I'm not comfortable with this secret protector anyway."
"You prefer the devil you know?"
"Something like that. At least with you, I know what to expect."
"No, love, you don't. You have no idea what I'll do to prove to you that I deserve a second chance."
"This isn't about us—it's about what's best for King. If I can get acquitted in the process?—”
"I don't even want you to go to trial. I want the charges dropped."
"Do you think that's possible?"
"I'll go to hell to make it happen. It would help if you remembered what happened that night."
"I can't. I've been trying, Hades." She pauses, seeming in agony. "But it's like that night never existed."
"Unfortunately, it did, Kennedy. I want you to see a specialist when we get to New York. He's considered the best neurologist in the world."
"My problem isn't neurological; it's some sort of emotional block."
"Do you at least remember why you accepted Pam's invitation?"
"What?"
"You told me you were about to leave their house, yet you accepted Pam's invitation to go to the beach house."
"That I remember." She looks ahead, as if ashamed of what she's about to say. "I never had anything. In the time I lived with Riny, Mrs. Vina's daughter, which was practically my whole life, I didn’t even know what the word ‘fun’ meant. She abused me, as I've already told you," she says, and when I try to touch her, she takes a step back. "Don't pity me. I'm just answering your question."
"It's not pity—it's anger at everyone who’s hurt you."
She lifts her chin. "You hurt me too."
"And you think my anger isn't directed at myself as well?"
"I don't want to fight, so please don't provoke me."
"Carry on with your story, Kennedy."
"I’d never been on a vacation. In the almost two months I stayed at your grandfather's house, Pam and Mrs. Vina gave me a different perspective. I had food every day and didn't have to worry about money or my aunt kicking me out. You get used to peace much faster than you do to hell, Hades. I was just starting to be happy for the first time in my life when my world collapsed and Pam began acting different with me."
"Out of jealousy."
She shrugs. "Anyway, after what she said that night when she suspected we’d had sex, that I was a bet between you and your brother, I was going to leave without even waiting to save money for it. Then she mentioned the weekend, a 'girls’ trip,’ and I thought: why not? I didn't think I'd ever have the chance to enjoy something like that in the future. That's why I accepted Pam's invitation, even though I was angry with her. It was trivial and completely selfish."
"Your desire to be happy isn't trivial, and I can give you that, Kennedy. Happiness."
"I don't want your promises. I wish I could say I wish I’d never met you, but I can't because you gave me King."
"Enough. I didn't call you here to argue but to talk about New York."
"I'm capable of anything to protect our son. Even leaving here with you."
I know it's not fair to her to do what I'm planning right now, but I'll die before I miss out on an opportunity like this. "If you're capable of anything to protect our son, I reaffirm my proposal. I'll fight for you not to be convicted, and for that, I have a plan. Marry me. I don't care if you hate me. I'll protect you and King forever."
"Is that why you mentioned marriage earlier?"
"Not only for that, but if it makes you feel better to believe I'm only doing it for your protection, feel free to choose the answer that pleases you most. In the end, either one works for me because I'll have you both."
"If I accept, it will be for King’s sake. For the right to be with my son, I'm even capable of marrying the enemy, but you'll never touch me, Hades. It will be a marriage of convenience."
"I said you can hate me all you want, Kennedy, but you desire me and will be mine again. Fight, but in the end, I'll win."
"Never."
"I'll sort out the paperwork. I want everything to be done quickly and in the right sequence. The acknowledgment of King's paternity first, then we'll marry."
"So fast?"
"Not fast enough. It should have happened three years ago."
I don't know what she sees on my face after what I say, but she doesn't protest. On the contrary, she seems to be suffering too.
When Kennedy moves away, Beau and Ernest approach.
"Will you give me the details of what happened today?" the man Kennedy considers a father asks.
It doesn't surprise me that Beau hasn’t told him anything, because he wouldn't reveal a comma to Ernest without my authorization.
I quickly explain about the attack we suffered.
"Do you think it was Ryan?" he asks.
"Not directly, but I believe the order came from his family. Who else would feel threatened if the charges against Kennedy got dropped? They're not fools. They know that if I'm publicly supporting her, it's because I trust in her innocence and that I won't stop until I prove it. From the beginning, they tried to blame Kennedy for what happened."
"Are you going after them? Because I won't have peace knowing they might try again."
"I will. When I find the mastermind behind it, he'll pay."
"I'm already taking care of that," Beau says. "Whoever ordered this made two fatal mistakes: they tried to kill a friend of mine and they did it on my turf. If you want, I can cancel his Social Security without you bothering to take them to court."
"A subtle way of saying you'd send him to Satan's arms," Ernest laughs.
"No. They need to face justice because it will be one more brick in her defense. It will show that the Corey family, who likes to put themselves above good and evil, has several skeletons in the closet. Catching who ordered this attack will be the beginning of the end." I focus my attention on Ernest. "I trust you, and I'll be forever grateful to you for taking care of the woman I love and my son, but I don't want any more secrets between us. Who are you, Ernest?
Before he even opens his mouth, Beau responds, "A former hitman. He took care of Senator Balantine's enemies."
I glance at the man who has become the protector of my future wife since Kennedy was practically a child, waiting for an explanation. It's not the fact that he was a hired killer that makes me wary. When he told me he’d spent time in prison, I kind of figured it was something like this. What I still don't understand is his connection to Kennedy.
"Is he her father?"
"No, but Balantine is."
"What?" I glance over Beau's shoulder and feel relieved when I see that Kennedy can't hear us. I don't need to be a genius to understand that this is not a pretty story.
"Kennedy is not the daughter of the man her mother married," says Ernest.
"How can you know that?"
"Because I was Balantine's right-hand man. To the world, I was his driver, but in reality, I cleaned up his mess, sending his enemies to meet their maker ahead of schedule."
"And how does Kennedy's mother fit into this?"
"The story will destroy her, Hades."
"Tell me."
"Kennedy's parents worked for Balantine. They weren't married—they weren't even dating. Clarkina was beautiful, and everyone desired her. I saw it happen, you know? Balantine seduced his employees, and with Clarkina, it was no different. When he found out she was pregnant, he sent her away. Beny, the man who raised Kennedy as if she were his own for a short time before he died, went with her. I thought Kennedy and her mother would be better off away from that bastard Balantine. I knew more than anyone about all his dirt. The man is worthless. Beny, her father, was a good man."
"He never suspected?"
"I don't know. He probably did, but he truly loved them both. I watched them from afar. As you know, one day, they died in an accident. I lost track of Kennedy and searched for her until I finally found her here in New Orleans when she was fourteen."
"Why did you come after Kennedy, Ernest?"
"Because I fell in love with Clarkina. At the time, I was still in the game, had many enemies, and had just gotten out of prison. I thought Beny would be a better choice for her, as long as Clarkina was happy."
"And when she died, you decided it was your duty to take care of Kennedy."
"Yes. She ate meals at my house. I always made sure she got home safely from work. I was never wealthy, but I saved everything I had to leave to her as an inheritance. I have an inoperable aneurysm."
"Damn!"
"Don't worry. Kennedy already knows," he says, as if guessing what I'm thinking, how devastating it will be for her to lose him. "The fact is, I took care of her as best I could."
"Did Balantine know about Kennedy's existence?"
"He always knew but never wanted to seek her out. I'm a proud old man—I told myself she didn't need the bastard, but I used all my savings to take care of her while waiting for King."
"I'll reimburse you for everything you spent."
"I don't want that. It's for my daughter and my grandson. I love them as if they were my own blood. When Kennedy came out of the coma, I knew I couldn't let her fall into the hands of a public defender. I blackmailed Balantine. I told him I'd reveal one or two of his dirty secrets and his career would be ruined forever if he didn't fund a team of lawyers and also the house we live in."
"He's the damn secret 'protector.'"
"Yes."
"Kennedy doesn't need that bastard anymore. I'm going to marry her."
"You are?"
"Yes, she agreed, as well as to let me replace her team of lawyers." All I can think about is what she told me earlier, that she spent a childhood in deprivation when she actually had a billionaire father.
"Are you going to tell her?" he asks.
"At the right time, I will. We've had too many secrets and omissions between us. It's time we start clarifying things."