Chapter 20 Kelcie
Kelcie
For the first time in my life, I’m driven by a desperate need to get away from Verona.
With the radio on and an old Kenny Rogers song blasting in my ears, I struggle to focus on the slippery road. My thoughts keep jumping from one thing to another, and my emotions feel like they’re stuck on a crazy roller coaster ride.
I have no idea how long I’ve been driving when a news broadcast comes on. I turn the volume down, and when the car slips on the ice, I quickly grab hold of the steering wheel with both hands.
For what feels like the hundredth time since I found out Levi is related to Wesley Porter, my heart breaks into a zillion unrecognizable pieces.
How could Levi do that to me?
How could the man who was so patient and understanding with me lie to me every day?
I hear Levi’s name on the radio and turn the sound up again.
“. . . the bestselling author of The Elimination Project is related to Wesley Porter, a convicted murderer. More about this at five. Stay tuned for . . .”
I switch the radio off, and just then the tires slip on the icy road, and my car begins to slide.
“Oh God!” I grab the steering wheel tightly, but there’s nothing I can do as I slam into the embankment on the side of the road. Snow splatters all over my windshield, and the car jerks before the engine stalls.
Breaths burst over my parted lips, and I blink through the shock. The next second, I burst out into tears and begin to ugly cry. I lean forward and press my forehead against the steering wheel.
Agonizing sobs rip through me, and it feels as if I’ve lost all reason for living.
A knock on my window startles the crap out of me. I quickly wipe my cheeks and try to rein in the tears before I let the window down a couple of inches.
“Are you okay?” a man with gray hair and a Santa Claus beard asks. “I saw you go off the road.”
I nod, and my voice sounds like it’s been put through a grater as I reply, “I’m fine.”
“Is there anyone I can call for you?”
I reach over to the passenger seat and pick up my bag. Digging my phone out, I check that I have a signal, then say, “You’re so kind, but I’ll call my brother.”
“Okay then. Take care.”
“Thank you for checking on me.”
When he walks away, I let the window up to keep the cold out.
I slump back in my seat and stare at the pile of snow on the hood of my car. Only then does a trembling creep deep into my bones.
White puffs of air come from my mouth, and somehow I think to start the engine again so the heat will work.
It takes a minute or two before I’m able to calm down enough to dial Jordan’s number.
After a few rings, he answers, “Hey, what’s up?”
“I need you . . .” I suck in a desperate breath before trying to continue.
“Kelcie!”
“I need you.” I burst out in tears again and have to squeeze the words out. “I crashed into an embankment. I don’t think I can drive further. Please come get me.”
“Send me your location,” he says, his breaths rushing over the line. “I’m on my way.”
Even though he can’t see me, I nod. I end the call and send him my live location. Seconds later, my phone rings.
“Did you get it?” I ask.
“Yes, but you didn’t have to hang up. Stay on the line with me.” I hear his car start, then Jordan says, “Jesus, Kelcie. What are you doing near Rockford?”
“I’m on my way to you.”
“What happened?”
I shake my head, and squeezing my eyes shut, I begin to cry again.
Jordan’s tone is gentle, even though it’s filled with worry. “I’m on my way. Shh . . . I’m coming.”
“Okay,” I whimper.
“Talk to me, Kelcie.”
I try to form the words, but I can’t.
“Did something happen between you and Levi?” he asks.
“Uh-huh.”
“Is it bad?”
“Yeah,” I sigh as exhaustion hits.
We’re quiet for a long while, and I manage to calm down eventually. I dig tissues out of my bag and blow my nose.
“I’m ten minutes away,” Jordan informs me.
God, I have no sense of time anymore.
I clear my throat before replying, “Okay.”
“I’m going to go so I can call a tow truck to collect your car.”
“Thank you.”
“Just sit tight.”
We hang up, and I plug in my phone charger so the battery doesn’t die.
A police car slows down as it passes me, and the officer pulls over in front of me.
I let my window down and dig my driver’s license and papers out so I have them ready.
“Are you okay?” the officer asks when he reaches my door.
“Yes. My car lost traction.”
“Have you called a tow truck service?”
“Yes, and my brother is on his way. He’ll be here any minute.”
His sharp gaze flits over my face. “Do you have any injuries?”
“No, I’m just having a really bad day.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.” He pats the roof of my car. “I’ll stay with you until your brother gets here.”
“Thank you. I really appreciate it.”
Just as the officer walks back to his patrol car, I see Jordan’s SUV coming from the opposite direction.
I let the window up, and grabbing my phone and charger, I put them in my handbag before shoving the driver’s door open. Climbing out, I glance up and down the stretch of road before I jog across to where Jordan comes to a stop.
He gets out and stalks toward me, his arms opening. I slam into my brother’s chest, and then I completely lose it.
“I’m here. I’ve got you.”
“Are you her brother?” I hear the officer ask.
“Yes. Jordan Woodruff. A tow truck is on the way.”
“I just want to make sure she’s safe,” the officer says. “You should get her inside your SUV so she can stay warm.”
Jordan steers me to the passenger side and opens the door. He bundles me into the seat, then leans in and presses a kiss to my temple. “Let me just deal with everything, then we’ll get out of here, okay?”
I nod and keep my head lowered as he shuts the door.
While Jordan takes care of my mess, the day’s events flash through my mind.
How easy it was for Colby to rip the ground from under me and destroy my life.
Seeing Wesley Porter’s mother again.
Finding out Wesley is Levi’s half brother.
Levi deceived me for months.
The back door opens, and Jordan places the single piece of luggage I haphazardly packed on the seat. He shuts the door and opens the driver’s side. When he climbs in behind the steering wheel, I glance at the other side of the road and see the tow truck drive away with my car.
“I told them to take it to Verona and leave it at Woods’ Auto Repair. I called Malakai, and he said he’ll keep it there for you.”
“Thanks.” I’m too exhausted to manage anything more than a whisper.
Jordan starts the engine and makes a U-turn, then he asks, “Did you and Levi break up?”
“Yes.” I begin to shake my head, then whimper, “No.” Looking down at my hands clamped together on my lap, I admit, “I don’t know.”
“We have time. Wanna tell me about it?”
I lean the side of my head against the window and stare at the white landscape passing us by.
“Levi lied to me.”
“About?”
I look at Jordan as I say, “He’s related to Wesley Porter. They’re half brothers.”
“What the fuck?” Shock ripples over Jordan’s face. “How did you find out?”
“Colby came to my house with a cameraman and that murderer’s mother. She’s also Levi’s mother, and Colby decided it would make great news by telling me who Levi is while recording it.” I gasp as pain slices through my heart again.
“Fuck.” Jordan’s eyes flick to me, anger burning in his eyes. “Colby is such an asshole. If he puts that on the news, I’m suing him for invasion of privacy.”
“Can we do that?”
“Definitely. I looked into it when all those reporters were hounding us after the attack. What Colby did was intrusive, and it caused you harm.” Jordan overtakes a semitruck before he asks, “Is Levi really related to that bastard?”
“Yes.” My tongue darts out to wet my lips, and remembering I have lip balm in my handbag, I dig the tube out and quickly put some on.
Suddenly, my phone rings, and when I see Levi’s name, I don’t know what to do.
“Are you going to answer?” Jordan asks.
“It’s Levi.”
“Put it on speaker. I’ll talk to him.”
I take the call, and my brother says, “It’s Jordan.”
“Is Kelcie with you?” Levi’s voice is gravelly, and just hearing him sends a wave of goose bumps over my skin.
“Yes.”
“Is she safe?”
“Yeah,” Jordan replies.
There’s a pause before Levi asks, “Is she okay?”
Jordan glances at me. “Not by a long shot. Why are you calling, Levi?”
“She left hours ago, and I got worried. I just wanted to make sure nothing happened. Thanks for taking the call, Jordan. I appreciate it.”
Levi hangs up, and a sob sputters from me. Covering my face with my hands, I cry, “It hurts so much.”
“I’m sorry, Kelcie,” my brother murmurs.
Once I manage to rein in my tears again, a weird calmness settles over me. It was the same after I learned Mom, Dad, and Sage died.
“Did Levi know who you were when he started a relationship with you?”
I nod and let out a heavy sigh before I reply, “He came to Verona because he felt bad about what happened. Apparently, he wanted to help us.” I look at Jordan again.
“But seriously, who moves in next door to the woman your half brother and his druggie friends tried to kill?” I shake my head wildly.
“Levi followed the trail. He inserted himself into my life. He made me love him.”
My voice cracks, and I suck in deep breaths, the shock of what Levi did hitting me for the umpteenth time.
I close my eyes and whisper, “I trusted him, and he broke my heart.”
Silence falls between us, and by the time Jordan pulls up to his house, it feels like I’ve lost a fight against a grizzly bear, and my head is pounding something fierce.
The garage door rolls up, and after he parks the SUV, I shove the passenger door open and climb out.
“Oh, sweetie,” I hear Natalie say, then she comes around the back of the SUV and pulls me into a hug. “Are you okay? Did you get hurt?”
I shake my head and struggle to keep my tears back. When she lets go of me, I ask, “Is it okay if I visit for a little while?”
“You know you don’t have to ask.”
I follow her into the house while Jordan brings my luggage.
When we walk into the kitchen, the aroma of pot roast fills the air.
“Dinner is almost ready,” Natalie says, her worried gaze drifting over my face. “Can I get you anything to drink?”
Not wanting her to wait on me, I reply, “I’ll make some tea.”
“Auntie Kwelsie!” Brady hurries toward me as fast as his little legs can carry him.
“Hi, buddy,” I coo as I crouch down.
He wraps his tiny arms around my neck, and as I pick him up, he says, “I missed you.”
“Aww. I missed you too.”
Jordan comes into the kitchen and asks, “Should I bathe him quickly?”
“Please,” Natalie replies.
I hand Brady over to his dad, then walk to the counter and start making tea. “Do you want some?”
Natalie shakes her head. “I’m good.” Her eyes sweep over me again. “I’m here if you want to talk.”
“Thanks.” I soak the tea bag and watch the water change color. “Did Jordan tell you I started seeing someone?”
“Of course. He couldn’t stop talking about Levi.”
“I think we broke up,” I tell her the awful news.
“What?” she gasps. “But Jordan said you looked madly in love on Saturday.”
“We were.” I pick up the cup and walk to the island in the middle of the kitchen. Taking a seat on one of the stools, I say, “Turns out Levi is related to Wesley Porter. They’re half brothers.”
“Are you serious?”
“Yep.”
I look at my sister-in-law, taking in her stylish bob and clear blue eyes. It was love at first sight for her and Jordan.
I take a sip of the warm liquid before I continue, “Levi hasn’t had contact with his family in seventeen years, but he knew who I was and what his half brother did to us when he initiated contact between us.”
“Oh dear.”
“He came to Verona and bought the house next door to me. He says it’s because he felt guilty and wanted to help.”
“Well, that changes things, doesn’t it?”
I meet Natalie’s eyes and shake my head. “How does that change anything?”
“He didn’t have to do anything. It’s not his fault his half brother became a cold-blooded murderer.” She takes a seat across from me. “Just like it isn’t my fault my father is locked up for fraud.”
“Levi hid it from me,” I whisper.
“Yeah, he shouldn’t have done that,” she agrees.
I let out a sigh and brush my hand over my hair, which must look a mess. “I just need time to process it all.”
Natalie gets up to check on the food while saying, “You take all the time you need.”
My phone beeps, and stretching to reach my handbag, I drag it closer and dig the device out. Seeing a message from Levi, my heart squeezes painfully, and when I bring my finger to the screen, I notice my hand is trembling.
Sucking in a deep breath of air, I hesitate for a few seconds before I tap on the screen to open the text.
Levi: I’m so sorry about everything. I did so many things wrong, but if there’s one thing I don’t regret, it’s getting to know you.
After I moved in next door to you, I had no intention of talking to you.
But the longer I watched you, the more I saw how strong and amazing you were.
I also saw how much you were suffering, and I could not just stand by and do nothing.
Then we talked, and it felt like we clicked.
You opened up to me, and it was as easy as breathing to open up to you.
I didn’t mean to fall in love with you, but you can’t fault me for that.
I will never regret loving you. Every time I got to touch you, kiss you, and hold you, it felt heavenly.
Thank you, Kelcie. Thank you for showing me what love is and for giving me a chance, no matter how short or long, to experience it.
You will always be my happiest memories.
I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me.
I hope we can have another chance. But I’ll understand if you can’t be with me.
I won’t reach out to you again, so you can have your space.
Once you decide whether you want to end things or try again, please let me know.
I will love you until the day I die. There will never be another.
Getting up from the stool, I go to the guest room and shut the door behind me.
I sit down on the side of the bed and read the message over and over until tears blur my sight, making it impossible for me to see.
I don’t know what to do. How do I even begin to process everything?