Chapter 58
Chapter Fifty-Eight
SALVATORE
My phone buzzes on the coffee table in our new home, and I groan at having our peace disturbed. We moved out of the beach house within two days of the intruder incident, and three days later, I’d secured another house, despite Keeley suggesting we could both move into her apartment.
After seeing her so happy at the beach house, I wasn’t about to take that away from her. And in the end, this house is even better. Not only is it beachfront, but it also has a pool and an elevator, making it easier for Keeley while she continues to recover.
It wasn’t exactly on the market—it was one of those holiday rental places—but it’s amazing what a little determination and persuasion can do. Not to mention money.
The buzzing continues, and the incessant sound pulls me from my thoughts, making me blow out a breath as I reach over, switching it off.
My phone has been ringing nonstop since the day I got it back from the police, two days after they took it.
I’ve had calls from real estate agents, my lawyers, Daniel, Austin, Camilla.
Camilla. That one was a fun one. It turns out she knew nothing about the extra evidence she supposedly had on Gabriel Mikkleson.
Nothing. Or at least nothing she could remember.
In fact, Austin discovered that Gabriel’s nephew, the guy Austin had hired as his informant, had lied to him in the hope of lighting a fire under our asses.
He wanted his uncles to go to prison for as long as possible so he could inherit his grandfather’s fortune, instead of it going to them.
Apparently, his grandfather has a clause in his will to say that his fortune had to go to a male heir, meaning his mom was passed over.
He even gave me my hundred grand back, saying he wouldn’t be needing it anymore.
The little fucker played us and we fell for it.
Though it all worked out in our favor. Camilla testified against both the Mikkleson brothers in their trials and is counting down the days until the women are tried too.
We all are. With Keeley’s and my statements, along with Camilla’s reports of being followed and the intruder’s deal, Jill and her sister-in-law were both found to be tampering with witnesses, leading to their arrests late last night.
Because of that, I only got a slap on the wrist for offering Jill money.
It’s over.
Paige didn’t have to testify, and she no longer requires security—though I convinced her to keep one of my guys on speed dial just in case she needs it.
Paige is safe. Camilla is safe. Marc is safe. And Keeley is by my side.
“What are you doing?” Keeley asks, her eyes wide as she watches my uncharacteristic action. I can’t remember the last time I silenced my phone, let alone switched it off.
“It’s the New York office. They don’t need me; they’re just accustomed to running everything past me. I’ve already told them to stop.”
“You’re really handing the company over to Daniel?”
“I really am. I love D’Angelo Construction.
It will always be my baby. But I don’t want to travel back and forth anymore.
I want to spend every spare second building a life here with you, watching my grandchild grow, and seeing my team’s success continue.
My goals have shifted. I’ve done all I can with D’Angelo Construction, so it’s time for Daniel to make it his own. God knows I’m not getting any younger.”
“Major emphasis on the latter,” Keeley teases and I flip her onto her back so fast that her jaw drops. Being careful of her ankle, of course.
“How’s that for an old man?” I hover above her, staring into the crystal-blue eyes I want to see every day for the rest of my life.
“You were fast, I’ll give you that. But…what if you regret it?”
“Flipping you onto your back?” My eyes rake over her, from her face to the hint of pink material peeking out from where her dress has risen.
“No.” She laughs as she tries to shove me back, lifting to her elbows to bring our eye level closer. “D’Angelo Construction.”
“I knew what you meant, Keels. But you don’t have to worry. I’m happy. I’m still the owner of the company, so if down the road I miss being hands-on, or we want a change of scenery for a while, it will be there.”
Keeley’s gaze softens, and I have no doubt it’s because the truth to my words has sunk in.
There’s been a nervous energy hovering around her since I announced my decision.
And while my timing could have been better, her broken ankle and the Mikkleson attacks weren’t the catalysts she believes them to be.
I wasn’t lying when I said the decision had been brewing for years.
I’d even mentioned it to my lawyers a few weeks ago. Before any of this happened.
New York may have been my life for the past five decades, but San Francisco is my future, and it’s time to give it my full attention. To give Keeley and my family my full attention.
It’s time to shake my workaholic persona.
I don’t have to be that guy anymore. I don’t want to be him.
I’m not ready to retire. In fact, I’m far from it.
But I am ready to focus on the Storm. Ready to give them one hundred percent of my work commitment, even if that’s less than I previously thought it would be.
With Wes at the helm, I can work on the bigger picture and step back on all the day-to-day. We finally have a management team we all trust, players that fit our culture—a family we all love being a part of.
It’s my time to focus on what really matters—my family.
“What if I revert back to my old self when my ankle’s back to normal? Will you resent me for my workaholic ways?”
“Resent you? Keeley, your work ethic is one of the reasons I fell in love with you. If you hadn’t dedicated so much time to work, we never would have gotten as close as we did, and I never would have discovered that my perfect match was still out there.”
“Yes. However, when I’m back in the office full-time, you’ll see me less.”
“No, I won’t. I work there too. You can’t escape me.” I press a chaste kiss to her lips before pulling away and helping her sit up.
“I am never going to try to change you, Keeley. Looking back, I’m pretty sure I fell in love with you not long after we first met. In fact, it’s obvious to me now. You are you, Keels. And I love you exactly as you are.”
“Likewise. No matter how gray you get, you’ll always be the man I fell in love with, which was probably around the same time you fell. As hard as it was to admit that.”
“We took our time, but we got there in the end, and I think our relationship is stronger because of it.”
“I couldn’t agree more.” She grabs the knitted blanket that fell on the floor when I flipped her over, and twists my way, lifting her leg onto my lap before covering herself with the blanket.
“You know, it kind of feels like we’re an old married couple already, without the marriage part.”
“Or the old for some.” I wink and she laughs.
“If anyone calls you old again, I’m going to tell them what you did to me last night. I can’t imagine there are many grandfathers doing that.”
I groan at the visual of our session last night, almost wishing we could do it again, if we weren’t expecting Keeley’s mom to come over any moment.
“I’m looking forward to showing you how young I feel again later tonight.”
“Oh, hi, Mom.” Keeley waves toward the door, and I choke on thin air until she bursts out laughing. “I’m kidding. She texted to say she’s running late.”
“She did?”
“Yep. About two minutes before your phone started ringing.”
“How long is she going to be?”
“Another hour, why?”
“No reason.” I lift her legs off me and stand up, resting them back on the couch. “I’ll be back in a minute.”
“Oh-kay. What are you up to?”
“Nothing. Don’t you worry.” I walk away slowly until I’m out of her line of sight, then I jog up the stairs, taking them two at a time, only slowing down when I reach our bedroom.
My lips curl into a smile as I take in all of Keeley’s belongings.
I lied when I said she could move out when her ankle had healed.
After thinking I could lose her the night of our plan, I decided to never waste another second of our lives together.
No more taking things slowly. I’m planning to spend the rest of my days with her by my side, and I’m starting those days now.
I walk around to Keeley’s side of the bed and open the top drawer, finding her friend Leo buried under some paperwork.
She claims she’s not going to need him much anymore, but I’m about to prove her wrong.
I’ve been jealous of this little fucker since she first mentioned it, and it’s time to show him who’s boss.
With the vibrator in hand, I rush back downstairs before casually strolling into the living room, pausing when I realize Keeley has moved to the patio, her bare shoulders visible over the back of the lounge chair.
Is she naked?
With quiet steps, I walk toward her, my breath catching when I find her stripped down, only the knitted blanket covering her modesty.
“It was getting hot in there while I waited for you, wondering what the hell you were going to do.”
“So you decided to get naked. Out here?”
“Yep.”
“Where anyone could see you?”
“Uh-huh.”
“You know I don’t share, Keels.”
“Don’t you?” Her eyes flash to the vibrator in my hand, and a chuckle bursts out of me. I’d forgotten I was holding it.
“This is different and you know it.”
“Either way, no one can see us. You told me that yourself when we moved here.”
I glance around, taking in the privacy screens on each side of our patio and the emptiness in front of us.
She’s right. For now. It doesn’t mean it’s going to stay that way.
We’re higher up in this place, with the house built into the side of the cliffs, but someone could easily walk past and look up.
“You’ve got to keep up with what the younger adults are doing these days. It’s all about public fornication.” Keeley bites her lip to stop herself from giggling, and I huff out a laugh in return.
“I know what you’re doing, and I wish I had the strength to get you back by walking away without touching you, but I guarantee I want it more than you do.”
“Oh, I doubt it. I’m pretty worked up after stripping down and waiting in anticipation. I’m lucky it’s a big house or I wouldn’t have had enough time. I hate being slow.”
“Slow is underrated.”
“Maybe. But if you take your time now, I’m going to have to punch you.”
“Not a chance. Leo and I are ready.” I move to stand in front of her and drop to my knees before burying myself under the blanket, spreading Keeley’s pussy.
She lifts the blanket away from her chest and laughs down at me. “Who would have thought such a powerful man would get on his knees for anyone.”
“Only you.” I chuckle before pulling the blanket back over my head.
“Stop. You won’t be able to breathe under there.”
“Then I’ll die happy. Now shhh, Leo and I have a job to do.” I start the vibrator and press it to her clit, groaning when she bucks her hips, crying out to God.
I instantly change my mind on the blanket. It’s got to go. I throw it off and stare up at her, a brow raised. “It’s Sal. And fuck, you’re glorious when you let yourself relax.”
“Now you know the third thing that clears my mind.”
“A good orgasm?”
“No, you. You’re my happy place,” she rushes out, her breathing picking up speed as I continue to rub her clit with the vibrator. “You’re my safe place.” She sighs. “My white noise.” She wiggles and mewls. “My fierce protector. But most of all, you’re the other half of my soul. I love you, Sal.”
“God, I love you too.”
“You mean Keeley?” she sasses, making me jump up, covering her naked body with my fully clothed one.
“Keeley.” I lean in, brushing my lips gently across hers before pouring everything I have into the kiss.
“I love you.” I pull back, staring into her eyes.
“You’ve changed me for the better, and I’m ready for whatever life may throw our way.
Whatever storm we have to weather. We’re in this together. ”
“No matter what.”
We’ve been a team from the start; we’ll be a team until the end.
It’s Keeley and me. Always.