Page 109 of The Deadly Candies

“Okay, Daddy. We will,” Kathy promised and gently hung up the phone.

Debbie was nearly jumping up and down beside her, a huge grin splitting her face. “It’s Matteo, Kathy! He did it—my man did it! And guess what?”

“What?” Kathy asked cautiously.

“Melo is gonna be there too. You’ll get to see Melo!” she whispered.

Kathy’s smile vanished instantly. Her stomach twisted with anxiety. “But I just swore?—”

“What?” Debbie asked, confused.

“Never mind,” Kathy said, shaking her head and quickly masking her concern with a smile. “Oh my God! I can’t believe it.”

The cousins hugged each other tightly, joy bubbling between them. Just then, Ely walked back inside, approaching them with curiosity. “What’s got you two looking so happy?”

Kathy stepped aside, letting Debbie eagerly spill the news—minus the part about Melo. Ely’s gaze flickered briefly to Kathy, smiling gently, entirely unaware of what they truly had planned.

* * *

“She’s really coming here?”Carmelo paced anxiously. “Are you sure?”

José stood off to one side, quietly observing, while Matteo sat at the table with his head resting in his hands. “Would you calm down?” Matteo said, sounding weary. “José sent the message. She knows you’ll be here.”

“I can’t believe it,” Carmelo muttered, half to himself. “I just can’t believe it.”

José looked at Matteo, his face tight with worry. “This could still blow up in our faces, you know. We have no idea who they’re bringing. You two need to go upstairs the moment they get here. If everything checks out, I'll send her up to you first, Melo. Then Debbie can come up to you, Matteo.”

Matteo exhaled in relief. “José, thank you for this. I know how much it took to convince your old man—to get him to Harlem, to make him believe the story and ask for permission. I owe you.”

José gave a wry smile. “Yeah, well, it benefits me too. We all get something out of this. Besides, my pa barely speaks English; he doesn’t really grasp everything he did.”

The men laughed, the tension breaking slightly. José glanced through the curtains toward the street and froze. Debbie and Kathy were approaching—but Ely was with them. His heart sank.

“Shit,” José cursed under his breath.

“What?” Carmelo jumped, alarmed.

“Ely’s here with them. I’ll handle it. You two, upstairs—now! Ely can’t see you!”

The brothers bolted up the stairs without another word. José took a deep breath, straightened his shirt, and walked calmly to the door. He opened it with a welcoming smile. Debbie burst inside immediately, leaping into his arms and planting a kiss on his cheek.

“What’s the surprise, José? Where’s Matteo?” Debbie asked excitedly.

José’s expression faltered, suddenly wary. Debbie noticed and paused, glancing back at Kathy and Ely, who stood quietly behind her. Her eyes widened as realization hit her.

“Oh…shit,” Debbie murmured. “José, Ely knows everything. He knows about Matteo, about the baby—he knows it all.”

José’s gaze shifted uncertainly to Ely. “You do?”

“How you doin’, José?” Ely said, extending his hand. José hesitated briefly, then took Ely’s hand and pulled him into a brotherly hug just as Matteo descended the stairs alone.

Kathy felt both anxious and relieved. Ely knew about Matteo—but not about Carmelo. After what Ely had told her earlier, she wasn’t sure how to reveal the whole truth.

Debbie rushed into Matteo’s arms. Kathy glanced nervously at Ely, waiting for his reaction, but he remained steady, silently watching Matteo embrace Debbie. Matteo kissed Debbie softly, whispered something reassuring into her ear, and then took her hand to approach Kathy and Ely.

“Hi, Kathy,” Matteo greeted gently.

“Hi, Matteo,” she responded quietly, offering a shy smile.

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