Page 183 of Keeping Kasey
“I took Kasey back to the hotel,” I say, and round my desk, gesturing for Elise to move.
She does, but only as she and our brothers share a conspiratorial look.
“Are you sure that’s it?” James asks.
I fall into my chair with a sigh. “What are you really asking?”
“How long would you have let her attack you? I was ready to put money on her knocking you out,” Damon says with the same enthusiasm our nephew talks about martial arts.
“You spied on us?” I bite out.
He only looks between Elise and James like they’ll step in and save him.
“Youallspied on us?”
Elise is the only one who looks even the least bit apologetic.
“You both left in such a hurry,” she defends. “We were only making sure you were okay.”
“And that requiredallof you?”
“It’s not like it was unwarranted,” James says. “Shedidstart attacking you.”
“We were only concerned for your health,” Damon adds, and I flip him off again.
“We just want to know what happened,” Elise finishes.
“I don’t see how it’s any of your business,” I clip.
“When we’re mentally preparing to bury a body, it becomes our business,” James says in an even tone.
“And whose body were you prepared to bury?”
None of them meet my eye.
“I don’t have time for this,” I snap and point to the door. “Get out.”
Elise places one hand over mine. “Logan, we aren’t coming to you as capos. We’re coming to you as siblings. Especially now that you’re seeing Isabella, we just want to know where your head is at. That’s all.”
I scan their faces, all of which have sobered.
It strikes me that this is the first time I can remember just being with my siblings. Moreno, Matteo, or other capos tend to accompany us these days, and it’s oddly comforting to know that the people in this room care about me beyond my role as the Consoli boss.
I decide to tell them the truth—the same truth that I myself need to be reminded of.
“What Kasey and I have is an abundance of mistrust and unresolved anger issues. Whatever feelings may accompany those facts are inconsequential when the foundation of every interaction is a history that neither of us is ready or willing to forget. As far as Isabella goes…”
I realize then that thoughts of the Romano princess disappear completely when I’m with Kasey. I’ve always known thatnotmarrying Isabella would be disastrous for my family, but I also know without a doubt that if I were given the chance to marry Kasey, I would do it in a heartbeat—to hell with the consequences.
But it isn’t that simple.
Kasey and I may want each other, but building a future with someone requires a lot more than feelings, and all we share beyond that is animosity.
“I don’t plan to threaten our standing with the Romanos. I said I’d marry the girl, and I intend to keep my word,” I say mechanically. “I’ve never let my personal feelings dictate how I run this family. That isn’t about to change now.”
Technically, I’m telling the truth. As of right now, I intend to keep my word to Romano, but I reserve the right to change my mind until there’s a ring on her finger.
And thankfully, there isnot.
