Chapter 40 

-Turmoil Breads Clarity

James Monroe stares at the two copies of the Will of Enzo Santino laying in front of him it’s clearly evident that Enzo left Santino’s Restaurant and the land surrounding it to Kara Marina Santino.      

Finishing off his second drink he gets up to pour himself another.  Running his finger through his thick grey head of hair his anger boils he keeps allowing Amelia to make such a fool of him but no more?  He wasn’t surprised to hear from Maxim how much she has interfered in his relationship with Alexandra Hurst.   

She destroys everything she touches including him if he lets her.  Amelia knows too much about his business but he has reached his limit.  Whenever she gets home tonight he’s decided he’s going to end their marriage. 

Braylin holds the door open for Kara she brushes past him walking inside his apartment.  She sets her purse on the hall table he sets his keys and cell phone next to her purse.  

Following her into the living room his gaze softens as he watches her reach behind her to rub her tense shoulders.  He wants to massage her tight muscles away but he’s not sure she will welcome his touch.  They didn’t talk much on the ride home from Santino’s.  He drove the Audi S8 while she mostly stared out the window each of them wrapped up in their own thoughts. 

“You want me to cook dinner.”  Her voice is calm holding his gaze.   

“Not if you don’t want to.  We can go out or order in something.”  His eyes are full of warmth in spite of her cool demeanor.  His mind isn’t focused on eating dinner she never gave him an answer to his question after they got interrupted by Mica at the restaurant.    

Kara takes off her shoes then looks up to find Braylin’s piercing eyes on her.    “I’ll get changed and cook us something.”   She avoids looking directly at him hurrying up the stairs.  He walks half way up the stairs behind her while looking up at her walk down the hallway out of his sight. 

She stops at her old bedroom not the room they shared last night he hears the lock of the bedroom door click she’s shutting him out.  Feeling like their relationship has taken three steps back he climbs the rest of the stairs passing her door going into his own room to change. 

Braylin showers and takes his time putting on a pair of comfortable jeans and a t-shirt.  Grabbing a comb running it through his already drying hair he can hear a door open and close.  She’s going back downstairs to cook their dinner. 

Sitting on the bed with his comb dangling from his hand he tries to think what is it he has to do to get her to let go of the emotional chains that keep her attached to Amelia.  He has to tread softly they are still mother and daughter and despite Amelia's abandonment of her Kara continues to feel a maternal bond toward Amelia she won’t admit.  

Going back down the stairs he turns on some soft music before going into the kitchen where he finds her cutting some vegetables. 

“Need any help?”  Eying her ruefully he tries to formulate what else to say to her.

Unable to completely compose herself Kara tries not to meet his gaze head on afraid of getting lost in those sad mostly blue depths of his. She loves seeing him in his immaculate well fitted suits as well as dressed casually in his ass hugging jeans like he is now.  The way he treats her fills that ache that’s been in her heart for so long.  She feels a sense of guilt being happy with him while her mother does so much destruction.   If  only she had tried to find her mother years ago and dealt with her maybe Amelia wouldn’t be in her life now causing so much pain and destruction.  

Gathering the vegetables together she lays them near the cutting board.  She pulls out a knife then changes her mind about handing it to Braylin she lays it on the cutting board between them to avoid them touching.

It doesn’t escape Braylin what she’s doing.  “How do you want these cut?”  His voice is dry as he picks up the knife starting to slice a cucumber for a salad the slices are too thick. 

“I want them sliced thin.”  She casually comments moving away from him getting two steaks seasoned she throws them on the hot indoor grill.

He continues to cut the cucumbers thick on purpose she stops him coming to stand next to him. “Please stop."   She says softly.  

“Show me what you want.”  The timbre of his voice combined with his questioning gaze holds a double meaning.

Braylin steps back allowing her to step in front of him.  Goosebumps rise on her skin she’s feeling so many emotions she can’t contain them all.   

Slicing the cucumbers thin she tries to concentrate on what she’s doing not wanting to cut herself.  After she finishes she reaches for a large bowl across the island.  He moves closer behind her brushing his member against her ass both reaching for the bowl their hands grab it at the same time.  He can feel her shudder before she hurries away from him.  Braylin can see she’s flustered.  He finishes cutting up everything she has laid out for him to slice.  Kara continually glances at him as she fixes their side dishes.  She’s not focused on the grill the steaks start really smoking.

Braylin rushes to the grill at the same time as Kara grabbing her by the waist he moves her out of the way of the hot grill.  Taking the tongs she’s picked up out of her hands he pulls the well done steaks from the grill she grabs a platter and has it ready standing next to him. 

“I’m sorry…there’s more in the freezer.  I’ll cook you another one medium rare.  It won’t take long.”  She turns to move away he reaches out for her she shrugs away out of his reach. 

His gaze meeting hers is filled with anger and arrogance.  “Don’t shrink away from me.  I can’t be in the same room with you and not touch you.  Tell me when dinner’s ready I’ll be in my office.”  He retorts walking out of the kitchen not waiting for her to give a response. 

Kara leans her back against the kitchen island after he leaves.  She can’t believe what she’s doing to them.  “I’m sorry.”  She whispers to the empty doorway.  Another pot on the stove starts to smoke, she’s burning the potatoes.  Hurrying to get the pan off the stove she throws it in the sink.  A timer goes off on the oven.  She grabs a hand towel to take the roasted green beans with mushrooms roasting on a cookie sheet pan out of the oven.  Kara gets the cookie sheet out but the towel catches on fire causing her to drop the pan and the burning towel.  The cookie sheet crashes to the floor, the towel lands on top of the stove near a lit burner sparking a flame. 

Braylin is in the living room having gone to the hallway to get his phone he’s checking his messages when he hears the crash and the smoke alarm going off.  Leaving his phone on the coffee table he rushes into the kitchen to find the vegetables scattered across the kitchen floor.  Kara has a serving fork in her hand trying to move the inflamed towel from the stove. 

Braylin reacts quickly taking the bowl from the counter containing the salad ingredients over to the stove he takes the fork from her to grab the burning towel throwing it in the salad bowl.  A glass sits nearby he fills it with water from the sink to pour in the bowl putting the fire out. 

Kara stands against the counter with a teary stunned look on her face shocked at what she’s done.  His kitchen is a mess.  The smoke alarm that was screeching stops.   

Turning around he finds her looking bewildered, shaking all over.  “I’m sorry.”  She apologizes just before running from the kitchen.  Braylin  stays behind to clean up most of the mess on the sticky messy floor. 

Leaving the kitchen he hurries up the stairs going to her bedroom entering without knocking.  He looks around for her in the bathroom and closet she’s not in her room.  He hurries down the hallway his heart pounding inside his chest.  Entering his room he’s praying that she’s there he had Millie move her things to his room earlier today while they were at the restaurant.    

He finds her taking her things out of the dresser drawer.  “What are you doing?”  He ask walking further into the room leaving the door cracked. 

“I’m moving my things, why did you have them moved in here Braylin?  I didn’t ask you to do this?”   

Walking over to her he takes a t-shirt out of her hand throwing it back in the drawer he moves her hands away slamming the drawer shut. 

“If I had waited on you to have your things moved it would never have happened.  I come home to you Kara, I want you in my bed at night.”  His holding of both of her wrist forces her to look at him.  

“You say that now, but you’ll change your mind.”  She emphatically holds his gaze. 

“Don’t project on me what you assume is going to happen.  I’m not going to make it easier for you to throw us away because you feel guilty about what your mother is doing?” Is his curt response. 

Shaking her head she twist her wrist out of his grasp.  “How do you know how I feel?  You don’t have to live with what she’s doing, you hate her I understand why but she is MY mother and I can’t change that.” 

“Baby, you don’t have to pay the price for what’s she’s doing.  Why are you making yourself some type of martyr for her?  Don’t play into her hands.  This is what she wants for you and me to unravel to fall apart.  I’m not going to give her that Kara.  I’m not letting go.”  He shakes his head. 

“Please Braylin….She’s trying to destroy you and your family.”   

Snaking his hands around her waist he pulls her against him.  She tries to steal herself against his warm embrace but it’s pointless her body knows where it wants to be. 

“What will destroy Amelia is if you and I stay together there’s no reason we shouldn’t be together unless the things you said to me were all lies.  Tell me you don’t want to be with me….say it Kara?”  He turns her around to face him she can’t look away from his beseeching eyes.  Her love for him is overflowing, she’s unable to hide it. 

A tear drops on his arm he bends his head toward hers their foreheads touching.  “I’m not going to abandon you. I’m going to be right here for you.  You never gave me an answer at the restaurant.  Give me an answer now?”  He nuzzles the side of her face burying his face in her neck.  She can feel his lips pressed against her flesh causing tingles down her spine.

“I…I…..”  Her arms skim pass his chest and over his shoulders to cling to his neck.  Her body trembles she feels like she’s falling apart, his arms tighten around her.   His lips lock onto hers slowly stroking his tongue against hers in a heated kiss. 

“Just hold on to me Kara.”  He whispers his mouth demanding another taste of hers.  She is unable to hold back her need for him.  Kissing him hard she presses her hot scantily clad body against his.

Lifting her off of her feet Braylin carries her to the bed while still kissing her passionately. Laying her on it he leans over her resting his body above hers his hands spread out on each side of her. 

“Give me your answer Kara, I’m not going through another day like today?"  His eyes hold all the love he has for her in them clearly letting her see it.   

The depths of what she sees in him surprises her.   Her father once told her she would find a man that would love her unconditionally she had to be ready to accept that kind of love and give her heart in return.   Having control of someone else’s heart is a big responsibility he explained to her, don’t ever toy with it you may never get a second chance to have that kind of love again.  

Grasping his head pulling his face toward hers she murmurs “I’m not letting go” just before devouring his lips wanting him needing him desperately.  Her self-constraints melt away.  Slowly they undress each other removing what little clothing they are wearing as they kiss and move each other toward the bed.  Kara gets a little rough pushing him hard causing him to fall on the bed she gazes at his naked body appreciatively with the look of a wanton seductress.  His face registers surprise but it only last for a second he grabs her by the hand pulling her into the bed to join him. 

The sweet exploration of  each other's body barely contains the fervor between them.  Whispered words of love floats between their cries of pleasure.  Demanding more from each other on a primitive level they become consumed unleashing their passion in an abundance of flesh gripping, hair pulling sweat inducing salaciousness.  He slides his arousal deep within her causing her to cry out.   His body thrust rhythmically against hers breaking in waves of orgasmic pleasure they climax together.  They fall asleep wrapped in each other’s arms without having had dinner. 

Its mid-evening, Braylin’s phone rings repeatedly.  Waking up with Kara lying partially on top of him he hears it and feels around on the nightstand for it then remembers it’s downstairs on the coffee table.  

“What time is it?”  She purrs against his naked body her hand slips between his legs cupping his member arousing him.  His hands move to the swell of her inviting breasts. Squeezing them in his hands he purses his mouth over a nipple gorging on its plumpness forgetting about the phone he’s unable to get enough of her.  After a few more minutes the phone rings again both of them hearing it.  Braylin is reluctant to get out of the bed but he can’t ignore that someone is trying to reach him.  Noticing the time it’s after nine thirty in the evening. 

“Kara….Baby do you want to have a late dinner?  We can order something in.”  His fingers move down her stomach lighting little fires along the way.  He gives his tongue a workout tasting and teasing Kara’s tattooed stars.  She moans liking it that he enjoys giving them so much attention.   She is unable to answer her body is rippling with pleasure from his touch he works his way back up to her lips, she captures them returning his urgent kiss.  Kara caresses his arousal sliding him deep inside her, he groans in ecstasy as she tightens her walls around him. He slams hard within her as she is filled with erotic pleasure.  

Kara feels loved, all her inhibitions have disappeared her body is shattering into a thousand pieces from the convulsions rushing through her inner core she meets his deep thrust with her own.  Their orgasms strike hard over and over, she clings to him both of their bodies mix with the sweat of their lovemaking.  He collapses on top of her holding her lovingly they no longer need words to say how they feel.    

Snuggling next to him not wanting to leave the bed she doesn’t want food right now, the only nourishment she needs is him but that phone’s constant ringing ends their mating.  Braylin gets out of bed going downstairs to get his phone.  By the time he comes back to the bedroom he’s read several text from Cameron.  Rushing into the bathroom he closes the door to call Cameron back.  While on the phone with him Kara walks into the bathroom? 

“What’s wrong?  Tell me….?”  There’s an uneasy look on his face. 

Kara hears him say he will be there in about forty minutes, ask them to wait.  She stands in front of him no longer shy about him seeing her body and any scars that mar it because of her attack.  He knows every inch of her and how to make her come alive with his touch. 

Taking her by the hand he pulls her back into the bedroom to sit on the side of the bed.  “I need to go meet Michelle and Cam at work.”  He says trying to keep his voice calm for her. 

“Why….is something wrong?”  She ask with curious eyes. 

“Baby……Liam’s parents showed up at my office after hours.  They ran into Michelle on the elevator and she asked them to go next door to Ruby’s while she went to get Cameron. 

“Why…..why are they there?  Mrs. Sheffield is not a nice woman Bray, I don’t trust them.”  Kara responds. 

“I know you don’t.  Kara, they want me to help them.  They are saying their son was paid to scare you and it got out of hand.  They’re concerned that something bad is going to happen to him.” 

“Their son needs to go to jail for what he did to me.  Braylin I’ve got scars I’ll have for the rest of my life.”  Kara angrily responds. 

“Sweetheart I know.   If you don’t want me to go see what they have to say I won’t.”  He answers. 

“Where are they now?”  She asks. 

“They are having dinner with Cam and Michelle.  They want to meet in my office in about an hour.”  He explains. 

Kara mulls it over biting her lip.  “Can I come with you?”  She wants to know. 

“Come on shower with me, we don’t have much time to get there.”  He gets up pulling her with him. 

Mrs. Sheffield stands up to greet Kara as they arrive at the table to talk.  “I’m sorry for the pain I’ve caused you.”  Mrs. Sheffield wrings her hands together her voice barely a whisper.  Mr.  Sheffield stands sliding his arms around his wife hugging her to him.  

“We both are.  There are so many things we didn’t know but it doesn’t excuse our behavior toward you.  I’m sorry too that any of it happened.”  Mr. Sheffield apologizes. 

Braylin has his arm around Kara hugging her to him.  She didn’t expect to hear an apology from them for the way they treated her. They stay in restaurant talking about Liam’s situation while Braylin and Kara make an effort to eat something but neither can eat much considering what they are discussing.  They inform Braylin and Kara they have proof of what they are saying but they don’t want to disclose it in the restaurant.  Cameron pays their bill and they go to their building. 

Braylin ask Cameron why he didn’t allow them to meet at his office initially.  

“You know why Bray, Michelle and I were busy.”  Braylin rolls his eyes knowingly shaking his head and smiling in complete understanding he leads everyone down to his own office.   

Logan pulls into the restaurant parking lot he opens the passenger door for Amelia to get out.  Amelia gets out looking around for her hit man’s car.  Spotting him she starts to walk toward him when Logan catches up to her. 

“Where are you going the restaurant entrance is that way?”  He points. 

“I know that Logan look….you can go on in if you want to.  I’m actually meeting someone here.”  Amelia replies. 

“You’re what?  No….no…what’s going on Amelia….tell me?  What have you done now?”  He rakes his fingers through his hair knowing he should never trust her but he did anyway. 

“You recommended him to me.  He’s here because of you.  I hired someone to help Liam get arrested.  You’re just as much a part of this as I am.”  She exclaims.

Logan looks at her with shocked eyes.  “What….?  You….I didn’t.  Who the hell is Liam?  I don’t know any Liam.  You asked me to get you somebody to help you with a problem you were having and I did.  I have nothing to do with what you and the person you hired are doing.  You lied to me.  You told me you were coming here to check out buying a restaurant.”   

“Oh don’t pretend with me?  You know why I needed a hitman?”   She huffs her voice filled with venom causing him to draw back taking a step away from her. 

“You’re fucking crazy….”  He retorts.  “What are you about to do?”  He grabs her by the arms. 

“Stop being a scared little bitch?”  She squints her eyes shooting fire in his direction, he lets her arm go.   “Come on, let’s go into the restaurant.  We’re a little early for my meeting.”  She walks ahead of him. 

Logan is fuming by the time they sit at the table.  The guy she