"Are you okay?" Lorenzo asked.
"I'm not going to pull a repeat of the night after Mike died, if that's what you're asking," Kellie said, "I only had to tell the man who would have been my father-in-law at one time that I'm alive, acting as head of an organization, and I got his son killed."
"Tyler's death is not your fault, Kellie," Lorenzo said.
"I took the guards off him," Kellie said, "I knew full well what he was walking into."
"I didn't take the guards off," Lorenzo said, "I knew if something happened you'd blame yourself. We found the guards knocked out, several blocks from the hotel."
"It still doesn't change the fact that he was probably killed because of his connection to me," Kellie said, "Why couldn't he have just stayed in Miami? Coming here only guaranteed he'd get killed or I'd mess him up so bad emotionally when the truth came out."
"You're still in love with him," Lorenzo said.
"Lainey asked me that in one of our sessions," Kellie said, "and no I'm not."
"You are even if you don't know it or won't admit it," Lorenzo said, "It's the only reason I could figure you would purposely antagonize him; to push him away so you won't get hurt."
"What are you now? Dr. Phil?" Kellie said.
"The only other person you've ever been that antagonistic toward is your father," Lorenzo said, "Both Tyler and your father have the power to hurt you emotionally like no one else."
"Are you done with the psycho-analysis?" Kellie said.
"Kellie, you were engaged to him at one, planning to spend the rest of your lives together," Lorenzo said, "You were pregnant with his child. You sacrificed everything to make sure he would be alright. It's not a crime to be emotionally invested in him years later."
"Letting people get close to me much less actually loving someone aren't exactly my strong points," Kellie said, "When Ethan was chasing me wasn't a wise idea. So excuse me if I don't adjust to having the luxury to do so."
"I think you've adjusted just fine even if you don't realize it," Lorenzo said, "You wouldn't be back in Port Charles if you hadn't. Mike's death wouldn't have hit you so hard, you wouldn't have gone to Michael's school, or spent as much time as you have with your siblings, cousins, and Danny if that weren't the case."
"Your point?" Kellie said.
"What about Ric and Alexis?" Lorenzo said, "You call them Uncle and Aunt."
"To irritate my father," Kellie said.
"It may have started out that way," Lorenzo said, "What about Jason?"
"What about him?" Kellie said.
"He's like a brother to you," Lorenzo said.
"Do you, Jason, and Lainey all conspire as to when and where you'll start looking beyond what I want you to see?" Kellie asked.
"You would think that wouldn't you?" Lorenzo said, "For the record, Lainey gets paid for that and as for Jason and I, we both understand where you're coming from. This life makes caring about people an ongoing struggle. But somehow we manage to do it. It's not altogether impossible."
"Have you ever failed to protect someone you love?" Kellie said, "And not been able to make it right?"
"My niece, Sage," Lorenzo said, "If she was still alive, you two would either be at each other's throats or get along really well. I'm not sure which."
"Now who's trying to avoid the issue at hand," Kellie said, smirking.
"Point taken," Lorenzo said, "I didn't give her the time and attention she needed after my brother's death."
"Wasn't she killed by a woman who needed to spend a lifetime in a padded cell?" Kellie asked.
"I still wasn't the authority and parental figure to her I should have been," Lorenzo said.
"That explains why you always seem to be saving me from myself," Kellie said, "You think you can make up for not being there for Sage by being there for me."
"I don't see you as a replacement for Sage," Lorenzo said, "I care about you for you, Kellie. I know that I can't expect you welcome me into your life with open arms. But I hope that someday, you'll let me be a part of your life not just as a business associate, but as your uncle."
Kellie didn't answer.
"Kellie Corinthos, speechless," Lorenzo said, "That's rare."
"Don't get used to it," Kellie said
"I guess I never even asked how finding out you're an Alcazar really affected you," Lorenzo said.
"To be honest I haven't had time to think about it except for getting amusement at my father's expense," Kellie said, "I can't just tell you to forget it. But I can't make you any promises either."
"I'm not trying to pressure you," Lorenzo said, "I apologize if you've felt like I have in any way."
"I know you're not," Kellie said, "I appreciate it."
"We all saw what happened when Sonny tried to a force a relationship you weren't ready for," Lorenzo said.
"My father and I naturally cause an explosion without even trying," Kellie said, "Everything could have gone right and I still might have had to leave. Anyway, I have some former infiltrators to question."
"Any luck so far?" Lorenzo asked.
Kellie shook her head, "I have to try myself. Plus, further analysis of the accounts shows money was embezzled and it's near impossible to trace."
"Do you need anything?" Lorenzo asked.
"No," Kellie said, "But if I find I do I'll ask.
"I'd tell you to avoid trouble," Lorenzo said.
"But you've learned I don't," Kellie said, "I'm out of here. So I'll at least see you down to the parking garage. I'm headed there anyway."
