Kellie's Penthouse
Tyler hung up the phone. Everything was a blur. He couldn't process everything. He didn't know how much time had passed. Then Lorenzo walked in.
"Did you know?" Tyler asked.
"Know what?" Lorenzo asked.
"That Kellie was," Tyler said, unable to finish the sentence.
"Your fiancée," Lorenzo finished the sentence, "She finally told you."
"Does the whole town know?" Tyler asked.
"Jason and I knew because she needed our resources to keep tabs on you," Lorenzo said, "Anyone else who knows found out after your death to my knowledge. Except maybe Kellie's psychiatrist."
"She would need a shrink to get herself straightened out," Tyler muttered.
"Why is that?" Lorenzo asked.
"Who in their right mind fakes their death, not thinking about who else might be affected by it?" Tyler yelled, "Who just makes a decision like that and doesn't give anyone else a say?"
"Someone who's desperate," Lorenzo said.
"Desperate to be selfish," Tyler said.
"Desperate to protect herself and you," Lorenzo said.
"You would stick up for your niece," Tyler said.
"Why couldn't you just stay dead?" Lorenzo asked, "For real? Do you know how much of a headache you are?"
"And you only put up with me because of Kellie," Tyler said snidely.
"I don't expect you to just be okay with everything Kellie's done," Lorenzo said, "The least you could do is be civil to the her and the rest of us."
"All you and Kellie do is keep me prisoner," Tyler said.
"If you would stop drowning in your hurt feelings for more than two seconds and actually analyze the facts of the situation, you'd actually understand the danger you're in," Lorenzo said, "Not gloss over it because it upsets your view of the world."
"It's a little late for that," Tyler said, "She's the one who shattered it."
"And it's killing her," Lorenzo said, "If it weren't up to her, you two would have never crossed paths again. Do have any idea how much this is costing her?"
"When the woman you were supposed to spend the rest of your life with shuts you out and leaves to protect you and lies about it to boot, then you can preach to me," Tyler yelled, "Otherwise don't tell me how I should act when you haven't been there yourself."
"Maybe you should take your own advice then," Lorenzo said, "You can't tell me that you have an inside track into Kellie's mind. Not then. Not now. You haven't been the one running from relationships for the last seven years because it could get you killed. You haven't had to make the calls Kellie has had to make to. She will do whatever it takes to protect the few people in this world she cares about. No matter what it costs her physically and emotionally. For some reason, she cares about you. If you would open your eyes you'd see that. Now if you'll excuse me. I have more important matters to attend to."
"Oh my god," Tyler said, shocked, "You were at the safe house. I recognize your voice. It kept bothering me. But I finally figured it out."
"What are you talking about?" Lorenzo asked.
At that moment, Sage walked in with her purchases.
"Does Kellie know you're the one making her life hell?" Tyler said, "The one who got me involved in this in the first place? The one who's behind all the violence? Real brilliant, earn her trust and all the while your working behind her back to gain control of her father's business."
"Enough," Sage said, "Uncle Lorenzo isn't who you saw or heard. You were so out of it how can you be sure. I wasn't incoherent, so I would know."
"Whoever was holding us captive had the same voice as Lorenzo," Tyler said.
"No, he didn't," Sage said.
"She's right," Lorenzo said, "So quit arguing."
"I'll get Kellie to listen when she comes back," Tyler said, going upstairs.
"What else did I miss?" Sage asked.
"The lily-white lawyer needed to hear some things he didn't want to hear," Lorenzo said.
"What did he do to Kellie?" Sage asked, "That's the only reason I can think of that you'd rip him up one side and down the other."
"It's more like what did she do to him," Lorenzo said.
"She told him the truth?" Sage asked. Lorenzo nodded. "Is she okay?"
"I don't know. She took off," Lorenzo said, "Jason's looking for her now."
Jason entered the penthouse.
"Did you find her?" Lorenzo asked.
Jason nodded. "She's across the hall. She'll stay in the guest room to keep the cover going."
"Can I go see her?" Sage asked.
"She doesn't want to see anyone right now," Jason said, "Maybe in the morning, you can talk to her."
"Is there something I can do?" Sage asked, "I feel like I need to do something. Other than answer your questions."
"Make sure Tyler doesn't bolt," Jason said, "We don't want anyone to know he's here."
"I can do that," Sage said.
"Where did you find Kellie?" Lorenzo asked.
"In a church," Jason said.
Lorenzo looked at Jason with shock, "A church?"
"The last place you'd expect to find her," Sage said.
Lorenzo looked over at Sage. "You've grown up so much," he said.
"I had to," Sage said, "More than you'll ever know."
