"Then I think you should start there," Lorenzo said.
"I don't want the seat," Kellie said, "But I'm still tempted."
"I'd be worried if you weren't tempted," Lorenzo said, "You came to rely on that kind of power to protect yourself at young age. That's not an easy habit to let go of. In some ways, I'm surprised you didn't immediately say yes to the offer the way things have gone. I think there was time when you would have just said yes without thinking."
"I can't afford to jump in like in that, not without careful consideration," Kellie said, "If it was just me maybe, but I have to think about the kids. Not that they don't deal with enough rumors and gossip about their family connections."
"When do they want your answer?" Lorenzo asked.
"The next meeting which is in about a month," Kellie replied.
"You have time to decide and see how things play out in the meantime," Lorenzo said, "But for what it's worth, I think you'd should listen to that part of you that says you don't really want to be the head of any family. Your goal has been avoid that even if you've understood doing otherwise might be necessary the way things are now. I think you should do everything you can to build the life you want."
"Various parts of what I want in my life seem to be at odds with each other," Kellie said.
And if Jason doesn't fix this mess with Sonny, let me know," Lorenzo, " I'll knock some sense into your husband."
"Uncle Lo," Kellie half scolded.
"I'm not asking permission," Lorenzo responded, "Sonny's ineptitude and Jason's lack of action are really the biggest obstacles you have in terms of knowing you don't have to step in with the business. I'm tired of watching you pay the price because they can't or won't get it together. Not only did they increase the size of the target already on your back, causing Charles to lose his life, but I've been watching you slide closer to crossing lines I know you never wanted to cross. To be honest, I'm scared for you, Kellie. Are you capable of running the business in that manner? I don't have a doubt that you could. Your own natural instincts, talents combined with what involvement and training you've had from Jason, myself, and even Sonny don't leave any questions about that. But I also know that the decisions, the choices you have to make to hold to that power, that position aren't ones you want the responsibility of making."
"Uncle Lo, it's not like I haven't made questionable choices before," Kellie said.
"All varying shades of gray," Lorenzo said, "There's a line between asking Sonny and Jason to take care of the men who were terrorizing and stalking you, your family, something they would have done even if you hadn't asked, and having to make that kind of order, decisions yourself and carry it out. If you sit at that table, the others will expect you to demonstrate that and support their operations. When you took over for Sonny before, I wouldn't have let the responsibility for those kind of decisions fall on you. It may not always be Brick or Sonny or Jason at the table with you. And being hauled down to the station tonight… it's going to happen a lot more if you're actively fronting a family. I don't want that for you. Maybe it's time I stopped hiding behind whatever the other associates might do if I get I involved and…"
"Uncle Lo, I'm not going to let…."Kellie started to say.
"It's not your responsibility to protect me," Lorenzo didn't let her finish, "But it is still mine to protect you. Lord knows I have probably failed at that more times than I'd care to admit. You're so capable and so strong, you make it easy to forget just because you could handle everything life is throwing at you right now, doesn't mean I shouldn't step in more."
"But when stepping in more means you possibly lose the life you managed to build mostly away from the business," Kellie said, "You're already more involved because you wouldn't sell the entire shipping company to me."
"Look, I'm not sure what the answer is right now," Lorenzo said, "I just want to you have other options than where this seems to be heading. I don't think we're going to get any further on this tonight. At least not without some sleep and a break."
"I just wish this situation was …." Kellie sighed.
"I know," Lorenzo said, "Just get some sleep and try not to think about this."
"Easier said than done," Kellie said, looking towards the door, "I'm hoping to talk to Jason when he gets home."
"It will keep until morning if you don't," Lorenzo said, "Don't make that decision without talking to me again first."
Kellie shook her head, "Uncle Lo…"
"Promise me you'll call me before you make a decision," Lorenzo said, "That's not negotiable."
Kellie looked at Lorenzo, exasperated.
"I will stand here as long it takes until you promise me that," Lorenzo said.
Kellie attempted to stare Lorenzo down.
"I guess I'll sit down if we're going to be here awhile," Lorenzo said.
"Fine," Kellie said, "I promise I'll talk to you before making a decision."
"With that, I will see myself out," Lorenzo said.
"Give Alexis my thanks and apologies again for…." Kellie said.
Lorenzo nodded and then pulled Kellie into hug, "Everything's going to be okay. I don't know how. But I can promise you that much."
"You can't really promise that," Kellie replied, "So I won't hold you to it. But I appreciate the thought."
Once Lorenzo left, Kellie checked her messages and saw Jason had texted her that he still had things to do and not to wait up for him.
Kellie was headed to the living room couch when Johnny O'Brien walked in.
"He's going to be a lot longer than you think, Kid," Johnny said, "You might as well go to bed."
"What do you know about what Jason's up to tonight?" Kellie asked.
"Johnny said, "I really don't know anyway. Francis let me know it was going to be a long meeting."
"And Francis is?" Kellie asked.
"Meeting with Jason and Max," Johnny replied.
"Why is Jason meeting with my people?" Kellie asked.
"You can ask your husband yourself when he gets home," Johnny said, "You asked Jason to trust you keeping him in the dark with your plans and now I think I you're going to have to trust him."
Lorenzo and Alexis's House
Alexis handed Lorenzo a drink when he got home.
"I thought you could use this," Alexis said as Lorenzo took a sip, "How's Kellie?"
Lorenzo shook his head, "Holding everything together by sheer will. She asked me to pass on her appreciation for your legal counsel tonight."
"What exactly happened tonight?" Alexis asked, "I'm still trying wrap my brain around the fact that Michael asked the PCPD to bring charges against his sister. And that Valentin came to Kellie's aid. Lord knows those two don't get along."
"From what I understand Michael has been going after Sonny in the actual coffee business," Lorenzo said, "Whatever happened with the ELQ shipments when Kellie bought into the shipping company, Michael's ability to compete with Sonny was hampered. I don't think Valentin was thrilled about Michael using ELQ resources even legally against Sonny."
"So Valentin's objectives with ELQ and Michael aligned with Kellie's however that happened," Alexis said, "And it was in the Valentin's best interests to side with Kellie."
"That about sums it up," Lorenzo said.
"What else happened tonight?" Alexis said.
"Not anything I should be discussing with you," Lorenzo said.
"I'm your wife," Alexis said, "It's not like I can be compelled to testify against you if this has to do with Sonny and Jason's business."
"You know Kellie bought the shipping business…" Lorenzo started to say…
"As some sort of leverage to get Sonny and Jason's enemies to back off of her," Alexis said, "I know."
"That may have backfired in ways, we didn't anticipate," Lorenzo said.
"Backfired how exactly," Alexis asked.
"As a courtesy, Kellie went to a meeting of the five families to inform them of her purchase," Lorenzo said, "That was the only involvement she was supposed to have at the meeting."
"If any crimes were actually, committed then I'll have to put a halt to the conversation," Alexis said.
Lorenzo shook his head, "Nothing like that and probably not anything you won't hear about sooner or later. Sonny was voted out as head of the five families and Selina Wu is the new head."
Alexis's jaw dropped.
"And Kellie was the deciding vote," Lorenzo continued.
"So does that mean Kellie took over Sonny's business?" Alexis asked.
"No, currently the five families is only four families," Lorenzo said, "When Sonny's leadership was challenged, they asked Kellie to be the deciding vote on a one time basis."
"She voted against Sonny," Alexis said, "That isn't going to go over well. But I'm still not seeing how buying the shipping company backfired."
"Mrs. Wu, Brick, and Johnny Zacharra asked Kellie to take the vacant seat on her own," Lorenzo said.
"Did Kellie take it?" Alexis asked.
"Not yet," Lorenzo said, "She has time to decide."
"Does she want to take it?" Alexis said
"No, she doesn't," Lorenzo said, "But she's not sure she can afford not to. I have no idea how to fix this for her."
"No," Alexis said, sternly.
"No what?" Lorenzo asked.
"I know exactly what's going through that head of yours," Alexis said, "You're thinking about taking the seat so Kellie doesn't. That's why you didn't outright sell her the whole company. Do you even think that will actually work? Given that none of the families would trust you for your attempt at working with the government to get rid of organized crime years. If you try it, then I'd have to say you've lost it."
"Alexis, I never said anything about…." Lorenzo started to say.
"But you're thinking about it," Alexis said.
"Only as a last resort," Lorenzo said.
"What about the foundation," Alexis said, "Who would run it? Charles is gone. And I can't imagine the board would let you continue running it. They wouldn't let Kellie just for marrying Jason and might not have regardless with her increased connections to Sonny and Jason's business."
"I don't know," Lorenzo said, "I just know I don't want Kellie stepping into that role when it's not what she wants. If Sonny and Jason can't get it together, I know she won't hesitate to step in if she thinks it's the only way to protect her kids. Buying the shipping company was hopefully going to prevent that, but now I'm not sure."
"You're dragged in by extension because you own a share of the company if she does take it," Alexis said.
"Hopefully, Jason does what's necessary and get through to Sonny" Lorenzo said, "And all of this is a moot point."
Alexis just shooked her head.
Neither one said a word for several moments.
"Wiat a minute," Alexis said, "Did you say Johnny Zacharra was involved in that meeting? He's in prison."
"He just got out on parole and took over one of the territories," Lorenzo said.
"How'd he manage that?" Alexis asked, stunned.
Lorenzo shrugged and took another drink.