Page 48 of Marcellus: House of Drakos

Marcellus was scared. He ran up the stairs inside his island home on the southern coast of Saint-Tropez as fast as he could.

Then he ran down the hall to his bedroom and slung the doors open, his heart pounding.

When he saw Kari sitting on his bed with her gown off and the dress she had chosen for the reception now on, he hurried to her side.

“What’s wrong?” he asked her urgently. “What happened?”

Now she was confused. ‘Nothing’s wrong. Why would you think something was wrong?”

“What do you mean why? They said you needed me.”

Savannah smiled. “I do need you, silly. But not because something’s wrong.”

“Oh good!’ he said, relieved. “Then what is it?”

There was hesitation. He might have even saw some trepidation. “What is it? You can tell me anything.”

“I found out this morning,” she said, “but I decided to wait until now.”

“To wait for what? What is it, Vanna?”

She decided to just come out with it. “I’m pregnant, Marcellus.”

Did he hear that right? He stared at her. “Pregnant?”

She wasn’t sure if he was happy or angry. “Yes.”

A slow smile began to appear on his face. And then an all-out grin. “Oh baby, that’s wonderful!” he said as he stood up, lifted her up, and then twirled her around. “That’s just marvelous!”

When Savannah was back on her feet, she looked into his eyes. She saw his joy, which was what she was after. “I was afraid you’d be upset.”

“Why would I be upset?”

“Because your youngest child is twenty-six years old. And I’m thirty-seven. I’m no spring chicken myself. I didn’t think you wanted another child.”

“I didn’t want another child,” he said, and her heart dropped. Then he smiled. “But I want your child. I want you to have my child. That’s the difference.”

Savannah smiled a grand smile and placed her hands on the sides of his gorgeous face. “Thank you.”

“You’re thanking me for knocking you up? It was entirely my pleasure,” he said, and they both laughed.

“Now come on,” he said as he grabbed her by the hand and ushered her toward the exit. “They’re waiting for us downstairs.”

They were married earlier that day at the newly restored Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France, which felt like a dream come true for both of them.

After the wedding, all of their guests piled onto Marcellus’s private jet and headed to his island for the reception.

It had been an eventful year, but everything had settled down beautifully.

Bobcat was in jail awaiting his trial. There were no more crashes and no more talk of hearings on Capitol Hill and no more kidnappings.

And just as importantly every single one of his children, and both of his brothers, were in the wedding.

Olivier, Scottie, and Fredrick, along with Oz and Jordan, were his grooms. Alex was his best man.

His son Niko walked Savannah down the aisle.

Kari and Kalayna were her bridesmaids and Tyla, newly divorced, was her maid of honor.

And his baby mothers, although in attendance at the wedding, were not in the program per Savannah.

They were a part of the family and Marcellus wanted to keep it that way.

She understood that they should be invited.

But she set boundaries on just how much a part of their family they were going to be. Marcellus didn’t object.

Now the wedding had gone on without a hitch and they were downstairs at the gorgeous reception, mingling with their guests, and soaking in the aroma of being a newly-minted married couple.

While Marcellus was mingling with his social circle, Savannah was talking with Tyla and Niko, who were hanging out together, and then she was moving on, freelancing. Until Oz pulled her aside.

“I just wanted to say congratulations.”

“Thank you, Oz.”

“We didn’t start out on the right foot,” he said, and Savannah laughed.

“Do you realize my ass is still on fire because of you,” Oz added just as two of Marcellus’s high-society guests were walking by. “What did you put up my ass anyway?” he asked her.

The two guests looked at Oz and Savannah as if they were freaks from way back and hurried away from them. Oz and Savannah looked at each other and laughed heartily. They were becoming thick as thieves.

Then Alex Drakos ended up beside her. And they talked for a long time.

Whereas his brother might have been a fun guy who was good for a laugh, Alex was a very serious person.

He told her how his wife didn’t come from privilege either, and that she was, in fact, struggling mightily when they first met, but she adjusted to his world too. It was good information.

But mostly they just stood together and people-watched. They especially watched all of Marcellus’s various baby mothers as they kept angling for Marcellus’s attention. Alex, amused, leaned toward Savannah: “How many baby mamas does he have exactly?”

“Four,” she said.

“Damn, that’s a lot.”

“He’s about to have five.”

Alex looked at her. “What do you mean he’s about . . . Do you mean . . .?”

She smiled and nodded her head. “Not public knowledge yet, but yes.”

Alex smiled a great big smile and pulled her into his arms. “Oh that’s just wonderful, sweetheart! That’s just great!”

Savannah truly loved Alex and Kari too and especially Oz when he was behaving.

“Let’s celebrate the news,” Alex said. “Let’s dance!”

And they got out on the crowded dance floor and did their thing.

Until Marcellus broke it up. “It’s my turn,” he said to his brother.

“Party-pooper,” Alex said with a grin, they all laughed, and then he left the couple alone.

The wedding singer began singing the Lucas/Mtume-penned Never Knew Love Like This Before and the smile on their faces slowly faded away. And they stared into each other’s eyes. They didn’t like the word perfect, but that was how it felt:

“I never knew love like this before.

Now I’m lonely never more.

Since you came into my life.

You are my lovelight, this I know.

And I’ll never let you go.

You’re my all -

you’re a part of me.

Once I was lost,

and now I’m found.

Then you turned my world around.

When I need, I call your name.”

They continued looking at each other as they danced as if they’d never seen anything like it. Marcellus mouthed I love you, and she mouthed it right back at him. And then they leaned into each other and continued to dance, not as fast as the song allowed, but more than fast enough for them.

Because Mr. and Mrs. Marcellus Drakos was no longer on anybody’s clock. They were on their time now.