Page 81 of Marcellus: House of Drakos

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-pennedNever Knew Love Like This Beforeand 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 mouthedI 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.