Kelly's Jellyfish Romance (Romantic Short Stories) Read Online Free PDF Page A

holding in her hand. “So you
did keep it.” He murmurs, more to himself, then to her.
    Confused, Ami clutches the card tighter, holding it firmly
against her breast. “Come with me.” Tony commands her, and spinning on his
heels, walks swiftly down the hallway. Ami follows closely behind. When he
enters another bedroom, Ami hesitates at the door. Seeing she didn’t follow him
in, Tony walks back to her. “What’s the matter, beautiful girl?” He said,
gently taking her hand. “No one’s going to hurt you.” Looking at his face
again, Ami feels a flash of déjà vu. Could it be? “You were supposed to
look in the folder” He chides her. “You need to know it’s not what it seems.”

Chapter 5
     
    Sitting Ami down in a chair, Tony brings the folder to her
and opens it. The first page is blank, except for a playing card stapled upon
it: a queen of hearts, which matched her king. The next page has a strip of
photos from a photo booth; during their time together she and Lance took them
at the local mall. Glancing up at the man standing next to her, she finally
recognizes the resemblance between the man she once knew as Lance and the man
she now knows as Tony Roma. “Lance?” Ami asks incredulously. “Keep going.
You’ll soon know everything” he urges her.  After those two items she found
old receipts, pictures, paid debts. A letter to Nicole’s university from Mr.
Tony Roma recommending her for the scholarship she received is at the back of
the folder. All of which begins to add up to one thing.
    “Lance, all this time you really have been watching out for
us!” Ami springs from her chair to embrace him. Gently Tony holds her back. “I
tried but not well enough Ami. I couldn’t stop your father from gambling or
keep you from all that hardship. Then I screwed up. My family in New Jersey… they
are not good people.  They found out I had been spending family resources
on you and your sister. They decided to send me a message. They rigged that
card game. I’m afraid they may have also killed your father. I tried to take on
the debt to protect you but…”
    “But they won’t forgive the debt, or the money Tony has been
spending on you, unless it’s owed to a family member.” Mick said from the
doorway. “You aren’t family unless the two of you get married. So we came up
with a plan to get the Godfather in Jersey off your back.” Mick went on to
explain they had purposefully set her payments too high, to force her to come
to Chicago to negotiate. The show downstairs had been for the benefit of a
member of the New Jersey family, who was there to ensure Tony carried through
on his word to marry Ami and settle the debt by making her a family member.
    Tony looks at Ami apologetically. “Once we’re married, all
is forgiven, according to my uncle. I’m sorry, I couldn’t think of any other
way. I swear I will make you happy.”  Hushing his apologies, Ami kisses
him, at first tenderly, soon with intense passion. Relief swells into
gratitude, and gratitude into longing as the kisses deepen. Mick clears his
throat. “I will set up the appointment with the judge in the morning then,
Sir?” Tony confirms that will be fine. “Nice seeing you again, Ms. Ami.” As
Mick walks away, Ami finally remembers him; the security guard from the casino.
Left alone, Tony and Ami renew their relationship in the king sized bed. Years
of pent up passion and desire are soon happily realized. 
    In the morning, the two sign their marriage certificate and
are married by a judge. Mick and Don serve as witnesses. As the newly married
couple kiss, Ami realizes for the first time in her life, she is finally safe
in the arms of a man who loves her. Tony not only protected her from danger, he
is giving her a chance at a wonderful new life. Ami has been in love with her
husband since she was a teenager. The Lance she once knew is now her Tony. The
dream that kept her going through all the bad times isn’t a dream at all.