Authors: Darrien Lee
The Last Chance (17 page)
Michael cupped her face and looked down into her eyes. “I don't care. This was different and not related to your job. You do know what I'll do to them if I get my hands on the people responsible for this, don't you?”
She wrapped her arms around his neck and nuzzled his neck. “I know, and it's sweet that you want to defend my honor. Those guys better be glad they grabbed me from behind.”
Michael released Keilah so she could retrieve some clothes out of the closet.
“You know you need to call your brothers and tell them what happened.”
She turned to Michael and nodded in agreement. “I know, but what's crazy, Michael, is that one of the guys said something about how my brothers âbetter take the deal' or something like that.”
Michael frowned. “So this was about them and not a random act?”
She walked toward the bathroom and then turned. “That's what it looks like.”
“Why didn't you tell the police so they could look into it?”
Keilah lowered her head. “I know I should've told them, but I want to look into things myself. Whoever did this probably followed us from the casino last night.”
“So they attacked you just to send a message to your brothers?”
She threw a towel over her shoulders and said, “I don't know, Michael.”
“If it's true, that's some bull,” Michael yelled.
Keilah walked further into the bathroom, and Michael followed. Keilah sat on the side of the tub and started filling the tub with hot water and a few capfuls of bath gel. She knew exactly who could help her find out what this was all about. The problem was doing it without her brothers knowing.
“Keilah? Did you hear what I said?” Michael asked as he paced the floor. “Maybe we need to get back to D.C. before those thugs try something again.”
She tested the water's temperature and said, “If you want to go back to D.C., go ahead, but this is my home, and when someone threatens me or my family, I'm not going to run away from it.”
He folded his arms and said, “So I noticed.”
Keilah looked up at him and saw the stress in his face. “Michael, I have to find out what's going on. If this thing is not handled delicately, my brothers will turn this city into a war zone until they find out who did this to me.”
Michael knelt down in front of her and took her hands into his. “Can you blame them?”
She caressed his cheek and smiled. “You're so sweet, Michael, but we have a way of handling things in our family. But I appreciate you being here for me.”
Michael kissed her cheek. “Like I said, I love you, Keilah. I'd do anything for you.”
She stared at him. Could this man love her as much as he said he did even though they hadn't known each other very long? Maybe she had underestimated Michael Monroe and hadn't given him the benefit of the doubt. With Ramsey, she knew without hesitation that he loved her, probably more than she was willing to admit to herself. But he'd never spoken to her about marriage. Michael seemed to know for a fact that she was the one for him and would be ready to marry her at the drop of a dime.
“Michael, I can tell you're a good man, but I don't want you to get caught up in this.”
Michael kissed her and gave her another loving hug.
“I'm already caught up in it. I'm just glad you weren't hurt worse than you were.”
“Thank you. Now, get out of here so I can soak in these suds. When I get out, we can go find my brothers and tell them what happened.”
He released her and walked toward the door. “OK, but don't stay in there too long.”
She smiled and said, “I won't.”
Michael closed the door behind him. Keilah removed her clothes, eased into the hot, sudsy water, and closed her eyes. She had a strange feeling that sent chills over her body, a feeling that her life was in store for some changes that would take her on a roller coaster ride. She whispered, “Hold it together, Keilah. You're a Chance, so act like it.”
Chapter Fifteen
Xavier, better known as X, twirled around in his chair and stared at the two large men known on the street as Slim and Baby Dee. X, who was in his late twenties, had come a long way from being a hoodlum on the street corner. He had his eyes on bigger and better things, and at the moment his eyes were on Slim and Baby Dee. “You didn't hurt her, did you?”
Slim was first to speak up with his deep, bass voice. “She might have a couple of bruises, but it's her fault because she put up a struggle. Hell, X, she's in better shape than we are. That chick is no joke, and because of her, I might not be able to have any children since she kicked me in the groin. I can barely walk.”
X, dressed in the latest Rocawear attire, frowned as he rose from his chair. He took his eyes off the men temporarily as he walked over to the window and looked down on the street below. “I thought you understood me when I said don't hurt her.”
“We tried not to hurt her, X, but a couple of times she almost got away. We were trying to keep her from seeing our faces, but she got the pillowcase off her head anyway. She wasn't an easy take-down at all.”
He turned to the men. “What you're saying is that she can identify you?”
“Well ... yeah,” Slim replied.
Xavier laughed. “She won't do it though. I know her type. If anything, she's trying to track you down on her own. What a woman. Never underestimate her because she's got the streets in her and can be deadly if she has to. You guys got off lucky. She makes her living being a hard-ass as a bodyguard in D.C., and my sources tell me she's one of the best in the business.”
Baby Dee and Slim stood silent as X made his way back over to his chair.
“Did you get a chance to deliver my message to her?”
Baby Dee spoke up this time. “Yeah, I delivered it.”
X smiled and laid his 9 mm on his desk. “Good. I'm sure she's wondering what it meant, especially since there is no deal, at least not yet. Keep an eye on her. I don't know how long she's going to be in town, but I'm sure she won't leave until she finds out why she was targeted and what it has to do with her brothers.”
Slim and Baby Dee turned to walk out of the room.
“Remember, I just want you guys to tail her for now,” X reiterated. “Oh ... one more thing.” The two men turned to him and waited for him to speak. X tossed a wad of money to them. “Here's a little something for your trouble.”
In unison, Baby Dee and Slim replied, “Thanks, X.”
Before they disappeared through the door, Baby Dee turned and asked, “What about her brothers?”
X eyed them with seriousness. “Let me worry about the Chance brothers.”
The two men walked out of the room, leaving X with his thoughts. He was prepared to go to war if he had to, and he knew there was a possibility it could be fatal.
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Across town as Keytone was preparing to step out his door, his telephone rang.
“Yeah?” he answered with an agitated tone.
“We need to talk. Can you meet me at Starbucks on Wilshire Boulevard in twenty minutes?”
Keytone smiled. “I thought you was warned to stay away from me?”
“This is serious, Keytone.”
“OK ... OK ... calm down. I was just joking. I'll be there.”
He stood, tucked his cell phone inside his jacket, and headed out the door.
Twenty-five minutes later, Keytone walked into Starbucks and made his way over to the table where his lovely companion was waiting for him. He leaned down and kissed her on the cheek. “Hey, sweetheart. What's up?” he asked.
Keilah frowned at Keytone as he sat down across from her with a big grin on his face.
“Don't âsweetheart' me. Why were you trying to pick a fight with my brothers last night? You know they can't stand you.”
He plucked a piece of lint off the arm of his jacket and smiled. “If I remember correctly, Malachi was the one getting all hostile. I was cool. You know me.”
“You didn't help matters, Keytone, and you know it.”
He leaned forward and touched her hand lovingly. “Well, at least I know one Chance sibling cares about me.”
Keilah pulled her hand away from him and lowered her head without responding. Keytone studied her body language for a few seconds before speaking. “When are you going to tell your brothers our little secret?”
A slight panic came over Keilah, and her head jerked upward.
“I don't know, Keytone, but when I feel that bit of information needs to be shared with them, I'll do it.”
Keytone raised his hands in defense. “I just asked, Keilah. Chill.”
“Listen, I asked you to meet me because I know you're up on everything going on around here and on the streets. Have you heard anyone talking about making some type of deal with my brothers?”
“No, I haven't. Why are you asking?”
Keilah sighed. “Something weird happened to me this morning.”
This got Keytone's undivided attention. “What do you mean?”
She folded her arms and struggled with her words. “I got jumped by two guys in my hotel early this morning when I was in the fitness room.”
The smile on Keytone's face was immediately replaced with a scowl. He sat up in his chair. “You mean to tell me that somebody put their hands on you?”
She cleared her throat and nodded.
Keytone leaned forward and angrily yelled, “Where was that so-called military man of yours when all of this was going on, and why is he letting you wander around town all by yourself now? I don't even know why you're with him if he can't protect you or keep an eye on you. I need to put a bullet in his head for not being there for you. You could've been killed, Keilah. Damn.”
Keilah could see that Keytone was starting to draw attention over to their table, so she grabbed his hand and gave it a squeeze. “Keytone, lower your voice. I'm okay. Besides, Michael was in bed asleep when it happened so he didn't even know I had left the room. I always get up early in the morning to work out. Yes, I let my guard down, but I never expected to get jumped in my hotel.”
He put his hands over his face and rocked back and forth in his chair, visibly shaken. Keilah could see he was about to explode again in anger, but he restrained himself. “So why is he letting you drive around by yourself now?”
Keilah smiled. “Letting me? I'm a bodyguard, Keytone, and I'm at home. I know this city better than Michael does. Besides, my guard is up now, and you know how stubborn I am. I told Michael I needed some air. He wanted to come with me, but I insisted he stay at the hotel until I got back. What could he do?”
“I guess you have a point. But if he were a real man he would've come with you regardless of what you said. Look, forget about dude. I want you to tell me exactly what happened and what those guys looked like,” he asked as calmly as he could.
“I was working out in the fitness room, and they threw a pillowcase over my head. I didn't make it easy for them though. I was able to get it off and kick one of them in the groin. The other one caught a five-pound weight upside the head. They ran out when they heard the security guards coming down the hallway.”
Keilah could tell Keytone was struggling to hold his composure.
“So you got a look at them?” he asked.
“Yeah.”
Keytone stood and said, “Hold that thought. I need something to drink before I lose it up in here. What would you like to drink?”
“Whatever you get will be fine with me.”
Keytone walked up to the counter and ordered two cups of Colombia Nariño Supremo coffee. After returning to the table, he sat their cups down and took his seat.
“OK, Keilah, what else did they do or say?”
Keilah finished telling Keytone what happened in the fitness room and what her assailants looked like. When she was done, she could see Keytone taking mental notes. “So if you see them again you can point them out?”
“I'll never forget those faces.”
He took her hand into his and held it there. “Did they hurt you?”
She looked into his eyes and saw a man enraged. “I have a few scratches and bruises, that's all,” she said.
Keytone could clearly see the bruising on Keilah's neck. He sat back down and let out a loud sigh. “You do know they're dead once I find them?”
“See, that's why I didn't want to tell you. Don't get crazy, Keytone. I just want you to see if you can find out who they are and what's going on.”
Keytone sat there silently for several minutes in deep thought as he drank his coffee. He slowly scanned the room, which was full of patrons, before pulling out his .45 Magnum pistol. He checked the clip, and then quickly slid it back into place. All Keilah could do was sit there in shock. Trying not to draw any more attention, she whispered, “Keytone, please put that gun away before someone calls the police.”
He looked at her with glazed eyes and put the gun back inside his jacket. “Keilah, like I said, when I find out who put their hands on you, they're dead. Do you hear me?”
Keilah's eyes widened. “No, I don't want you to do anything like that, just see if you can find out what's going on. Besides, I haven't even told my brothers yet.”
Keytone stared at her without blinking his eyes. “Girl, you're crazy if you think I'm going to sit around and do nothing but interview people. We're past that, sweetheart, and whoever did this to you will pay.”
Keilah didn't know what else to say to Keytone. He was a man with a ruthless reputation and most people knew not to cross him. Keilah finished off her cup of coffee and stood. “I have to go. I shouldn't have told you.”
He also stood. “But you did tell me, and the situation will be dealt with one way or another. Keilah, you came to me for help, now let me help you.”
She couldn't hold back her frustration any longer. “Have you been listening to anything I've said? I came to you to see if you could find out information, that's it.”
He stared at her with seriousness and then he laughed. “You know me, Keilah, which means you know I don't operate like that. I love you, and if I sit back and do nothing, what does that say about me?”
“I only came to you because I thought you might know something or could help me find out some information.”
“Keilah, you came to me because you know I can help you. If those guys had killed you it would've broken my heart. I got this. OK?”
She looked up at him and saw sincerity. She knew her brothers hated Keytone, but she saw something in him her brothers didn'tâa soft side. And once they found out the truth behind their relationship, they would go ballistic.
“Look, you can check into things, but don't do anything crazy,” she pleaded.
He smiled mischievously. “Don't worry, sweetheart. I never do anything to someone that they don't deserve. But I will tell you: When I find the bastards who put their hands on you, they're history.”
Seeing that her pleas were falling on deaf ears, Keilah grabbed her purse and placed it upon her shoulder. “Whatever, Keytone. I don't have the strength to argue with you anymore.”
Keytone pulled her into his arms and gave her a tender kiss on the cheek. “OK, I'm not going to promise you anything, but I'll try to stay in control. Are you happy now?”
Keilah smiled and before walking off she said, “Yes. Now be careful.”
“I will, and you watch your back until we know what's going on.”
Keytone watched as Keilah walked out to her car and drove off. As soon as she was out of sight, he pulled out his cell phone. “Yo, it's me. Get everyone together and meet me at the pit. We have work to do.”
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Keilah's meeting with Keytone was exhausting, but not as tiring as the one with her brothers would be. To try and regroup, she called Michael on her way over to Luke's house. Hearing his voice calmed her and brought her blood pressure back down. As expected, he was worried about her driving around Dennison alone, but she reassured him she was fine. After all, it was her hometown.
It took Keilah about thirty minutes to drive to Luke's subdivision. She didn't call ahead to let him know she was coming, not that she ever did. His house was always the central location of the family and seemed to have a revolving door for family and close friends. When she pulled into his driveway she noticed Genesis' car already there. Luke's wife, Sabrinia, was an excellent chef, and since her brothers were always looking for a tasty but nutritious meal, they always seemed to find their way over.
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