by D. Camille
“You check the footage?” Lance asked.
“Mac took it, and guess what? The cameras were covered.” Corvus frowned. “This shit was planned.”
Lance ran a hand down his face. “Damn!”
“It's an inside job Lance, we just need to know who all was involved.”
He shook his head and let out a breath. “I tried to help them. I gave them chances when nobody else would.”
“You a good dude man, but some of these out here...you just can't help.”
“I never thought my own people would try to do me in,” Lance said in disgust.
Corvus agreed. “They got something coming though...”
“Keep the station closed. I don't want anybody in there until I come back,” Lance instructed.
“Okay. Aren't you losing money?”
Lance looked at him. “I can cover it.”
“Cool. We're watching Jamal and we will find Mike's ass,” Corvus vowed.
Lance looked thoughtful. “How was Khayla?”
“Your woman putting out hits on people...do you hear me?” Corvus laughed. “I thought Rion's wife was boss, but damn!”
Lance laughed softly. “You know Khayla Imani don't play.”
“For real though, she was about to lose it over you man. Don't fuck up with her,” Corvus warned as he looked at the room full of flowers. “These females been out of control over you.”
“Lining up outside the hospital, holding candle light vigils and shit. Don't let them mess up what you trying to build with Khayla.”
Lance shook his head. “Nah, Khayla is my Day One. There's nobody who can take her place.”
“Finally! Did it take a bullet for you to figure this out?”
“I knew before the bullet which is why we were on a date,” Lance clarified.
Corvus laughed. “That's a helluva date. Y'all should've just hit the sheets.”
“Shut up.” Lance frowned.
Corvus stood and held out his hand. Lance took it and they held them tightly. “Man, I was about to tear some shit up over you.”
“I know. You know I'd do the same,” Lance vowed as they separated.
“Momma's bringing you some food up here later. I called and told her you was awake. She said tell you some other stuff, but I ain't trying to repeat all that.”
Lance laughed. “You just hatin' cause Momma really loves me more.”
“Don't play like that,” Corvus warned. “I called Miles and your Moms too.”
Lance nodded. “Thanks.”
“If you remember anything, call us.” Corvus stepped away from the bed. “Khayla threatened to beat my ass if I upset you or let you do anything stupid, so I better let her get back in here.”
“I'll holla at you later,” Lance agreed.
When Khayla re-entered Lance's hospital room, the bed was empty. Her heart began to race thinking he'd slipped out to find his shooter.
“Lance!”
“What!” he responded.
Khayla turned to the bathroom door and went to open it. “What the hell are you doing?” she asked when she saw him sitting on the toilet.
“What do people do on the toilet Khayla?” he asked confused.
She frowned. “You're supposed to be in the bed. They have bed pans.”
He matched her frown. “Nah, Ma...not doing that.”
“You shouldn't be up. Did Corvus help you in here at least?”
“Hell nah! Corvus is not helping me to the damn toilet.”
Khayla placed her hand on her hip. “Are you done so I can help you back to the bed?”
“I can make it back to the bed.”
“Lance, you just had surgery. Don't be bullheaded. You need to conserve your energy so you can heal,” she advised.
“You uh...might want to step out for minute,” he told her.
Khayla gave him a look then turned and walked back into the room pulling the door up a little behind her. She waited until she heard the toilet flush and the water running in the sink before she moved back to the door. It opened, and when she saw his flushed face she shook her head.
Quickly she wrapped an arm around his waist. “You're so damn hardheaded.”
Lance thought he was going to pass out before he made it back to the bed. When he reached it, he sat trying to catch his breath and Khayla watched him.
“Do you need the doctor?” she asked.
He continued trying to control his breathing. “Lie down Lance.” She helped him back into bed and put the covers around his waist.
Khayla wiped the sweat from his brow. “Now will you listen?”
“You're going to be weak for a little while. You can't do everything.” She leaned down and kissed his cheek. “Let me help you, okay?”
Lance looked at her through tired eyes. “I'm used to doing everything myself.”
“And you will again, but you need to heal first.”
He laid back and closed his eyes. “How long before I get my strength back?”
“If you follow directions, a couple of weeks.”
“I got business to take care of,” he complained.
Khayla rubbed his chest. “The only business you have right now is to get better.”
“I'll take care of whatever you need,” she promised.
“Khayla Imani...” he whispered.
She looked up at him with his eyes closed. “Yes?”
“I love you.”
Khayla leaned down and whispered in his ear. “I love you Lance, and we're going to get through this.”
He opened his eyes and lifted a hand to her face connecting their gazes.
“Damn, I want to get naked with you right now...”
Her eyes darkened. “Do you really think you're sexy right now?”
“I'm always sexy...” he whispered. “So are you.”
“You can't even make it to the toilet,” she told him.
“Come here girl...”
She came closer and sniffed. “What were you doing in the bathroom?”
“Washing my face and brushing my teeth so that I could kiss you...” he told her.
She smiled at him. “You’ve been shot and all you can think about is kissing me?”
He brought her face to his. “Yeah, because these lips are… so damn good.”
Chapter 8
Two days later, Lance was released from the hospital. Over the last forty-eight hours much of his memory had returned. He needed to get to the gas station to see if what he’d heard during his blackout was true. Lance didn’t want to set the Negus off just yet until he confirmed his theory of what happened that night because he didn’t want any innocent people hurt in the process.
Corvus drove him home as he sat in the back seat with his arm in a sling next to Khayla. True to her word, she’d been by his side the entire time, making sure that he was being taken care of. He was sure the other doctors were ready to see her go.
He turned to her. “Thank you.”
“Why are you thanking me?”
“For riding with me through this,” he told her.
Khayla smiled. “I’m Detroit baby, ride or die for my man.”
“Well the doctors at the hospital wanted you to die, I know.”
She frowned. “Oh no, they weren’t going to half do their jobs taking care of you. I wasn’t having that!”
Lance laughed. “I think they were doing their best.”
She folded her arms. “Well it wasn’t good enough.”
He leaned over and kissed her softly. “My soldier queen.”
“Hey! You can do all that when I’m not around,” Corvus complained glancing in the rear view mirror.
Khayla touched Lance’s face. “Shut up Corvus.” She touched her lips to Lance’s again, this time making loud smooching sounds.
Corvus kept driving. “You lucky Khalil is your brother.”
Both Khayla and Lance laughed as they separated. They arrived at Lance’s home and Corvus opened the door to allow them all inside
.
Khayla turned to Lance. “I’m going to get your bed ready for you.”
He nodded and kissed her before she took off upstairs.
“Damn, y’all practically married now,” Corvus commented.
Lance turned to him. “Katydids has been my ace, for real. She’s looked out for a brother.”
“Well, since you’re in such capable hands, I’m out.”
Lance nodded. “In a couple of days, I need to go to the gas station. I want you to ride with me.”
“You got something for us?” Corvus questioned.
“Not yet, but I will.”
Corvus nodded his head. “Okay, just hit me up and let me know.”
The men gave each other a man hug and Corvus headed out the door. Slowly Lance made his way upstairs to his bedroom. He found Khayla bending over his bed fluffing pillows. Quickly he walked up behind her pressing himself against her exposed bottom.
“Lance!”
His placed the hand from his free arm on her hip and grinded slowly. “Oh, got damn!” he groaned.
Khayla managed to right herself and looked at him. “Stop, before you hurt yourself.”
“Believe me Ma, that didn’t hurt at all.” He pulled her closer. “In fact, it would feel so damn good to love you right now.” Lance traced her lips with his tongue.
“You need to rest…” she protested softly.
His hand came up to cup her breast. “We can go slow…real slow,” he whispered against her mouth.
Khayla felt her body heating. “You need to conserve your strength Lance. You just got home.”
“Khayla Imani...” he whispered in her ear.
She whispered back. “You want to get naked?”
“Aww, hell yeah.”
Khayla's hands began to unfasten his jeans. “Sit down so I can take off your shoes.”
Lance willingly obeyed her command and sat on the side of the bed. He watched as she bent and removed his shoes then placed them aside. She smiled up at him. “Let's get you out of these pants now.”
He stood and she slid the denim down his legs until he could step out of them. Glancing down, Khayla saw that he was fully ready. She took his phone from his pocket and placed it on the nightstand next to the bed.
“We have to take the sling off...to get your shirt off,” she explained quietly and he nodded watching her.
Khayla gently removed the sling from around his neck and unbuttoned his shirt. She helped him out of it then he stood before her in just his underwear, a bandage and a sexy smile.
“You ready baby?” she asked giving her own sexy smile.
His answer was to lean down and ravage her mouth. “Ummmm...get in the bed baby,” Khayla told him in between kisses.
Lance looked down at her then climbed onto the bed. He laid back and watched, waiting for her to undress.
“Now stay your hardheaded ass in there and get some rest!” Khayla grabbed the sheet and pulled it over his lower body.
“Wait! What?” he asked confused.
She continued to settle him in the bed. “I told you...you need to rest.” Khayla took a seat on the edge and touched his jaw.
“Lance, I'm not those chicks. Yeah, what you're working with down here...” She ran a hand along his slowly dissipating erection. “...is amazing.”
Khayla moved a hand to his hairline. “But what's going on up here is what I'm concerned with right now.” Looking into his eyes she continued, “You've been through a terrible ordeal. People you've trusted have hurt you, and not only physically. That's a lot to digest.”
“I'm here for you, but not just a warm body,” she finished.
Lance touched the hand that was on his face. “You've never been a warm body to me Khayla.” He looked away. “I don't talk and discuss...I just do what needs to be done.”
Khayla turned his face back to hers. “How about this? You do what you need to do, but if you need to talk and discuss...I'm right here.”
Lance held her gaze. “How long you staying?”
“I don't have anywhere else to be.”
“You have a practice, you've been taking care of my businesses and you've been by my side. I've taken up a lot of your time this past week. I understand if you need to breathe,” he told her.
“If you want me to stay with you Lance, ask me.”
Khayla watched the struggle in his face. Lance was so used to taking care of himself along with everyone else that he didn't even like the thought of asking for something for himself.
Lance shrugged. “I mean, if you don't got nothing else to do...” he trailed off.
“Ask me to stay Lance.”
He sat quietly then nodded. “Cool, Khayla will you stay with me tonight?”
She smiled and kissed him softly. “Of course I’m staying with you tonight. I saw those chicks lined up outside the hospital.”
Lance frowned at her. “Was all that necessary right there?”
Khayla nodded. “Yes, because you said this was for real, so keep it one hundred.”
“Okay Ma, I hear you.” He patted the bed beside him. “Come here.”
She climbed on the bed beside him and looked over into his handsome face. “I’m not about to be crying on your shoulder like a little punk,” he told her.
“I should hope not,” Khayla responded. “Your strength is what I love most about you, Lance. I’m not trying to make you weak, baby, I want to help you be stronger.” She took him gently into her arms laying his head on her breasts. “Right here, you’re at home.”
Lance closed his eyes as Khayla gently stroked his head. Her warmth and softness gave him a comfort he’d never felt anywhere but in her arms. He inhaled her scent as her breasts lifted and fell softly from her breathing.
Lance lifted his head when he heard a phone ringing with a distinct tone. “That’s my phone,” Khayla told him.
He lifted a brow. “You need to answer it?”
“Uh, no. I’ll check it later.” She said evasively.
He nodded. “A dude huh?”
Khayla nodded. “Yes. I’m not sure why he’s calling. It’s been awhile since we’ve spoken.”
Lance laid back against the pillows. “You should see what’s up.”
“It’s not important,” Khayla said looking at him. “And I know you’re not tripping.”
“You should see what’s up,” he repeated. “And let him know it’s a wrap.”
Khayla sat up with a frown. “Have you told your entourage that it’s a wrap?”
“Is my phone ringing?” he questioned and glanced at his phone on the nightstand.
She huffed. “It may not be ringing now, but I know it’s full of pictures of pretty girls with big fronts!”
He shook his head. “Me and Kyros need to talk.”
“Keep my nephew out of this.”
Lance reached for his phone with his good arm. “You wanna see ‘em?”
Khayla turned furious. “Why in the hell would I want to see pictures of your damn women?”
Lance opened his phone and touched a few buttons. “Look…” He handed her the phone.
When she didn’t move, he lifted it in front of her face. “Look!”
Angrily Khayla glanced down at the picture on the screen. She looked and saw a picture of herself then glanced at him. “Scroll through,” he instructed.
Slowly she took the phone and scrolled through the pictures, which were all of her and/or Kyros. She raised her eyes to him. “You took them off?” she asked quietly.
“You’re my pretty girl with the big front,” he told her softly and she smiled.
“I can never stay mad at you,” she whispered.
Lance smiled at her. “That’s why you should just go ahead and let me get that right now.”
She laughed. “If you rest a little, I promise you’ll get this.”
“Cool. Go take care of your dude and when you come back…”
Khayla reached over him and replaced his phone. After sitting it down
, she turned her face to his.
“When I come back, I’m bringing you some food and then we’ll see…” She kissed him then climbed from the bed grabbing her bag.
“Stay in the bed Lance,” she warned.
“I heard you Khayla.”
Shaking her head, she went downstairs to make him some dinner. In the kitchen, Khayla pulled out her phone and dialed the number back.
“Hello Marcus,” she greeted when the voice on the other end of the phone answered.
“Hello gorgeous,” he replied. Khayla and Marcus had met when he was in Detroit on an assignment to help their friend Rion Shaw.
Khayla leaned against the counter in Lance’s kitchen. “What’s going on?” she asked.
“I was wondering the same thing. I had a missed call from you.”
She frowned. “Really?”
“Yeah, so I wondered if you needed something.”
Khayla blew out a breath. “It’s been so crazy, maybe I just misdialed you.”
“Okay, that’s not a problem. Is everything good?” he asked concerned.
“Lance was shot at his gas station…”
She heard him catch his breath. “What? Is he okay?”
“He will be. He’s home now and needs to rest,” she explained.
“Who did this?” Marc questioned.
She sighed. “We’re not completely sure yet, but the Negus are on it.”
“If they need me for anything, just say the word.”
“Thank you Marcus.” She smiled. “How’s your complicated situation?”
He laughed softly. “Much less complicated. You?”
“Yes, much less complicated as well,” she replied.
“Good, like I said, if you need me let me know.”
“I will. Thank you Marcus. Take care.”
“You too Khayla.”
They disconnected the call and Khayla went about the task of preparing a meal for Lance. She knew everything he liked, so preparing something that he’d eat was not an issue. Although it wouldn’t be an issue anyway, Lance rarely complained…about anything. No manner how many times he’d been knocked down, he’d always simply gotten back up and moved further.
Khayla was concerned about what was going through Lance’s head. She could tell that he remembered more than he was saying and she wondered just what he was planning to do about it, and she had no doubt he was planning something. Lance was not the type of man that took this type of thing lightly and once he made up his mind what he was going to do, nobody was going to stop him.