by D. Camille
Good morning, Lance. I missed waking up next to you this morning. I had a late night working on business, so I’m sleeping in today, but I’ll check in with you later tonight. Have a good day, my King. I love you.
Lance smiled after reading the message. He checked the time and saw she’d sent it at around four in the morning. He typed a response, telling her he loved her and would be sure to check up on her in the evening.
Grabbing his jacket, he got into his truck and drove back to the spot where Corvus had taken him last night. As he approached the scene, he was greeted by flashing lights and police vehicles. Parking in the distance, he walked to where the boundary had been created.
He looked around the area as officers moved quickly to and fro going inside the dwelling. “Lance!”
He turned to the sound of his name as Chief Green approached him. “Just the man I want to see.”
“Me?” Lance asked.
Mac nodded. “Where were you last night around two in the morning?” she questioned.
“I was at home…sleeping.”
She lifted a brow. “Alone?”
Lance frowned. “What’s going on Mac?”
“We got a call there was a body in a house. My officers got here and found the vic shot once in the back,” Mac informed him.
Lance felt a panic. “Was it a kid?” he asked worried.
Mac shook her head. “No…it was Karen Barnes.”
“What?” he exclaimed.
“Apparently she was still in town, hiding out at this house,” she began. “The house was empty when the officer’s arrived.”
She studied Lance. “We received an anonymous call that there had been a shooting at this location and there was a body inside. When they identified her, I was called.”
“I don’t know anything about this Mac,” he told her.
‘I didn’t think so. This isn’t the work of the Negus, but I had to check just the same,” she explained. “And she was the woman who shot you.”
Lance stood in shock as the information settled in. “Karma doesn’t play,” Mac commented and Lance looked at her.
“No, it doesn’t,” he agreed. Neither did Khayla Lewis, he thought.
He rubbed his chin. “Any leads on the shooter?”
Mac shook her head. “Unfortunately this is a regular day in the city. Bodies found in homes with no leads and no clues,” she sighed. “This was clearly some type of trap house, so it could have been anything from a drug deal gone bad to some type of street revenge.”
“Karen may not have even been the target, just in the wrong place at the wrong time,” she finished.
Lance nodded. “I need to secure this scene,” Mac told him and he turned to walk away.
“Lance?” He turned back to her.
Mac’s eyes narrowed. “What are you doing over here?”
He shook his head. “I was on my way to check something out. I saw the cars and stopped for a second.”
There was a pause. “Okay…if you know anything about his, I expect you to inform me,” she warned.
Lance raised a hand. “I honestly don’t know anything about this Mac.”
“Alright, I’ll see you later…” Mac turned and walked back into the house.
Back in his car, Lance took off in hurry. “Got dammit Khayla!”
He arrived and stalked to her door, ringing the bell and knocking. Khayla answered a few minutes later in her nightgown with a frown on her face.
“Lance! Why are you banging on my door?” she demanded.
He stepped inside. “Tell me you didn’t do this!”
Khayla closed the door and turned to him. “Do what?”
Lance looked at her. “Karen is dead.”
She looked at him then walked away into the bedroom and he followed. When he entered the room she’d climbed back into the bed.
“Did you hear me Khayla?” he asked confused.
“I heard you. Now I’m going back to bed.”
Lance looked at her. “Khayla!” he yelled.
She sat up in the bed. “What? What do you want me to do?”
“Tell me you didn’t do this.”
Khayla looked at him. “If I didn’t, I’m still glad it happened.” She turned over and snuggled back under the covers.
Lance walked over to the bed and looked down at her form underneath the covers. “Khayla, tell me the truth,” he said quietly.
She turned back to him. “What do you want me to say Lance?”
“Damn Khayla! I asked you to stay out of it!” He turned and walked out of the room. Khayla scrambled from the bed after him and when she entered the living room, he was at the door.
“Lance!” she called his name.
He turned to her with his face filled with anger. “What?”
Khayla came over to him. “Why are you mad?” she yelled.
“Why the hell do you think?”
She grabbed his jacket. “Whatever happened to her, she deserved it…and more!” Khayla pushed and they landed against the door.
Lance put his hands over hers. “Are you trying to go to jail?” he questioned.
Khayla lifted a brow. “For what?”
Lance turned them quickly so that her back was now against the door. “Where were you last night?”
“I went to hang out with Tauri for a while, since Rion is out of town on business,” she said staring up at him.
Lance nodded. “That’s the story you’re using?”
“It’s the truth.”
He watched her. “You didn’t say anything about Tauri when I talked to you yesterday.”
“You didn’t ask.”
His eyes narrowed. “When did you make plans to see her?
“It was a last minute decision,” she told him firmly.
Lance blew out a breath. Khayla would take this conversation on forever if necessary. He only wanted her to trust him enough to confide in him.
He released her hands. “Look Ma, I just need to know the real. If I need to protect you in any way, I have to know where it might be coming from.”
Khayla touched his jaw. “I don’t need protection Lance. This is over.”
“How did you find her?” he asked.
“You led me.”
He frowned. “Me?”
She nodded slowly.
Lance lowered his forehead to hers. “Tell me what you did,” he requested quietly.
“A Queen protects the King by eliminating the pawns from the board, so that he can continue to make his moves safely.”
He stared into her eyes. “Will Tauri alibi you for last night?”
She nodded. “And who better than the prosecutor?” she asked.
“She knows everything?” he raised a brow.
Khayla smiled. “She helped.”
Lance stroked her cheek, amazed at this brilliant and fierce woman. “Who else was involved?”
“My brother...and others.”
He nodded. “Was anyone else hurt?”
Khayla shook her head. “No.”
Lance studied her beautiful face. “That shot was on purpose?” he questioned, knowing there was a meaning behind the shooting.
She grabbed his shirt underneath his jacket. “It was a message,” she affirmed.
“Whoever messes with you has to worry about more than the Negus and the police.”
He pulled her into his arms holding her tightly. “Promise me you’ll never do anything like this again.”
Khayla held him in return, pressing her face into his chest. “I will never let anyone get away with hurting you…ever,” she vowed.
Lance pulled back and looked at her. “From now on, we work together.”
She gave him a look. “I don’t know. My team found her first.”
“You said I led you to her…”
“You did, but we’d figured it out already.”
He lifted a brow. “Who is this team?”
Khayla smiled. “Just call us the Nigist.”
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Lance stepped out of his truck two days later dressed in tailored slacks and dress shirt along with a silk tie and overcoat. He’d visited this home many times, but this time was completely different. This time he wasn’t a guest of the Lewis’ son, but the man in love with their only daughter.
The trip to the door seemed longer than it ever had before and his heart beat in anticipation. Lance watched as the door opened a beautiful woman smiled at him.
He returned her smile. “Hi Mrs. Lewis.”
“Lance! Look at you, looking as handsome as ever,” she greeted.
Lance bent and kissed her cheek. “And your daughter is as beautiful as you.”
Assata Lewis gave him another smile. She’d always thought that Lance was as sweet as he was handsome and strong. She’d watched him grow from the boy who’d irritated her daughter to no end, into this fierce soldier standing before her.
“Thank you. Come on inside, Khalid is anxious to see you,” she said referring to her husband of over thirty years. “And Khayla too, I’m sure.”
Lance entered the hall and Assata took his coat, hanging it on a nearby coatrack. Together they walked down the hall to the room where Khayla was seated talking quietly with her father. When she glanced up and saw Lance, she went to him immediately.
“Hi Lance,” she smiled up at him.
“Hey Katydids.” He leaned and kissed her cheek before looking over to her father and crossing the room to greet him.
“Mr. Lewis, good to see you.” Lance gave him a manshake. Khalid Lewis had been instrumental in teaching Lance about black pride and the importance of community and family along with Mr. Shaw and Brandon’s father.
“Lance, looking good son.” Khalid scanned Lance’s attire.
Lance glanced at Khayla. “I wanted to make a good impression on your daughter.”
Khalid laughed and looked at his blushing offspring. “I think you already have.”
“Let’s all sit down until dinner,” Assata suggested looking at the couple.
Lance took the seat next to Khayla looking her over in a sweater dress and heels. “You look good Ma,” he said quietly.
Khayla smiled. “I don’t know why my parents asked us to dress up. We usually eat in jeans and sweats.”
“Well tonight we’re eating dressed up,” Assata told her daughter. “I love a well-dressed man.”
Khalid grinned as Assata looked him over in his dark slacks and dress shirt. Khayla took the opportunity to look over her man as well and she liked what she saw.
The doorbell rang a few times and both Khalid and Assata stood. “That must be Khalil and Kyros. That little boy loves ringing that bell.”
“He thinks it will make you answer the door faster,” Khayla explained. “You know how he loves to come here.”
The grandparents laughed as they headed to the door leaving the couple alone. Lance turned to her. “How are you?”
“I’m good. How are you?”
He moved closer. “I’m completely in love with a beautiful doctor who can give a hell of a massage.”
Khayla kissed his lips softly.
“Damn, those lips…” he whispered against her mouth.
They separated when they heard Kyros’ voice. “Uncle Lance is kissing Auntie Khayla…again,” he paused. “But it’s okay because she’s his girlfriend…for real.”
Khalil and his parents looked at Kyros, who smiled at them.
Lance stood and greeted Khalil and Kyros before they both kissed Khayla and took a seat in the room. Kyros made himself comfortable between his grandparents who smiled down at the boy who’d stolen each of their hearts.
“How is your mother Lance?” Assata asked.
Lance shrugged. “She’s still in pain.”
Assata nodded. “Let me know if there’s anything I can do to help.”
“Thank you.”
Khayla turned to him. “Momma recommended the nurse to me for your mother. They used to work together at the hospital.” Khayla’s mother had been a Registered Nurse for many years before leaving to help Khayla set up and run her practice.
Lance smiled at Assata. “Thank you. She’s been a big help, especially with Miles working for me now.”
“That’s a good thing you’ve done, putting your brother to work,” Khalid complimented. “A man needs to work to recognize his self-worth. So many of our young soldiers don’t value work and don’t understand how it builds character. Whether you work for yourself or someone else, it’s what you put in that strengthens you.”
Lance and Khalil both nodded in agreement. “He’s been doing a good job. I’m seeing a change in him,” Lance told him.
“He’s a good young man and he had an excellent role model in you, so he’ll be alright.” Khalid gave Lance a nod as Lance smiled slightly.
“Grandma, do I smell food?” Kyros asked happily.
Khalil rolled his eyes. “This boy is worse than Corvus when it comes to food.”
They all laughed as Assata stood and took her grandson’s hand. “Come on, you can help me finish and then we all can eat.”
“Yesssss!” Kyros pumped his little fist in the air.
Khayla stood. “I’ll help too Momma.”
After they left the room, the three men sat together.
“We straight Lance?” Khalil asked. “You were a little upset the other day.”
Lance looked at Khalil. “I was upset because I specifically asked you not to involve Khayla in that Karen situation.”
Khalid looked between the two and waited.
“I told you that the Queen would not rest until it was over,” Khalil reminded him.
Lance shook his head. “I didn’t want her involved.”
Khalid chimed in. “She was involved Lance because she’s involved with you. Lewis women are strong and they will protect those that they love.”
“What if she’s investigated or suspected?” Lance asked.
Khalid and Khalil looked confused. “Of what?” they asked.
Lance looked at them both. “Being involved with Karen’s death.”
“You don’t have to worry about that.” Khalil sat back.
Lance lifted a brow. “You sure?”
“Positive…” Khalil affirmed.
“I don’t want her risking her reputation and her business over some nonsense,” Lance told them.
Khalid nodded his head. “That’s why she loves you.”
“Khayla is my everything,” Lance said passionately. “I know I’ve waited a long time, but I needed to be a man she could trust.”
“We all trust you Lance, we know the man you are,” Khalil said quietly.
Khalid looked at Lance. “Believe me son, there is no way in hell we’d trust you with our little Queen if we didn’t know your character.”
“That means a lot to me coming from both of you.” Lance told them.
Assata called everyone to dinner. While she and Kyros were setting the table, the men took turns washing their hands in the bathroom and Khayla moved back and forth bringing dishes to the table.
Khalid seated Assata at the table while Khalil assisted Kyros. Lance stood behind a chair awaiting Khayla. She smiled up at him as he seated her then watched as he took his seat.
Khayla lifted her napkin from the plate and stared down at a piece of paper sitting on her plate. She glanced around the table then back at the note.
She smiled at Kyros who had set the table. “What’s this little soldier?”
He grinned at her.
“You made something for me?” she asked opening the note.
Her eyes moved to the paper and she froze. Lance watched as her gaze met his then went back to the paper. On the sheet was a drawing with two stick people, one with breasts and a big butt. Written above the picture were the words, “Khayla Imani will you marry me?”
She looked back at him. “Lance…”
“I heard you, when I was lying in the back of the ambulance. You told me you r
emembered the notes I used to write to you,” he explained before he stood from his seat and came to kneel in front of her.
Lance took her hand as everyone stared at them. “Khayla Imani, I love you. I’ve always loved you and I will always love you.”
Khayla stared into his face speechless as he continued.
“Will you marry me?” he asked.
Everyone sat in anticipation waiting for her to answer.
She slowly touched his face as she tried to hold back the tears. “You’ve shocked me again.”
Lance smiled at her and touched the wetness on her cheek. “Now, shock me and tell me that you want to be my wife.”
Khayla glanced around the table at all the faces smiling at her before looking back at the man who she loved to depths of her soul.
“Yes, my King. I want to be yours.” She cradled his face and kissed him.
“Are they going to do this all the time?” Kyros asked.
Khalil frowned. “Be quiet.”
Assata and Khalid looked at their son and all three nodded. Lance was the man that Khayla’s heart desired and they all knew that she was now in good hands.
Lance and Khayla separated and looked at one another. “I want to take you to pick your own ring, because I want it to be exactly what you want.”
“You’re so thoughtful and amazing,” she whispered.
“And you’re my Katydids…so sweet and beautiful.”
She turned to her family with tears in her eyes. “Did you all know this?”
They all nodded. “Lance came to me and asked my permission,” Khalid told her. “I was even more impressed. Young people don’t do that anymore.”
Khayla turned back to Lance. “You asked my Daddy for me?”
“Yes, because I wanted to do everything right for you Khayla Imani. You deserve to be treated like the Queen you are,” Lance told her.
The tears flowed and she threw her arms around him, pressing her lips against his. Lance gathered her in his arms holding her close to his heart.
“I can’t wait until I can have a girlfriend…” Kyros said watching the couple.
“Don’t even think about it,” Khalil warned.
Chapter 20