Second Rate Chances

by S. C. Stephens

  Running a hand along the stiff fabric of her pillowcase, Chance remembered snapping at her at the pawn shop. He could have blown everything right there. He’d just been so peeved. Chance liked to do the manipulating, not the other way around, but once Carl had pegged him for a con man, he’d had nothing to work with. Carl had seen the corner Chance had been backed into and had worked the situation in his favor. Chance didn’t blame him, not really, he would have done the same thing. Plus, the credit card Chance had used to pay for the rest was a fraudulent account that Chance didn’t ever plan on paying anyway…so he wasn’t out anything but pride. And what was pride to a con man?

  Sitting up, Chance looked over at the clock. Makayla had gone into work a few hours ago, and it was nearly time for Chance to meet up with his “brother” Garrett. Good. He had some things to tell the imbecile. Scrubbing his hands over his face, Chance decided that a refreshing shower was in order. On the way to the bathroom, Chance spotted the jewelry Makayla’s mother had left for her. Chance thought of taking it, for just a split-second, but anything of Makayla’s coming up missing would hurt his con. He needed her to trust him. Plus…he didn’t want to hurt her like that. He knew what the trinkets meant to Makayla. He wouldn’t touch her stuff.

  Sighing as he walked into the bathroom, he considered that he was going to hurt her much worse than simply stealing from her. No, the hurt and betrayal he was going to cause would cut deep, leave a scar. He knew from experience. Chance’s chest tightened, his eyes blurring with moisture. Annoyed, he blinked repeatedly and exhaled to the count of ten. The mark’s emotional state once he got what he needed from them was none of his concern. More sage words from his father. But he was right, Chance couldn’t worry about Makayla. Chance had to worry about Chance…it was the only way he’d survive.

  Flipping on the water, Chance let his mind drift to his dad. He’d messed up with Makayla…again, nearly mentioned that his dad had taught him everything he knew about the life he currently led. He’d quickly switched it to his brother, since Colton Burke’s “dad” was an outstanding citizen, just like Colton’s mom, but Makayla had caught the error, of that Chance was sure. She was quick on the draw, and snapped pieces together so easily…Chance would have been proud, if it didn’t make his job that much harder. He’d had to alter his persona, again. It wasn’t something he liked to do, altering who he was on a whim. His aliases were set in stone, never changing; it’s how he remembered all the details about their lives. Constantly changing his aliases was dangerous. He could too easily forget something, too easily contradict himself, exposing the lie in the process. The situation had never come up with some of his more…gullible…marks, but Makayla was neither dumb nor gullible. Chance had his work cut out for him on this one.

  So now, Chance had to remember that Colton had a thug brother, Garrett, with a meathead enforcer, Reggie. Not too difficult to keep that straight, since both men were already fixtures in Chance’s life. And Colton had some sort of complicated, painful past with his dad, one he didn’t want to talk about just yet. Also not hard to remember, since that one hit close to home, too. Chance hated how parallel to his own life this con was becoming. But the train couldn’t be stopped now and Chance would just have to ride it out. Chance frowned. He couldn’t make Colton’s problems with his father the same as his own, but he could come up with something painful and believable. He was nothing if not a good storyteller.

  Contemplating different scenarios in his head, Chance showered then dressed. One scenario he had been pretty proud of thinking up on the spot, was the Bed and Breakfast lie. Makayla had cornered him on what sort of date he’d need that much money for, and it was the first thing that popped into Chance’s head. Probably because he’d actually been to the B&B he’d told her about, and he really would love to take Makayla there someday. He could easily picture lounging in bed with her, strolling along the quaint city streets, going for a horse ride… Yeah, it was all so clear, and all so ordinary, that it hurt his heart a little. In another life…

  Grabbing everything he needed today, Chance locked up Makayla’s sunny, yellow house. It was sort of amazing to him that she now trusted him to lock up her home. She’d come such a long way in such a short time. She was the sort of girl that once you had her love and trust, you really had it. An admirable quality that was lacking in a lot of people nowadays. Added to her self-imposed loneliness and her desire to save people, it made her a good mark. Chance loved and hated that.

  Getting into his compact, Chance checked the time, then headed to his re-scheduled meeting. Garrett’s chosen place to discuss business was the courtyard of a condemned apartment complex. He said he liked the privacy. Chance didn’t really care where they met, as long as it wasn’t his place anymore. Not when Makayla could decide to pop in at any moment. It was always best to discuss the con away from the mark.

  Pulling into the parking area outside of the rundown building, Chance sort of agreed with Garrett’s choice. The place had citations and notices from the city plastered on the barred front doors. It had failed just about every ordinance there was. Rumor had it that people were still living in the building, but Chance wasn’t too worried about them. Anyone that called this dilapidated structure home wasn’t going to pay much attention to a trio of guys having a friendly conversation in the yard.

  Ignoring the cracked, faded paint, the smell of rotting wood, Chance snuck around to the side of the building. A haphazard chain link fence separated the apartment’s courtyard from the outside world. Chance easily found a split in the fence that was large enough to fit through. Ducking inside it, he looked around at the environment that was supposed to be a “perk” for the tenants.

  Much like Makayla, the place was extremely neglected. The lawn was up to Chance’s knees, the cement walkway leading to a picnic table was cracked, the roots of the nearby trees clearly showing through as they inched their way to the surface. The picnic table itself was missing one of the boards in the center, a metal pole next to it the only thing remaining from what had once probably been a nice barbeque. A half-basketball court was covered with graffiti, the net on the metal hoop long gone. A ball sat directly underneath it, though, just waiting for a group of kids to come along and pick up a game.

  But it wasn’t a pair of kids that were waiting on the court inside the courtyard. No, two fully grown adults were standing there. They were both scowling at Chance as he waded through the weeds to get to them. “Where you been?” Garrett snapped.

  Chance contained a sigh. “Check your watch. I’m right on time.”

  Garrett narrowed his eyes. “You’re a day late.”

  Walking up to the pair, Chance let his gaze harden as it settled on Reggie’s bulk. “That would be this jackass’s fault.” He swung his eyes back to Garrett. “He let Makayla see him, so I had a bit of cleanup work to do…which I already explained.”

  The rough, bleach-blond man’s face didn’t soften any once he heard Chance’s explanation. “I don’t care about your excuse, I care about results.” He handed Chance a manila envelope. Chance could feel the stiff paper inside, and knew it was the evidence against the bank manager, evidence that was supposed to make him look very sick and twisted…worthy of being set up for robbery.

  “We’re all set to go,” Garrett continued as Chance pulled out the pictures. Chance’s stomach tightened at the photo. It was a man entertaining himself in front of a young boy. Sick indeed. Chance swallowed and reminded himself that the photos were faked. But Garrett had a knack for forgery…they looked pretty real, and pretty convincing. They were also just vague enough to only imply that it was the bank manager. It would be good enough to use as proof for Makayla, but not good enough to use as evidence in a legal case. That had been hugely important. The way the con worked was that the mark had to see that the only way to get the pervert safely behind bars, was setting him up. Sometimes two wrongs do equal a right.

  “How about Friday night?”

  Chance snapped his head up.
“Friday? Tomorrow?”

  Garrett shrugged, his thin lips curling into a sneer. “Yeah, should be plenty of time for a ‘professional’ like yourself.”

  Chance’s heart started beating wildly at the thought of the con completing in a day. If they pulled it off, Chance would be gone. He’d never see Makayla again. He’d never get to take her away for a romantic weekend. He’d never get to make love to her… He’d lose her.

  Keeping his heartache concealed, Chance narrowed his eyes. “Look, I’m still sussing out her character…and I’m not entirely sure that this plan is the best one to take with her. Different marks need a different push. And even if it is the right plan, I have to convince her to go against everything she’s ever believed in. I have to prove to her that it’s the only way to put this maniac behind bars.” He lifted the photos for emphasis. “That sort of deception takes time, Garrett.”

  Garrett put his hands on his hips while Reggie crossed his over his chest. Chance flashed a peek at the bulky beast and contained a smile. Makayla was good…his nose was slightly crooked from Chance breaking it the other day. Reggie should really fix that soon, unless he wanted it to heal that way.

  “You don’t know if this plan will work? Why the hell didn’t you mention that earlier? You trying to distract me, Chance? You gonna walk away, like Adrian did? You putting this off so you can bang your girl a few more times?”

  Chance bristled at Garrett’s words and tone. He would never “bang” a girl like Makayla. Chance never banged any girl. Seduction was an art. Nothing he had done with any of his marks was as crude as the picture Garrett was painting. But that’s why Garrett would never be the con man. He didn’t have the finesse.

  Ignoring Garrett’s goading, Chance stuffed the evidence back into the envelope. “No, I’m not trying to do anything but be practical. I had to learn her character before I could move on a firm scheme. Manipulation of this level, with a girl as smart and alert as Makayla, takes time. I can’t do it in a day.”

  Reggie snorted. “This is a waste of time. We should just do it the old-fashioned way…with guns blazing.”

  Chance stiffened. He could not let them walk into Makayla’s bank with semi-automatics. Someone could get hurt…Makayla could get hurt. A knot formed in his throat, and for a moment he couldn’t speak.

  Garrett nodded, glancing over at Reggie. “Yeah, maybe we should have done that right after Adrian bailed. All this cloak and dagger shit is getting on my nerves. We should be three states away by now, countin’ our Benjamins.”

  Chance put his hand out, to distract the pair before they sold themselves on this idea. He could not let a holdup happen. He’d rather risk breaking and entering in the dead of night. Anything but having a gun pointed in Makayla’s beautiful, warm face.

  “Wait, I have a new idea…a much faster one than convincing her to frame the manager.”

  Garrett and Reggie swung their gazes back to Chance. Chance swallowed at the dual pairs of cold, villainous brown eyes facing him. Suddenly, being a security guard with the laid back Thomas and the straight-laced Joseph sounded like a wonderful career path. It had to be better than hush-hush meetings with psychopaths. It had to be better than trying to convince two thugs to not walk into a crowded bank and start shooting any innocents that stood in their way. God, he needed out of this line of work. He should have stayed retired.

  Chance pointed at Reggie. “He changed the con the minute he showed up at my doorstep and Makayla saw him.”

  Reggie took a step towards Chance, his imposing face clouding. “I didn’t touch her.”

  Chance held his hands up. “I know, but you changed the game.” Chance swung his eyes to Garrett, the smaller man looked confused. “Makayla put a couple of oddities together,” Chance frowned, “found a stash of cash from a recent…exchange…I’d made.” Garrett raised an eyebrow and Chance quickly spouted, “I had to involve you two in the con, it was the only way to curb her suspicions.”

  Garrett narrowed his dark eyes. A cloud covering the sun made them look near black as he slowly processed what Chance was telling him. “How?”

  Sighing, Chance reached into his jacket and pulled out the stolen watch. He reluctantly handed it to Garrett. “I stole this from you…my dangerous, crook of a brother. Reggie showed up to get it back.”

  Garrett snatched the jewelry and whistled as he examined it. Chance sighed at his loss. That had been a really nice score. Giving Chance a cold laugh, Garrett shook his head. “I’m your…brother?”

  Chance shrugged. “It was the most believable reason I could give her.” He glanced over at Reggie. “I told her that you attempted to kill me…and I broke your nose for it.” Chance smiled, remembering breaking the man’s face on his knee.

  Reggie frowned while Garrett laughed again. Slipping the watch on his wrist, Garrett shook his head. “Interesting twist, but I don’t see how this helps…anything.”

  Chance wanted to sneer. Of course he didn’t see it. Garrett was a thug, a smash and grab kind of guy. He had talent in forgery, but no patience to see it through. He could have stayed behind the scenes, making thousands, maybe millions, using those talents, but the imbecile would rather be on the front lines, smashing faces and taking chump change. Talent and smarts didn’t always go hand-in-hand.

  Chance kept his face neutral as he explained. “Makayla thinks I’m in danger from you. She even has me living at her house…to keep me safe.” Garrett smirked and poked Reggie in the side. The big man chuckled and Chance rolled his eyes. Zero finesse with those two. Chance was definitely saying no the next time they asked for his help. “Anyway…I think the best way to get her to bend against her beliefs…is to make her think my life is on the line.”

  Garrett raised his eyebrows and Reggie smiled. “You think she’ll rob a bank to stop you from being whacked?”

  Chance ran a hand back through his hair. “I think it’s our best option at this point. I’ve sold her on the fact that I want to be rehabilitated, and I’ve sold her on the fact that you’re a menace to society.” Reggie chuckled and poked Garrett in the ribs. Garrett frowned.

  “Given her need to protect people…and…the fact that she’s fallen for me.” Chance paused as an ache ripped through his chest. He didn’t mention that the feeling was reciprocated. He couldn’t, not to these guys. To them, he was using Makayla…nothing more. “I think she’ll be inclined to move heaven and earth…to save my life.”

  Garrett twisted his lips, his brain clearly trying to see the con Chance so easily saw. “What about the manager?” He pointed to the envelope. “Wasn’t the whole point getting someone else to take the fall, so we’re free and clear?” He grinned, a wicked gleam in his eye. “Unless we’re setting the chick up to take the fall now?”

  Chance bristled at the idea of Makayla behind bars. No, that would never happen. Chance would confess first. Shaking his head, he snapped, “No! She stays free and clear!”

  Reggie and Garrett looked at each other and Chance swallowed. Crap. He’d let real emotion into his voice. He couldn’t let these two see how much he cared for her. They’d either use that to their advantage, or they’d drop this whole charade and go walk into that bank like they owned it.

  Putting his hands up, Chance quickly explained himself before they could come up with their own reasoning. “If we let her take the fall, she’ll spill our entire story to the cops. She’ll have no reason to help us hide if we put her in the hot seat.” He raised an eyebrow at Garrett. “And she knows your names. She knows what Reggie looks like.”

  Both men frowned, and Chance quickly moved past that point. More than anything, he wanted to avoid Garrett thinking that Makayla was a loose end that needed tying up. If he even attempted to hurt her…

  “We frame the boss, same as before. We set him up to take the fall.” He lifted the envelope with the photos. “We plant these in his office, make it look like he was being bribed and he stole to save his own ass.” Chance shrugged and shook his head. “Makayla doesn’t
even have to know…”

  Garrett frowned. “Won’t she spill when she sees her boss being hauled away?”

  Chance shook his head. “Not if she believes the photos. Not if she thinks he deserves to be behind bars. With my life in the balance…she’ll hold her tongue to put a despicable man behind bars.” Chance sighed. Yes, that was the con that would work on Makayla. His life…in exchange for a clearly disturbed man’s. She wouldn’t even hesitate to stay quiet if it meant Chance could live in peace, start a fresh life free from his brother’s hold. He could probably even convince her that he had to leave her, for her own protection. They would part and she wouldn’t hate him. It was the best Chance could do in this lose-lose situation that he’d gotten himself into.

  Reggie cracking his knuckles brought Chance out of his musings. “So, how do we convince her your life is in danger?”