Second Rate Chances

by S. C. Stephens

  Loving the improbable idea, Chance stood and extended his hand to Makayla. Telling the waiter to keep the change, he led Makayla from the restaurant with his hand on the small of her back. Into his ear she purred, “Thank you for the meal…I’ll make sure you get your money’s worth when we get home.”

  Chance grinned down at her. Yep, worth every penny.

  Pulling the front doors open for her, Chance laughed as they walked out into the night. With summer still seven or eight weeks away, there was still a slight nip in the air. Chance held his jacket closed with one hand while keeping his other around Makayla’s waist. She peered up at him and giggled. The joy of the moment was almost overwhelming, but it was broken a second later.

  “Well, aren’t you two cute?”

  Chance spun around at hearing the gruff voice. Ice flashed through his veins as he locked gazes with Reggie leaning against the restaurant wall smoking a cigarette. Garrett was standing beside him, the shorter man looking no less opposing than his hulking counterpart. Garrett jerked his thumb back to the window of the restaurant, where Chance could clearly see the mellow customers finishing their meals. “That was practically a Disney moment in there. I was waiting for you to push her a meatball with your nose.”

  Chance stiffened as his eyes flashed between the two criminals. This was not good. They weren’t hiding from Makayla anymore. Not now that Chance had convinced them that Makayla was on board with the theft. True, his con to them involved the fact that she thought they would do Chance in if he didn’t steal the money, but that didn’t mean that they couldn’t just show up. Actually, if Chance was still running that con, their showing up and threatening Chance would have been his suggestion. For Makayla to go against everything she believed in, she would need to be convinced that his life was in danger. Being ruffed up by Reggie and Garrett would only strengthen that belief. Problem was…Chance wasn’t running that con. This moment could ruin everything with Makayla.

  Chance pushed Makayla towards his car, handing her his keys. “Get inside, Makayla. I’ll handle this.”

  She stiffened, her back going rigid as she resisted his force. She may not know who Garrett was, since they’d never met, but she recognized Reggie…and she’d quickly pieced together who Reggie would be with. “No, Chance. I’m not leaving you here with him.” She growled the word him and glared at Garrett.

  Chance wanted to sigh with exasperation. Why couldn’t she just play along? Why couldn’t she be the typical damsel in distress that fled at the sight of trouble? Why the hell did he have to fall for a woman with a backbone? But, of course, that was exactly why he’d fallen for her. She had moxie…he liked that. It was just really inconvenient at the moment.

  Garrett tilted his head and stepped towards them, Reggie staying where he was, finishing his smoke. Reggie’s eyes were watchful though, and he wasn’t as slow as his bulk implied. Stepping in front of Makayla, since she refused to move, Chance faced down Garrett. He’d have to be really, really careful here. “I’m sort of busy with something right now, Garrett. Maybe we could catch up another time?”

  Garrett snorted and eyed Makayla up and down. “Yeah, I’ll bet.” Crossing his arms over his chest, he stepped in front of Chance. Chance tried pushing Makayla back, but she still wouldn’t move. “We all have something to discuss, so I thought we better sit down and discuss it.”

  Chance’s heart started beating harder but he kept his face clear—no confusion, no confirmation…just…nothing. Makayla, however, was instantly confused and since she hated to be confused, she instantly wanted an answer. “What could we possibly have to discuss with you?”

  Chance wanted to whisper at her to stay quiet, but he couldn’t…that would only make her ask more questions and it would also raise Garrett’s suspicions. Running a dual con face-to-face with both marks was rarely ever possible. Someone always got clued in that things were off…usually both parties, actually. Ultimately, the person running the con had to pick a side. This was a lose-lose for Chance. Lose Garrett or lose Makayla. In his heart it was no contest, but Makayla wouldn’t pull out a knife and slit his throat if he deceived her. Garrett…well…

  Knowing whom he had to protect, Chance made the only decision he could. “I’ve made my peace with you, brother…and I’ve paid the price for it. I think it’s time we went our separate ways. I think it’s time you left.”

  Chance flicked his eyes between Garrett and Reggie, both sets staring at him equally dark and menacing. Reggie spat out his cigarette and smashed it into the ground with his heel. Chance forced Makayla back a step as the bigger man joined his partner. This was not good.

  Garrett tilted his head. “What are you playing at?”

  Chance had no answer that would satisfy him and Makayla. His heart spoke for him. “I’m done with you…”

  Reggie made a noise that resembled a growl and cracked his knuckles. Garrett’s pale face filled with color as Chance’s words sunk in. “You’re…done…with me?” His finger jutted out to point at Makayla. “Because of your cunt?”

  Makayla instantly bristled at the crude slang he’d used. “Hey, back off asshole! He’s through with you and your stupid gang. Find someone else to be your punching bag!” Stepping around Chance, Makayla stood toe-to-toe with Garrett. “Touch him again and I’ll have the cops all over your ass.”

  Garrett sneered at her, his hand reaching into his pocket. Sensing a weapon about to be drawn, Chance quickly pulled Makayla back. She stumbled a bit as she fell into his arms. Using her loss of balance to his advantage, Chance manhandled her to his car. Garrett behind them snapped out, “You’re finished, Chance! Finished!”

  Makayla twisted to curse at him and Chance slammed her into the car. “Are you trying to get yourself killed!” he hissed, jerking the keys away from her and unlocking the door.

  She blinked at his question, too stunned to respond, and Chance shoved her inside the car. Once she was safe, he twisted back to Garrett. “I’ll explain later,” he said, in a voice too low for Makayla to hear.

  The two men glared at him, Garrett still with his hand in his pocket, clenched around something inside. “You bet your ass you will,” he murmured.

  Chance sprinted around to the other side of the car. Ducking into the driver’s side, he started the engine before either Makayla jumped out and extracted her vengeance on Garrett, or Garrett took it upon himself to pull out his gun and shoot them both.

  Cursing, Chance peeled out of the parking lot. Goddamn it. That one fortuitous meeting had just ruined everything. Makayla still believed him, but he’d had to break faith with Garrett. With that partnership crippled, there was no telling what Garrett would do now. No telling at all.

  Makayla was livid when they got back to her place. Tossing her purse on the bed, she spat out, “I thought you said he’d leave you alone! What the hell was he talking about? What did he possibly want to discuss with you?”

  Chance groaned and sat on the bed. He was talking about the bank job he thinks we’re all pulling together. Looking up at her, he grumbled, “I don’t know. Probably some…scheme…he wants my help with.”

  She sat down beside him, her mouth open. “He thinks you’d still help him? After what he did to you? Is he insane?” Chance gave her a wry look. She twisted her lip. “Yeah, right…”

  Sighing, Chance put his hand on her thigh. “I don’t know what he wants, Makayla, but I meant what I said. I’m out…I’m done with him.” For sure now, since Garrett would probably kill him the next time he saw him.

  Makayla looked him over. “Are we ever going to be free of him? Will he ever truly leave you alone?”

  Chance looked down, biting his lip. That was the big question. Maybe…maybe he should just do the job…set Garrett up…take the fall with him. It’d be the end of him, it’d be the end of his relationship with Makayla…but she’d be safe. He could break in on his own at night with Garrett and Reggie. He would tell them that he’d failed with Makayla, but he’d learned enough to do the jo
b without her. He could spare Makayla being a part of it. He could spare her any knowledge of it. He’d spend the next couple of decades in jail once he got them all caught, a place he’d never wanted to end up…but maybe he deserved that. Him and Garrett both. Were they really so different?

  Looking back up at her, Chance shrugged. “I’ll take care of this, Makayla.” His eyes searched hers. “I’ll just need you to trust me.” And don’t hate me…I’m so sorry it has to be this way. I love you, forever.

  Chapter 18

  It’s Over

  Makayla’s sleep that night was restless. She tossed and turned, moaned things under her breath. Chance’s sleep was non-existent. He sat up in bed, chewing on his lip. He’d messed up…in so many ways. Now things were so torn and twisted, he could barely keep the facts straight. What a tangled web we weave… God, he hated that saying. But there was truth in the phrase. Maybe that’s why he hated it so much. Chance had spent his entire life running from truth. And now truth would be his downfall.

  He’d painted himself into a corner, gotten into bed with dangerous men and the love of his life. There wasn’t room enough for all of them. Sighing, Chance got up and fished his phone out of his pocket. Makayla stirred as he left her. Chance’s eyes misted. Would she find peace again when he left her for good? When she figured out that everything he’d told her was wrong?

  Knowing he’d be awake, Chance texted Adrian. ‘It’s over…Garrett knows.’

  The response from Adrian was almost immediate. ‘We have to get Neil and Makayla out…leave the city.’

  Chance bit his lip, considering. Could the four of them simply run away? Would Makayla give up her dreams, her future, for a life on the road with him? They could set up shop somewhere else, hoping against hope that they didn’t stumble across Garrett and Reggie someday. And they probably wouldn’t…the country was huge. They could keep a low profile and all stay together. But…Makayla would never truly be happy, and she’d always question why Chance had fled his brother. She’d never believe the lie…she’d weasel out the truth. He’d lose her anyway. Better to just come clean. What had she told Adrian? The truth was always better coming directly from the person.

  Letting out a soft exhale, Chance messaged Adrian back. ‘No…it ends here. I do the job. I get us all caught. It’s the only way.’

  Adrian didn’t reply for a long time. Chance figured the man was thinking of some alternative, something that didn’t involve Chance taking the fall along with Garrett and Reggie. There was nothing though. Aside from directly assaulting the bank in broad daylight, something Chance would not let happen, breaking in at night was the only solution. Chance knew exactly how to get them caught, too. He’d make sure the break-in happened early in the night, during Joseph’s shift. The ever-vigilant guard would surely notice three suspicious characters hanging around the bank. Even if Chance successfully disarmed the security, disabled the outdated cameras, Joseph was unavoidable. Good.

  After another couple of moments, Adrian’s response lit up his screen. ‘I’m sorry. How can I help?’

  Chance smiled. ‘Take care of Makayla for me.’ Maybe Adrian could convince her that he had sacrificed his freedom for her. Maybe she’d appreciate that…once the sting of betrayal left her. She’d probably never forgive him, not really, but he was doing this for her. Hopefully she’d realize that one day.

  Chance was staring at her momentarily still form on the bed when Adrian’s message buzzed in his hand. He watched her a moment longer before looking at it. ‘Consider it done. I wish we’d had a chance to know each other under better circumstances. I think we could have been friends…given another life.’

  A rueful smile crossed Chance’s lips. Given another life, Chance could have been several different things. But he’d never had the opportunity to live “another life.” This was all he’d ever known. Ironically, Chance had never been given a chance. Not until Makayla. And he’d blown it…royally.

  Tucking his phone back into his pocket, Chance sat on the corner of Makayla’s dresser and simply stared at her. God, he’d miss her…

  When the sun’s rays caressed her face, Chance made his painful decision. Careful to not disturb her, since she finally seemed to be deep into her slumber, Chance left a note on her dresser. It was peppy, bright, and romantic. Full of hope, instead of the despair he really felt. In it, he told her that he loved her endlessly and he’d gone into work early to ask them if he could be moved into a fulltime position. He’d ended the note with, “I want to be a man that can provide for you, that can care for you, and I need to step it up to be that man. I’ll be everything you need, Makayla. Thank you for believing in me. Thank you for trusting me. Everything I do, I do for you. I hope you know how much I love you.”

  His cover story was a complete and total lie…those last few lines were not. Swallowing the lump in his throat, Chance gave her a light kiss on the forehead. She smiled a little and Chance paused, absorbing it. It might be the last genuine smile he saw from her…directed towards him anyway. She’d hate him after this.

  Slipping out of her room, Chance hoped that she was happy when she went to work. He wished her nothing but peace today. Because he was positive that he wouldn’t find any on this fateful Friday.

  Chance drove around for a while, getting his bearings, gathering his courage. This was going to be his biggest con, his most convoluted plan ever. Ridding the world of Garrett and Reggie would be worth it though. Besides, he owed them a little payback for their over-the-top beating. That part of this would be fun.

  Once he was prepared, Chance went about his standard practice of clearing any trace of himself. He’d left his things at Makayla’s, mainly to not raise her suspicions, but he had to evaporate from the rest of the world. Heading to his borrowed home, Chance looked over the brick beauty and sighed. A piece of him wanted to remain here, wanted to still be connected to the home that had so many memories of Makayla inside of it. He couldn’t though, it wasn’t his.

  Heading around to the back, Chance packed up anything inside that he’d brought into the place. He’d been lucky that several of the furnishings and decorations had been left behind by the foreclosed owners. He briefly wondered what had happened to Ed Sampson, but then let it go. That man’s fate was of no consequence to Chance…he had enough on his plate right now. Boxing up his meager belongings, Chance headed to the local dump. Let the garbage mix with the garbage, he thought bitterly.

  Chance wasn’t exactly sure why he was erasing Colton Burke, if he was just going to go to prison anyway. He supposed he was still hoping for a last minute miracle, some way he could talk his way out…some way to escape. As Chance pulled away from the refuse plant, he still didn’t see that path though. If there was an escape route, it was being elusive.

  It was well into the two o’clock hour by the time Chance stopped his procrastinating and phoned Garrett. Garrett’s voice was gruff when he picked up. “You have a lot of goddamn explaining to do.”

  Chance contained his frustration and kept his voice even. “And I will…where can we meet?”

  A long pause, then, “We’re across the street from the bank. You have ten minutes to show up…and prove you’re still on our side.”

  A chill went down Chance’s spine. They were at the bank? Why? What the hell were they going to do? “What’s happening in ten minutes?”

  A low, humorless chuckle drifted through the phone. “Use your imagination.”

  The phone disconnected and Chance swore. Typing in another number, he pressed the gas pedal as far to the floor of his compact as it would go. As he swerved through traffic, the other line picked up. “Hello?”

  Chance swore again, narrowly missing slamming into a car that had suddenly decided to hit its brakes. Adrian’s voice immediately responded with, “Chance? What’s going on?”

  All Chance had time to slip out was, “It’s happening today…right now!”

  He dropped the phone to his lap, needing both hands to thread through the he
avy afternoon traffic. Ten minutes…that’s all the time he had to stop this madness. He hoped Adrian understood his vague message…although, he really didn’t know what the man could possibly do to fix this.

  Chance arrived at the bank in nine minutes. He turned into the lot of his employment, conveniently situated right across the street from the bank. He noticed Garrett’s SUV and slowed his vehicle to park right alongside it. Not sure what the hell he was going to do now, Chance shut off the car and opened his door. Reggie stepped out at the same time and grabbed him. Chance ducked, expecting it, but Reggie struck out and slugged him in the chest. His ribs still sore, the hit stole his breath. Crouching over, he tried to inhale—it burned.

  Reggie took his moment of submission to slam him against the SUV door. Holding him against it, his forearm across Chance’s throat, Reggie twisted his hips so Chance had no opportunity to knee him—he’d remembered Chance’s earlier advice…unfortunately. Reggie smiled cruelly while Chance’s vision faded in and out.