by Alexa Shaik
“Hey... man to man... It’s what brothers do.”
“Well, I appreciate it. Thanks, man.”
Kendall ran towards Keith as soon as he got out of his car. Kyra was seated on a park bench, watching him. He jumped into Keith’s arms and gave him a big hug.
“Thank you for making my mom happy.”
“Anything for her,” he said, patting his back. Kyra caught up with them and hugged Keith.
“Hey,” he gave her a gentle kiss on the forehead.
“Hey, aren’t you supposed to be working?”
“Oh... I have today off. And I thought it’d be good to check up on you guys.”
“Well, for the record, we’re good. But now that you’re here... I’ll say we’re great.” He flashed her a big smile as she led him to the bench. Kendall came and settled on his lap and held his mother’s hand. Kyra couldn’t help but blush. She had always pictured this moment but it was better than she’d imagined. It was perfect.
His phone rang. “Gorbachev... we have a situation.”
“Everything okay, boss?”
“You need to come down. Now. Alone. Hudson’s on his way over.” He hung up.
“What’s wrong?” Kyra asked, a worried look on her face.
“I need to go. Something’s up.”
“Call me later?”
“Yeah,” she kissed him. “Take care, please.”
Keith drove fast, thoughts running all over his head. He had been waiting for this moment for years and frankly, he was nervous. What if all this would come tumbling down? He knew his future and Kyra’s was riding on this. He breathed deeply and drove on. He was going to end this... for him, for Kyra and Kendall. For Boston.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
“Hey Sir, what’s going on?” Keith asked as he got in the station. Trey was already there, looking something up on the computer, and Murray was talking with some officers. He turned when he heard Keith’s voice.
“We may have something that can help us get Parelli and the Ruff.”
“They were last spotted in Belmont, right here in Boston about 10 minutes ago. They just used a credit card. Guess they ran out of cash,” said Trey, still looking at the monitor.
“But it’s a public place, boss. We need to do this discreetly.”
“I understand. Which is why we need to set up a trap.” He bit his lip.
“What kind of trap?” Keith asked, knowing the answer couldn’t be good either way.
“Kyra,” Murray said, his face turning serious.
Keith let out a weak laugh.
“You’re kidding me, right? You want me to give them my girlfriend and the mother of my son, to the guy that made me leave her in the first place for 5 years? I can’t believe I’m hearing this right now!” His face was turning red. “Trey?” he asked, fury in his eyes.
“Look, Keith. You know I’ll always support you no matter what. And your plan was good. But we don’t have a lot of time. We all know the one guy he can’t stand in Boston. You. And what better way to trap him, by using Kyra, against him? And we’ll be there, as backup, and I assure you, nothing will happen to Kyra. We’ve got to.”
Keith exhaled sharply. As much as he denied it, he knew Trey was right. They were best friends, after all, and he knew Trey would keep his word. But his heart was crushing inside of him. How could he do this to Kyra? Things were finally perfect between them, and here he was, putting her life in danger again. What kind of example was he setting for Kendall? He knew he had to make a tough choice, for his family. And he regretted every moment of it.
“Hey, Kyra.”
“Keith, you don’t sound happy. What’s wrong?”
“This is the hardest thing I’ve ever done, Kyra, and I want you to understand I wouldn’t have ever thought about it, if I had any other way.”
“Keith...”
“I need you to come down to the station, alone.”
He hung up and pressed his forehead on the door. How was he ever going to live with this? His hands were rolled up into fists, ready to punch on something. A few minutes later, Kyra came in. She looked worried, and Keith already hated himself for it. He led her into a private room, nodded to Murray and closed the door.
“Keith, what’s going on?” there she was, sweet, innocent, no idea what was going to happen. He sat by her and held her hand firmly, his voice caught, “Kyra, I love you...you are my world and I don’t know what would happen if I ever lost you.”
“I still don’t understand. You’re scaring me.”
“The department wants to set a trap for Parelli and his gang, and they want it to be... you.” He swallowed hard.
“What would I need to do?” she asked, her eyes welling.
“We’d prep you for him and wait for the right moment to catch him. I pretty much hate myself for even thinking about it. You shouldn’t have to do it, but we’re running out of time.”
She stood up and paced around, and finally stopped before him, “I’ll... do it.”
“What?” he blurted out.
“Keith, you put your family above yourself for five years. Even when that meant hurting in the process. It’s my turn,” her tears had already found their way down. He shook his head.
“What did I ever do to deserve you?”
“Just promise me one thing, whatever happens, you’ll take care of Kendall for me.” He hugged her to himself, “Don’t say that. Nothing will happen, I promise. I will be close, I’ll be there.”
“I love you, Keith Gorbachev,”
“I love you more, Kyra Sparks.” He kissed her, then her forehead. It will be okay, we’ll be fine, he kept reminding himself.
He stepped out with her and approached Murray. He held her hand and inhaled deeply, “She’ll do it,” he said after what seemed like two minutes of silence.
Murray cleared his throat, “We’ll get started right away.” Keith hugged Kyra to himself and let her go, as Murray motioned her to follow him.
“It’ll be over soon,” Trey reassured him.
“We can only hope, right?”
Kyra stepped into the coffee shop and took a deep breath. Her face was calm but her mind was crazy with questions and imaginations. She made her way to the counter and ordered a small Frappuccino. After paying, she turned around, to find her worst nightmare staring right at her. Tony Parelli. In the flesh. He had changed his look, in a bit to disguise himself, but Kyra knew better. His face was forever imbedded in her head. She tried hiding the fear in her eyes, but Parelli saw it before she could. He stepped closer and whispered in her ear,
“I thought I told you never to cross paths with me.” He then grabbed her arm, “Raise any suspicions and it’s over before you know it, understand?” she nodded quickly. Parelli led her outside and she complied, careful not to blow her cover.
They got in a black SUV and Parelli barked orders at his chauffeur to drive faster. Kyra was too scared to even calm herself down. She tried filling her head with the thought of seeing Keith and Kendall, but they were all clouded by the thought of Parelli killing her. I have to be strong, for all of us. And for Boston, she thought to herself, and started taking deep breaths. Parelli was on the phone with someone and Kyra listened carefully.
“Yes, I got the cop’s girlfriend. There’s no way he’s not coming for her. It’ll all be over soon, and I get my money, like you promised.” He let out a laugh and she cringed.
After what seemed like forever, they drove into an abandoned parking lot. There was barely anybody there. Parelli got out and dragged Kyra with him. She stumbled beside him, trying to maintain composure. She would not give Parelli power to terrorize her.
Keith got the coordinates of where Parelli and his men had stopped. Following them seemed too risky and they did not want to wreck the plan. He dialed his phone, and in the calmest voice possible, called Kyra.
“Hey, baby, where are you? We were supposed to meet twenty minutes ago.”
“Hey, Keith. I can’t figure out what happened to
my car. It won’t start.”
“Okay, stay there… I’ll be there in a few.”
“Good work, girlfriend.” Parelli whispered into her ear when she hung up. Kyra flinched. She felt duct tape being torn behind her and a few seconds later, her mouth was tightly covered with it. A few minutes later, another black SUV drove in.
“Fellas,” the man said as he got out. Before her eyes, was Keith’s worst enemy, Luke Williams. The guy that was responsible for Keith’s disappearance. Her fear was displaced with rage. He was sharply dressed, suit and tie. His sly smile made her sick to her stomach.
Keith drove, replaying their plan in his mind, as often as he could. If anything happened to Kyra, he would never forgive himself, and neither would Kendall. His GPS led him to the parking lot. This was it. There was no backing out.
As he slowed down, his face clenched. A few yards away, Luke Williams was standing in front of the SUV. Behind him, Tommy and Leo were situated on both ends. Stone and Parelli held Kyra behind them, her mouth taped and her hands tied.
CHAPTER TWENTY
“Keith Gorbachev… what a pleasure!” Williams said as Keith got out of his car. “How long has it been? Too long?”
“Let go of my girlfriend!” A vein quickly formed on his forehead.
“Come on, lover boy! I’m just having a little fun.” He teased. “Just like you did with my career, remember?” he let out another sly smile from the side of his mouth.
“You’re a fox! Always was and always will be!” He quickly glanced at Kyra, scared as she was. He reassured her with his eyes and faced Williams again.
“That you’re right about. But one snap of my finger, and pop goes your girlfriend’s head.” He laughed. The gang joined in. This fueled Keith’s rage.
“She’s got nothing to do with any of this. It’s me you want, you can have me. Now let her go!”
“You know… I was going to let you have 25% of the money… heck even half. No one would’ve had to find out and we’d both gotten rich. I spent all my career hiding that money. And you… the one always seeking justice… you ruined it all for me. When they found out all that money was fraudulent… anyway, now I’m about to get richer.
My new boss has a high price on your head… and I’ll deliver, oh I’ll deliver. And your little girlfriend’s just a bonus. We don’t need no witnesses, right?”
“Now!” Keith shouted. All of a sudden, the entire parking lot was surrounded by six cops. Parelli pulled out a gun from his side and pointed it at Kyra’s head. Williams also had his gun out on Keith, as well as Keith’s on him.
“I recorded everything when you were ranting… it’s all in the headquarters as we speak. So even if you kill me, you’ll be going to jail long time. And not just jail. Maximum security.”
“Oh yeah… at least I’ll know you’re dead. That’s all that matters in the end.”
Keith blinked twice and shots were fired. Parelli and Stone were down, and Kyra tried running. Williams shot his gun, but Keith ducked and rolled back in the direction of his car. Tommy and Leo went down after they tried running back to the car. Williams got a hold of Kyra before she got farther.
He pointed his gun on her neck. Keith motioned for the police to cease fire.
“Come forward, lover boy!” he barked. Keith came forward, his gun still pointed at him. “Put. The. Gun. Down.”
Keith raised his left hand and slowly bent down, slowly releasing his grip on the gun. He pulled the trigger and the bullet shot straight through William’s hand, the hand holding the gun. He let out a groan and let go of the gun.
Kyra kicked the gun away and ran as fast as she could to Keith. Williams was now surrounded by the entire cop squad.
“Keith!” Kyra screamed, when she saw him. He was crouched on the floor, blood coming out of his abdomen. She looked back, to see Parelli smile, on the floor, with a gun. He was then shot twice, dead.
An officer cut off the rope bound on her hands, and she knelt beside Keith, crying her eyes out.
“I love you, Keith Gorbachev… don’t leave me… don’t leave me.” She repeated the words as she hugged him to her.
“I love…” he coughed and she shushed him.
“Don’t speak. Just breathe,” she whispered, holding his head to her chest and trying to prevent the blood loss at the same time. “Just breathe.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Ian got up from the couch and picked the phone. “Hello?”
“Hey, Ian.”
“Kyra? Why are you crying? What’s going on?”
“Keith got shot… he got shot, Ian…” she sobbed. “I can’t afford to lose him…I’m scared.”
“Where are you? I’m on my way right now. I’ll drop Kendall off to Mom’s.” he teared up. “It’s going to be okay, sis. Just trust me, okay?”
“Hey, Kendall, buddy… get your stuff.”
“Is everything okay?” he asked, looking confused. Ian motioned for him to come close and held him.
“No, buddy. Something happened and I need to go see your mom.”
“Is she okay?” Ian could see the fear in his eyes.
“Yeah, buddy. But something happened to Keith. But he’s going to be fine, all right?”
“Okay,” he answered, his voice shaky, still unconvinced. He ran to his room and gathered his stuff. He held Ian’s hand firmly as they walked out. Ian felt his heart sink. You’ve got to be fine, Keith. You’ve just got to, he thought to himself.
Kyra was in the waiting room, pacing back and forth. She could not calm down at such a time as this. They had been so close… so close. Her body was shaking so violently, Trey had to hold her to keep her still.
“He can’t leave me…not now, not again!” she sobbed, her eyes clouded by tears.
Ian arrived half an hour later and went straight for Kyra. She needed him now, more than ever. He held her into his arms, whispering into her ear, till she managed to somehow calm down. Her loud sobbing was now replaced by long, deep breaths. Her eyes were puffy from all the crying and her hair was somewhat tangled. She stared into nothing, just hopelessly waiting. Trey got her coffee, which she only took 2 sips of. Chief Murray was in the other room, talking to the officers, a somber look on his face.
One of the doctors who had taken Keith into surgery walked into the waiting room, after what seemed like forever. Kyra had nodded off, too tired to keep her eyes open. Ian nudged her gently and she woke up, to see the doctor standing in front of her.
“I’m Doctor Alvarez,” Kyra took a deep breath. The next words that came out of her mouth would either make her or break her.
“Keith lost a lot of blood… we got the bullet out, but he’s in a coma.”
“Will he be okay?” Kyra asked, her voice, cracked.
“It’s all up to him now. We can only hope for the best.” Kyra buried her head into Ian’s chest.
“When can we see him?” he asked.
“You can go in right now, but not for too long. We need him to rest as much as he can.”
“Thanks, Doc.” Ian said and hugged Kyra harder. She led them into Keith’s room, and left them.
There he was, lying on the bed, peaceful but pale. His hair was ruffled and some strands fell on his closed eyes. Kyra stepped forward and wiped them off of his face and back in place. She planted a kiss on his forehead and stroked his hand. Fresh tears found their way down her cheeks, for what seemed like the thousandth time.
“I’m so sorry, Keith. This was never supposed to happen. You and me, we’re supposed to have a happy ending. You’ve gotta wake up. For me. For Kendall. For Ian. For all of us. Please.” Her last sentence almost sounded like a soft whisper, trailing into the night.
Ian came up behind her and held Keith’s hand. Kyra turned around, burying her head into his chest. His sister was taking it rough and he could feel the pain tighten in his chest as well. They were twins. They felt each other’s pain.
“We should let him get rested, okay?”
“I’ll
see you later, Keith,” she kissed him and followed Ian outside.
Her phone rang. “Hello?” her voice was raspy.
“Mom? How’s Keith?” she could hear the fear in Kendall’s voice.
“He’s not doing so well, baby… but we gotta keep praying, alright? Can you do that for me, buddy?”
“He will get better, I know it. And we’ll all live together.”
She chuckled softly.
“I believe that, Kendall. Thank you. Mommy loves you. And so does Keith.”
“I love you too.” He hung up and she closed her eyes.
“That boy is something special. He’s definitely the best thing that ever happened to you.” Ian said, squeezing her hand.
“Thanks, bro. Hey, I need to tell you something.”
“Sure, what’s up?”
“I am going to propose to Keith… when he gets up.” He let out a wide genuine smile. His sister had grown so much in the past five years. She definitely wasn’t the same girl Keith had left. He was proud. Proud as her brother and her best friend.
“I am so proud of you…and Keith is the luckiest guy in the world, you know that.” He pulled her in for a hug.
She tugged his shirt and silently prayed. Please let Keith wake up, that’s all she wanted in the moment. That was all that was standing between them and their happily ever after.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Five days later…
Kyra was sitting beside Keith. He was still attached to the tubes, still unconscious. Still pale. She had been there every day, waiting for him to wake up. She had read him Sports articles, funny memes on the Internet, updated him on Trey and everyone he worked with, Ian, her mother and Kendall.
Today was the day Kendall was coming to see him for the first time since the shooting. He had asked to see him the four days before that, but Kyra wasn’t ready for him to see Keith in that state. But he had insisted and she knew she had to. Besides, it would be important to Keith and maybe help him get up. So, she gave in, reluctantly. She didn’t want to see her kid’s heart break. But he was his father and he had shown such great strength in the last few days.