by M. T. Pope
“Well, we thought he was a drug kingpin, but come to find out he was something on a whole different level. It’s like something I have never seen before in my twenty-year career.” He looked like he was just as shocked as I was right now.
“What was he?” Extreme curiosity caused me to ask.
“He was a human kleptomaniac.”
“A what?” I asked, confused.
“In layman’s terms, he collected people and that guy over there was about to become the next one in his collection.”
I looked over in the direction he was pointing and saw Lewis in the back of an ambulance with someone attending to a wound to his head.
“Oh my goodness.” I covered my mouth in shock.
“Yes, that is what I said as I got a look at the sight in this sick bastard’s house.”
All I could think about was what could have happened if the police hadn’t gotten here in time or waited until another day. The thought caused my legs to crumble beneath me.
“Sir.” He rushed to catch me but didn’t make it in time. “Are you all right?”
“I . . . I will be,” I said as he helped me back up to my feet.
It didn’t take long before Lewis and I were in the back of an unmarked police car. Neither one of us had any words to say to each other. I only could assume that he too was letting all of the things that happened today and the last few weeks sink into his mind. We made complete fools of ourselves for the attention of a guy; and even more importantly, a guy who we didn’t know at all. But how do you know if the person you are dating or pursuing is crazy? What if there were no signs? I felt like a real fool right now. But I was extremely glad that I was a living fool instead of a dead one.
We were escorted down to the nearest FBI office for further questioning and then released.
Kardell’s Epilogue
Honey, I’m Home
“Hey, babe, I’m home.” That was the sweet sound of my reformed man coming through the door and greeting me. He walked into the kitchen with flowers in his hand and in his fresh officer-in-training uniform. Yep, Ronald and I were a couple and he was in the final steps of being a police officer. I knew I said it was over and even though he did cheat on me once I forgave him and put him on probation. It had been two years since the whole Mateo fiasco and my life couldn’t have been any happier. I never thought that I would have given Ronald another chance, but since I got another chance I thought that he deserved one too. Yes, it was rocky at first, but over time he had become quite the mate for me.
“You happy to see me?” he asked as he wrapped his arms around my waist and kissed me in between my neck and shoulder. It sent shivers down my spine like it always does.
“Yes, I’m glad you are home. How was your day?” I continued to shuffle around in the kitchen, preparing our meal of veal parmesan, scallops, and pilaf rice. He took out a chair from under the kitchen table and sat down.
“It was tough but good,” he said.
I turned around and saw a smile on his face. I had been really tough on him about being stable and my need for a stable man in my life. But I also had to give him room to grow and mess up, because I expected the same treatment from other people when it came to me. He was doing a great job at it but there were a few times when he wavered and almost made me regret my choice to give him another chance.
“Don’t worry, Ronald. It will all be worth it when you start bringing home the big bucks,” I said and then walked over and behind him. I slid my hands down the front of his shirt to get a feel of his hard, tight body through his uniform.
“Do I need to make a citizen’s arrest in here?” he said jokingly.
“Do what you have to do. I won’t go down easy.” I whispered seductively in his ear as I eased my hands down to his crotch. Just like normal he was already aroused. I thought he was born with a hard on or maybe it was me.
“I’m always up for a physical confrontation, the rougher the better.” He put his hands over my hands on his crotch and ground into them roughly.
“You are going to mess around and have me burn this food for a quickie,” I said as I pulled away and went back to finishing up our meal.
“So you are going to leave me horny over here.” He whimpered a little. I had to admit he was spoiled and so was I.
“Don’t worry, baby. I’m going to take care of you right and proper later on. I need to give you the food for the fuel you are going to need in the bedroom later on.” I turned and looked over my shoulder. The look in his eyes was that of excitement. Don’t get it twisted now. We didn’t fuck anymore. Well, sometimes. But now he took his time with me and treated me with care.
Ronald and I now had conversations. We related a lot more when I pushed some of my high-ass standards off of the table and let him open up my world to him and vice versa. You’d be surprised how well you get along with someone when you’re not trying to make them make you happy and just live with them flaws and all. No one is perfect and we all are struggling in this world to find happiness and companionship. Most of the time we get in our own way with standards that we don’t even live up to. I had to sit myself down and tell myself to get off of my high horse and stop being so controlling and stuffy. Well, I learned some of that from Lewis and him being just him.
Anyway, Ronald and I were getting closer because I was home a little more to have fun and do things that he likes and that I had grown to love. I still had my company and it was still doing great. I just let my workers work and not try to do it all myself. I even gave Lewis more responsibility.
Lewis and I had a newfound bond and an understanding of each other. We both realized that we weren’t that different, but we went about things differently. He was actually a very great guy when you sat down and talked to him. I’m not saying we were best friends or that he had completely calmed down. I’m saying that I was enjoying the person he was even if I didn’t like all the things that he did or said.
Now I was able to enjoy my life with Ronald, my sister, my mother, and father. We were doing more family-oriented things and we were actually having open discussions about our lives. No, we were not a drama-free family, because my sister still had a slip of the tongue every now and then and my father slipped off to the racetrack from time to time as well. I am happy to say that my mother loved Ronald and they even had their own special bond. So in the end I can truly say that the best man won; the new me. Life was good. Plus, Mateo got life in prison without the possibility of parole for kidnapping and murder because two of the guys he had in stasis passed away. I still couldn’t believe that there was a person in the world who collected people and kept them alive for their pleasure. It was the craziest thing that I ever heard of or had ever been a part of.
Lewis’s Epilogue
Arrested By Love
It’d been two years since Mateo almost made me a part of his living museum. I relived that scene in my head every so often and it still rocked my world that he was that type of person. Who would have known?
Well, I can say that one good thing had come from all of that. And that was my new man, Justice. Yes, his name was Justice and he was all mines. He was the same guy who helped me out of Mateo’s house that scary night. He was all that I was looking for in a mate and a friend. I am so happy to say that he was one of the best things that had ever happened to me. I mean he made me so happy and he had even calmed me down a little. Who would have thought a man would be enough for me to calm me down?
Justice was so patient, hardworking, and cultured. He was a few years older than me but that was a good thing to me because with age comes wisdom. He was teaching me all kinds of new things. I was going fishing, playing pool, and even going out to jazz clubs from time to time. He was opening up my life to new and exciting things.
I would have never thought that almost losing my life would open up a new path in life for me. Not only was my love life fresh but even work was better. My boss had found love and would take random days off and leave me in charge. He actu
ally said I did an okay job when we switched places for that week of the challenge. I was shocked when he said it to me in front of the whole staff. I even got emotional and let a tear slide down my face. I wasn’t the outwardly vulnerable type, but I was changing and being vulnerable was a part of life, especially when you start a new relationship. I always thought that I was wild and fancy free but I was just as uptight with my emotions and feelings as Kardell was with his life. I just didn’t want to see it or I thought I was better than him just like I secretly accused him of being that way with me. I guess we were mirrors at different angles, as they say.
Kardell and I were friends now and not just boss and employee like we were in the past. We actually took time to relate and share. And since both of our mates were in law enforcement we had a lot we could discuss and even laugh about. We’d had dinner together as couples and all. And guess what, it was him who made the suggestion. Life was good for me now and even if tomorrow was crazy I still got a flashback of what could have been and I secretly say to myself, “I won.” That did the trick for me every time because I did win a chance at newness and each day I woke up feeling like I won the lottery of life. Yep, I felt like the best man I could be, in the making, and I definitely felt like I was a winner.
THE END
Book Club Discussion Questions
1. Which character could you relate to the most? And why?
2. Would you have gone through the great lengths that these two characters went through to get a mate?
3. Do you have rules that you set for yourself when pursuing a mate?
4. Have you ever broken your rules in a relationship?
5. Would you compete with someone for a mate?
6. What would you never do to get a mate?
7. Is it possible to know everything about a person you have been dating, even over a long period of time?
8. What is the worst date you have ever been on?
9. Have you ever had an attraction for a person who was all wrong for you?
10. Is there a perfect mate?
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May the Best Man Win Copyright © 2013 M.T. Pope
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without prior consent of the Publisher, except brief quotes used in reviews.
ISBN: 978-1-6016-2387-4
This is a work of fiction. Any references or similarities to actual events, real people, living or dead, or to real locales are intended to give the novel a sense of reality. Any similarity in other names, characters, places, and incidents is entirely coincidental.
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