2 Good

by Celya Bowers

  Madisyn felt Chase was leaving something out. “But what?”

  Chase looked from her to Aidan, who was holding Madisyn’s hand. “Along with the VIP sections, the DJ booth, the restrooms are also up there. The restrooms are in the opposite corner, but the patrons will still have to come upstairs to use them.”

  There wasn’t much they could do at this point. Darnell would have access to her just by claiming to need the facilities. “What’s the upside to this?”

  Chase smiled. “You will be covered. Kyle will be with you guys at all times. Cadence will be here, as well as the rest of her team.”

  Madisyn wanted to believe tonight would go without a hitch, but the feeling in her gut was this night would change her life forever.

  “Are you okay with all this?” Chase looked in Aidan’s direction. “I’ve got her as much protection as possible.”

  Aidan looked at Madisyn with a look that was so intense, it melted any resolve she had. “I’m not okay with any of this, but we’ve started the ball rolling, so we gotta keep it going.” He moved closer to Madisyn and said, “The only way Darnell will get to you is through me, and that’s not about to happen.”

  * * *

  Aidan held onto Madisyn’s hand as they were escorted to the upstairs section. She’d held up pretty well when all the press cameras started going off. Now they were seated at the large booth. Aidan hadn’t known what to expect with Kameron’s flamboyant style, but Club Sizzle was very tastefully done.

  The booth seated about ten people and a few extra chairs were also placed there for the security team. Madisyn’s friends were already there.

  “Madisyn, this is awesome, girl,” a woman said as she hugged Madisyn as if she were a stuffed animal. “It feels like we haven’t seen each other in months instead of a few weeks.”

  Madisyn returned the powerful hug. “I know. I’m glad you made it, Chay.” She turned to Aidan and smiled. “Aidan, this is my best friend Chayla Hughes and her husband, Jared.”

  Aidan reached out to shake Chayla’s hand, but she didn’t take it. “Aidan, we don’t do handshakes.” She hugged him. “It’s nice to meet you, finally. You better be good to Maddie or you’ll have to answer to me.”

  Aidan quite understood. “Gotcha. I want only the best for Madisyn. And I just know you’ll keep me in line, right?” He winked at Chayla. He looked at Chayla’s husband. “Do I have to hug you, too?”

  Jared looked blankly at him. “Huh, what?”

  Since being around Madisyn’s family members, minus Marcus, of course, Aidan was used to being treated like one of the guys. But Jared stood before him completely starstruck. “It’s nice to meet you, Jared.” He shook his hand, then motioned for Madisyn to sit down.

  Aidan looked around the roped-off section. Downstairs was crowded and noisy, but the quiet upstairs was a deep contrast. “Where’s your other friend, baby?”

  “Keisha likes to make an appearance. It will probably be closer to eleven before she gets here.”

  Aidan felt the adrenaline pumping through his body. He was ready for action and wanted this night to be over as soon as possible. He watched as Kameron walked upstairs to greet him.

  He was dressed in a dark suit and sunglasses.

  “Aidan, I’m glad you could make it. This must be Madisyn,” he drawled. He sat in the vacant chair next to Madisyn. “How you doing? If my boy isn’t taking care of you, you just give me a holla.”

  “Thank you, but he’s doing just fine,” Madisyn said, looking directly at Aidan.

  Kameron nodded. “Well, I see my boy must be doing all the right things.” He looked at the other people at the table and introduced himself. “I’m sending one of the waitresses up here with your bottles of champagne.”

  “Just make sure she doesn’t open them.”

  Kam looked at him. “Got a little celebration going on?”

  Aidan shrugged. “Something like that.”

  Kam rose. “Oh, okay. I’ll be back up later. Do you know the fire marshal is already here talking about how we’re near our building capacity? But if I want to pay him an extra grand, he’ll look the other way. Like I’m stupid enough to go out like that. Nice to meet you, ladies, Jared.” He went back downstairs.

  Jared finally came out of his cloud. “I just met Kameron Drews,” he told everyone at the table. “Wow!”

  Aidan looked at Madisyn, smiling. She was being a really good sport about everything. He’d go through hell to be with her, and he had a feeling tonight was going to be a good test.

  * * *

  Keisha took a deep breath and handed her keys to the valet. Once she gave her name at the front door, she was escorted upstairs. In all her clubbing experience she’d never been near the VIP area when there were football players in the midst. She took in the atmosphere of the club. She was impressed, to say the least. She’d expected to see a hole-in-the-wall place that would just take all your money. But this place had lots of seating, a large dance floor, and a good sound system. The true test was the bathroom. A place this size should have at least four stalls. The young man escorted her upstairs. “The restrooms are in the far corner to the left. Enjoy your evening,” he said as he left her at the top of the stairs.

  Keisha glanced at the booth and saw her friends. Maddie was sitting next to Aidan, Chayla and Jared were there, a few men she didn’t know, and there was only one vacant place left. Usually she was the one with a date, not the one without. That was usually Maddie. She whispered a silent prayer and walked to her friends.

  “Hey, guys,” Keisha said, taking her seat, not meeting her friends’ eyes. If she didn’t look at Maddie, she had a chance of making it through this horrible evening. “Sorry I’m late,” she said softly.

  “That’s okay,” Madisyn said. “We haven’t been here that long. Keisha, this is Aidan and this is Chase.” She nodded to the handsome men at the table. “You remember Jared.” She pointed unnecessarily to Chayla’s husband.

  Tonight Keisha didn’t feel like anyone’s friend. If she made it out of this mess, she was going to change everything about her life, including the choices she had made over the years. As Madisyn had told her so many times, her life was her choice. It had taken her twenty years to realize her friend was right.

  Keisha shook their hands. When her hand connected with Chase, it all clicked into place. Darnell had been complaining about Aidan’s high-priced attorney, Chase Hartman. So this was the man behind the man. “It’s nice to meet you men.” She glanced at Aidan, but he was all up in Madisyn’s grill, ignoring Keisha. She couldn’t have that. “Well, Aidan, it’s nice to see you out. I didn’t think you clubbed.”

  “I don’t. Madisyn wanted to come out, so here we are.” He poured a glass of champagne and handed it to Keisha. “There’s plenty of champagne, so feel free to drink all you want.”

  Keisha took the glass, trying to figure out a way to get Maddie away from Aidan. She couldn’t think of a believable reason. She felt a buzzing on her body. She thought it was the tracking device, but it was her phone. Her purse was in her lap. She took a sip as she looked at the phone display. Darnell. He’d sent her a message. He was in the club.

  Keisha looked around for Ms. Callahan, but didn’t see the slender woman anywhere in the building. She didn’t want to talk to Darnell until she knew she had backup. He sent her another message. Meet me.

  She wasn’t ready.

  CHAPTER 30

  After a few nervous moments, Madisyn finally started to relax. Club Sizzle was a nice place to go if you liked that kind of thing, she thought. It would be nice to go to a club every once in a while, but not every weekend, like Keisha did. Madisyn had no idea how people put themselves through this kind of torture on a regular basis.

  Aidan sat next to her and was very attentive. The media had tried to enter the VIP area several times to take more pictures, but the security guards were earning every penny of their money. The reporters never got anywhere near their table.

  Aidan he
ld Madisyn’s hand and talked to Chayla and Jared as if they were old friends. He felt connected with her friends. He was used to everyone always placating him; it was nice to actually have a conversation. They didn’t chat about football or the upcoming season. They talked about Madisyn, much to her dismay.

  Aidan winked at Madisyn. “So tell me about her. What is she really like?”

  Chayla laughed. “This is the real Madisyn. Trusting, dependable and a hard worker. Always ready to give 150 percent. I know she’s probably a dynamo for your charity. I was thinking about joining,” Chayla said.

  “That would be great. Madisyn planned the grand opening that will be in a couple of weeks. She’s done a wonderful job.” He smiled at her. In a very short time, Madisyn had become a very integral part of his life. “You guys are more than welcome to attend. The Alliance has been a dream of mine for a long time, and I’m glad I get to see it come to fruition.” Aidan leaned over and kissed Madisyn gently on the lips. “I do expect a dance tonight,” he whispered.

  Madisyn gasped. “I thought this evening was just about bringing Darnell out of hiding. Are you sure about being on the dance floor with me?” she whispered back.

  He nodded. She was always trying to give him a way out, but it wasn’t necessary. He wanted to be near Madisyn, no matter how high the cost. “Yeah, just as sure as I love you.” He ran his fingers through her hair. “You can dance, right?”

  She was just about to answer when she saw something out of her peripheral vision. It looked like Darnell walking up the stairs, but was it possible?

  “Baby? Are you okay?” Aidan looked at her with concerned eyes. “Did you spot him?”

  Madisyn shrugged. “I think so, but I can’t be sure. It could be just the stress of the evening. But if the knot in my stomach is any indication, I’d say yes.”

  Aidan moved closer to her. “I won’t let him near you, but you’ve got to play it cool, so he’ll think he has the upper hand.”

  She nodded. She was the one who’d wanted this to play out at the club, so it was time to step up to the plate. “I know.” She listened as the DJ started playing some old-school music. “I’m not the best dancer, but I like this kind of music. Let’s dance.”

  “With pleasure.” He stood, took her hand and glanced at Chayla and Jared. “Excuse us, my lady wants to dance.” They headed downstairs to the dance floor.

  Madisyn felt her self-esteem hit the floor when they joined the crowd of dancers. Scantily clad woman brazenly brushed against Aidan constantly. Madisyn knew this was just part of being a celebrity, and he seemed to be taking it in stride. He moved closer to her.

  “Don’t worry, baby. They’re just groupies, and that’s not my thing. We can go back to the table if you want,” he whispered into her ear. “You’ll have to get used to people looking at us.”

  She nodded. Those weren’t the words she wanted to hear, but she knew they were true. Dating a high-profile athlete, she had to learn to live with people staring at them. “I know. Those little skinny chicks better watch out. We can stay.” She smiled.

  He took her in his arms. “That’s my baby.”

  * * *

  Darnell looked down on the dance floor as he walked out of the men’s room and muttered a curse. It had taken him at least an hour to work his way upstairs. When he finally got a chance to nab Madisyn, she and Aidan had the nerve to go to the dance floor. Madisyn didn’t dance!

  He glanced around the roped-off area, looking for a place to hide to make his move. All he needed was one dark corner and he’d be set. Keisha wasn’t answering his messages. Everyone was backing out on him at the last minute. He spotted Keisha sitting at the VIP table and tried to get her attention, but failed. Instead he made eye contact with Chayla. Damn.

  * * *

  Keisha could finally breathe easier. She’d spotted Ms. Callahan in the corner dressed in a slinky red dress that showcased her figure and her honey-beige complexion. Her previously pinned-up hair hung well below her shoulders. As she walked upstairs just about every man had been looking at her. Keisha’s phone buzzed at her again. She figured it was Darnell demanding her presence, but it wasn’t him. It was Ms. Callahan telling her to come to the ladies’ room.

  Thank goodness Maddie was on the dance floor with Aidan. Keisha still didn’t understand it. Nothing was making sense. Madisyn seldom danced in front of people, but here she was dancing with Aidan like she’d been doing it for years. Aidan had barely given Keisha a second glance when Madisyn introduced them. No man could resist her unless he was truly in love. Was Aidan so in love with Maddie that he hadn’t noticed her? How could he be?

  Keisha rose, mumbling something to the others at the table about having to go to the ladies’ room. Not that anyone was paying her any attention. She had always been closer to Maddie than Chayla, but the look Chayla was giving her now was as if she knew Keisha had betrayed Madisyn in the worst way.

  She walked into the ladies’ room, shocked to see that there wasn’t a line of women waiting to use the toilets. Another shocker, there were at least eight stalls. Ms. Callahan was leaning against the counter talking on her cell phone. The minute she noticed Keisha, she cut her conversation short. “Has Whitfield made contact with you?”

  Keisha nodded. “I haven’t answered him.”

  “Tell him you’re ready to talk. Make him go over the plan again. I’ve got you covered, so you don’t have to worry.”

  “But what if he gets to Maddie?”

  “He won’t.”

  “How can you be so sure?”

  “This is what I do. Let me do my job.”

  Keisha nodded. She barely knew this woman, and she was trusting her with her life. “Okay. Any other instructions?”

  “Don’t let him leave the club with you.”

  * * *

  After two dances and a million stares, Madisyn let Aidan lead her back upstairs to their seats. To her surprise Keisha was missing from the table.

  Aidan helped her with her chair and kissed her as he sat down. “You were great, baby.”

  “So were you,” she cooed back at him, hoping this euphoric feeling would never end. “I wonder when Darnell is going to make his move?”

  “I’m sure he’ll do it. Be patient.” Aidan poured her a glass of champagne.

  “I saw him, Maddie,” Chayla said on a rush. “Darnell is here inside the club. I think Keisha went to go meet him. She went toward the ladies’ room and hasn’t returned.”

  Madisyn nodded, looking in Chase’s direction. He was looking at his PDA screen, ignoring everyone at the table. When he finally looked up, his face was serious. “Madisyn, make sure you don’t leave this table.” He turned the small PDA in her direction.

  Madisyn gasped at the slightly out of focus digital picture of Keisha and Darnell talking. “I had a feeling she was in it with him, but I didn’t know how deeply until now. I’ll stay here.”

  Chase nodded. “Good. No matter what happens, you stay here. Just in case things jump off, as the youngsters say, go to the DJ booth. It’s bulletproof.”

  She nodded, grabbing Aidan’s hand. She quickly scanned the upstairs, not seeing either Darnell or Keisha. “I’m really sorry I got you involved in all this, Aidan.”

  “Don’t worry, baby. We’re in this together. And we’ll see this end together and then we can move forward.” He kissed her.

  “You know you guys are making me sick with all this kissy-kissy,” Chayla joked. “But I love seeing this side of you, Madisyn. After that idiot, you deserve some happiness.”

  Madisyn looked up at Aidan. “You’re right, Chayla. I do deserve some happiness, and I found it.”

  Aidan was about to say something, but noise from downstairs claimed his attention. Madisyn looked down at the crowd. People were running for the exit as Dallas’s finest rushed through the entrance.

  “Man, they really mean business about that capacity thing,” Aidan said, watching the melee. “Those people are going nuts down there.”
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br />   “Aidan,” Chase said. He pointed to Darnell making his way upstairs to the VIP section.

  Aidan grabbed Madisyn’s hand. “I got you, baby. He won’t hurt you.”

  Madisyn opened her mouth to tell him how much she loved him, but suddenly an explosion occurred on the other side of the club. There was no way she or Aidan would be able to get out of the club now. Too many people trying to get out of the club’s only exit would prevent that.

  The police fired warning shots into the air, but no one paid them any attention. Darnell was fast making his approach toward them when Madisyn heard Chase screaming into his phone, “Cadence, what’s going on?”

  Aidan didn’t wait for an answer as more shots rang out. “You and Chayla go to the DJ booth. He can’t get to you in there. The blast is a diversion.”

  Madisyn was rooted to her chair. How could one plan go so wrong? She didn’t want Aidan getting hurt because of her.

  “Go!” he ordered.

  “No, I’m staying here with you.”

  “Baby, this ain’t the time to be brave. Take your ass to the booth, now! ”

  Chayla tugged Madisyn’s hand. “Come on, Maddie.”

  Madisyn looked at Aidan again as he, Chase and Jared watched the melee downstairs. “I’ll go.” She and Chayla crawled to the DJ booth.

  The DJ opened the door and ushered them inside. “Keep down, ladies. The walls are reinforced with bulletproof glass.”

  Madisyn and Chayla sat next to each other listening to chaos in the club. Madisyn felt awful for endangering her best friend. “I’m sorry, Chay. I didn’t know it was going to turn out like this.”

  Chayla shook her head. “Maddie, you can’t control the actions of a moron.” She held Maddie’s hand. “I know Aidan, Jared and Chase are not going to let Darnell anywhere near us.”

  The next few minutes were a blur. Madisyn didn’t hear bloodcurdling screams anymore, but she saw people fighting to get out of the club, then rushing upstairs for safety. “Chay, look! It’s like a stampede. Somebody’s going to get hurt. I don’t know if security is going to be able to hold all those people back.”