The Last Chance

by Darrien Lee

  Ramsey put his hands up in the air and slowly placed the gun down on the poker table. “Where the hell have you two been?” Xavier yelled as he retrieved his gun.

  “You told us to check out the building, X. It takes a minute. This place is huge,” Romeo answered.

  “Well, while you and Baby Dee was looking around, y’all let Rambo get up close and personal.”

  “I’m sorry, X,” Romeo apologized. “We’re back now. Who is this dude?”

  “Don’t worry about it. He’s with me,” Keilah blurted out.

  “I thought I told you to come alone,” Xavier reminded her.

  “Look, X or Xavier or whatever your name is. You might as well shoot me because I’m not signing that paper,” she informed him.

  X said, “If that’s the way you feel, have it your way.”

  Ramsey looked at Keilah, and she looked over at her brothers. Everything moved in slow motion from that moment on. Gunshots rang out, and poker chips and cards flew everywhere. Luke, Genesis, and Roman dove behind the slot machines while Ramsey tackled Keilah and they fell over a cashier counter.

  Ramsey yelled, “Baby, are you hit?”

  “No. Are you okay?” she asked as she took her 9 mm out of her waistband.

  “I’m fine. Where did they go?” Ramsey asked as he pulled a second weapon out of his ankle holster.

  “I don’t know. I can’t see anybody,” she replied.

  Keilah peeked through a section of the cashier booth and saw P.K. Sloan bleeding on the floor. She quietly moved down a little farther and saw Luke, Roman, and Genesis huddled together behind a row of slot machines. She waved at them to get their attention and motioned for them to get out. Luke shook his head and did charades to find out if she had an extra weapon. She nodded and whispered, “Cover me, Ramsey.”

  “What are you doing?”

  She checked the clip on her gun. “I need to get a gun to Luke.”

  “OK. Go,” Ramsey yelled as Keilah jumped over the counter and ran in her brother’s directions. Xavier saw her and immediately started shooting in her direction. Ramsey returned fire, forcing X to take cover. Roman’s heart jumped in his throat when he saw Keilah take that unbelievable risk. When she joined them, he grabbed her by the collar. “Have you lost your mind? Don’t you ever do anything like that again.”

  “It’s okay, Roman. Here’s a nine and a twenty-two. There’s one down and three to go. Watch your back.”

  Genesis said, “No, you watch yours. Thanks, sis.”

  Keilah pulled the shotgun from under her coat. “We need to take care of this now. Watch the crossfire. I’m going to make my way through the quarter slots until I get over to the bar. Don’t let Ramsey get pinned down.”

  She kissed them and disappeared around the corner.

  Xavier yelled, “Keilah, you might as well come out, because you’re not getting out of here until that paper is signed.”

  Ramsey climbed over the cashier’s booth and ran toward the rear of the room. Baby Dee aimed and pulled the trigger, hitting Ramsey in the back. Luke leaned over a poker table and shot Baby Dee in the chest. After checking to make sure Baby Dee was dead, Luke immediately checked on Ramsey. “Ramsey, can you get up? I need to get you out of sight.”

  Ramsey moaned and raised his shirt, showing Luke the bulletproof vest. Luke patted him on the shoulder. “Good boy. Don’t move, I’ll be right back.”

  Over the next thirty minutes, the situation intensified when Romeo cornered Roman near the front door. As he raised his firearm, Keilah whistled to get his attention. When Romeo turned, Keilah fired one shot, striking him in the abdomen. The force of the blast knocked Romeo completely off his feet and through a glass window. Keytone ran over. “You took my shot, Keilah.”

  “You’re too slow, Keytone. Besides, I had the better shot,” she replied.

  Roman frowned. “What are you doing here, Keytone?”

  Keilah put her hand up to Roman’s face. “He’s with me. Squash it.”

  Before Keilah stepped over Romeo’s bloody body, she cocked the shotgun and coldly mumbled, “I’m the last Chance and this is our house. Now let’s clean it up.”

  The broken glass crunched under their feet as they walked toward the elevators. Roman turned to them and said, “Thanks, guys. Now give me that shotgun so you can get out of here.”

  She pulled away from him. “I’m not leaving until this thing is done and everyone’s safe. Xavier needs to be stopped once and for all.”

  Keytone reached into his pocket and pulled out a .45-caliber automatic handgun and handed it to Roman. “Take this, Roman. You might need it.”

  “Thanks, Keytone.” He checked the gun and then turned to Keilah. “You need to get out of here. I don’t want X trying to use you as leverage like he did with us.”

  “I have his leverage, and I’m going to find him so I can give it to him,” she sarcastically remarked.

  They heard a couple of gunshots, and they took cover behind some slot machines. Keytone peeped around the machine. “Could either one of you tell where those shots came from?”

  Roman looked around the corner and pointed across the room. “It sounded like it came from the high rollers’ pit.”

  “You two find out if Luke, Genesis, or Ramsey took care of that other guy while I track down Xavier.”

  “Be careful, sis,” Roman warned before they all walked off in separate directions.

  The casino looked like a war zone. Broken glass, bloody bodies, and the fog of gunpowder covered the room. Xavier had found a spot behind the bar in which to take cover. He pulled out his cell phone and tried to call Baby Dee or Romeo, but neither answered. “Damn,” he cursed.

  Seconds later X spotted Keilah as she moved in his direction, totally unaware of his presence. He smiled and whispered, “Gotcha.”

  As soon as she approached the bar area, he jumped out and wrapped his arm around her neck. Keilah could feel the cold metal of his gun against her head. “Drop the gun, slim.”

  Keilah dropped the gun and Xavier tightened his grip around her neck. “OK, this is how it’s going to play out. You’re going to sign that paper or you’re going to get a nine to the head. Are you feeling me? I’m tired of playing with you.”

  She reached up and tried to loosen the hold Xavier had on her neck. Xavier dragged Keilah across the floor and yelled out so everyone could hear him. “OK. The game is over. I have Keilah, and if you guys don’t want to have a dead sister, you need to put those guns down and come on out.”

  Luke was first to move out from behind some slot machines. He was worried that Xavier was holding the gun against Keilah’s head. The slightest movement could cause him to pull the trigger. He put his hands up and said, “All right, X. Just move the gun away from Keilah’s head.”

  “I’m in charge now. You do what I say,” Xavier yelled. “Get your brothers out here, now.”

  Luke yelled for Genesis and Roman to come out from hiding. Genesis pointed his gun at Xavier. “You’re not getting away with this, X.”

  He laughed. “I think I am, Genesis, or you’re going to be burying your only sister. Now put the goddamn gun down.”

  Genesis and Roman lowered their guns as Xavier pulled Keilah over to the poker table where the document was miraculously still sitting. Xavier gripped the back of Keilah’s neck and held her head down on the table. He pointed the gun at the back of her head and gritted his teeth. “Sign the paper, Keilah, or so help me God, I’ll splatter your brains all over this table.”

  Tears formed in Luke’s eyes. He whispered, “Go ahead and sign it, Keilah.”

  “No,” she yelled in defiance.

  Xavier shot a round into the poker table next to her head and said, “The next one is going in your head. Sign the paper.”

  Roman took a step toward them. “Keilah, please, just sign it. We’ll be okay.”

  Tears were running down her face now. She saw the distressed look on her brother’s faces so she picked up the pen and signed awa
y their casinos.

  Once the paper was signed, X pushed Keilah over to her brothers and tucked it inside his jacket. “Was that so hard?”

  “Go to hell, Xavier,” she yelled.

  Xavier laughed. “I might go to hell, but I’ll be a very rich bastard before I do.”

  “You’re not going to get away with this, X,” Luke pointed out.

  He pointed his gun at the four of them and smiled. “I already have. I finally got the last Chance to sign the paper, so I guess you all are looking at the new owner of the Lucky Chance and Special K casinos. It’s done. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have somewhere I have to be. I’m sorry things have to end this way, but I can’t have you guys running around Dennison causing me any legal problems. It’s too bad P.K. didn’t get to hang around for the party, but it was nice doing business with you.”

  Luke, Roman, Genesis, and Keilah held their breath as Xavier’s finger twitched to press the trigger. That’s when Keytone stepped out of the shadows. “You’re mistaken, X. I’m the last Chance, and I’m not signing a damn thing.”

  Confused, Xavier said, “What?”

  “Joe Chance was my father, too, which makes me the last Chance. Now try to make me sign the paper.”

  Xavier thought for a moment, and then fired his gun in Keytone’s direction, but he missed.

  That’s when Keytone unloaded his clip into Xavier’s body, killing him.

  Once the dust had cleared, Keytone stood over Xavier’s lifeless body and said, “Damn, that was a nice suit he has on. Too bad I had to mess it.”

  Luke walked over to Keytone. “Thanks, man.”

  “You’re welcome,” he replied as he shook Luke’s hand.

  Keilah looked around and went into a slight panic. “Where’s Ramsey?”

  Luke said, “Don’t worry, he’s okay. He took a round in his back, but it hit his vest. I hid him over by the bathroom.”

  Keilah ran over to Ramsey and found him propped up against the wall. “Ramsey, baby, are you bleeding? Are you okay?”

  He grunted. “I’m fine, sweetheart, just bruised up a little. Help me up.”

  Keilah helped Ramsey off the floor and back over to her brothers.

  Roman looked around at the carnage. “What now?”

  Luke pulled out his cell phone. “We need to call the cops.”

  “This is going to be a nightmare,” Genesis added.

  “Hey guys, I need to get Ramsey to the hospital,” Keilah informed them.

  Keytone took Ramsey by the arm. “Let me help you. Do you guys need me to stick around?”

  Luke held out his hand. “Nah, you can jet. We can handle this.”

  “Are you sure?” Keytone offered once again.

  “You don’t need to get mixed up in all of this. Just give me your gun, because they’re going to want to match the bullets with the guns. You and your boys were never here and neither were you, Keilah or Ramsey. You saved our lives, Keytone, and I’ll never forget that. Now, get out of here,” Luke ordered.

  Keilah gave her brothers a kiss before helping Ramsey out of the building.

  It took hours for police to investigate the shooting at the casino. By the time the investigation was complete and they were allowed to go home, it was nearly ten hours later. Preliminary findings by the police interrogation of the brothers helped police determine the incident was an attempted robbery by Xavier and his crew. When the police searched P.K.’s car, they found a kilo of cocaine and other items alerting them to his shady business practices.

  When Luke, Roman, and Genesis left the Lucky Chance, they went directly to the hospital to check on Malachi and Ramsey. They found Malachi resting comfortably.

  “How’s your leg?” Genesis asked.

  “Better than it was,” he replied.

  Luke looked around. “Where’s T. Money?”

  “Keilah called and told me to tell him to leave, so he left. What happened at the casino?” Malachi asked.

  Luke put his hands over his face. “I don’t want to talk about it right now. When are they going to let you out of here?”

  “Tomorrow,” he informed them.

  “Did Keilah come check on you?” Roman asked.

  “Yeah, after Ramsey got discharged, they stopped in before they headed back over to the house.”

  “Is Ramsey okay?” Luke asked.

  “He just has a couple of bruised ribs. He’s lucky he had on that bulletproof vest,” Malachi said.

  “Do you need someone to stay here with you tonight?” Genesis asked.

  “With all these fine nurses around me? What do you think?”

  They chuckled. Luke said, “We’ll pick you up in the A.M.

  Call if you need anything. We’re going to stop by your house and check on Keilah and Ramsey before going home.”

  Malachi gave each of them a brotherly handshake before they left his room.

  Luke, Roman and Genesis let themselves into Malachi’s house to check on Keilah and Ramsey. They expected them to be up, but after the night they’d experienced, they wouldn’t be surprised if the pair was asleep. They quietly made their way through the house and up the stairs. When they entered Keilah’s bedroom they found Keilah, and Ramsey sound asleep in each other’s arms.

  “What the hell?” Luke whispered.

  Roman asked, “What happened to Michael?”

  Genesis replied, “Who cares? Look at them.”

  Luke motioned for them to back out of the room. When they got back downstairs, they found Keytone at the door. Luke let him in, and they all went out onto the patio.

  “Keytone, I want to thank you again for what you did. If it weren’t for you, we would all be dead. I’m sorry for ever doubting you,” Luke apologized.

  Keytone sighed. “We’re cool. Look, I just stopped over to check on Keilah and Ramsey. Where are they?”

  Roman smiled and said, “Upstairs in bed together.”

  Keytone started laughing. “I knew it.”

  “You knew what?” Genesis asked. “Do you know something we don’t know?”

  Keytone folded his arms and asked, “Did Keilah tell you guys about Michael?”

  Luke frowned and asked, “What, about their wedding?”

  “No, that she caught him in bed with a man,” he revealed.

  They all stared at Keytone in disbelief.

  “Are you serious?” Luke asked.

  Keytone laughed. “Yeah, I’m serious. She didn’t tell me the details. She just said she caught him, and she shot him in the foot because of it.”

  Roman put his hands over his face. “I don’t believe this. She shot him?”

  Keytone raised his hands. “Yes. Look, don’t tell her I told you. I’m just happy she’s with Ramsey. He’s the one I had hope she would end up with anyway. Besides, no other man will be able to handle her with that temper. I’m sure you all know Keilah’s not your ordinary woman.”

  Luke chuckled. “Yes, we all know too well.”

  Genesis was still in shock over the information they’d just heard. He mumbled, “So Michael is a down-low brother. I knew something wasn’t right with him.”

  Upstairs, Keilah woke up and ran her hands over Ramsey’s bare bottom. He instantly woke up and smiled. He pulled her soft, warm body closer to his. “You know I’m at a disadvantage right now. Don’t tease me.” Ramsey tilted her chin and kissed her tenderly on the lips. “I don’t think I can handle you right now, baby. My ribs are too sore.”

  She kissed his chest. “I’ll do all the work, and I promise I’ll be gentle.”

  He chuckled. “I’ve made love to you before, remember?”

  She kissed his six-pack abs and whispered, “Can we at least try?”

  “On one condition,” he offered her. She kissed him lower and was going down even farther, causing him to tremble in ecstasy. She whispered, “I’ll do anything for you, Ramsey, because I love you.”

  “I’m glad to hear that. Now all you have to do is wear my ring, take my name, and have my childr
en,” he softly revealed.

  She looked up into his eyes and smiled. “What ring? Are you for real?”

  Ramsey put a beautiful package in her hand. It was wrapped in gold paper with a gold-glittered bow on top. She opened the box, and when she did, tears immediately flowed down her face. She turned to Ramsey and whispered, “It’s beautiful. Thank you.”

  Inside the box sat a three-stone, princess-cut, platinum diamond ring. Ramsey took the ring out of the case and slid it onto her finger and said, “All that I ask is that you don’t make me wait too long.”

  She wrapped her arms around his neck and whispered, “I won’t, baby. I won’t.”

  He winked at her and said, “Marry me, Keilah Chance.”

  She seductively answered, “Yes, I’ll marry you, Ramsey Stone. I’ll wear your ring, take your name, and have your children.”

  He cupped her face and kissed her lips until they were scorched and swollen from his love. With tears in her eyes, she straddled his body gently and whispered, “I have to have you right now, baby, and I promise I won’t hurt you.”

  Ramsey gripped her hips and said, “Go for it, sweetheart.”

  Chapter Twenty-eight

  A week later they came together as a family, including Keytone to celebrate the grand reopening of the Lucky Chance. Being accepted by the Chance siblings was something Keytone had always dreamed of, but never thought possible. The night was for family only, and they wanted to make the most of it.

  It took a couple of days for workers to replace damaged tables and machines as well as broken windows and bloodstained carpet. The incident at the casino had changed all of them, making them stronger as a family.

  As they sat around a large dinner table, eating a fabulous meal, Ramsey stood and said, “I would like to propose a toast.”

  Everyone stopped eating and gave Ramsey their undivided attention. “First, I would like to congratulate all of you on your success when all odds were against you. I want to wish you continued love and blessings for allowing me to be a part of this wonderful night. This not only goes out to Luke, Roman, Malachi, and Genesis. This also goes out to the strong women behind them. It’s been said that every successful man has a strong woman beside him, so ladies, this includes you too. I also would like to thank you guys for having the trust and confidence in me to look after Keilah.” He turned toward Keilah and said, “And with your blessings, I want to officially ask your permission to make her my wife.”