May the Best Man Win (21 page)

Authors: M.T. Pope

BOOK: May the Best Man Win

10.99Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub

“Mateo, please let me go. Please just let me leave. I won't say anything to anybody. I promise. I never even met you,” I pleaded.

“Mark was my first love,” he said, ignoring me. “He was the prettiest, most handsome guy and as you can tell he still is. He wanted to break up with me and leave me but I couldn't let anyone else have him. I didn't want him to die so I came up with this way to keep him alive and pretty. I don't get to hold him like before but now I get to see him when I want to; just like it will be with you.”

“Mateo, it doesn't have to be this way. I won't leave you. I love you.” I put my hand on his chest.

“I know you do. That is why I want to put you on display to keep that love fresh and alive forever.”

The door to the room opened up and two guys walked in the room.

“These guys will now help you with your transition. You will now be a permanent piece of art in my museum. Thank you for fighting so hard to win the spot. You were the best man, but I am the true winner.”

I fought and fought the two guys but it was futile. They covered my mouth with a rag. I saw this in too many movies to know that this was the end for me.

Epilogue

Janice

I sat back in my living room chair and wept tears of heartache and pain. I sat here with my eyes glued to the news that was on the television station. I just couldn't believe it. I shook my head from side to side in disbelief. It was a replay of the broadcast two weeks ago that I recorded. I just couldn't get over it. I was still in complete shock.

My boss, Kardell Spencer, and Lewis Turner were reported missing about two months ago and we all were baffled at their disappearance. When I was interviewed about their disappearance I did mention their weird behavior in the weeks before but since I never asked any questions I couldn't speculate on anything. My boss was a great guy and he didn't deserve any of this. And even though Lewis and I weren't the best of friends I wouldn't wish any harm on him.

“In all of my years I haven't seen anything like this.” I spoke out loud. I was in my home, alone, enjoying my retirement. I had never given up hope on finding them and I even helped with passing out fliers and information about them both with both of their families. Their families were distraught with anguish and pain. I couldn't imagine experiencing the disappearance/loss of a child as a mother. But here it was on the news and this loss made the national news circuit.

It was said that restaurateur Mateo Lopez was under secret surveillance for ties to the Hispanic mob, drug trafficking, and money laundering, but could never be caught because he was so good at not getting his hands dirty.

On a federal tip one of his homes was raided on the outskirts of Anne Arundel County, Maryland. Upon raiding the house a secret passage was discovered that was believed to be where he housed his drugs and money, but what was discovered was of epic proportion.

They said that Mateo Lopez wasn't involved in drugs at all but in something no one had any idea was going on.

Mateo Lopez was a kleptomaniac of human beings. He had a personal collection of living human beings being kept alive by some sort of physical stability machines. They had reported that there were at least a dozen men being keep alive artificially but when the door was blown open it triggered something that turned off the life support for the men being held there. Several of the men were reported missing over a seven-year period. Some men were never reported because they were gay, displaced, and excommunicated from their families. An investigator said cases like the ones for these guys were very hard to solve because of the lifestyles that the men led. I shook my head as I watched and continued to watch. It was as fresh as the first time I watched.

I received the call a few days after the television news broadcast, first by Lewis's family telling me that they had identified his body and that his funeral arrangements were being made. I attended the funeral out of respect and even spoke a few good words about him and his flair for life.

When I got the call from Kardell's family I took it harder than I thought I would. His mother and I sobbed and cried into the phone for over a half hour. His funeral service was just as beautiful as Lewis's. I broke down at the funeral as well. It was such a sad occasion but a tribute to his life. I got up and spoke words of love for a young life taken too early. He was just as much a son as he was a boss to me. The company that he started was taken over by Kardell's sister and was renamed Spencer and Lewis Advertising Group. I still stopped by to show my support and help keep the memory of the two slain guys alive. It was the least I could do for two guys who did their best at living but tragically died. I finally cut the television off, got on my hands and knees, and prayed that they were resting in peace. I even prayed for the guy who did this to them even though he put a gun to his head and took the easy way out when they raided his house.

For those of you who love happy endings keep turning the page for the alternate ending.

Chapter 40

Lewis

Blind Ambition: Rewound

When I returned home after my outing with Dennis I was just happy to be home. I surveyed my home and for the most part Kardell left everything in very decent shape. I wasn't worried about him being a slob, it was just the fact that someone else was living in my home for a week. His scent lingered on my furniture and I wasn't fond of that. I Febrezed everything I could to get it smelling the way I loved it.

I showered and primped myself for a nice slumber in my bed. I was just getting nice and cozy when my telephone chimed, letting me know I had a text message.

I rolled over to look at the message. I smiled because it was the last challenge from Mateo. It instructed me to get dressed if I wasn't and to wait outside of my apartment for someone to pick me up.

I did as I was told. I waited for about ten minutes before an all-black sedan with tinted windows pulled up. It looked just like the one that Mateo always picked me up in. The back door opened and I hopped in. I was blindfolded and duct tape covered my mouth. My heart was racing because I felt like this was it. I was going to complete this challenge and then walk off with the prize. I was going to leave all of this behind me.

Yes, I was apprehensive about where I was going and who I was with but I pushed caution to the wind and focused myself and my mind on the matter at hand. I was going to win. Besides, Mateo hadn't ever given me a reason to not trust him and I wasn't going to start now.

The ride was yet another long ride and I was getting antsy, and anticipation filled every part of me.

Then the car came to a stop. The back door opened and I was carefully helped out of the car as if I was precious cargo. I was led by the hand to an unknown location and we stopped. I heard a door being opened and I was once again led by the hand. The person leading me never said a word to me, just led me down a long hallway. All you heard was the sound of our footsteps hitting the floor as we walked. It was a warm environment wherever we were. Then we stopped once again. Another door was opened and I was led in once again. I was led to and sat down on what I assumed was a bed. Breathing only through my nose was weird for me. I couldn't speak nor could I see. They say that other senses get heightened when others are cut off. I could hear and smell. I heard only quietness and the smell was of nothing.

“Scoot back and lie still.” I heard Mateo's voice speak into my ear. “This one last challenge is for you to do the unthinkable. Something you've never done before. This will prove to me if you are the best man for me. When you hear the door shut again you may remove your blindfold.” That was all that he said. I wanted to reach out and touch his face but I didn't want to ruin anything by making any sudden moves. A few seconds later the door shut again.

I quickly pulled the blindfold off of my face. I blinked my eyes as I tried to focus them. When they began to focus I saw that I was in a room with low light and a very romantic setting, but what else I saw was something that blew my mind. There was a completely naked lady standing in the room. She was gorgeous. A vision of flawless beauty.

She walked over to me seductively. “Are you ready?”

I nodded my head but I didn't know what for. She then began to unbutton my pants and pulled them down to my ankles and she did the same for my underwear. Then it clicked in my mind.
He said do something I've never done before. A woman. I've never done a woman before.
Nervousness suddenly enveloped me because I was never attracted to a woman. Ever.

She put her hand on my penis and began to massage it. She was trying to make it hard, but it wasn't working. She tried and tried but nothing happened. In my mind I was trying to conjure up a fantasy with a man, any man, to get the blood flowing to my nether regions. But it wasn't working. All I could think about was the woman with her hands on my manhood trying to raise it from the dead. Then she went down on me and tried to give me a blow job. She was working feverishly but it was still to no avail. It was like working with a limp spaghetti noodle. She looked at me as I frowned in anguish. I began to thrust in her mouth to give some momentum but that too was a failed effort.
I can't believe that he would have given me this challenge.
This was not what I was prepared for. Who could prepare for this? Why would he do this knowing I would fail?

I felt heartbroken as she got up and looked at me with disappointment all over her face. I was still duct taped. I moaned for her to try again. But alas it was proven that in the fifteen minutes that she tried it wasn't happening. I was not a happy camper. I was devastated. She placed the blindfold back on and then I heard the door open and close again. Tears ran down the sides of my face and my heart sank because I knew that I had failed the challenge.

I banged my hands on the sides of the bed in a fit but ceased when I heard the door opening again. The person walked to the side of my bed. They pulled my clothes back up and then pulled me from the bed. We took the same trip that I took for me to get here. The entire ride back home I slouched in disappointment. When the car stopped, the blindfold and the duct tape were removed from over my eyes and mouth. The door open and this time I was instructed to get out. The car pulled off, leaving me standing there in front of my place of residence. I felt like a huge failure. I was sick to my stomach.

I walked the few steps to my door and went in. I wasn't feeling my best. I felt like I had lost everything. I felt cheated.

I went to bed that night confused and hurt but I was not going to work that way. I was going to fake it in hopes of another chance because that was what I texted Mateo before I went to bed that night/early morning.

I wanted another chance, another challenge, because I couldn't lose to Kardell and look him in the face every day at work. I just couldn't do it.

It was the Monday after the challenge and I was back at work dressed to impress but feeling like a wreck on the inside. I didn't do anything the whole weekend. I just lay in bed with the covers over my head. I didn't sleep much, bathed little, and I ate very little food. I didn't hear anything else from Mateo for the rest of the weekend and it almost drove me crazy. I couldn't believe that I lost the challenge. I got all the way to the end and lost. I was devastated. I didn't think that it was fair but as some people say “you win some you lose some”; but I didn't care about losing at this moment. Winning was everything and only losers said that shit. I felt so close and then to see it all slip through my fingers was just too much.

I went into the bathroom and cried at least twice today. There was still no word from Mateo. I knew why and it didn't take a genius to figure out that I had lost and it was over for me. I was now stuck at this job to look at my boss and all the rest of these boring people.
I know I am going to have to fuck a few good men to get over this one.
I just couldn't stand losing and then having to look into the smug and fake face of the winner. That shit was for the birds.

I watched my boss work today and he was pretending like he lost and that things were back to normal. I wanted run up to him and spit in his face and walk out of this muthafucka for good. But I didn't do that. I just held my ground and moved on with my life like I was supposed to do. I knew I was going dick hunting as soon as I got off. I was so pissed off that an orgy sounded just like it might make me forget all of this. At least that was what I hoped.

But that was short-lived. My work day had ended and I was headed home to get ready to go out and treat myself to some distractions. Just as I was about to leave I received a text message from Mateo that changed my whole mood. Two simple words: You Win.

I fell to my knees in sheer happiness and joy. A few tears escaped my eyes as I looked around my office.

Another text came through telling me to leave everything and meet Mateo at a specified location. I drove my car to a desolate place in Baltimore County, Maryland. There was a car waiting for me there. I got out of my car and practically jumped into the back of the same type of black car I had been in before. This time Mateo was in the back seat waiting for me.

“I'm so glad to be here.” I spoke with sincerity.

“I'm glad as well.” He smiled. “I can't wait to show you your spot in my life so just lay back and enjoy the ride.”

I did just that. I laid my head back on the seat next to Mateo.

“We have arrived.” Mateo's sweet voice said to me. I stretched a little as he got out and walked around to open the door for me. I got out and looked up at the same mansion that I had come to before. I smiled as I looked at my new home. I couldn't believe that this was all mines.

“Are you ready to spend forever with me?” he spoke as he gently turned me toward him.

“Yes, I was born ready. Here is where I belong.” I wanted to kiss him passionately but didn't want to seem like the ho I used to be. But let it be known that I was going to rock his world when we did get to the bedroom.

“Well let's go,” he said as he put his hand on the small of my back and we walked toward his home.

“There is something I want to show you.” We walked down a small hallway until we got to a room filled with books. He pulled on a book and a door slid open just like in a superhero's house, but this was real life and I was impressed and curious as to what he was going to show me.

The door revealed a set of steps that was surrounded with naked brick walls. As we went down the stairs the temperature changed from warm to chilly in seconds. The door behind us closed automatically with two clicks following it. Mateo was a rich guy and all that I could think about was the huge amount of money, jewels, and pricey valuables he had stored down here. He was about to show me his secret stash and I was excited. I was going to be, as Rick James said it, “I'm rich, bitch.” I floated down the hall with Mateo until we came to a door. He punched a few keys into a keypad near the door and the door slowly slid open. We walked in as the lights fluttered on, illuminating the entire room.

What I saw before me made my heart drop.

“This is where you will be staying.” Mateo spoke but my mind was focused on the things I was seeing in this room. “This is where you will be staying as a personal part of my living museum.”

“Living museum?” I looked at him like he had lost his mind. This room was filled with tall glass containers with men floating in some kind of clear liquid. They were hooked up to all types of machines that looked like they were keeping them alive. Their eyes were open and it looked like they were looking right at me. It looked like one of those containers they keep the aliens alive in all of the
Alien
movies. I freaked out when I saw the young guy whose flier I had in the glove compartment of my car.
This is what happened to him.
I now wished I paid more attention to the flier and not getting my clutches into Mateo. Now I was sure to be missing.

“You're crazy. You have lost your mind,” I said as I inched away from him and toward the door. I wasn't fast enough because he grabbed me by the arm and pulled me back toward him. This time it was not gentle and the look in his eyes was glazed and crazy.

“Let me show you my first lover.” We walked over to the first glass container. I was crying uncontrollably. He had an engraved metal plate in front of him that read M
ARK
H
UBBARDâ
2004. I gasped because that meant that this guy has been down here almost seven years. I knew then that the chance of me getting out of here alive was slim to none but that didn't stop me from begging.

“Mateo, please let me go. Please just let me leave. I won't say anything to anybody. I promise. I never even met you. I'll get selective amnesia,” I pleaded.

“Mark was my first love,” he said, ignoring me. “He was the prettiest, most handsome guy and as you can tell he still is. He wanted to break up with me and leave but I couldn't let anyone else have him. I didn't want him to die so I came up with this way to keep him alive and pretty. I don't get to hold him like before but now I get to see him when I want to; just like it will be with you.”

“Mateo, it doesn't have to be this way. I won't leave you. I love you.” I reached up and touched his face.

“I know you do. That is why I want to put you on display, to keep that love fresh and alive forever.”

The door to the room opened up and two guys walked in the room. They walked toward me. I broke loose from Mateo and I tried to do a football play and zigzag past them because there was some distance between me and them. I almost made it past them until I tripped over one of my own feet and fell flat on my face. I lay there sobbing to myself and my impeding death. I didn't have the will or the hope to try to get up.

“This is what you wanted. You fought so valiantly to get here and now this is where you will be with me.” Mateo spoke over me. I continued to sob and prayed to God for a way out.

The sound of a loud boom and then the resonating pounding of what sounded like stampeding feet interrupted my sobbing. Then there was a loud boom that led to dust and smoke filled the room.

“Freeze, get your hands in the air. This is a raid!” I heard what I assumed was a law enforcement officer yelling into the smoke-filled room. I silently thanked God for His intervention on my behalf.

It didn't take long before Mateo was in handcuffs along with the two men who were about take me into their custody.

One of the officers helped me off of the floor. “Are you okay?” he asked sincerely.

I was shaken up but I couldn't help but notice that this guy was a very good-looking guy, even in my current situation. He was dark complexioned with dark brown eyes to match. He was very gentle with me as he put his arm around my waist to help keep me steady.

Other books

The Memory Box by Margaret Forster

Dralin by Carroll, John H.

Titanium (Bionics) by Michaels, Alicia

Momentum by Imogen Rose

The Bad Luck Wedding Dress by Geralyn Dawson

Deadly Deceit by Jean Harrod

Coppermine by Keith Ross Leckie

Sleight of Hand: A Novel of Suspense (Dana Cutler) by Margolin, Phillip

Dogs of War by Frederick Forsyth

Smoketree by Jennifer Roberson