Chapter 17

Kayla looked touched, but she still shook her head gently. "Melvin, please don't do this. No matter what, Felicia is still my sister. I wouldn't want you to do something like this for my sake…" Melvin didn't catch much of what she said, but hearing her calling his name sent him soaring. After pursuing Kayla for over a year, doing everything from sweet gestures to thoughtful favors, he had never once received a smile from her—let alone her calling him his name. Now, at her most vulnerable moment, if he didn't step in, who would? Determined, Melvin thumped his chest. "Kayla, don't worry about it. I promise to make this right. As long as you're happy, I'll do whatever it takes!" Melvin left the Fuller residence, dialing up one of his lackeys as he walked. By sheer coincidence, one of his men was Lance, the loan shark who lent Shawn money. "Lance, I need you to do me a favor." He pulled out a cigarette but tossed it aside, remembering how Kayla disliked smokers. "I need you to handl