Thin Ice 3 - Armageddon Page 4

  “What exactly are you asking me, Tweety,” she finally replied.

  “I’m asking you what the hell is going on in your mind,” Jaleesa told her, still searching her eyes for answers, but seeing only blankness.

  “What are you talking about,” Kaitlyn again hedged.

  “Because I told Tae I miss the life?” she asked. “Is that what this 3rd degree is about?”

  Sighing deeply Jaleesa tried again.

  “KiKi, I know you, stop tryna play me, just tell me what the hell is up,” she told her friend growing frustrated with her evasiveness.

  Kaitlyn continued to regard the woman in front of her as her mind processed what she did and didn’t want to reveal. Jaleesa was her girl, her friend, the closest thing to a sister she had. But Jaleesa had changed. She was a mother now. She was Deuce’s wifey. Could she trust her to keep her secrets like she had once upon a time? “You’re going back aren’t you,” Jaleesa finally threw out as Kaitlyn sighed softly.

  “Yes,” she answered honestly, praying she wasn’t wrong about her friend keeping her secrets still.

  “How are you gonna pull that off without Tariq finding out,” Jaleesa whispered.

  “It’s not as hard as you think,” Kaitlyn told her calmly.

  From that answer Jaleesa knew this was something her friend had been plotting for a long time and she’d already worked out every logistic of it.

  “I want in,” Jaleesa told her calmly.

  It was Kaitlyn’s turn to look shocked. “Why,” she asked plainly.

  Jaleesa sighed deeply herself, replaying her life as it was here lately.

  “So this muthafucka is hitting’ you again and you haven’t capped his ass,” Kaitlyn hissed, angry as hell.

  Jaleesa smiled slightly seeing the old Kaitlyn re-emerge.

  “It’s not a priority right now,” Jaleesa returned as Kaitlyn gave her another look but didn’t press.

  “I have contacts lined up already,” Kaitlyn told her as Jaleesa nodded her understanding.

  “Is that the real reason Tae is here,” Jaleesa asked as Kaitlyn smiled again.

  Jaleesa had to give their friend credit. Tae hadn’t breathed a word and her demeanor had given away nothing.

  “So what’s the next move,” Jaleesa asked as Kaitlyn began telling her about the caper they were going to pull this weekend.

  “Tariq thinks I’m going on a girl’s trip with Tae, so of course with you coming along he won’t suspect anything differently,” Kaitlyn told her as Jaleesa nodded thoughtfully.

  “Where we goin’,” she asked as Kaitlyn looked deeply into her eyes again.

  “Louisiana,” she said simply as Jaleesa’s eyes narrowed and she frowned slightly.

  “If you wanna settle that score, do it later,” Kaitlyn told her, effectively reading her mind. “This trip ain’t’ the time,” she added as Jaleesa told her it was cool and they made a few more plans before changing the subject and smiling, took the salads outside and admonished everyone to begin eating.

  3

  Mook and Kim were arguing. They didn’t do it often, but when they did, it was always spectacular.

  “So you wanna fuck her or what,” Kim yelled as Mook looked at her and said nothing.

  That pissed her off even more. It was bad enough he’d disrespected her at the party looking at Kaitlyn’s friend, Tae. Now he wouldn’t even engage her in an argument. “Why are you trippin’ over nothing,” Mook asked still trying to stay calm.

  “What the hell you mean, nothin’,” Kim replied getting angrier. “You were basically undressing her with your eyes,” she railed. “What kinda bullshit is that,” she threw out as Mook continued to remain quiet.

  “I should have known if she was friends with KiKi’s bitch ass, she would be a whore,” Kim angrily told him.

  Mook finally spoke. “What is your beef with KiKi anyway,” he asked tightly. “The woman has never been anything but nice to you, yet you can’t stand her,” he pointed out. “Why the fuck is that,” Mook questioned giving her a look of his own this time.

  “I just don’t like the bitch,” Kim threw back hotly.

  “Why,” Mook questioned again.

  Sucking her teeth, Kim refused to answer, simply rolling her eyes at him.

  “Hmph,” Mook replied, picking up the Jose bottle and taking a drink from it.

  “Maybe you don’t like her because she’s with Top and you’re not, that it?” he threw out as Kim regarded him again.

  “What, you think I ain’t know you had a thing for Top,” Mook baited her. “Yeah, I was well aware of it, but shit,” he threw out shrugging slightly and taking another long drink from the tequila. “I thought I made you happy enough to be over that bullshit,” Mook told her eerily calm.

  Kim knew he was livid now. He only got that calm when he was well past the point of furious. Flashbacks of the day he killed Freight came to mind as she finally opened her mouth to speak.

  “I’m not into Top like that,” she defended herself.

  Mook laughed a sinister laugh and called her a liar to her face.

  “You think I missed the look in your eyes at the barbeque tonight,” he told her getting right up in her face.

  “Nah, you tryna turn shit around so you can justify that bullshit you pulled with Miss Tae thang,” Kim told him, her anger returning, as did the fear.

  She did still have feelings for Tariq, but she thought she was doing a good job at hiding them. Kim would never cheat on Mook, but for whatever reason, her heart just was not over Tariq.

  “I ain’t got to turn shit,” Mook told her hurling the tequila bottle against the wall where it shattered.

  Kim jumped at the violent movement, never taking her eyes off him.

  “Yeah, I thought Tae was sexy as hell,” he spat looking directly into Kim’s eyes. “But I ain’t never fucked around on you, and I don’t plan on starting now,” he told her as she continued to breathe hard but say nothing.

  “My thing is,” Mook began again, still furious. “You need to figure out what you’re gonna do about your little infatuation with Top,” he told her as Kim opened her mouth to speak and he cut her off. “Cause I’m done playin’ second best, period,” Mook finished and grabbed his room key walking out of the door and slamming it behind him.

  Kim again jumped at the gunshot sound of the door closing, sinking to the bed, her head in her hands as she struggled to figure out just what the hell was going on with their relationship and how she could stop whatever it was from destroying it.

  *****

  Ian fought the urge to get out of the car and walk to the front door, ring the bell and blow Tariq’s brains out when he opened it. Instead he sat in the car and continued to watch the house, catching brief glimpses of Kaitlyn as she moved about. The door opened about thirty minutes after he arrived and he watched the woman come outside as Kaitlyn walked her to the car. Ian smiled seeing her. She was still so beautiful and he loved her with his whole heart. Watching them and knowing Kaitlyn’s body language, Ian sensed something was going on. He also noted that once Tariq joined them outside, the women immediately changed the subject and stopped talking. Interesting, Ian thought, vowing to find out exactly what was going on in the event it proved useful to him.

  “You want us to snatch her,” Peyton asked eyeing the woman as she got into her car.

  “No, but let’s follow her so we know where she is,” Ian replied as Seth nodded slightly and started the car pulling out after giving Tae ample head start.

  Seth thought about Kaitlyn as he drove. She was even more stunning in person, he mused, careful to keep his feelings and observations to himself. He had no doubt about Ian’s attachment to the woman, nor the depths of his depravity against anyone he thought posed a threat to him getting her back. She may not want him back, Seth thought and almost smiled, catching himself at the last moment. So what happens when you finally meet her in the flesh, Seth’s mind asked. He was more than a little attracted to the woman and the
thought of not being able to at least communicate his desire angered him. Still, right now wasn’t the time to make waves. He was going to bide his time and wait. Ian would line up all the dominoes for him, and when the time was right, Seth planned to set the trap in motion.

  “Aaah, Tae,” Ian murmured after he saw the woman’s destination.

  He hadn’t recognized her since she’d cut and colored her hair.

  “You know her,” Peyton asked.

  “Yes,” Ian answered simply as his mind clicked. “Keep an eye on her,” he told Seth as the man nodded his understanding, starting the car and heading back to the house they were staying at.

  He would drop Ian off and he and Peyton would return and keep Tae under surveillance.

  Peyton was smiling to himself as they drove. Hanging out with Ian had so far been quite the adventure. He liked this side of the business far better than the stolen equipment they moved in their own operation. I wonder if he’ll let me come on with him, Peyton thought. He sighed lightly thinking about Seth and what would become of him. His brother wasn’t smart enough to run the Louisiana operation by himself, but Peyton was tired of nickel and diming it. Ian had big paper rolling through his accounts and the couple of underground dens they’d visited since they came to Atlanta were hotspots with huge profit. Peyton smiled again thinking about the sexy woman he’d met while grabbing a bite to eat. Checking his phone, he was pleased to see he’d kept the number. He would call her the first chance he got to be alone. He definitely wanted to spend time with her and of course, inside her. Smiling again, he checked the number once more and looked out of the window again as they finally arrived at the house.

  “I’ll see you two in the morning,” Ian told them as they both bid him goodnight and pulled away from the curb, headed back to Tae’s house.

  *****

  “Tonight was fun,” Jaleesa remarked lightly as LaRon came into the bedroom from the shower.

  “Yeah, it was straight,” he remarked, heading to his side of the bed and sitting on it.

  “I was surprised to see Tae,” he threw out trying to figure out what the women were up too.

  LaRon wasn’t stupid. There was something brewing and Tae was right in the middle of it. He knew she didn’t like him, and he barely tolerated her. That’s cause you wanted to fuck her, he mind accused as he pushed the thought away and returned his attention to Jaleesa.

  “Well we’re friends, and we hadn’t seen her in a while, so KiKi invited her,” Jaleesa told him nonchalantly.

  LaRon grunted but said nothing more.

  “Did you check on Jashon,” he asked, changing the subject.

  Jaleesa assured him she’d called her mother earlier checking on their son.

  “He’s fine,” she told LaRon, finally pulling back the comforter and climbing in. “Full of pound cake that mama made, but fine,” she chuckled as LaRon smiled with her.

  His phone vibrated as he snatched it from the nightstand.

  “Business,” Jaleesa questioned, giving him a look.

  “Yeah baby, sorry,” he told her as she shrugged slightly and turned over closing her eyes.

  LaRon rose and made his way into the living room, careful to close their bedroom door behind him. Dialing the number, he waited for it to connect.

  “Hello,” Kysha answered calmly.

  “Why the fuck are you texting me this late and you know I’m at home with my girl,” LaRon hissed in the phone, careful not to talk too loudly.

  “I texted you cause I wanted to talk to you,” Kysha threw back smartly. “I keep telling’ you I ain’t goin’ away and neither is this baby,” she added as LaRon continued to see red.

  “What do you want,” he asked simply, wanting to get her off his phone so he could go to sleep.

  “I need some money,” she told him as LaRon sighed deeply and asked how much.

  Kysha gave him the amount and he promised to deliver it in the morning.

  “That’s cool,” she replied calmly. “Are you going to my doctor’s appointment with me,” she threw in as LaRon again sighed deeply and told her yes.

  Satisfied for the moment, Kysha told him goodnight and disconnected. LaRon went into the den and grabbed the vodka from their bar, making himself a stiff drink and gulping it down.

  You gotta do something about this damned hood ass girl or she’s gonna destroy your life, he thought as the liquor warmed him. LaRon continued to brood in the dark for the next forty minutes. Rising finally his mind somewhat at peace, he ventured back into his own darkened bedroom finding his wife fast asleep. LaRon gingerly climbed in bed and pulled Jaleesa close. He began kissing her lips and neck softly, fondling her breasts until she awakened enough to kiss him back. He took his time and slowly, meticulously, and lovingly, aroused his wifey until he had her begging him to enter her. LaRon closed his eyes as he made love to Jaleesa inhaling her scent and loving every nuance of her body. He couldn’t lose her. No matter what he’d done or how stupid he’d been, he could never let this beautiful woman leave him. LaRon heard Jaleesa cry out her pleasure as he felt her body respond. Returning to her lips he kissed her deeply, telling her how good she felt to him in her ear after the kiss ended. Jaleesa moaned deeply as LaRon again found her spot and stroked her to orgasm. Please let her get pregnant again, LaRon prayed silently as he finally reached his peak and came hard, collapsing on top of his beautiful wifey who was still softly moaning her pleasure at the act they’d just completed.

  *****

  Kaitlyn and Tariq were relaxing and enjoying a drink now that all the guests were gone.

  “Did you have a good time baby,” he asked looking into her eyes.

  “Yes, it was wonderful,” Kaitlyn replied honestly.

  Tariq smiled and told her he was glad.

  “What’s that look for,” she teased knowing very well what was on her husbands mind.

  “Just thinking how damned beautiful you are,” Tariq replied as Kaitlyn blushed slightly. “You and Tae finalize your plans for your trip,” he asked, changing the subject for the moment.

  “Mmhm,” Kaitlyn replied smoothly. “I think Tweety is coming too,” she added as Tariq nodded and told her it sounded like a plan.

  “I want you to have a good time, baby,” he told her sweetly, bringing all the guilt of her lies and deception crashing into Kaitlyn’s psyche.

  She couldn’t tell him the truth though. Tariq would never willingly let her get back in the game. Right now she needed the thrill and distraction of being back inside the underworld.

  Standing Tariq walked over to her, taking Kaitlyn’s hand and helping her from her chair. As she stood facing him looking into his eyes, Kaitlyn kicked herself for lying to him. Don’t do this to this wonderful man, her conscience was trying to tell her. Kaitlyn pushed the voice away as Tariq leaned in and kissed her deeply, pressing himself against her as she felt his erection. Giggling slightly, Kaitlyn allowed Tariq to lead her to the bedroom where he once again pulled out all the stops and made love to her. Kaitlyn again prayed she didn’t conceive as Tariq arrived, staying inside her. He held her as he slept. Kaitlyn was awake, her mind racing. What she about to do was dangerous as hell. Not only from the mere standpoint of being illegal, her marriage would be over if Tariq ever found out about her activities. Kaitlyn closed her eyes blinking back the tears that wanted to come. She promised herself that she wouldn’t cry again, not ever, about anything. She’d let love make her weak, soft, and then love ripped her heart out when her daughter died. She knew Tariq wanted another child, but Kaitlyn couldn’t fathom going through that hell all over again. Carrying a child and loving it more than life itself, only to have it taken without thought. No, her childbearing days were over. Why don’t you just tell him the truth, her pesky conscience was back. Kaitlyn sighed deeply. Tariq would never understand how she felt. He would never agree to not having children again. Dismissing the truth as a non-viable option, Kaitlyn closed her eyes and let sleep take her, thoughts of their first run playing in her
subconscious.

  4

  Ian was awake and alert when Seth and Peyton returned to the house the following morning. Truthfully he hadn’t slept at all and had been up most of the night. He’d been tempted to take one of the sedatives Teresa prescribed, but fought the urge wanting to break the habit before getting back with Kaitlyn.

  “Anything of interest,” Ian asked calmly as the two men, fell into easy chairs that adorned the living room.

  “Missy Tae leads an interesting life,” Peyton remarked as Ian waited for him to elaborate.

  “She left the house again right after we got there,” he told him as Ian continued to listen. “Went to some deserted looking area and met a guy, did some business.” Ian nodded knowingly.

  “What is she into,” Seth finally asked, his curiosity getting the better of him.

  “Gun running, dope, money transport,” Ian answered as both men gave him an incredulous look.

  Ian chuckled at their reaction.

  “Don’t let any of these ladies we’re about to tangle with fool you,” Ian warned. “They are twice as deadly as they are beautiful,” he told them.

  “Even KiKi,” Peyton asked as Ian nodded.

  “Especially KiKi,” Ian returned.

  Seth’s mind was racing as was his brother’s he was sure. They’d seen a lot but in the parish the only dangerous women were the ones in the brothels. They would rob you blind if you let them or weren’t careful enough to pay attention. He knew there were women who were into the game like that, he just never thought he’d meet them. “What did the man look like that she met,” Ian asked his mind again racing.

  “Tall, dark skin, walked with a limp,” Seth told him.

  Peyton hadn’t really been paying that much attention to the man. Tae was much more interesting to look at with her sexy frame.

  “You know who it was,” Seth asked as Ian frowned slightly.

  “Possibly,” he replied pulling out his cell. “You two get some rest,” he told them. “Let me make some calls, maybe a run or two, and I’ll be back.”