Thin Ice 3 - Armageddon (19 page)

“Where you want him,” Train asked still holding the man up by his shirt.

“
Last room on the right,” LaRon directed as Train nodded and again half dragged the man toward it.

LaRon was still smiling when Train remerged moments later and entered the kitchen where LaRon sat.

“
You want a drink,” he asked as Train told him he would.

“
Lemme hit the boss up,” Train told him pulling out his cell.

LaRon said nothing as the man texted Mook and let him know he and the package had arrived. LaRon liked the man’s faithfulness and dependability. The return text was immediate. Train looked at LaRon remorseful, apologizing to him.

“
Its straight man, don’t trip,” LaRon told him.

He knew Mook had enlightened the man to his position in the organization.

“
Is there someplace I can crash for a few hours before I hit the road,” Train asked. LaRon told him to take the first bedroom on his left.

“
Thanks,” Train replied calmly rising and heading into the room.

LaRon was again pleased and impressed with Mook’s selection for lieutenant. Sighing deeply after throwing back his shot, LaRon rose and headed into the back bedroom where the package waited. It was time to work out that stress.

*****

“
Shh, baby its okay, I’m right here,” Tariq told Kaitlyn as he rocked her. She awakened screaming and crying out for Khari. He knew the incident was replaying itself in her dreams. She was hugging him tightly still sniffling slightly, her body trembling. Tariq hated how helpless he felt when she went through this.

“
It’s okay,” he told her again softly.

“
I killed her,” Kaitlyn repeated again and again as Tariq held her and endured.

“
No baby, it was an accident,” he tried as Kaitlyn continued to mumble incoherently.

“
Do you think God hates me,” she asked out of the blue looking directly into Tariq’s eyes.

“
Honey no,” he told her immediately. “God loves you honey, I love you,” he told her still holding her gaze.

There was something very off about Kaitlyn right now Tariq thought as she continued to watch him wordlessly.

“
He’s punishing me,” she said again as Tariq sighed once more.

“
No baby, it’s not like that,” he told her as she finally dropped her gaze and closed her eyes again, still lying in his arms.

Tariq felt her breathing become even and knew she’d fallen back to sleep.
What the hell can I do to help her get over the loss,
he wracked his mind. Tariq knew Kaitlyn would eventually implode holding everything she felt inside her and never letting it out. Tariq also had sense enough to know Kaitlyn would never agree to any professional help of any kind.
Please God,
he began to pray kissing her forehead.
Help my wife,
Tariq prayed simply, kissing her again and rocking her gently. Kaitlyn stirred slightly drawing even closer to him as he held her tighter. Whatever the horrors were that plagued her, tonight at least, Tariq was determined to keep them at bay and her overloaded mind at rest. Closing his own eyes moments later, he drifted off to sleep a strange feeling of peace overwhelming him and putting him into a deep and dreamless sleep.

*****

“Who was that,” Kim asked sleepily.

“
My girl,” Mook threw back as Kim turned to him fully awake.

“
Say the shit again,” she told him punching him in the chest.

Mook laughed and easily pinned her down in bed, holding both her arms with his hands.

“
My girl,” he told her as Kim’s eyes narrowed and she promised to kick his ass.

Mook burst into laughter, kissing her as she tried to turn her head.

“
Don’t be like that,” Mook told her kissing her neck softly.

“
Then tell me who it was,” Kim told him.

She really was irritated with him playing around and not telling her who texted him. She was still slightly raw about the whole Tae incident.

“
It was Train baby,” Mook told her as he kissed her lips softly again.

Relaxing, Kim smiled and told him that was all he had to say in the first place.

“
Didn’t I make you a promise,” Mook asked, looking into her eyes now, picking up on her earlier uncertainty.

“
Yeah,” Kim replied softly, ashamed for not letting it go.

“
So do you believe me or not,” Mook asked still holding her down and looking into her face.

“
I do, but,” Kim began as Mook sucked his teeth and let her go.

“Baby, wait, I didn’t mean it like that,” Kim tried jumping from bed to talk to Mook who’d already risen and was standing by the window looking out of it.

“
But what Kim,” he told her turning around so she could see the hurt registering on his face. “I was wrong, I admit that,” Mook told her. “But I apologized and I haven’t done shit since then to warrant you not trusting me,” he added as Kim swallowed hard and admitted he was right.

“
I just don’t wanna lose you,” she told him softly.

Mook took a deep breath and blew it out slowly.

“
Miss Kim,” he began calmly, pulling her into his arms. “I love the hell outta you, you hafta know that shit by now,” he told her as Kim nodded that she did. “How about we put this bullshit out of our mind, you come on over here and let me and fatty spend some time with each other, up close and personal,” he told her, kissing her neck gently. Kim smiled, her body warming in anticipation. “I think I’d like that,” she replied as Mook kissed her deeply, lifting her from the floor and carrying her back to the bed.

Placing her gently on it, he went back to his old tricks, grabbing the silky nightgown and ripping it from her body. “See, there you go again,” Kim whispered already on fire. “You can tell our daughter how she got made when she gets here,” Mook returned, wrapping her legs around his neck introducing himself to fatty once again.

15

“Good morning,” Jaron greeted Gabrielle coming into the room where she was. “Hi,” she returned quietly, her mind racing.

“
What’s wrong,” he asked walking over and sitting on the bed beside her.

“
How long are you two gonna keep me here,” Gabrielle asked.

She was homesick and being in the confined room day in and day out was taking its toll on her. Sighing deeply Jaron was about to answer her question when his cell went off again.

“
Yeah,” he spoke into the mouthpiece as Gabrielle remained quiet, having quickly learned the routine.

“
Are you serious,” he shouted scaring her as she jumped. “How the fuck that happen,” Jaron went on angrily, the caller obviously giving him bad news.

Gabrielle hadn’t seen him angry since the day at the riverfront. Thinking about it brought the horrible images back, as well as the anger at Corey’s cowardice.

“
Yeah, okay, yeah,” he said finally disconnecting, still frowning deeply.

Gabrielle remained quiet drawing her knees to her chest sitting against the headboard.

Pulling himself together Jaron regarded the frightened woman and spoke to her. “I’m sorry if I scared you,” he told her calmly.

“
It’s okay,” Gabrielle returned.

“
Come here,” he told her as she immediately complied.

Jaron took her into his arms, kissing her deeply, laying her gently back onto her pillows. “I would never hurt your Gabrielle, you hafta believe that,” he told her sincerely as she looked into his eyes.

“
I believe you,” she told him simply.

The crazy thing was she actually did believe him. The look in his eyes told her that somewhere along the way he’d fallen hard for her. He smiled again and kissed her softly. Gabrielle knew he wanted her again. They hadn’t been together since that first night three days ago.

“
What about the condom,” she tried again as Jaron looked into her eyes.

“
OK,” he said gently, pulling the Magnums from his jean pocket.

He really didn’t want to use one with her, but he knew she was scared. Gabrielle smiled and allowed herself to relax as Jaron began arousing her all over again.

Kissing her cheek softly as she lay sleeping afterward, Jaron rose and quietly made his way into the living room. He needed to make some calls and get instructions. His earlier caller informed him that Mace had managed to get himself locked up. He was pulled over heading to his girl’s house, driving a vehicle with expired tags. When they ran his license, warrants came back. When they searched him, they found three bags of crack and two bags of cocaine. He was looking at felony time now and the judge refused to set bail.
That ass is fucked,
Jaron thought angrily. Mace had always made foolish choices and did things without thinking them through. Dialing the number he waited for the call to connect.

“
Yes Jaron,” Tariq answered amiably.

Jaron gave him the rundown on Mace and his recent predicament. He heard the man sigh deeply.

“
Can you handle her alone,” Tariq asked as Jaron smiled and told him he could.

“
She’s very docile,” he told Tariq.

“
Seems we really have no choice at this point,” Tariq returned, thanking Jaron again for keeping his head and doing the job right.

Jaron swallowed hard knowing Tariq would probably kill him himself if he knew about the two of them being together sexually.

Disconnecting Jaron was thinking about the new developments. He was pleased he would have Gabrielle all to himself and didn’t have to worry about hiding his feelings when Mace was around.
Or wanting to shoot him myself for calling her a bitch,
Jaron thought angrily. Rising he went back into the room. Gabrielle had awakened and was in the shower he observed hearing the water run. She emerged moments later as he stood in the doorway watching her.

“
You wanna watch TV,” he asked calmly as she gave him a look.

“
What about your friend,” she replied cautiously.

Jaron smiled slightly and told her it was just the two of them now.

“
He had some other business,” Jaron lied as Gabrielle nodded knowing better.

She immediately recalled the earlier call.
He’s probably locked up,
she thought as she smiled and accepted Jaron’s invitation. She dressed and joined him as he sat on the sofa. Jaron immediately pulled her close and held her as they watched the movie he’d chosen. Gabrielle took the time to glance around the apartment, her eyes falling on the front door. She could see three locks, all deadbolts requiring a key to open them. Glancing again under the guise of repositioning herself she saw the back door. It held two deadbolts, but neither required a key. Making up her mind that would be her way out, Gabrielle began to bide her time and continued to enjoy Jaron’s company.

*****

Ian, Kareem and Mecca were up early headed to Seth and Peyton’s room. Knocking the door immediately opened as the three walked inside, greeting the other men waiting.

“
Damned car was impounded last night,” Peyton spoke angrily.

They’d spent most of the evening casually asking questions and paying for information when they finally got a lead on the car.

“
Doesn’t matter,” Ian told him as they all gave him their attention. “Find the number for the impound lot,” he threw out as Mecca quickly looked it up on his phone.

Dialing from his direction, Ian reached the operator.

“
Hi, I’m calling about the 1968 Chevy impounded last night,” he told the woman as she sighed lightly and told him she needed more than that. They had four of them on the lot.

Ian went on to describe the color and customization.

“
Hold on sir,” the operator threw back as she placed him on hold.

Ian waited patiently for her to return, actually enjoying the hold music, until she broke in once again.

“
Yes sir, that car is $718.67 to get out,” she told him.

Ian told her that was fine and if she could verify the address for him so he knew he had the right car. He was paying it for a friend and would hate to pay the wrong one. The woman chuckled and gave Ian the information he requested.

“
Thank you so much,” Ian replied. “And what is the latest I can come down,” he asked continuing the ruse.

Answering his question once again, Ian thanked the woman again and disconnected, turning to the men in the room and addressing them.

“
Let’s go find Brie,” he said simply, his tone anything but.

******

Tae was watching the news her eyes glued to the story about Python’s murder. “Fuck,” she swore aloud. Her cell rang. She wasn’t surprised when Kaitlyn’s name showed up.

“
Wassup girl,” she threw out still regarding the news report.

“
You see this bullshit,” Kaitlyn threw back tense as hell.

Tae told her she did.

“
This throws a crimp in our shit for real,” she added as Tae told her she knew. “Who else can we get another 5 keys from this short notice,” Kaitlyn asked.