Thin Ice 7 - Echoes of Reckoning (27 page)

Cyiarra returned the greeting asking how she was and if she were busy at the moment. Kim told her she was fine and was just driving right now.

“
I called to get your advice about something,” Cyiarra began.

Kim told her to go ahead.

“
Do you think I should go to the opening Saturday,” she asked as Kim frowned slightly.

“
Yeah, why not,” she immediately replied.

They needed Cyiarra to show up so her friend would too. Kim heard the heavy sigh before the woman spoke.

“
I don’t want to run into his other woman,” she told Kim pitifully.

“
Top isn’t going to do that,” Kim told her confidently.

The man was extremely private and obviously whoever this mystery woman was, Tariq had no intention of introducing anyone to her.

“
You don’t think so,” Cyiarra asked, the glimmer of hope in her voice.

“
No, not his style,” Kim returned without elaborating.

“
Okay, well, in that case, I guess we will come,” Cyiarra returned.

“
Who is we,” Kim asked. “You can’t bring the baby,” she joked as Cyiarra chuckled.

“
No, my girl Layla is coming with me,” she replied as Kim’s smiled broadened.

“
Oh okay, well yeah that’s straight,” she replied and continued to chat pleasantly with Cyiarra a few moments more.

“
You should make sure you dress to impress though,” Kim advised.

Cyiarra told her she was way ahead of her.

“
I’m going to give Tariq a little something to think about,” she confided giggling as Kim laughed with her.

“
OK then girl, I’ll talk to you later this week,” Kim replied as Cyiarra told her okay and they disconnected.

Everything was falling into place and Kim was pleased with all her plans. Suddenly hungry she pulled off the next exit heading for the wing place to get her favorite.

*****

King Diesel was sipping the vodka as he replayed the conversations between Tariq and Lauren. He was frowning deeply as he did, not liking the closeness of the two.
He could be a problem,
King Diesel continued to plot. The plan so far had been falling like clockwork. They didn’t need any variations or distractions; still if he had too King Diesel was prepared to deal with the man as well.
If she’s in love with him, why is she married to the other one still,
his mind continued to question. King Diesel’s estimation was the woman loved playing the elaborate game with the two unwitting men, watching them tear each other apart for her affection. It wouldn’t surprise him. Carlo Cisneros was known to do anything for attention. She was his daughter after all, so he presumed the apple didn’t fall far from the tree.
Blue better hope he can pull this off,
King Diesel again mused. He was deadly serious when he told his number one assassin he would take care of the woman if he couldn’t control her. Lauren Cisneros was too dangerous to run free without a handler, King Diesel concluded. She was every bit her psychotic father in his estimation. Thinking about the man always gave him a headache and today was no different. Taking a deep breath King Diesel calmed himself. They were days away from the culmination of almost three years hard work.

Soon Lauren would be where she should have been years ago, and he would exact the revenge he’d waited years to get. King Diesel was going to break all the cartels; the Bailey brothers, Tariq’s crew, Creeper and Pirate, even the great Ray Lockhart, he mused chuckling inwardly. He knew about all of them and King Diesel had set each and every domino in place to destroy them.

“
Then I’ll show them how a real kingpin handles his business,” he spoke arrogantly aloud.

Hearing the front door, he turned from his musing to regard Mason as he walked into the library.

“
Good afternoon Mason,” King Diesel greeted him pleasantly.

Mason returned the greeting accepting the drink that was offered.

“
Did you take care of your errands,” King Diesel asked.

“
Yes, everything is situated, thanks,” Mason replied as King Diesel nodded.

“
Did you get the rest of the things we needed,” he asked giving Mason a look.

“
Yes and the rest will be delivered tomorrow,” he told him, going on to assure King Diesel everything would be in place.

“
Good,” King Diesel replied. “Nothing can go wrong at this point,” he added as Mason assured him it wouldn’t and the two men continued to converse, beginning a game of chess and relaxing their minds.

23

India was smiling still as she and Brent walked inside the mall. He’d dropped by her office at the gallery earlier, out of the blue, asking if they could have lunch.

“
Brent, I’m so glad you stopped by,” India told him. “I needed a little diversion,” she added chuckling.

Brent told her he was glad as well.

“
We haven’t just hung out in a long time,” he returned as she readily agreed. “How are things with you and the baby,” he asked calmly.

India responded that everything was fine and they were having an ultrasound next week.

“
We’ll finally find out what we’re having,” she told him chuckling yet again.

“
I’m sure Pop is rooting for a boy,” Brent fished.

India told him she thought Ray was leaning toward a girl.

“
He keeps saying stuff about princess castles and such to decorate the nursery,” India told him as Brent smiled.

He felt a little bad then for the thing he was planning, but his father had left him no choice. Brent had worked hard to keep the business viable and part of the current times. His father was part of the past generation. Business was handled differently these days. They had amassed millions and Brent wasn’t sharing that with someone who hadn’t put a days worth of sweat into the empire.

“
Yeah, he probably does want a little girl to spoil come to think of it,” Brent told her recounting for her how scandalously his father had spoiled Diamond when they first found out about her.

They were heading downstairs to the Toys-N-Tots store. They boarded the escalator with Brent standing next to India. There was a man in front of them and a woman with a stroller and another small child behind them. Brent smiled thinking how perfect his plan would go with the woman behind them. The sign of course said no strollers and he planned to use that to his advantage. The child with the woman was squirming around as she struggled to hold onto him as well as the stroller. Brent kept an eye on them and as he figured the small child jumped down onto their step, bumping into India. He did the rest, feigning an attempt to catch the child he intentionally bumped India harder as she lost her balance. She careened forward, screaming shortly as she tumbled down the ten stairs of the escalator, landing awkwardly at the bottom the man in front of her also falling atop her, being taken down by her forward momentum.

People began to scramble from the food court to India and the man lying on the floor. He was conscious, speaking and able to move with assistance. India wasn’t moving or speaking. Brent rushed to her side putting on an excellent acting job as he pretended to be almost hysterical. The ambulance was called and Brent continued to be inconsolable as bystanders tried to help India.

Ray saw the commotion as he entered the mall. India texted him when she was leaving with Brent telling him of their plans. He’d been just wrapping his court case and unable to leave immediately. His gut told him he should have gotten here sooner as he continued to make his way getting closer to the growing crowd. The ambulance arrived and Ray heard the emergency personnel getting closer as they pushed past him, gurney in tow and disappeared into the crowd ahead. Reaching the crowd himself, Ray began pushing his way through, a curt excuse me as he by passed each person. Finally breaking through, his breath caught as he saw his precious India sprawled unceremoniously on the cold tile of the mall floor, unconscious. Ray’s eyes scanned the crowd as he saw Brent being consoled by an older woman on the other side of the area where India lay. Looking up Brent’s eyes connected with his father. Ray willed his expression not to change as Brent quickly averted his eyes and put his head down again. Ray quickly told the paramedics who India was to him and they began to barrage him with questions. They took her vitals and quickly put her on the gurney rushing out of the door and to the hospital with her.

*****

Sapphire was enjoying her second chance at life. The transplant had been a roaring success and she was doing very well. She took her medicine everyday as directed, ate right, and drank plenty of water.
Thank you so much God,
she prayed silently as she smiled again looking at the picture of Sa’Cari. Now there would be no reason for him to be worried about her all the time; or if she were in the hospital from some breakdown, failure or other. Sapphire also thought about Ashlyn and how happy they seemed together.
I wonder if he’s still going to ask her about marriage,
she thought sighing lightly. Sapphire had every reason to believe her son was still very serious about his future plans with the young woman. Sometimes he acted so much like Socrates it scared her. She supposed he would though, growing up with him and as much time as they spent together. Socrates and Sa’Cari were virtually inseparable after they first told him the truth about his father. Sapphire was so happy for that. She never wanted her son to be without a father though she’d made the choice for him when he was born. Sighing softly now she wished she could have had another child with Socrates before he died.
I guess it just wasn’t meant to be,
Sapphire thought knowing if she’d gotten the transplant earlier, they would have.

The knock came then and she smiled. Sapphire didn’t even need to ask as she opened the door greeting Horse on the other side. He’d been right there every step of the way since she had the transplant. When she’d awakened in ICU his face was the first she’d seen, smiling sweetly at her.

“
How’s my star today,” Horse teased as Sapphire chuckled and invited him in.

“
I’m fine Horse,” she returned still laughing. “You want some tea,” she asked as he told her that was fine.

“
You take your meds today,” Horse asked after she brought the tea into the room and handed him his glass.

“
Yes,” she replied giving him a look as he burst into laughter.

“
I’m just trying to help,” he replied as she told him she got that and continued to smile.

“
You talked to Sa’Cari,” he asked.

Sapphire told him she hadn’t.

“
I have to share his time now, you know,” she teased as Horse again smiled.

“
I see,” he replied.

She turned on the TV and they began watching American Gangster, one of her favorite shows. This episode was about Nicky Barnes out of Harlem, one of several notorious African American hustlers from back in the day. Horse loved spending time with her and today was no exception. He watched her, the new glow to her skin and sparkle in her eye since she received the kidney.

It wasn’t easy tracking down the donor family, but he’d finally done it. He sent the anonymous monetary gift to them the next day, in cash. Horse knew buying organs was illegal, but thanking someone for giving you life wasn’t and in his mind the 100K was simply a thank you.

“
You staying for dinner,” Sapphire asked as the show ended and they prepared to watch another episode.

“
If you’re okay with that,” Horse replied calmly.

She gave him another look as he laughed and rose heading into the kitchen taking down steaks for them.

“
They should be thawed by the time this goes off,” Sapphire told him coming back into the room.

She moved to the couch where he sat, anchoring herself in the middle. She could get a better view of the TV from this direction. Horse was finding it hard to concentrate on the program as the aromatic citric infused scents of her perfume began wafting through his senses again. Horse was watching her for a second time, taking in the grace and beauty she exuded. Sapphire turned without warning catching him staring. Horse immediately dropped his gaze.

“
What’s wrong,” she asked him.

“
Nothing,” Horse replied a little too quickly alerting her he was lying.

“
Horse, what’s going on with you,” Sapphire asked.

She’d caught him watching her on a couple other occasions with the look of one with something on their mind. Today she wanted to know what it was.

Picking up the remote she turned the set off and faced him again as he still looked straight ahead.

“
Spit it out,” Sapphire told him plainly. “What is going on, and don’t you dare tell me nothing again,” she warned.

Horse took a deep breath, silently cursing himself for letting her catch him watching her. He didn’t want to go this route. If she wasn’t interested it would make everything very awkward between them and that was the very last thing he wanted.

“
Say something Horse,” Sapphire pushed becoming slightly upset. “Is something going on I should know about with the money, with Sa’Cari,” she continued as he finally turned to her.