Thin Ice 7 - Echoes of Reckoning (39 page)

Jaleesa grabbed her and held her as Tae and Kim continued to punish Layla. The male voice made them all pause as well as the .380 he held aimed directly at them now. “Ladies,” Shango greeted pleasantly. “As much as I’m enjoying the ass whipping, we need to leave now,” he told them.

Jaleesa released Cyiarra, as Tae, and Kim regarded him now. Layla was still on the floor trying to catch her breath, her nose and mouth still bleeding profusely.

“
Get up,” Shango barked at her as she began to slowly rise.

“
You,” he pointed at Cyiarra, grab everyone’s purse,” he told her as she readily complied.

“
Who are you and what the hell,” Jaleesa tossed out.

Shango regarded her and smiled.

“
Hmph, yes, you would be Tweety, correct,” he asked as she frowned slightly but didn’t answer.

“
Ladies, please believe that as beautiful as you all are, I will kill you if you try and run when we walk out of here,” he told them going on to give them instructions about their path.

“
I also have a partner outside with a bird’s eye view and an itchy trigger finger,” Shango once again spoke. “Please, let’s not get any blood on those beautiful dresses,” he added now beckoning them all out of the bathroom door.

The women were praying that one or all of their men were close, but the crowd blocking the view of the bathroom dashed those hopes quickly as Shango pushed them all out of the back entrance into the gun sights of his accomplice, ordering them inside the large van with the blacked out windows. Closing and locking the door, Shango climbed into the passenger side as the van started and they began their journey.

*****

Creeper and Pirate took the women in as they were locked into the various empty cells. A couple of them looked vaguely familiar but they couldn’t put a name to the faces.

“
What the hell,” Jaleesa yelled as the cell door locked and the men began walking away.

They weren’t the same men who’d taken them. Turning she took in Creeper and Pirate, before scanning the rest of the ward and seeing the other man lying on his cot, breathing labored as if injured.

“
What is this place,” she threw at the two men as they continued to regard all of them.

“
No clue,” Pirate returned simply.

“
How long have you been here,” Tae asked beginning to get a seriously bad feeling.

Creeper asked what day it was, then answered her question.

“
2 days,” he said simply.

Kim was still trying to absorb they were in cells, locked up and no one had a clue they were even missing.

“
What’s the angle with this shit,” Tae whispered.

The three women were locked in one cell, Cyiarra and Layla in another.

“
Let me out of here, I don’t belong in here,” she screamed as Jaleesa gave her a look.

“
What,” Tae asked seeing the look on her friends face.

“
The way she said the shit,” Jaleesa remarked still watching the woman.

Cyiarra was terrified and she sat huddled into herself on the cot.

“
No wonder Top ditched her,” Kim mumbled taking in the woman.

She knew her boss liked strong women, ones that could hold their own when shit got bad.

“
The way she said it like she was expecting the shit, but not to be in the same cage with us,” Jaleesa continued to talk as Kim now paid rapt attention with Tae.

“
This bitch set us up and got double crossed,” Jaleesa growled as Layla regarded them hearing her statement and rolled her eyes.

“
Well ain’t that fucked up,” Tae returned angrily. “Who did you sell us out to silly bitch, Ice,” she questioned as Creeper spoke up.

“
No, we were all trapped together,” he told her going on to point at the monitor.

“
Him and Ryan are in a room somewhere as well,” Creeper stated as his gaze now fell on Layla as well.

“
What do you know,” he questioned.

Layla began to scream again calling for someone to let her out.

“
Did you do this Layla,” Cyiarra finally spoke, timidly.

Casting a glance at her supposed best friend, Layla regarded her.

“
Damn CiCi, when are you going to get a damned clue,” she told her nastily.

“
Don’t sweat it, you’re not even a part of the shit, they’ll let you go,” Layla told her confirming everyone’s suspicions.

“
Part of what Layla, what is going on,” Cyiarra asked once again.

“
Never mind CiCi, just relax, it will all be over in a little while anyway,” she told her once more.

“
What did you do you trifling bitch,” Tae called out.

Layla gave her a condescending look and walked to the front of the cell, standing.

“
I handled my damned business, that’s what the fuck I did,” Layla threw back curtly.

“
All you tricks think you’re so big and damned bad, well we’ll see how bad that ass is when King Diesel gets done taking you down a notch or two,” she threw out smugly as Creeper and Pirates eyes narrowed.

“
What the fuck does King Diesel want with us,” they asked.

Both men had heard of the syndicate boss, though last they heard he was in Chicago with no ties or interest in the south. Cyiarra had heard enough. She was sitting in a cell, scared out of her wits, with a man or men who were planning to do god only knew what to all of them and Layla had set it all up. Rising and without warning, she grabbed Layla by the hair, maintaining a good grip on the short do, and began punching her in the face.

“
Kick her ass CiCi,” Kim egged her on as they all smiled enjoying the show.

The doors opened and the guards rushed in, pushing Cyiarra away and pulling Layla from the cell.

“
You bitch, I’m going to make sure he kills you,” Layla screamed at Cyiarra who gave her a resounding fuck you in return before sitting down and beginning to cry again.

*****

Ashlyn was having a ball and so far she hadn’t run into Tae or Shells. “This club is off the hook,” she spoke aloud as Sa’Cari readily agreed.

“
Here,” he told her handing her yet another flute of champagne.

“
I am not drinking anymore of this stuff,” Ashlyn told him her head already starting to spin.

Sa’Cari laughed and kissed her lightly.

“
You want something else instead,” he asked as she told him she was fine.

“
Let’s dance,” Sa’Cari spoke, pulling her onto the dance floor.

Ashlyn laughed but enjoyed the dance as the DJ continued to bump some of their favorite tunes. She was glad she hadn’t backed out when it fleetingly crossed her mind earlier. This was definitely something you had to experience firsthand to really enjoy.

“
You want to go grab some breakfast after we leave,” Sa’Cari asked.

Ashlyn nodded that she would, going back to her dancing as he smiled and held her hips while they bumped and grind. The song ended soon after and she told him she needed to go to the ladies room.

“
Come on, I’ll walk you,” Sa’Cari told her.

Ashlyn smiled again thanking him and taking his hand as they made their way through the crowd. The music cranked up and her hand slipped from his frightening her slightly as the crowd began to swell. Ashlyn felt herself being pushed backwards starting to fall when the strong arms caught her. The ether cloth pressed over her nose and mouth prevented the scream that tried to erupt as the darkness quickly consumed her and she was easily lifted and taken out of the back door and placed in the sedan on the back seat.

“
Secure her,” the man said as the order was carried out.

The car was started and left the parking lot just as low key as it arrived; no one the wiser of the cargo that was carried. Ashlyn carefully opened her eyes a bit. She wasn’t stupid. As soon as she smelled the ether, she went limp. They’d unfortunately left it on a bit longer and she was actually woozy but conscious. She couldn’t see the men in the front of the vehicle the way she was laying and the height of the headrests. She decided to look out of the window so she would possibly have an idea where they were taking her. All she saw were stars. Without warning the passenger turned around looking directly into her eyes.

“
She’s awake,” he said simply to the driver.

The car stopped almost immediately and back door flung open.

“
No,” Ashlyn screamed trying to fight back since they hadn’t tied her up.

The rag was again applied and held until the darkness became real and she didn’t see anymore of the trip they continued to make.

*****

Tariq was handed the note by the bartender saying a man left it for him. Shrugging slightly he opened it beginning to read. The scowl was deep as he questioned the bartender extensively about the person delivering the note. Gaining nothing useful he found Mook, Shells and Jacoury beckoning them to the private office and showing them the note.

“
What the hell,” Mook returned starting to see red.

“
They’re supposed to call,” Tariq returned as they all began checking their weapons.

His cell rang almost on cue and he answered putting it on speaker.

“
Good evening gentlemen,” the computerized voice greeted them.

“
Skip the bullshit and tell us what you want,” Tariq replied bluntly.

“
I want you all to come to this location,” the voice returned giving them an address.

“
Come unarmed, or I’ll execute your women in front of you,” the voice returned.

“
How do we know you won’t do the shit anyway,” Tariq questioned.

“
How do we even know you have them and they’re still alive,” Shells added.

There was a moment of static before the voices came through. They heard Jaleesa, Kim, Cyiarra, and Tae talking about the place they were being held. They also heard two male voices they couldn’t identify.

“
So, as I said before, be here in one hour,” the voice began again.

“
Who the fuck are you man,” Jacoury asked, tired of the game already.

“
You would probably know me by King Diesel,” the voice replied as they all frowned deeply.

“
One hour gentlemen,” he said once more and disconnected.

“
Man fuck,” Jacoury growled.

“
Why the hell is King Diesel kidnapping our women and fucking with us,” Mook asked.

They’d heard about the man as well. Tariq had gotten extensive information on the man’s exploits from a connection in the syndicate as the rumors flew.

“
Maybe he’s trying to take over,” Shells threw out.

“
You could be right, but shit why snatch the women,” Tariq returned.

“
Cause his bitch ass is a coward,” Mook returned as they all agreed.

“
Let’s get out of here and make it there,” Tariq returned.

“
Are we seriously going unarmed,” Shells asked giving them all a look.

“
Fuck no,” Tariq returned. “But as far as he knows we will be,” he added as they all murmured their agreement and jumped into Mook’s truck.

They hit the interstate and kicked up the speed trying to get to the designated spot in the time allotted. King Diesel was rumored to be very eccentric and would do something crazy like hurt the women if they were late.

“
I’m going to enjoy killing this muthafucka,” Tariq murmured.

Mook echoed the sentiment as Jacoury and Shells both grunted their agreement.

33

Ian and Ryan tensed when the door opened the masked arm men entered. “Come on,” they commanded as the two men followed.

The guards escorted them, two in front and two behind them into another room, larger than the other. There were metal chairs in the room but nothing else. A huge black curtain hung at what Ryan and Ian assumed was a window. The men said nothing as they left them in the room, the sound of the lock engaging as they did. Ian gave Ryan a look as they both swept the room looking for cameras. They didn’t see any readily placed in any of the usual places, however they were pretty sure there were some contained.

“
So now what,” Ryan threw out as Ian shrugged slightly.

Seemed their host was full of surprises.

“
Do you think he wants us to look behind the curtain,” Ian threw out as Ryan smiled.

“
If he does, fuck him, let it wait,” he replied as Ian chuckled this time.

“
This is some crazy shit,” Ryan once again observed.

“
Who do you think this fool is,” Ian again questioned.

Ryan shrugged and replied they could probably write books worth of lists to answer that question.

“
Sadly, you’re probably right,” Ian returned.

“
Probably not the best time to broach this, but getting back to Gabrielle,” Ryan threw out as Ian murmured slightly.

“
Ice, she’s fragile as hell, you know that right,” he told him as his brother once again grunted.

“
Makes it that much easier, don’t you think,” Ian returned as Ryan shrugged and told him yes.