Thin Ice 3 - Armageddon (22 page)

“
I didn’t see a phone, so I decided to try and get away instead, since I was alone,” Gabrielle finished, laying her head back on her brother’s chest.

         
Seth looked up at Ian who nodded slightly that he believed her. Sighing deeply, Seth rose, still holding his sister and began to carry her back to the truck as everyone else followed. As glad as they were to get Gabrielle back unharmed, there was a deep sense of disappointment that they hadn’t found and killed the men responsible for snatching her in the first place. Seth also had other questions for is sister, but they would wait, he thought continuing to hold her as they rode. He could see the jealousy in Peyton’s face as he glanced at the two of them during the ride. Arriving at the hotel, Seth again carried Gabrielle upstairs and laid her gently on the bed, since she’d fallen asleep. They decided to pack and leave tonight. There was no other reason to remain in the state as far as Seth was concerned, beside which, he had business waiting when they arrived home.

*****

         
Mook was enjoying lunch at the grill, having a bison steak and taking in the scenery as someone very familiar walked inside. He never slowed his progress, continuing to devour the steak as he kept a watchful eye on the visitor. The hostess turned toward his table walking the patron to their own, when their eyes finally met. “Hi,” Tae greeted him after telling the server she was fine and would seat herself. “Wassup,” Mook replied calmly, still eating.

Smiling still, Tae took her time looking him over, making sure he noticed.

“
May I,” she asked pointing to the empty seat in the booth.

Shrugging slightly, Mook said nothing as she took a seat and he got an up close and personal view of her beautiful peach complexioned breasts. His lust immediately began to stir.

         
Tae looked into his eyes as the waitress approached and asked for her order. She gave the woman a list of what she wanted and how she wanted it prepared; never removing her eyes from his. Alone once more after the server left, Tae spoke.

“
So, are you content just to undress me with your eyes, or do you want to do it for real,” she asked point blank.

Mook smiled slightly at her bluntness, finishing the last bite of his steak. “I think you already know the answer to that,” he told her calmly, sipping the beer he’d asked for. Tae smiled again, pleased with his response. “But,” Mook began, setting his glass down. “It’s not going to happen,” he finished as Tae again smiled slightly.

She was disappointed, but hid it well.

“
I think you’re sexy as hell, Mook,” she told him again honestly. “I’m not looking for a connection, or even asking you to leave your girl,” she went on as he continued to watch her wordlessly. “I just wanna appease my curiosity,” Tae finished and left the ball in his court.

         
Mook took another long drink from his beer and set the glass down again. “Well, I don’t lie, so I’m not gonna sit here and tell you I haven’t thought about it,” he began as Tae listened intently. “But I can’t hurt my girl like that, and she has done nothing to deserve being disrespected like that,” he told her calmly. “Tae, I’ll probably always wonder what it would have been like to fill you up,” Mook told her as Tae felt her thong becoming damp. “But, how about we both settle for the fantasy of, what if, and call it a wrap,” Mook finished and sat back in his chair, picking up his beer again.

Tae gave him a gracious smile and told him she thought that was a perfectly wonderful idea. The waitress brought her food as they ate lunch and conversed, no boundaries broken, a firm understanding of the line drawn between them.

*****

         
Jaleesa was stuffed. The steaks had been cooked to perfection and the salad and corn set them off.

“
Man, that was good,” LaRon commented as Jaleesa readily agreed with his sentiment. “I need a nap,” she chuckled as he laughed with her.

“
Come on, lets go take one,” LaRon suggested.

Jaleesa rose and followed him to their room, undressing and getting under the comforter. LaRon joined her moments later after shutting down the grill and washing his hands. He pulled her close holding her and looking into her eyes as she looked into his.

“
You are absolutely beautiful,” he told her sweetly as Jaleesa smiled and kissed his cheek.

Reaching over her, LaRon opened the drawer of her nightstand and handed her the black velvet box.

“
What’s this,” Jaleesa asked.

“
Open it,” LaRon replied simply.

Flipping the lid of the box upward, Jaleesa gasped as she saw the 4-carat ruby and diamond encased tennis bracelet.

“
Deuce, this is beautiful,” she told him sincerely.

         
LaRon smiled at her reaction. He knew Jaleesa loved rubies. They were her favorite stone. He owed her that bracelet and so much more.

“
I’m glad you like it,” he told her quietly, kissing her lips again and taking the box from her hand, placing it back on the nightstand as the kisses became more insistent and his hands began to roam her body.

“
Tweety, baby,” LaRon murmured as he continued to kiss and arouse her.

Jaleesa closed her eyes allowing his touch to envelope her completely.
Are you gonna sleep with Mecca too,
her conscience threw at her, bringing Peyton and her indiscretion screaming into her conscious thought stream. She was confounded at the moment. LaRon had cheated on her. He’d hit her again. He’d spent the last few years taking her and their relationship for granted.
But you love him, still,
her mind told her as LaRon’s tongue brought her back to reality and the orgasm gave her blessed release.

          “
Mmm,” Jaleesa moaned as LaRon continued to his work, desperately wanting her to give them another chance.

He slowly kissed his way back up her body.

“
Tweety, my sweet Tweety,” he murmured as she felt him enter her, bringing a loud appreciative moan from her.

She didn’t realize how deprived she’d felt until that particular moment. Her sex drive seemed to be on overdrive.
Shit,
Jaleesa thought a realization gripping her. She was pregnant again.
Dammit Deuce,
she thought as he continued making love to her and bringing her swiftly to orgasm. There was no doubt in her mind he’d managed to knock her up again. Jaleesa knew it wasn’t Peyton’s child. She’d made him use not one, but two condoms, when they had sex.
Now what the hell am I gonna do,
she thought as LaRon returned to her  lips, kissing her deeply and taking her mind off anything except the fantastic sensations he was bringing as he continued his ascent to release. They both came hard moments later, holding each other tightly and breathing rapidly. As Jaleesa stroked his back, her mind continued to race. So much had changed in the last few minutes.

18

         
Kim was still pissed about the interruption yesterday. She and Hope were just about to actually talk when Mook called and told her he needed her. Thankfully the woman had graciously agreed to stay another day and Kim was determined nothing would get in the way of their conversation today. After meeting the woman, she was more intrigued than ever to get to the bottom of the mystery she’d stumbled into. Mook had informed her yesterday that he, Tariq and LaRon were headed to Louisiana this weekend on business. Kim had questioned him about the type of business but Mook was extremely vague and never truly answered her question.
What the hell are they really up too,
she wondered dressing and readying herself to once again visit Hope at her hotel.

          “
That’s a cute dress,” Mook told her as she walked back into the bedroom where he was still lying down watching ESPN.

“
Thanks,” Kim threw back smiling as she looked for her shoes.

Mook took in the jersey material and how it clung to her every curve. It was a cute tangerine and olive combination with drawstrings on the side. As she turned to slip her shoes on, Mook frowned slightly noticing the length of the dress.

“
Umm, you gonna put on some tights, some leggings or something with that,” he asked calmly.

Kim straightened up and turned toward him frowning in confusion.

“
Baby, its 80 degrees outside,” she told him still smiling slightly, thinking he was kidding.

“
OK, then you need to change,” Mook told her, his gaze never leaving her.

“
Why, I thought you liked the dress,” she threw back not liking where the conversation was headed.

          “
Miss Kim,” Mook began and she knew.

He was jealous as hell and Kim already knew that, but normally Mook never complained about her outfits, well not to the point of asking her to change them.

“
That shit is too short, clinging to your ass and shit,” he spat getting angrier she could tell.

“
Baby, its thigh length,” Kim tried as Mook raised an eyebrow.

“
Who’s fuckin’ thigh, a midget,” he threw out as Kim almost laughed but didn’t.

“
Mook, don’t be like this,” she tried, giving him her sweet voice.

Mook continued to look at her as he rose and walked over to her, standing right in front of her now.

“
Take the bullshit off and put on some clothes or your ass ain’t going out of this room today,” Mook replied, his tone still no nonsense.

Kim sucked her teeth and rolled her eyes as she began removing the dress. Normally she would have stood her ground, but she needed to get to Hope today, so she gave in. Mook smiled slightly unseen by her, watching her pout and grumble as she searched for something else to put on.

“
I’ll find you something in a minute,” he told her picking her up and throwing her playfully back into bed.

“
Stop boy, I don’t have time for this,” Kim tried to protest as Mook climbed in and pinned her down kissing her deeply, her body telling her mind to shut up, because they definitely had time for this.

*****

         
Gabrielle was relaxing inside the small boat house that sat on their property. It was where they kept the fishing boat Seth and Peyton went out into the swamps and back waters in. She liked coming out here to think. It was quiet and peaceful and normally neither of her brothers ventured to the place unless they were going fishing. Her mind was on Jaron. As much as Gabrielle didn’t want to admit it, she missed him. She missed his smile, his gentle touch, the soft resonance of his voice as he held her after they’d made love.
What are you thinking stupid girl, he kidnapped you,
her mind tried to tell her heart. Gabrielle still couldn’t bring herself to be angry with him. Jaron had done everything he could to make her happy while they kept her at the apartment. He’d never hit her, or cursed her.
What you gonna do about your situation,
her mind asked again as Gabrielle sighed deeply. Her period still hadn’t shown up. She really wasn’t worried just yet. It was only a couple days late and of course given all the stress she had been under, that could very well be the reason it hadn’t shown up.

         
Tired of thinking about it, Gabrielle rose and headed back toward the house, her mind on Ian now.
He’s never gonna love you,
her mind told her as Gabrielle finally accepted that truth and relegated her feelings for the man to the back of her mind as a lovely fantasy. Getting closer to the house she heard raised voices alerting her Seth and Peyton were fighting yet again. Gabrielle couldn’t understand why they seemed to always argue. It was if they hated each other and only tolerated each other for short periods of time. Sighing deeply she silently crept into her room as the argument continued. Gabrielle closed her eyes trying to block them out as they moved to various rooms throughout the house. She only hoped it didn’t escalate to violence. Peyton was a lot of talk, and of course with a weapon in his hand he was brave, but he was no match for Seth’s brute strength. Stretching and closing her eyes, Gabrielle wrapped the pillow around her head and drifted into a light sleep.

*****

         
Shells watched Tae as she made the second pickup.

“
Dis gal she don’t learn,” he mumbled, following her once more as she left.

He’d left Kaitlyn once she entered the gym, knowing she would be there for the next couple of hours. She seemed to enjoy working out and went every day he soon found out while tailing her. Tae continued on her way, arriving moments later at her apartment once again. Shells parked and waited until the got all her bags out of the car, minus the dope, which he saw her stash under the spare tire. He was irritated but didn’t know why.
Should I go and confront her, take the dope from her,
Shells continued to ponder before recalling his conversation with Tariq yesterday.

          “
Damn,” Shells mumbled aloud again. It finally hit him. The women were dropping the dope in Louisiana.
They too damned headstrong the lot of them,
he thought rolling yet another blunt and smoking it. Shells had done a bit of investigating into the three women after talking to his friend yesterday. Seemed all three used to run dope and weapons on a regular basis and were damned good at it. Still Shells knew that the game had changed tremendously in the years they’d all been idle. While he knew Tae was still active for the most part, she wasn’t running large scale like they were trying to do now.
There is no honor no more,
Shells thought of the entire business. Personally he preferred the assassin end of the job and that’s why he stuck to it. Noticing movement, Shells looked up to see Tae returning to her car and backing out once again. Starting his own vehicle, Shells checked his watch, decided he had time, and began following her once again.
Tomorrow is gonna be a long day,
he thought of the road trip Friday morning to the Bayou.