Thin Ice 4 - Resurrections (15 page)

“Hmph,” Shamar returned, ordering a small appetizer himself. “You don’t seem all that hype about the crew you runnin’ with,” he fished.

DeNoah sighed softly and told him it was okay.

“
Man, if it’s just okay, then maybe you with the wrong crew,” Shamar threw out.

“
I’ll be straight in a little while,” DeNoah replied cryptically.

“
I guess,” Shamar threw back. “Tell me about your crew,” he asked casually.

DeNoah sighed again before speaking.

“
They straight,” he replied as Shamar began to get a bit irritated.

He wasn’t making any headway with DeNoah and that wasn’t a good thing.

“
I heard that dude, Deuce, I think that’s his name,” Shamar began again. “I heard his chick killed him, then offed herself,” he added as DeNoah grunted slightly.

“
Yeah, Top’s wife’s best friend,” he said aloud as Shamar nodded again.

“
Top, that’s the one in charge,” he asked, his tone nonchalant.

“
Yeah,” DeNoah told him. “Deuce was his right,” he added as Shamar sipped his coke and grunted again.

“
So he flyin’ solo now,” he prodded, asking all the right questions.

“
Nah,” DeNoah replied. “He brought in new blood, new muscle,” he added and Shamar saw the bitterness.

“
So you odd man out now or some shit,” he asked hoping to play on DeNoah’s emotions.

“
Nah, Top is still straight with me,” he replied with a conviction he didn’t mean.

Shamar knew he was on to something, but he didn’t push anymore right now. He didn’t need DeNoah to get suspicious. Changing the subject he saw DeNoah visibly relax.
There’ll be another time and I’ll get everything I need from your gullible ass,
Shamar thought behind the smile as the stripper came to their table and began giving them a private dance.

******

Tae arrived at the closed facility and got out of the car. She was meeting a potential client who wanted to cater a luncheon at the country club she now stood in front of. He wanted to meet at the actual location so she could see for herself what was needed. Gathering her briefcase and locking the Range, she began walking up to the front door. Tae took in the beautifully landscaped grounds as she walked, loving the smell of the aromatic blossoms that seem to blanket her entire visual plane. She loved all the contrasting colors, finding them pleasing to her senses. She glanced over toward the man made lake that graced the landscape, thinking how tranquil and serene the water looked as it gently lapped at the edges where land restricted further movement. Still smiling slightly she approached the front door finally, surprised to find it unlocked, as she entered and began looking for her potential client.

Tae saw the signs leading the way to the banquet area and turned heading in that direction. The 3-inch steel gray stilettos illuminated the hallway with a sharp staccato symphony as she walked. She was dressed in the matching steel gray suit, tailor cut, with the soft azure accessories. Tae approached her destination and gently pushed the door open, walking into the empty room.

“
Mr. Sellars,” she called out after not seeing anyone or hearing any movement for a few moments.

Tae shrugged slightly and took a seat, opening her briefcase as she looked around the room and began to imagine set up and decorations.

“
I apologize for being late,” Creeper told her entering the room and startling her slightly.

Tae rose, holding out her hand and smiling as she accepted the apology and formally introduced herself.

“
It’s a pleasure Mr. Sellars,” she told him as Creeper smiled and motioned her to sit again.

“
I think we’re way past the formalities, don’t you Tae,” he threw back as she frowned slightly.

Damn, why didn’t I bring my gun,
she thought not liking his tone or the look Creeper was giving her now.

“Excuse me,” Tae tried calmly.

He chuckled slightly as she heard the door open and turned to the sound. Tae’s mouth dropped as Jalen walked in the room.

“
Jesus,” she said under breath ad Creeper chuckled again.

Walking right up to the table he sat down and looked into her eyes seeing the questions. Jalen was again praying his own nervousness didn’t show as he talked to her. He didn’t know how much longer he could pull off the acts Ian had him doing. He just wasn’t hard enough for this life and he was slowly beginning to realize that. Still the fear of destitution kept him playing along.

“
How’ve you been Tae,” he asked calmly as she swallowed hard but didn’t speak.

“
Something wrong,” Jalen baited her.

“
Who are you,” Tae asked finally, praying he didn’t say Ian.

Her mind was racing. She was positive that Ice was sitting right in front of her after some plastic surgery and she wasn’t leaving this room alive.

“
My name is Jalen,” he told her calmly seeing the woman relax visibly. “Jalen Bailey,” he clarified as she frowned deeply again.

Reaching inside the pocket of the suit jacket her wore, Jalen extracted several photographs, laying them on the table in front of her.

Tae’s eyes grew even bigger as she looked at pictures of her sister and niece; very personal, very close range pictures.

“
What do you want,” she threw back, her voice a pained whisper.

“
KiKi,” he said simply.

Tae began shaking her head no as Jalen sighed deeply.

“
Don’t make me kill them,” he told her with as much authority as he could muster.

Honestly just saying the words made him physically ill.

“
Why do you want KiKi,” Tae asked, trying again to keep the fear from her voice.

“
Personal business, unfinished personal business,” Jalen clarified. “Leave her alone, she had nothing to do with Ice’s death,” Tae threw out surmising Jalen had revenge on his mind. “How are you related to him anyway,” she asked still trying to buy time and think.

Jalen smiled slightly, cocking his head to the size and giving her a smirk. “How do you think,” he told her smartly. “Look at me,” he spat again.

Tae grunted and said nothing else.
I didn’t know he had any other brothers,
she thought as Jalen sighed again.

“
Call her,” he began again. “Tell her to meet you,” he went on as Tae continued to shake her head no.

She wasn’t going to help this fool kill her friend. She just wasn’t going to do that.

“
No, I’m not going to help you hurt her,” Tae finally told him, pushing the table hard and knocking Jalen off balance.

Jumping up she ran for the door, actually making it outside. Tae didn’t waste time wondering if they were chasing her as she ran back down the hallway, making it again to the foyer and seeing the front door. Just as she got close enough to touch the handle, Tae felt arms encompass her waist lifting her from the floor as the rag covered her mouth and nose. Fighting as hard as she could, Tae was no match for the ether’s brute strength as the darkness overtook her and she stopped fighting.

“
Put her in the car,” Jalen told Pirate calmly as he held the unconscious woman. “Ian will decide what he wants done with her,” he finished as the three men left the country club.

Creeper took Tae’s keys driving the Range and parking it discreetly out of sight.

*****

Gabrielle was thoroughly enjoying her day with Kim. She was happy for some female company for a change, instead of the constant dose of testosterone she was accustomed too. They were browsing Victoria’s Secrets and Kim was testing out fragrances while Gabrielle browsed lingerie.

“
Why did you leave me, Gabrielle,” the voice softly asked.

Spinning around, she again saw no one. Dismissing it as a thought in her mind, Gabrielle returned to her browsing.

“
How could you forget me,” the voice began again. “I love you so much.”

Closing her eyes and counting to ten slowly, she turned around, once again finding no one. Gabrielle was breathing hard now, frightened at the thing happening to her.
Am I going crazy,
she wondered. She knew the voice was Seth’s. She could never forget him or Peyton either for that matter. Gabrielle loved her brothers and there wasn’t a day she didn’t miss them.
So why is his spirit haunting you,
her mind threw out. Gabrielle recalled all the Bayou superstition she’d been taught all her life. Normally she didn’t pay it a bit of attention, but now she was experiencing it firsthand.

“
What do you want from me,” she said softly aloud to the spirit she thought was haunting her.

There was of course no answer and Gabrielle again was at a lost to explain the phenomenon.

“
Hey girl,” Kim greeted her walking back to where she was in the store. “You okay,” she asked, seeing the distress in the woman’s face.

Gabrielle nodded but Kim wasn’t sure she believed her.

“
Do you think this is cute,” she asked Kim, changing the subject as she held up the baby blue teddy and matching thong.

“
Yeah, for the five mintues Jaron is going to let you keep it on,” Kim quipped as they both burst into laughter and Gabrielle’s mood drastically changed for the better.

The women continued shopping a while longer, adding another three outfits and more cologne to their order and heading for the register. Victor took the small recorder from the salesgirl and handed her the five one hundred dollar bills. She thanked him and returned to her job, no questions asked. He continued to watch Gabrielle as she finished her transaction and both women left the store.
Soon enough,
he thought of them taking her and him finally getting the woman he wanted as a part of his life.

16

“What’s that look for,” Tariq teased as he came to Kaitlyn in their bed.

She smiled and said nothing. Tariq began kissing her, his hands caressing her body. They’d been in bed most of the day, making up for lost time when he was in Louisiana. “I like you when you’re extra horny,” he murmured as Lauren giggled.

She was extremely pleased with herself at the moment. She’d been free for almost a whole day now and no one could tell the difference.
Soon I’ll be free all the damned time,
she thought as Tariq began sucking her nipples gently.

“
Mmm,” Lauren murmured, loving the things he did to her.

This man can definitely get it anytime he wants it,
she continued to muse as Tariq went lower and Lauren’s eyes rolled back into her head.

“
Right there,” she moaned as Tariq took her clit between his teeth and sucked gently. She felt the orgasm hit her and her entire body shook.

“
Mmm, that’s nice,” Lauren moaned yet again as Tariq continued tasting her.

Lauren liked being with him. He was a really nice guy. He didn’t hit her or curse at her like Carlo. Even when they had sex, he always made sure she was satisfied too.
Maybe I’ll stay with him, and not kill him,
Lauren told herself as Tariq’s lips met her own again.

Kissing him deeply Lauren felt herself fading.
No, not yet, no,
she screamed as the darkness again descended. Kaitlyn came to herself with Tariq gently sucking her neck and his hand squeezing her breast. Taking a deep breath she relaxed and continued their foreplay. She couldn’t panic right now. Kaitlyn couldn’t let the man she loved, the man right now engaged in passionate lovemaking with her, know that she couldn’t remember yesterday or anything she did.

“
I love you so much baby,” Tariq told her softly, kissing her again as he slid inside her. Kaitlyn moaned softly her problem temporarily forgotten as her husband made love to her. Tariq was the best lover she’d ever had, and Kaitly loved every minute of him being inside her.
Even better than Ice,
her mind questioned. Kaitlyn ignored the thought, instead concentrating on the orgasm Tariq was bringing her too. He kissed her neck softly, murmuring how good she felt, when Kaitlyn felt the rush and cried out loudly. Tariq returned to her lips kissing her again as he guided her down, continuing to make love to her for the next forty mintues.

“I’m going to take a shower,” Tariq told her three orgasms later, kissing her again as Kaitlyn smiled and told him okay.

After he closed the bathroom door, Kaitlyn’s smile left and the worried scowl encompassed her face.
What is wrong with me,
she continued to think. She couldn’t remember anything after leaving Macy’s with Tae.
I don’t even remember him coming home,
Kaitlyn thought of Tariq.

“
You’ve got to pull this shit together,” she mumbled to herself.

Kaitlyn was scared. Something really wrong was going on with her mind and if she wasn’t careful it would cost her everything. She gathered herself quickly hearing the shower stop and Tariq moving around in the bathroom. He emerged moments later. “Go ahead and shower baby,” he told her sweetly. “Then we’ll go eat,” he continued as Kaitlyn rose walking over to him. “I’m starved for some reason,” he teased bursting into laughter as Kaitlyn smiled and playfully rolled her eyes at him, heading into the shower.