Thin Ice (18 page)

“I didn’t mean to disturb you,” Kaitlyn said softly, catching his irritated tone.

Landon immediately checked himself and addressed her.

“It’s okay baby,” he told her sweetly. “I didn’t know it was you,” he explained honestly.

“Are you sure I’m not interrupting,” Kaitlyn asked again.

“I’m positive baby,” Landon replied sweetly. “You okay?” he immediately asked as she sighed lightly.

“Yeah, I guess,” she replied sadly.

“Baby, why won’t you tell me where you are, let me come and get you,” Landon tried again, hearing Kaitlyn sigh deeply.

“Landon,” she started quietly. “Ice would kill you, and I would never forgive myself if something happened to you,” she finished and sniffled slightly, leading Landon to believe she was crying.

“I’m not scared of Ice, Kaitlyn,” Landon told her frankly.

“You should be,” she replied softly. “I shouldn’t be calling’ you,” she threw out half to herself.

“Baby, stop,” Landon told her seriously. “You need someone to talk to, and I’m always here for you,” he told her as his mind raced.

He had to find the evidence they needed and get Ice off the street. That was the only way he and Kaitlyn would finally be free and be together.

“Thanks,” she replied simply, shaking his thoughts and bringing him back to the present. “I hafta go,” she told him as Landon sighed deeply.

“OK, but please try and call me again soon,” Landon replied. “I worry about you being with him, and him hurting you again,” he added as Kaitlyn sighed softly.

“I’ll try,” she replied.

“Kaitlyn,” Landon began. “I love you,” he told her softly.

“I love you too,” she replied without hesitation.

Smiling now, Landon told her to hold on; things were going to work out sooner than she thought.

“I hope so,” Kaitlyn replied as Landon again assured her they would as they bid each other goodbye and hung up.

*****

“Hello,” Shelby spoke into the cell. She’d been napping lightly when the ringing phone startled her. She’d answered without looking at the display.

“What’s up Shelby?” Ian returned.

She was completely thrilled to hear his voice. “Hi Ice,” she replied amiably “What’s going on with you these days?”

“Not a lot,” Ian told her “I was wondering if you’d like to grab some lunch and talk?”

Shelby was doing all she could to keep from screaming out yes and giving away everything she felt at the moment. After a thoughtful pause she finally answered.

“Sure, that would be great.”

Ian told her he would meet her at their spot on Ashford-Dunwoody road in thirty minutes. She told him she’d be there and they disconnected.

Shelby immediately went to her closet to find one of the outfits Ian purchased that he’d love on her.
Please, let this be the beginning of our something wonderful again,
she thought as she dressed.

*****

Ian continued driving after he’d disconnected from Shelby. He’d decided to force her hand and see what the game was. His cell rang again disturbing his thoughts.

“Yeah,” he answered and listened intently as Carlos filled him in on their next buy.

He arrived at a little while later at the restaurant and saw Shelby exiting her car.
Damn, she’s still fine as hell,
Ian thought as he took her in from head to toe. She was wearing one of the designer dresses he’d given her earlier in their relationship. He’d bought it with her in mind, as it hugged every curvaceous angle of her hips and butt.

Ian felt himself beginning to come alive and quickly reeled his mind in.
You’re here to handle business, remember,
his mind told him in stark contrast to what his manhood was thinking. He gathered himself a few moments more and went inside the restaurant, joining her at the table she’d gotten for them.

*****

“It was really good to hear your voice earlier Ice,” Shelby told him amiably.

He forced himself to smile and told her it was good to hear hers too.

“Are you OK?” she asked watching him closely.

Shelby knew Ice very well and there was something going on with him.

“I’m hanging in there Shelby,” Ian returned still looking at her intently in the dress.

Gold was his favorite color and right now she was looking like a million bucks. Shelby noticed his observation and knew what he was thinking. He had that look. She smiled inwardly and positioned herself to give him a much better view.

“Well you sound kinda down,” she told him sweetly. “What’s up,” she asked still looking directly at him.

Ian smiled and remained quiet a few moments more before spinning the cover story he’d concocted before he called her.

They ordered and enjoyed their meal once the server brought it to their table.

“I have a new place,” Shelby told him as they enjoyed desert.

“Oh, you moved out of your mom’s?” Ian remarked.

She smiled and told him she had and was now living in Alpharetta.

“Kinda pricey up there isn’t it,” he asked, knowing she was dancing again.

“Yeah, but I have a pretty decent job now,” Shelby told him, going on to explain she’d gotten a job at the hospital in admitting.

“Well that’s good Shelby,” Ian told her smiling at her. “I’m glad to see you’re doing okay.”

She smiled back and took a deep breath.
Here goes nothing,
she thought before speaking.

“You should come check it out sometime,” Shelby told him casually.

Ian regarded her for a moment before speaking.
So that’s the angle huh,
he thought almost chuckling aloud.

“How about now,” he asked softly still looking at her intently.

Shelby thought she would explode with excitement at his question, but managed to hold it together. “Sure, we could do that, if you want too,” she returned calmly.

Ian motioned the server and paid their check. He followed her to the apartment and went inside with her.

*****

“This is nice Shelby,” Ian told her perfunctorily as he walked through the place.

She’d decorated it very nicely in her favorite colors, burgundy and navy. Her bedroom was beautifully done in teal, with garnet accents. The comforter was a plush teal and garnet mix, the gold throw pillows accentuating it nicely. Ian was standing in her bedroom watching her talk as she was telling him about her new job and the decorating she’d done. Ian was getting more and more irritated as he listened.
I’m going to make this very slow and painful,
he thought hatefully of her impending death.

“Can I get you something to drink?” Shelby finally asked as Ian made himself comfortable on her couch.

“Sure, that would be great” he told her, still watching her closely as he continued to think of all the deadly things he wanted to do to her.

She handed him his drink and sat down beside him.

“What is it?” Shelby asked, seeing his expression as he looked at her.

She didn’t have the chance to react as Ian grabbed her by her throat and lifted her from the couch.

“Did you really think I would forget the promise I made your ass, or the fact that you fucked Hasaan while I was with your ass?” Ian continued acidly as he strangled her.

Shelby couldn’t breathe and the room was spinning.

“Oh, but I’m not gonna kill you that easily,” Ian told Shelby, dropping her to the floor.

She quickly backpedaled away from him, sitting against a wall trying to gather her breathing and get her thoughts together. Shelby had to think fast and get out of here. Ice was out for blood, and it was her blood he had in mind.

“Ice I didn’t think you forgot, I just hoped we were well past that,” she tried as she sat against the wall, finally breathing close to normal. “I made a mistake when I had sex with Hasaan, and I swear I never cheated on you again, ever,” Shelby pleaded hoping she was getting through.

Ian walked over to where Shelby sat and kicked her in the side, hard. “Stop lying bitch,” he told her harshly. “Once a ho, always a ho,” he spat venomously. “Then you have the nerve to be all up in my damned face all the time tryna get back with me,” he added and sucked his teeth in disgust. “But I’m going to make you sorry you ever crossed me,” Ian told her snatching Shelby from the floor and dragging her to the bedroom.

Ian threw her onto the bed and immediately straddled her, slapping her face hard.
If I can just get to my nightstand,
Shelby was thinking as he sat atop her, staring at her. Ian was extremely strong and she knew she was no match for him physically. Still, she needed him off her for just a few seconds. Shelby decided she had to try or Ian was definitely going to kill her. Mustering every once of strength she had, she pushed his chest, while simultaneously lifting her body and managed to push him off her, onto the floor.

Shelby didn’t waste any time. She immediately rolled to her right, opened the drawer and grabbed the gun she kept there. Ian was off the floor quickly, but she had the gun pointed at him. “So you gonna shoot me now Shelby,” he asked starting to walk up to her.

“Stop Ice,” she yelled at him. She was standing with her back against the wall, it was the defensive posture she’d learned when she bought the gun and learned to use it. “I will kill you if you try to hurt me again,” she told him, taking the safety off as she spoke.

Shelby was terrified of actually having to shoot him, but she would to save her life. Ian regarded her with the gun, deciding she wouldn’t shoot him. Shelby was still in love with him and he would use that to his advantage.

“Why Shelby, that’s all I want to know,” he said softly still looking intently at her.

She felt the tears come and tried to blink them away.

“I never meant to hurt you or cheat on you, Ice,” she told him calmly, but still holding her own. “I only wanted a chance to be with you and love you again,” she told him as a single tear rolled down her cheek.

“It still hurts,” Ian told her, still trying to play on her emotion.

“You know, after we broke up, all I could think about was you, and what I did to make you cheat on me,” he lied. “I kept going back and forth, could I be with you again, could I trust you again,” he went on sounding more and more hurt.

Shelby felt her resolve weakening. “But you came here to kill me Ice,” she threw at him, and he sat down on the bed.

“Shelby, you hurt me,” he told her quietly “I love you and you keep hurting me,” Ian said again and she lowered the gun.

“You still love me?” Shelby asked as she looked at him.

He sighed deeply again, “Of course I do,” Ian lied again. “I always have, you just hurt me so much cheating on me,” he told her and she completely relaxed.

Ian glanced at her, seeing the gun resting at her side, with her barely holding it.
Be quick man, grab it and knock her ass out,
he thought, slowly turning to position himself. Shelby sighed gently before speaking again.

“Ice, I’m sorry I hurt you with that,” she told him. “I swear all I’ve wanted was to make it up to you since then.”

“I know baby,” Ian said sweetly as he rose slowly and stood facing her.

He was getting excited, as he was almost close enough to grab the gun from her hand.

“Can’t we just sit down and talk and try to work this out?” Ian asked as a final weapon to completely disarm her.

Shelby sighed lightly and closed her eyes.
Now!
Ian screamed in his head as he lunged for her. “I’m going to kill your ass,” he told her again as he wrenched the weapon from her hands.

“No Ice, please,” Shelby screamed as he pointed the gun at her.

“I told your stupid ass to let it go didn’t I,” Ian growled, the scene he’d walked in on with her and Hasaan playing in his mind again.

“OK, Ice, I swear, please,” Shelby was still pleading as the tears ran down her cheek.

She was absolutely terrified looking down the barrel of her own gun.

“It’s too late bitch,” Ian spat acidly as his finger found the trigger.

“Please Ice, please, oh god, please,” Shelby continued to sob as she slid down the wall, hands outstretched in defense.

“You never were one for listening,” Ian told her patiently. “Now you’re gonna learn the hard way, when I give you my word, I keep that shit,” he finished and squeezed the trigger hitting her in the shoulder.

Shelby screamed in pain, rolling to her feet and trying to run out of the bedroom. Ian turned and shot her three more times in the back as she finally fell to the carpeted floor and gasped a few more breaths before becoming still.

Standing over the dead woman Ian regarded her and felt nothing.
I told this silly bitch I was gonna cancel her stupid ass,
he thought wiping the gun down and throwing it on the floor beside her body. Quickly gathering himself realizing the gunshots would inevitably bring the police, Ian slipped out of Shelby’s apartment and headed to his car. Arriving, and getting inside, he calmly started it and left her complex heading for home.
That was death warrant number one,
he thought as he began to make plans to eliminate number two, Tariq, once and for all.

*****

Kaitlyn smiled as she replayed her morning.
Everything is coming along very well,
she thought of her conversation with Landon. Kaitlyn had big plans for her future and she had to carefully navigate each turn for them to work out.
Ice thinks he has control huh,
she thought and chuckled again. Tweety was her best friend, the closest thing to a sister Kaitlyn had and he’d taken her away, then arrogantly told her to get over it.
Absolutely no thought for my feelings or anything,
Kaitlyn thought angrily as the hurt set in once more. Her anger again kindled thinking about Tariq and knowing that Ice was indirectly responsible for that too.
Bastard,
she thought once more before pulling herself together and heading out.

Arriving moments later at Club Platinum, Kaitlyn got out of her car headed inside. The club was a small strip joint that opened a few months ago and was struggling. Ian wanted to buy it and sent her to check it out for him.
I can’t wait to leave Mississippi,
Kaitlyn thought. As much as she enjoyed being on her own most times, she missed Atlanta and home. Sighing deeply she opened the door and went inside the dimly lit establishment.
It’s funky as hell in here,
Kaitlyn thought frowning slightly.