by KR Bankston
13
It’d already been a rough night last night, a new morning only found Tariq dealing with new drama. Kaitlyn was refusing to eat. She hadn’t eaten in the last four days and was growing weaker. He couldn’t let it continue, even though he didn’t want to hurt her, Tariq knew he had to force her to eat. Walking into the room she looked up at his masked face defiantly.
“I won’t eat,” Kaitlyn told him determinedly.
He sighed gently as he sat on the bed beside her. Tariq said nothing, knowing his voice would give away his identity. Instead he held up two items wordlessly as she watched him and realization dawned in her eyes. Kaitlyn was terrified. She tried once more to remove herself from the restraints they kept her in now. Tariq held up the funnel, continuing to stare at her.
“No,” Kaitlyn yelled as he grunted slightly and put it down.
He held up the IV bag and line attached as the tear escaped her eye.
“No,” she replied once more sounding defeated.
Nodding his understanding of her surrender, Tariq left the room and returned with her food. Tariq fed Kaitlyn and she obediently ate what he’d prepared, including desert.
“Are you going to keep me tied up like this?” Kaitlyn asked after she’d finished.
She was chafing from the restraints around her arms. He only took them off for her to shower and use the bathroom. Tariq said nothing, grabbing a pen from the desk and writing a quick note. He held it up for her to read. ‘Are you going to stop eating again?’ it read. Kaitlyn sighed deeply before answering.
“No,” she replied honestly as Tariq nodded.
He removed the restraints on her hands, leaving her to undo her feet as he left the room.
Returning to his own room, Tariq observed her through the mirror. Kaitlyn looked frail and worn. I can’t keep putting her through this much longer, he thought of the woman. Tariq knew he had to hurriedly finish his business with Ice and Ryan before Kaitlyn went off the deep end and there was no way to bring her back. He watched her rise from the bed and slowly make her way into the bathroom to shower. She emerged twenty minutes later and sat in the oversized desk chair, turning on the TV set once more. Tariq went to make himself a drink, returning in less than fifteen minutes. He saw the TV still on and Kaitlyn still sitting in the chair. The slight movement caught his eye as he noticed the source. Dropping his glass on the floor, hearing it shatter, Tariq raced down the hall to her room, unmasked, rushing inside. Kaitlyn was unconscious as both her wrists bled profusely from the slits she’d cut into them.
*****
“You wanna talk about it,” Kim asked softly.
Mook was still brooding. He’d come back in a mood last and night and she’d been smart enough to leave him alone. Woman has to know when to let her man just be, she thought as Mook sighed lightly.
“Nobody was supposed to go down last night,” he replied calmly.
Kim hugged him tightly, kissing his neck softly.
“Baby, you already know this shit is unpredictable,” she told him gently as Mook replied he did know.
“Top was pretty upset about losing one,” Mook told her as Kim replied that was just how he was.
“Top is good people,” she told him. “He just wants his people to live well and enjoy what they got,” she added as Mook murmured his understanding. “I’m glad you’re all right though,” Kim told him tenderly as he looked into her eyes and smiled.
“I got too much to come home too for me to be getting hurt and shit,” he told her kissing her lips softly. Kim smiled and kissed him back.
“Your boy DeNoah got himself a girlfriend,” Mook told her laughingly as Kim chuckled as well.
“Dang, bout time,” she replied. “He’s a nice guy, but he’s not the brightest,” she added once again as Mook agreed with her.
“OK, so now what,” Kim asked going back to business.
Mook told her now they were sure Ice was on the warpath they had to hit a couple more of his clubs, then they would again start on his personal life.
“You still baby watching,” Mook asked as Kim sighed deeply and told him yes.
“Matter of fact I need to be leaving now to relieve the night crew,” she told him grabbing her bag and heading for the door.
“Call me later baby,” Mook threw out after her as Kim assured him she would. Watching her close the door, he picked up his cell and called LaRon.
“Wassup man,” he greeted LaRon after the call connected.
“Everything’s still cool,” he replied.
LaRon told him as far as he knew there was nothing connecting any of them to the incident last night.
“They won’t release Spider’s identity till they notify his next of kin according to the news,” Mook told him as LaRon soughed his understanding.
“DeNoah straight,” Mook asked.
He and LaRon had a long conversation concerning the young man and his newness to the game.
“Yeah, he back at old girl’s house,” LaRon told him.
“What you think about her,” Mook ventured.
LaRon told him he couldn’t really call it since he hadn’t met her.
“I think I need to remedy that though,” he added.
He told Mook there was something in his gut that told him the chick wasn’t being straight forward.
“Then set it up man,” Mook replied letting him know he was down.
“A’ight, I’ma do that when we hang up,” LaRon told him as Mook let him know that was straight and disconnected.
*****
Tariq was almost beside himself by the time Keifer arrived. He’d immediately called the paramedic knowing he couldn’t take Kaitlyn to a hospital. Far too many questions and his entire plan would have been blown, not to mention his imminent arrest.
“What did she take,” Keifer asked as he checked Kaitlyn’s vitals.
He’d already bandaged her wrists telling Tariq the cuts were mostly superficial.
“A bunch of these sleep tablets,” Tariq told him holding the bottle so Keifer could see it.
“Hmph, okay,” he returned asking Tariq to help him get Kaitlyn turned around as they laid her on the floor.
“This is gonna be nasty,” he warned as Tariq shrugged and told him to go ahead.
Keifer forced the tube down Kaitlyn’s throat and began pumping her stomach. The vile digested contents spewed from the tube, some of it missing the bag they had in place and flooding the floor. The process went on for the next few moments until he was satisfied her stomach was empty.
Tariq busied himself cleaning Kaitlyn up as Keifer gathered all the other paraphernalia from the room, disposing of the stomach contents, gauze and the like.
“She should be fine,” Keifer told him as Tariq finally put Kaitlyn back in bed and covered her.
“Probably have one helluva headache though,” he added chuckling lightly.
Tariq smiled slightly and headed out in the den with Keifer.
“Thanks for all your help man,” Tariq told him handing him the bag of cocaine.
Keifer had a habit and Tariq had been supplying him since finding out about it almost two years ago. He figured he owed it to the man for saving his life.
“Thanks man,” Keifer told him gratefully.
Tariq also gave him $1k in cash before biding him goodnight and returning to Kaitlyn’s room.
“You scared the shit outta me,” Tariq told her softly, stroking her face again as she continued to sleep.
Tariq finally understood the depth of Kaitlyn’s despair. He would have never thought her capable of committing suicide. KiKi’s a fighter, he thought sighing deeply. Tariq had to try and put himself in her place. He reasoned how she would have seen her existence for the past month; alone and isolated, not sure if she would live from one day to the next. Strange men coming in and out of her room ushering her from one place to the other as she struggled with loss and unfamiliarity. He sighed deeply again.
“I just need you to hold on a little whi
le longer baby,” Tariq told her softly in her ear as Kaitlyn shifted slightly.
“I love you,” he whispered.
“Ice, help me,” Kaitlyn mumbled.
The words stung Tariq as he sat up and regarded her. He couldn’t be angry with her. She was afraid and Ian was her protection.
“Soon baby, this will all be finished,” Tariq told her kissing her forehead gently. “Don’t forget me, KiKi,” Tariq whispered in her ear again. “Don’t forget Tariq,” he said again softly as she sighed deeply.
“I love him,” Kaitlyn mumbled and again grew silent.
Smiling at the revelation Tariq finally rose and left her alone, but not before clearing the room of any other drugs, taking the disposable razors she’d managed to open and remove the blade, and once again securing her to the bed.
14
Role was trying to orient himself and see out of the one eye that still remained open. How the hell did he know, he thought as he finally focused and saw the big burly man still in the room with him. Role was trying to remember what happened when the men burst into his house last night. He’d been with his girl, in mid stroke, when he heard wood splinter. Before he could dress and check it out the men were in his room punching him in the face. He remembered hearing his girl scream before one of the men hit her hard knocking her off the bed. She’d been silent after that cowering in a corner as the men continued to handle their business with Role. I hope they let her go, he thought having no further recollection of what happened after that. Everything was a complete blur to him, everything except the trouble he knew he was in now. Hearing the door open, Role turned his attention to it. His heart dropped as Ice entered, gun in hand, scowl deeply etched on his face.
“I don’t have time for games today,” Ian told him in a no nonsense tone. “I want answers and they better be good answers,” he added sitting down in front of Role and looking him directly in the eye.
Role swallowed hard. He had never sat this close to death before.
“What are you talking about,” Role tried, not wanting to give away something that wasn’t being asked.
Ian backhanded him, bloodying his nose. “I’m talking about these fuckin’ notes you sent,” Ian raged. “I’m talking about you knowing where the fuck my woman is,” he went on. “I’m talking about you better answer my muthafuckin’ question before I splatter your damned brains all over the wall of this fuckin’ basement,” he finished for him, eyes blood red.
Role again swallowed hard. He was in a catch-22. He didn’t really know where the girl was anymore. It’d all been an elaborate bluff and now he had to produce or die.
“I don’t know where she is no more,” Role admitted honestly.
He was absolutely terrified of the man in front of him. Ice was every horror story he’d ever heard from Top and LaRon and then some.
Ian sighed deeply trying to keep his rage in check. He wanted to stick the end of the .380 in this fools mouth and blow his brains out, but he didn’t. Even though he didn’t know where Kaitlyn was, he did know who took her and that would be almost as good.
“What the fuck do you mean you don’t know where she is anymore,” Ian barked as the man jumped slightly. “You sending me notes asking for shit, but you don’t have the goods,” he again addressed Role getting right up in his face.
“I um, see,” Role began before Ian barked at him to shut up again.
Wisely choosing to follow directions Role remained quiet praying he left this room alive today.
“Who took her,” Ian asked plainly looking directly at his captive.
Role swallowed hard. He was definitely between a rock and a hard place now.
“Speak up asshole,” Dixon growled as Ian sat back and continued to regard the man in front of him.
Role cleared his throat and finally answered Ian’s question.
“Top and his crew,” he replied as Ian frowned deeply.
“Who the fuck is Top,” he growled his anger again kindled.
“Tell you what,” Ian threw out before Role could answer. “You start at the fuckin’ beginning and tell me the whole story, and don’t lie muthafucka, cause its your life at stake right now,” he finished, laying the .380 on the table and crossing his arms, waiting for Role to speak.
*****
Kim was still taking in the carnage around her as the cell rang and she waited for her call to connect.
“Hey,” Tariq greeted her calmly.
“Hey Top.”
She didn’t want to tell him the scene she’d found, but it was necessary.
“Shit is bad Top,” she told him carefully knowing he was still dealing with issues from last night.
“Tell me,” he replied evenly as she heard the edge to his voice.
Sighing deeply Kim began to speak. “Que and Ronnie are gone,” she told him as Tariq swore on the other end.
“How?”
“Couple shots to the temples,” Kim replied. “The package is missing,” she added as Tariq again swore aloud.
“Anything talking,” he asked of the scene.
They needed to know who’d killed the two foot soldiers and where Role was now.
Hearing a faint noise, Kim pulled out the .9mm she was carrying and walked toward it. Using her foot she kicked the door open, surprising the disheveled woman inside.
“Who the fuck are you,” Kim spat acidly pointing the gun at her.
“Please, please, don’t shoot me,” the woman wailed.
Tariq remained mute hearing all that transpired as Kim held her cell phone still.
“What the fuck are you doing here,” she asked again her anger still at full throttle.
This bitch better start talking quick, she thought.
“I just came to get my purse and my stuff,” she told Kim her voice quaking as she was right now staring down the barrel of the gun.
“What happened here,” Kim asked slightly less edgy.
Tariq listened with interest as well when the woman began giving Kim the answer to her questions. She told her about the men barging into the house, beating up Role and slapping her around before dragging him out of the house and leaving.
“You see their face,” Kim asked.
The woman shook her head and told her she was too scared to recall what they looked like.
“I just didn’t want them to kill me,” she added weakly as Kim grunted and told her to get out of the house.
Wasting no time the woman grabbed her purse and did just that.
Returning the cell to her ear, Kim began speaking to Tariq again. “Whatcha think Top,” she asked as he sighed deeply.
“I think Ice has found his stupid ass,” he told her as Kim sighed deeply. “So we need to get ready for a war, cause we both know that fool will crack,” he added as Kim agreed.
“I need you to head to Mardi Gras,” Tariq began again. “Put your ear to the ground, we need to know what’s up and who’s doing what.”
Kim told him she was on her way.
“What you want me to do about Que and Ronnie,” she asked as an afterthought.
Tariq sighed deeply and told her to call the police anonymously to which she replied her understanding and disconnected. Kim headed for her car and got in, stopping quickly at a payphone she passed and dialing 911. After giving them the info and refusing their request for her name, she hung up and continued on her way. Her cell rang minutes later and she saw Mook’s name on the ID.
“Hey,” she greeted him smoothly.
“You straight,” he asked calmly as Kim replied she was fine. “Hmph, OK,” Mook returned.
She smiled slightly hearing the love in his voice. This one was a good choice, she herself as they continued to talk and she drove toward Mardi Gras.
“I’m here,” she told him preparing to disconnect.
“Be careful baby,” Mook told her seriously.
“I promise,” she replied as he finally let her go.
Taking a deep breath, Kim got out and headed toward the
door, her game full on, praying they could find what they needed. Armageddon was on its way.
*****
LaRon was rubbing his temples trying to get his head to stop hurting. There was entirely too much shit going on too early in the day. Tariq had called earlier telling him about Kaitlyn and all the drama. He’d just called again telling him about Que and Ronnie. All hell was about to break loose and he knew it. Well we said we were ready for war, he thought of himself and Tariq. Jaleesa stirred and broke his thought as he looked up to see her sitting up in bed.
“Hey baby,” he greeted her sweetly.
They’d been up late last night after he got in watching movies. He needed to unwind after all the drama and LaRon had always been a movie buff. He liked old westerns.
“Hey Deuce,” Jaleesa replied calmly.
Rising she headed into the bathroom returning a few moments later and finding him once again waiting for her.
“Why don’t you sit right here,” LaRon told her holding the manila envelope in his hands.
Shrugging slightly, Jaleesa complied. Reaching out, LaRon stroked her face and kissed her lips gently. Jaleesa smiled slightly not wanting to set him off. She was still terrified of him, even though he hadn’t laid a hand on her in the three weeks she’d been here.
“I wanna show you something,” he told her cryptically.
Jaleesa frowned slightly in confusion and waited for him to speak again.
“I want you to know first, that I love you,” he told her as she continued to remain mute. “I want you to know I’m not trying to hurt you,” LaRon went on laying the foundation. “I just want you to know the truth,” he finished and handed her the envelope.
Watching him a few more moments quietly, she finally turned the envelope over in her hands and opened it. Peering inside she reached in pulling out the contents dropping the envelope to the floor. Turning the contents over in her hand Jaleesa began to slowly go through the photographs. She was livid seeing Ryan and Caramel together. This trick pretended to be my friend, she thought angrily before catching herself. She had to remember Ryan was the boss, Caramel’s pimp. She was probably forced to sleep with him. No Ryan was the one she directed her anger toward now. He was the one who did this. How could he do this to me, Jaleesa thought as the tears rolled down her cheek. He doesn’t even care that I’m missing or anything, what the fuck, she continued to think sobbing now as LaRon took her into his arms and held her.
