Thin Ice 5 - Checkmate

by KR Bankston

  “As in Indiana, city of Gary,” Sheila asked.

  “Mmhmm,” Carlita replied smiling once more.

  “What are you doing there, and please don’t tell me chasing some dude,” Sheila threw out exasperated.

  Sheila knew her best-friend was searching for the love she felt she didn’t get when she was little. Carlita never talked about her father, but Sheila knew the woman knew who he was. Obviously things had never worked out with him and Meredith and Carlita was busy now trying to find a man to give her all the things she felt he hadn’t.

  “I’m not chasing a dude, but I did meet one,” she told her slyly.

  Shelia frowned deeply. This was exactly what she didn’t want to hear.

  “Who is he this time,” she asked tiredly.

  Carlita ignored the tone and told Sheila all about Tariq and their romance.

  “OK, but he’s already married,” her best friend questioned.

  “He’s getting a divorce, Sheila,” Carlita told her impatiently.

  “That’s the oldest line in the book Carlita, damn, come on,” her friend tried once more.

  “No, this time it’s different,” she replied and Sheila heard something in her voice.

  “Why,” Sheila asked simply.

  “It just is,” was all Carlita would divulge. “Anyway,” she began, changing the subject. “What’s going on at home,” she asked as Sheila sighed softly and let the conversation go, telling her best friend all the latest gossip she’d been privy too.

  When are you coming home,” Sheila asked, praying she wouldn’t have to come to Gary and get her, like she had so many other times, from so many other locations.

  “After we set a date,” Carlita told her full of confidence.

  Sheila shook her head but said nothing negative as she told her friend that was cool, but to keep in touch on a more regular basis.

  “I should not have had to call you six or seven times to find out where you were,” Sheila chided.

  Carlita apologized for worrying her, promising to call twice a week from here on out.

  “Carlita, be careful okay,” she admonished, the concern in her voice. “Please, don’t get yourself in anymore crazy situations,” Sheila added for good measure, hoping the words weren’t falling on deaf ears.

  “I promise Sheila,” Carlita told her honestly. “This time it’s going to be different, you just watch,” she finished as the two said their goodbyes and disconnected.

  Carlita chuckled again thinking about the DVD and headed out into the afternoon, waiting for her cell to ring.

  *****

  Ryan was on the phone getting a report as he drove. He wasn’t as trusting as Ian. When his younger brother told him about Jalen, Ryan immediately set up a tail. He knew their brother was out of the loop and that the life would never suit him. Now, gleaning the information he did, he was headed to take care of it. Ryan found the motel with ease, parking the rental he’d picked at the airport he headed for room 2107. It was on the backside of the establishment, away from too many prying eyes. Ryan found the room with ease and casually knocked on the door. He heard Jalen’s voice on the other side as he questioned who was there. Using his best falsetto, Ryan replied he was housekeeping bringing fresh towels. He waited a few moments more, hearing the sound the chain being removed from the door and the deadbolt being disengaged. As soon as the door opened a fraction, Ryan forced it open, pushing his brother to the floor as he came inside. Jalen went for his gun, landing next to him as it fell.

  “Relax,” Ryan told him calmly, .9mm trained on him, silencer in place.

  Looking up he saw the woman immediately recognizing her. She was asleep or unconscious, he surmised, going with the latter. He saw the baby lying next to her and his rage began to stir.

  “What the fuck are you doing with this woman and her kid,” Ryan asked coldly.

  “Man, who the fuck are you,” Jalen asked, vaguely recognizing his face.

  “Get up,” Ryan barked instead as Jalen slowly made his way to his feet and Ryan ordered him to the lone chair in the room.

  “Why you snatch her,” he asked once again.

  Jalen frowned deeply but continued to remain mute.

  “Doesn’t matter,” Ryan told him, not really caring the reasoning behind the foible.

  “Who are you and why are you here,” Jalen asked, praying this wasn’t one of Top’s men he didn’t know.

  Ryan actually smiled at the question before enlightening him. Jalen’s mouth was hanging open at the end of the explanation, the realism somehow not calming him.

  “Ice, he gives you the benefit of the doubt,” Ryan told him, continuing to regard him coldly. “I knew you were soft,” he told Jalen. “Soft and stupid,” he added as Jalen frowned slightly offended. “You got a thing for Tae huh,” Ryan asked as Jalen gave him a look wondering how he knew the woman.

  Ryan effectively read his mind and told him they all went way back in the days of running armor and powder.

  “Ice and I have built this shit from the ground up,” Ryan told him calmly. “While you were playing around in the streets living with mother dear, we were hustling,” he added, no anger or jealously in his voice.

  He was simply telling a story.

  “The life ain’t for you Jalen,” Ryan told him finally point blank. “Ice thought I was gone and he wanted to recapture what he and I did together,” Ryan began anew. “He knew though, in his heart he knew it would come to this one day,” he continued to speak as Jalen became more confused.

  “This,” Ryan began, waving the gun toward Tae and the baby. “This is stupid shit we don’t do,” he told him. “We don’t snatch kids and terrorize them,” he told the man sitting in front of him. “You’re a liability,” Ryan said tiredly, turning his full attention once more to his brother.

  “I don’t like liabilities,” he finished simply, shooting his brother for the first time in the chest.

  Jalen gasped, not believing he’d been shot and tried to get out of the chair. His legs wouldn’t cooperate with what his brain was trying to tell them and he only managed to fall clumsily to the floor. Ryan stood over him expressionless and fired two more shots, one to the chest and another to the center of his forehead, finally extinguishing forever the light that remained in his eyes. Sighing deeply, Ryan removed the money from his wallet and the jewelry on his person. Glancing around the room, he picked up a small cup and went to the bathroom filling it with water. Returning he stood over Tae and poured it into her face. She awoke with a start, gasping from the sudden shock of the water. As she was thrashing, Ryan grabbed her from behind, holding her around the neck so she couldn’t turn around and marched her toward the bathroom. Tae managed to see Jalen’s body on the room floor, panicking slightly that whoever the man was holding her now, was about to kill her. Pushing her inside, Ryan pulled the door closed and held it from the outside.

  “Let me out, please, don’t hurt my baby,” Tae began to yell.

  “Shut up,” Ryan barked, using that same falsetto again. “You stay put for five minutes and then you leave and do whatever the hell you want, but if you come out of this room a minute earlier, I’ll put a bullet in your head,” he told her as Tae assured him she wouldn’t.

  Ryan let the knob go and quickly left the room, darting down the stairwell immediately outside the door. Tae came out of the bathroom as soon as she heard the room door close, but she waited every second of those five minutes before grabbing her baby and her bag and bounding out of there.

  17

  Tae was trying to look inconspicuous as she rounded the corner, having descended the stairs in record time. Aidan was thankfully still asleep, slightly worrying her that Jalen had slipped him something in addition to herself. Finding a bench at the front of the hotel, Tae finally sat and gathered her wits for a moment. She checked her wallet, finding all her credit cards missing as was her license and social security card. What the fuck was this fool going to do, erase me, she thought angrily, searching a
round in the bag for her phone. Finding it she was relieved to see it still held a charge. Quickly scanning her contacts, Tae dialed Kaitlyn. The phone went straight to voicemail. Trying Tariq next, his did the same thing. Shit, Tae thought becoming slightly anxious. Forcing herself to remain calm, she tried Jaleesa. The phone rang, but it too eventually went to voicemail.

  She didn’t have Jacoury or Ramell’s number and there was only one person left outside of Shells she could call, who would come and get her without hesitation or 100 questions. Sighing lightly, Tae called Mook and prayed he answered.

  “Yeah,” he threw out calmly.

  “Mook, this is Tae,” she told him quickly as he fired off questions at her.

  She assured him she and Aidan were fine.

  “Where are you,” he asked after explaining Kaitlyn and Tariq were in Overton Park for the custody trial.

  Tae became flustered at the question, realizing she had no idea.

  “Hang on,” she told him as she walked inside the hotel and up the front desk.

  Tae picked up one of the check in sheets containing the address and phone number.

  “You’ve got to be shittin’ me,” she mumbled aloud at the discovery. “I’m in Ohio,” she told him as Mook told her okay.

  “Sit tight,” he told her. “Do you have money,” he fired off again.

  Sighing once more Tae told him Jalen had taken all her credit cards and identification.

  Thinking quickly Mook told her to go back inside the hotel and hand the phone to the clerk. The man pleasantly booked the room Mook requested, taking his credit card information over the phone and handing Tae the cell phone back.

  “Thanks Mook,” she told him gratefully as the clerk handed her the card key.

  “I’m gonna hafta drive, so it’s gonna take me a few hours,” he told her explaining since she had no ID they wouldn’t let her fly.

  “Order room service for you and Aidan, everything will stay on the card,” Mook again told her.

  Tae thanked him once more, giving him the room number and telling him they would be waiting. Disconnecting she headed to the room, located on the first floor this time, coming inside. Putting Aidan down, she finally relaxed, slumping onto the floor next to the bed and sobbing deeply, all the events of the last few days overwhelming her. Finally spent, Tae rose and headed for the shower. Jalen had been good for something when he bought her the clothes. After her shower, she felt much better and ordered food from room service. Satisfied and full, knowing it would be at least eight hours or more before Mook arrived, Tae laid down and slept.

  *****

  Nikki was enjoying her evening and the company. Cameron had flown into town today, calling her right after the long day at court, asking her to dinner. Cameron Kennedy was an old friend from college that Nikki still kept in touch with. They were actually far from just friends, maintaining a no strings attached sexual affiliation over the years. Whenever Cameron came to town, or Nikki went to DC, they got together and had sex. She didn’t expect tonight to be any different. Her mind tried to caution her and remember Ryan’s admonishment. Nikki scoffed, telling her mind to shut up. She was a grown woman and she and Ryan were nothing more than she and Cameron. If she wanted to have sex with someone else, she would.

  “What are you working on these days,” Cameron asked.

  Nikki sighed slightly telling him the bare essentials about the custody case they were in the midst of right now.

  “Sounds exciting,” he replied genuinely interested. “How long you think it will drag on,” he asked, cutting and enjoying another bite of his T-bone.

  Nikki told him she didn’t think it would be a long case.

  “It’s pretty cut and dry actually,” she told him, having her second glass of wine.

  They enjoyed their meal and conversation, ordering dessert and talking more.

  “So, your place or mine,” Cameron asked candidly as they paid the check and rose to leave.

  Nikki paused momentarily, thinking that they should go to Cameron’s hotel in the off chance Ryan stopped by her place.

  “Yours,” she replied amiably.

  Cameron smiled and took her hand, walking out of the restaurant, standing at the curb waiting for the valet to bring his Porsche around. Nikki loved the little red car. She chuckled when the Prince song came to mind. Even though it was the wrong kind of car, it was still red, she thought and giggled slightly. Cameron held her hand, talking dirty to her the entire ride. Nikki was definitely ready for him to put some of his words into action when they arrived at the Marriott Towers and went inside. Cameron’s room was actually a one bedroom suite, with a beautiful view of downtown. He walked up behind her, putting her arms around her waist and kissing her neck softly.

  “It’s been way too damned long,” he murmured, palming her breasts now.

  Nikki was just as hot as he, turning to face him as they kissed passionately and undressed each other. She took in the still sexy body, loving every caramel coated inch of him. Cameron’s lips found her nipple, tongue encompassing it, sucking gently.

  “Mmm,” Nikki murmured, becoming more aroused.

  His hands easily canvassed the tapered waist, coming to rest on the firm full butt she possessed as he pulled her closer, grinding slowly.

  “You are so fucking fine,” Cameron murmured, his erection pressing against her stomach.

  The door to the suite opened startling them both as they turned around, eyes like deer in headlights. Nikki’s heart dropped as she looked into Ryan’s face, the fury obvious.

  “Wassup,” he asked simply, eyes never leaving her own.

  “Man, who are you, what the hell,” Cameron asked all at once.

  Ryan smiled slightly before walking closer to the couple.

  Cameron was still wondering how the man got into the suite when the punch came from nowhere and connected with his jaw. Instinct kicked in and he swung, trying to fight back. Ryan hit him hard to the midsection dropping him to his knees, his eyes still on Nikki as she stood naked and petrified.

  “Leave it where it is,” Ryan hissed angrily, finally regarding Cameron. “Right now you just earned a couple punches, keep fuckin’ around you’ll earn a bullet,” he told him matter-of-fact.

  Cameron was still trying to catch his breath, deciding to play it by ear and see what the man’s game was.

  “Put your damned clothes on,” he barked, regarding Nikki again.

  The venom in his voice made her jump as she complied hurriedly with his command. After she dressed, Ryan regarded Cameron again.

  “I don’t wanna know what the two of you had, because the shit is irrelevant,” he began again. “Nikki is off limits, permanently,” Ryan told him. “Any part of that you don’t understand,” he asked, kicking Cameron in the face, drawing blood.

  Retreating and holding his hands in front of him in surrender, Cameron hurriedly nodded yes.

  Returning his attention to Nikki again, Ryan spoke. “Get your purse, let’s go,” he said simply as she again complied without rebuttal.

  He remained silent the entire ride down in the elevator, standing across from her watching her without blinking. Nikki’s nerves were beginning to get the better of her as they made it to the car and began the drive to her place. Told you not to go with him, her mind sold her out. Nikki swallowed hard, stealing a glance at Ryan to find his face expressionless. She had no clue what was going to happen when they got to her house. She wouldn’t have to wait long to find out. They pulled up less than five minutes later as he got out and came around to her side, opening the door and allowing her to get out. He followed her into the condo, closing and locking the door behind them.

  “Go shower,” he said simply, grabbing the bottle of Cognac he’d left and pouring himself a drink.

  *****

  Mook was getting his mind together to make the trip to get Tae. He texted Tariq immediately letting him know she made contact and was safe. Tariq quickly texted him back telling him to take Ramell or Jacou
ry with him when he went. Mook called Ramell, the two being a bit closer than he and Jacoury, and the man immediately agreed to go with him. Sighing deeply he thought of Kim and the mess their relationship was right now. This was the first time in all the years they’d been together he woke up in a hotel room because of anger. Call her, his mind told him as his pride asked why should he? Kim acted like she didn’t understand his anger or the questions he had when it came to her and Tariq. She acted like she didn’t understand how very much he loved her, how much he needed her, and how shattered his world would be if she left him. Sighing deeply he pushed the thoughts aside for a moment and showered; deciding he would stop by Tariq’s and pick up weapons rather than go home. He couldn’t deal with Kim and the drama right now.

  His phone vibrated. It was Kaitlyn thanking him for going to get Tae and asking him to have her call them the moment he got there. Texting her back Mook assured her he would. I sure as hell hope how they work things out, he thought sincerely. Mook thought Kaitlyn was a great balance for Tariq and he already knew the man loved her without question. So what’s up with this new chick he’s banging then, the thought badgered. Tariq confided the sexual affiliation with Carlita, swearing to Mook it was nothing more than release for him. “He better hope she knows that shit,” he mumbled aloud of the woman. Mook knew situations like that had a way of turning bad, quickly. Deciding to test the waters, Mook sent Kim a text. To his surprise the response was almost instantaneous. He smiled reading it, thankful she’d answered at all.

  The instrument rang and Kim’s name appeared. Taking a deep breath Mook answered.

  “Hey,” he greeted her carefully.

  “Did you really cheat on me Mook,” Kim asked, pain in her voice.

  “No,” Mook replied immediately. “I was mad Kim, pissed off,” he told her as she remained quiet. “I would never do that to you,” he assured her once again.

  “OK,” Kim replied. “When are you coming home,” she asked, hoping he said now.

  “Tomorrow,” Mook told her, quickly explaining the why before her mind took flight.