by KR Bankston
“You good,” she asked as the woman nodded slightly. “Let’s get the hell out of here,” she said simply as they both bounded down the stairs and out of the stairwell onto the ground floor, walking quickly but casually out of the front doors and to the car.
Kim wasted no time whipping out of the parking deck, calling Mook and telling him what had gone down.
“Come straight to the safe house, south side,” he told her calmly.
Kim told him they’d be there as she hit the interstate and pushed the car to 80mph.
23
Lauren and Ian were alone. The two men working with him, Creeper and Pirate, she’d found out, were gone back to Florida for a couple of days. Ian had sent Jalen with them, with instructions to show him more of how the hustle went. They were relaxing and enjoying a leisurely lunch he’d had catered at the house when they began to talk. “Did you write the letter,” Ian asked, giving Kaitlyn a look.
“No,” Lauren replied simply.
“Why not baby,” he asked again. “No use in prolonging the man’s pain,” he added as she sighed, sipping her sweet tea.
“Ian, I’m not sure I’m even staying with you,” Lauren returning calmly.
She was intentionally pressing his buttons. She wanted to see how genuine these declarations of love were that he continually spouted. Ian sighed deeply and sat back in his chair, quietly observing her.
“Why would you want to go back to him,” Ian threw out. “He’s done nothing but lie to you,” he added cryptically.
Lauren frowned slightly.
“Lied about what,” she asked taking the bait. “And how the hell would you know,” she added tersely.
Ian smiled slightly, deliberately finishing his steak before answering her query.
“Did you know your father was dead,” he asked as Lauren’s eyes narrowed.
“What do you know about my father,” she returned angrily.
Ian sighed softly, pushing the chair back and rising.
“Come on,” he told her as he pulled her chair out too.
Rising Lauren followed him to the den and sat on the burgundy Victorian sofa with him.
“I know all about Carlo, KiKi,” he replied calmly. “I know about the streets he ran, the deranged executions he meted out, the arrest, the trial, his incarceration,” Ian told her. “His abusing you,” he added softly as Lauren frowned deeply.
“How do you know he’s dead,” she asked pushing past his statement.
“I hired someone to find out where he was,” Ian replied simply.
Lauren continued to think about the things Ian had told her, remaining quiet a bit longer.
“But you said Tariq’s been lying to me,” she threw out, deliberately using the man’s name knowing it pissed Ian off. “How and about what,” she asked, her look alerting him she wanted answers, immediately.
“He knew where Carlo was,” Ian told her. “He knew he died five days after your aunt, Hope,” he added as Lauren again frowned angrily.
“He didn’t ever tell you though did he,” Ian baited her.
She was irritated yes, but she understood his rationale. Tariq, from the time she’d come to know him, was very sensitive and loving. He probably figured Kaitlyn would go over the edge, Lauren surmised.
“Then there’s the inheritance your father left you,” Ian began again.
Lauren’s head snapped up as he regarded him again.
“Stop playing with me Ian and spit the shit out,” Lauren growled.
Ian smiled slightly again before resuming his story.
“Your father contacted your aunt, she gave Tariq the info before she died, and he contacted your father’s attorney after his death,” he patiently explained as Lauren fought to maintain control of her anger. “Carlo left you well over 800 million dollars,” Ian told her as Lauren’s mouth dropped.
“You’re lying,” she hissed angrily.
“I’ve never lied to you,” he said calmly as Lauren again weighed his words.
Why woudn’t he tell her about the money, she thought. Then he would have to tell her about Carlo, duh, her mind answered.
“So now you want me to leave him and hook up with you again, hmm,” Lauren asked returning her attention to Ian again.
“Yes,” he said simply.
“Why,” she asked plainly.
Ian sighed again deeply. He told her how much he loved her, how his every thought was of her. “I just want to make you happy baby,” Ian told her sweetly. “To love you and care for you,” he went on. “There isn’t anyone on this earth who knows you better than I do.”
Lauren grunted slightly. “So why did we break up then,” she threw out putting him on the spot.
“Because he took you from me,” Ian told her, going on to explain Tariq abducting her and them reconnecting. “He told you I was dead,” Ian spoke again. “He had me committed to an insane asylum,” he told her as Lauren fought the urge to laugh.
Fuck, I didn’t think Tariq could be that ruthless, shit, good for him, she thought behind her calm exterior.
“I thought about getting out everyday baby, getting back to you,” Ian told her, praying she was hearing his heart. “You and my love for you are what kept me going everyday of that horrible existence baby,” he finished as Lauren continued to regard him.
“Hmph, okay, so,” Lauren began. “You know all the shit about my past,” she told him as Ian paid rapt attention. “You know that my father was a killer, and not just any killer, but one of the most ruthless and vicious killers in the game at that time,” Lauren told him. “You even know my father fucked me, literally,” she spat venomously. “Yet you still love me, and want to be with me,” she quizzed.
Ian smiled a little once again before regarding her.
“You and I are cut from the same dark cloth,” he told her. “Who would I be to look down on you, or try and pass judgment, when I’m no better,” he added as Lauren again frowned slightly.
“So you’re just cool with lying next to a fucked up incest chick, who may harbor homicidal tendencies,” Lauren threw out. “Aren’t you just noble as fuckin’ hell,” she added laughing bitterly.
Ian allowed her to calm herself before looking her right in the eye and speaking.
“I’ve had no problem with laying beside, loving, and making love to, a woman pretending to be someone she isn’t, Lauren,” Ian said calmly.
*****
Kim arrived at the safe house in fifteen minutes, normally a thirty minute drive. Parking, she and Gabrielle got out heading into the house. The door opened before Kim could touch the knob.
“What the hell happened,” Mook asked as soon as the two women were inside.
Jaron was immediately over to Gabrielle checking her over. She was still in shock, quiet and uncommunicative.
“You straight,” Mook asked, looking in Kim’s eyes.
“Yeah baby, I’m good,” she replied.
“Cool, gimme the piece,” Mook instructed as she handed him the gun she’d used.
Tariq walked into the room moments later, cell at his ear. Kim took him in, seeing the fatigue in his face. What the hell is unfolding in this damned city, she thought as two other men she’d never seen walked into the living area.
“Gabrielle,” Jaron tried as she finally turned her attention to him. “Honey, who was it,” he asked, needing an answer.
“Seth,” she said simply as Jaron frowned slightly. “Baby, he’s dead,” he tried as she shook her head vigourosly.
“It was him,” Gabrielle insisted.
Jaron turned to Kim and she shrugged slightly. She’d never met whoever Seth was, so she had no clue.
“I mean whoever it was, they were someone she knew well,” Kim answered.
“Describe him,” Jaron told her as Kim complied. “I’ll be damned,” he murmured as Tariq heard.
“So it’s him,” he asked, as Jaron nodded yes. “Well shit, does anybody stay dead anymore,” he mumbled as Kim again frowned slightly, confus
ed.
“How did you two get out,” Tariq asked her.
Kim explained the security guards showing up at the right time.
“They of course thought the two of them had killed the guy on the floor,” Kim told him as Tariq nodded and told her good job.
“It might be a good time to send them out for a while,” Ramell threw out looking Tariq in the eye.
Kim knew what that meant. She didn’t want to leave Mook though.
“Yeah, I think so,” Mook immediately replied.
Kim knew whatever they were hiding was bad and about to get worse.
“I’ma make a call,” he told them as they grunted their understanding.
Pulling Kim aside Mook told her she would go to Jacksonville with Sean.
“You’ll take Gabrielle with you,” he added as Kim told him okay.
“What’s going on Mook,” she finally asked, her nerves on edge.
“I can’t explain right now baby, you just gotta trust your man,” he told her calmly.
Kim sighed deeply wanting to probe more, but held her questions.
“Just be all right, do you hear me,” she told him as the tears came and she blinked them away.
Mook hugged her tightly and kissed her cheek. “I’m gonna be fine, Miss Kim,” he replied as she nodded and moved away, allowing him to return to the living room and her to dry the errant tears that had managed to fall.
*****
So who the hell is this guy, Tyashia thought, taking in the man trying hard to blend but failing miserably. He had undercover written all over him. She made a concerted effort to find Trail and advise him to be extra careful with everyone they served tonight. Tyashia surmised he was here trying to see if they served underaged drinkers. There had been several clubs in the area busted for the offense in the last few days. She’d heard on the news about a task force that had been formed specifically for this purpose. She saw him stop Raoul, one of the kitchen workers and discreetly show him a photo. Tyashia saw the man shake his head and continue his walk to the kitchen. This is getting better and better, she continued to muse and watch. The man sat and nursed the one coke he’d purchased for the next hour, eyes darting around the various areas of the club. Whoever he was looking for obviously hadn’t materialized. Tyashia watched as he finally rose and made his way out of the club.
That was totally unnerving, she thought anxiously. “Maybe its time to move on chick,” she said softly aloud pulling out the books and starting on them again.
Her cell rang and she smiled seeing Jacoury’s name on the ID.
“Hey,” she greeted him as he returned her greeting.
“Everything straight,” he asked.
Tyashia told him it was, deliberately not mentioning the visitor they’d just had.
“When are you coming home,” she asked in passing.
“You horny,” he asked bluntly as she burst into laughter.
“Well, yeah, but that’s not why I asked,” Tyashia returned still smiling at Jacoury’s silliness.
“I’ll be there soon baby,” he told her vaguely.
Knowing well enough not to push, she left the subject alone.
“Everything good with you, with us,” he asked.
Tyashia frowned slightly before answering. “Yeah, as far as I know,” she replied. “Is there something you want to tell me,” she asked, slightly on edge.
Jacoury chuckled again. “No, I just like knowing you’re pheening for me,” he told her as Tyashia sucked her teeth.
“Whatever,” she returned petulantly as he laughed again.
“We’ll talk about your living arrangements when I get back,” Jacoury told her as the alarms began to shriek in Tyashia’s head.
“Oh okay,” she returned, careful not to show her feelings.
“I gotta go baby, but I’ll be home before you know it, OK,” Jacoury returned as she told him that was fine and disconnected.
You need to be long gone before he gets back here, Tyashia’s mind railed as she sighed deeply and rose heading for the bar. She needed a drink.
24
Ian continued to watch Lauren wordlessly as she stared back.
“Would you like to know what gave you away,” Ian asked.
Smiling slightly, Lauren spoke. “Sure, humor me,” she replied, still confirming nothing. Ian chuckled slightly, taking his time, rising and making himself another drink and returning to the room moments later. He sat down again in one of the huge Victorian highboys adorning the room, sipped his drink and regarded her all over again.
“My name,” he said simply as Lauren frowned slightly.
Ian smiled again. “KiKi never, ever, called me Ian,” he clarified as Lauren mentally kicked herself for the mistake. “Not even in the heat of a bitter argument,” he told her. “I’m always Ice to her.”
Lauren grunted slightly, sighing deeply. “So now what,” she asked calmly.
Ian shrugged slightly.
“Doesn’t matter to me,” he told her calmly. “Would you like me to call you Lauren,” he asked.
The pain hit her suddenly without warning and Lauren grimaced, crying out slightly as she grabbed her head and went to her knees. Ian was instantly up from his chair, his arms around her, lifting her back to the couch.
“Are you all right, baby,” he asked anxiously, looking into her eyes now.
“Ice, what the hell,” Kaitlyn mumurmued, confused and frightened finding herself here with him.
Ian sighed lightly, finally understanding what was going with her. The two personalities were fighting for survival inside her and she was helpless to stop them. I need to help her find a happy medium so they can both exist before it kills her, he thought as she continued stare at him.
“I’m going to make you some hot tea, and then we’re going to talk,” Ian told her as Kaitlyn simply nodded.
Once Ian left the room, Kaitlyn took in her surroundings wondering where she was, how long she’d been here, and why she couldn’t remember anything after seeing him in the hospital basement. Tariq has got to be crazy by now, Kaitlyn thought as Ian returned, handing her the tea. Taking it, she quickly put it down. Her hands were shaking so badly, most of the contents were spilling into the saucer under the cup.
“Ice, where am I, how long have I been here,” she asked, already sure she didn’t want to know the answer.
Ian sighed softly and told her she’d only been with him for about three days now.
“I hafta go home, Ice, please,” Kaitlyn tried as he sighed deeply again.
“KiKi, baby, we have to get you well first, then you can decide what you want to do,” he told her as she frowned deeply.
“What are you talking about,” she queried.
“I want to show you something,” he replied instead.
Kaitlyn picked up the tea, steadying it with both hands and sipped lightly while Ian loaded the DVD into the player. He came and sat next to her, remote in hand.
“I think this will explain a lot for you,” he told her cryptically.
What trick is he up to now, Kaitlyn wondered as Ian pushed play. The images spilled onto the screen and her mouth dropped.
“No, oh god, no,” Kaitlyn breathed, watching herself making love to Ian. “That didn’t happen,” she tried as Ian tried to pull her close.
“No, stop,” she screamed pushing him away, trying to rise from the couch.
“KiKi, stop,” Ian told her, forcefully pulling her back to him and holding her on the couch, forcing her to watch the DVD.
She gasped hearing the things coming from her mouth as they conversed afterward. “Why would I do that,” she cried, sobbing now. “What did you give me,” she accused.
Ian let her cry it out and quiet herself before he spoke.
“KiKi, how long have you been having these blackouts,” he asked as she stared at him, amazed he knew her secret.
“A couple of months,” she answered finally, glad to be able to unburden herself.
*****
Seth sat in his cell brooding. He’d been so close and now he was locked behind concrete walls and iron bars. I’m gonna find that nosey bitch that interfered and kill her ass, he thought hotly. All he needed was two or three more minutes and Gabrielle would have been in his arms and his car, headed home. Shit, now what, he thought anew. They were waiting for ballistics on the gun that killed C-Rod. That would effectively free him and Victor from the murder charge. The unregistered handgun charge was simple enough, so Seth wasn’t worried about that at all. Now I’m going to definitely have to kidnap her, he mused. Gabrielle was frightened of him at the moment. Not to mention her desire to stay here in Atlanta with Jaron.
“There’s another bitch I owe a bullet too,” Seth mumbled.
They’d separated him and Victor when they arrived at the station. He hoped his bodyguard was holding up. He trusted him, but you never knew what a person might do or say if the right pressure if applied.
He thought about Gabrielle and how beautiful she was. She’d come a long way from the timid girl he’d spent years grooming. She was truly a woman now and he loved it. Seth wanted her with every fiber of his being. He couldn’t wait to make love to her, to kiss her, to care for her.
“I’ve got to get the hell out of here,” he mumbled once more.
His attorney told him he was working as quickly as he could to secure them both bail. He wasn’t licensed to practice in Georgia, so he contacted one of his colleagues that did. The man was supposed to contact them later today. That shit cannot happen soon enough, Seth thought sighing deeply. As soon as they were released and the charges sorted out, he was heading back to St. Louis, with Gabrielle. He’d made up his mind to pick her up first thing when they left the jail. And I don’t give a fuck if Jaron is there or not, Seth surmised. Today was the day he left Atlanta and he wasn’t leaving without Gabrielle. He would kill any and everybody that got in his way, without hesitation or remorse.
