by KR Bankston
*****
Tariq, LaRon and Mook were meeting again. They were working out the plans for their trip tomorrow.
“What did we find out about the location,” Tariq asked.
Mook told him the scout they sent brought back pictures and other pertinent information as he pulled them from the small attaché case he carried. The three men poured over the photos, making note of surrounding areas, businesses and people in the shots. Tariq couldn’t explain his fury as he looked at Ian in the pictures. I should have killed this bitch years ago, he fumed angrily. One thing was certain however; this time when they left Bayou country Ian was not going to be breathing.
“Shells still gonna tail the girls down there,” LaRon asked.
He’d confirmed with Jaleesa that she was going the other day at lunch.
“Yeah he’s straight,” Tariq replied.
LaRon relaxed a bit knowing that end was covered. Shells was a beast and both he and Tariq knew their women were safe in his care. Mook lightened the conversation telling them about his encounter with Tae the other day.
“You’re a good person,” LaRon told him. “I mighta had to take her up on that offer,” he joked as Tariq smiled and told Mook he did the right thing.
“Yeah you did man,” LaRon told him. “I’m just bullshittin’, trust I’ve learned my lesson,” he added as they all agreed they had good women.
Crazy women, but definitely the cream of the crop as far as they were all concerned. “That’s exactly why I am going to permanently eliminate Ice this time,” Tariq said aloud his anger flaring again. “That asshole has brought nothing but pain to KiKi, but he just doesn’t get it,” he added as LaRon agreed wholeheartedly.
“She’s a possession,” Mook told them as they all agreed the man had no capacity to actually feel or understand love in the true sense of the word.
“We’re pulling out an hour after they do,” Tariq told them once more.
“You know where they’re stayin’,” LaRon asked, realizing he hadn’t asked Jaleesa.
“No, but remember Shells is trailing them,” he answered as LaRon nodded.
“I am so ready to do this shit,” LaRon told Tariq as his friend told him he fully understood.
“I talked to Rebecca yesterday,” Mook told them, referring to Dixon’s mother.
“How’s she doing man,” Tariq asked.
Mook told her she was holding up pretty well. He’d sent a check to the mortgage company paying off the house.
“I know Dixon wanted to do that for her,” he told them as they both voiced their approval.
“Speaking of the past,” LaRon piped up. “Guess who I got a call from last week,” he threw out as both men gave him blank looks.
Laughing, LaRon answered his own riddle. “DeNoah, better known these days as Dagger,” he told them as Tariq laughed and inquired about the nickname.
“Seems this fool taking over the streets stabbing folks with this long ass movie type dagger,” LaRon explained. “He’s actually doing good though, got a crew and everything,” he added as both Mook and Tariq nodded, impressed.
“We should hook up when all this shit is over,” Tariq replied as Mook and LaRon said it sounded like a great idea.
Deciding they needed to get out and do something besides wait, the three men headed over to the gun range. It never hurt to get in a little practice.
*****
Kim was still waiting patiently for Hope to answer her question when she began her story again.
“Carlo was married,” she told Kim who again frowned slightly.
She didn’t recall seeing anything about his wife in the paper, but she supposed if the woman weren’t involved then she wouldn’t have.
“Auriel was a beautiful woman, inside and out,” Hope told her as Kim again smiled politely, her mind still trying to make the connection.
“Where is she now,” Kim asked curiously.
“She’s dead,” Hope said as the bitterness tinged her voice.
Kim looked down as the woman placed a small black velvet covered notebook on the table in front of them.
“This is her journal,” Hope said quietly as Kim glanced at the object.
Moving again, Hope pulled the flyer Kim had originally seen from her bag beside the chair and unfolded it. This one contained a picture. Hope then removed the attachment Kim had sent with the original email. Holding them up, side by side, she looked Kim in the eye and spoke.
“Lauren Nicole Cisneros,” Hope told her as Kim began to get a very bad feeling.
“That can’t be,” she replied almost whispering.
“Daughter of Auriel and Carlo Cisneros,” Hope iterated, never taking her eyes from the woman sitting across from her looking horrified.
“But, her name is Kaitlyn, Kaitlyn Ross,” Kim sputtered as Hope sighed deeply. It was time to open the door.
*****
Day was turning to night as Jaron drove down the dusty dirty road. You shouldn’t be here fool, his mind told him as he continued to drive. He had to come though. He’d been worried sick about Gabrielle since she escaped. He still hadn’t told Tariq that the woman was gone, and he hadn’t planned too. Jaron was simply going to disappear and live his life, but he wanted to see her one last time. At least say goodbye if possible. He and Mace had found the house the first time they came to the Bayou in search of information on Ian. He didn’t dare drive up to it, so stopping about three-quarters of a mile from it, Jaron pulled the truck over to the side of the shoulder out of the roadway and got out intending to walk the rest of the way. It was still light enough for Jaron to see the path and he followed it, careful to stay alert for signs of anyone coming or going. He definitely did not need to be seen by Ice, most especially, he didn’t need to be seen by Gabrielle’s brothers.
Jaron smiled to himself as he walked and thought about Gabrielle and their time together. She is so special, he continued to muse wishing the circumstances could have been different. She was exactly what he wanted in a woman and Jaron would have given her anything she wanted to make her happy. Sighing deeply and pushing away what might have been, he continued stealthily making his way toward the house, finally reaching the clearing that he assumed was the beginning of their front yard. Jaron paused taking in the area, still being as cautious as possible, when he finally saw the house in the distance. There were no lights immediately visible, saddening him that she wasn’t at home. His gut told him to make his way around the structure. Following his mind, Jaron began creeping carefully around the side of the house still staying close to the wooded area surrounding it. He got half way around when he noticed the solitary glowing bulb illuminating a room close to the back. His heart skipped a beat when he saw Gabrielle’s shadow pass in front of it, bringing a huge smile to his face as he sat on the grass to contemplate his next move.
*****
Ian was smiling as he stood in the expansive suite. Mecca had brought him the key as soon as he paid for the rooms, allowing Ian access to handle his business. The knock came and Ian opened the door allowing the delivery man access. “Thank you sir,” the man replied taking the $50.00 tip from Ian and leaving him alone once again. “A few more hours, just a few more hours,” Ian said softly as he set the delivery down and arranged it for Kaitlyn to find. He walked over to the window looking out into the serene waters that flowed below thinking how much she would like the room when she saw it. His mind began to reminisce back to the days of their beginning, when they first met and fell in love. Such a beautiful woman, Ian continued to muse as he recalled her smile, her laugh, her fire.
“Fuckin’ Tariq,” he growled angrily as he eyes glazed over.
Tomorrow though Ian would even the score; he would pay the debt in full and take back what belonged to him, his empire coming immediately to mind. The bastard had the nerve to take over Mardi Gras, Ian continued to brood angrily. Tariq had single handedly ruined his life.
“He lied to her,” Ian said aloud of Kaitlyn leaving him for the man.
He kidnapped her, he brainwashed her, his mind told him, reasoning the why of Kaitlyn remaining with him all these years. Ian was most hurt by her having Tariq’s child. He loved Kaitlyn absolutely and any child she gave birth too, he was supposed to father. “This time it’ll be right,” he murmured once more sighing deeply and willing himself to turn away from the window.
Checking the display once again and satisfied it would complete its purpose, Ian opened the door of the suite and left, heading back to Mecca’s apartment to return the suite key.
*****
Kim knew it was late. She could see the sun was gone from the sky as she peeked in the opening the curtains allowed not being fully closed. Still, she couldn’t leave yet. There was so much Hope still hadn’t explained and the revelation she’d spilled earlier had blown her away.
“Why would she change her name,” Kim asked as Hope exhaled again and regarded her once more.
“Because she’s blocked every memory of her old life,” Hope replied calmly, handing Kim the journal.
Kim was confused and her head was beginning to hurt.
“Open the page with the blue marker,” Hope told her, touching her hand before she could. “It’s very graphic,” she warned as Kim swallowed hard and nodded, her hands shaking slightly as she did as the woman asked.
The handwriting was beautiful. Very flowing and artsy Kim thought as she looked at it. Reeling her observations in she began to actually read.
The entry started off well enough before the handwriting began to show signs of emotional upset.
“Who wrote this,” Kim asked absently still reading.
“Auriel,” Hope answered plainly. “The night she died,” she added cryptically as Kim looked up regarding her again for a moment.
Gathering herself she returned to the page before her when she reached the lines that began to unravel her mind and assault her sensibilities. ‘Carlo is crazy,’ the entry continued. ‘He thinks I’m cheating on him. He won’t let me leave the house. He killed the maid and dismembered her body as I watched.’ It went on as Kim took a deep breath to stay her racing heartbeat. ‘That was nothing though,’ it began again. ‘Today he hurt Lauren,’ it went on as Kim stopped, unsure if she wanted to read any more. “Please read it,” Hope told her, patting her hand gently as Kim held the journal.
Pulling herself together, Kim returned to the small book. ‘He beat me, and tied me to a chair,’ the entry went on. ‘I heard him scream for Lauren and she obediently came to him, I can hardly write as I see the vision again and again in my head,’ Auriel had written. ‘Carlo told her he loved her and she of course told him she loved him back. Lauren idolized her father,’ she went on. ‘He looked over at me with an evil smirk before he told our daughter to take off her clothes.’ Kim stopped reading. She didn’t want to see anymore. She didn’t want to know what this monster had done.
“Read it all,” Hope told Kim knowing it had to be very upsetting. “You have to read it to know, to understand,” she prodded as Kim again fought the urge to scream and run for the room, returning to the journal.
‘Lauren was confused, but trusting her father she did as he asked, leaving her underwear and t-shirt on,’ Auriel continued. ‘Carlo sweetly told her to take off everything. She was embarrassed and told him she couldn’t in front of him, he was her daddy. That snake told her it was okay and he loved her. She complied, keeping her eyes on the floor, standing naked before her father.’ The ink began to blur slightly here and Kim knew the woman was crying as she wrote.
Taking another deep breath Kim continued to read. ‘Lauren finally saw me in the chair, tied up and mouth taped, asking her father what was going on,’ Auriel wrote again. ‘The bastard told her it was a game and I wanted to watch them play. I could see the confusion on her face but she didn’t question her father again. I wanted to kill him as he touched her barely budding breasts,’ the entry continued as Kim began to feel physically ill. ‘Lauren began to cry and he yelled at her to stop. I’ll never forget what he did next, not ever. The evil bastard lifted my daughter onto the kitchen table, he touched her vagina, rubbing it gently, telling her how grown up she was to him. The dog put his mouth on her and began licking her as the tears ran out of Lauren’s eyes. I could see the confusion in her face as her father continued doing the very perverted things to her. He asked her if she were a virgin and she told him yes. He began licking her again, caressing his erection through his pants. I couldn’t believe it when Carlo unzipped his pants and grabbed the jar of blue magic hair grease and rubbed it up and down his hard penis, opened my baby’s legs and raped her,’ the entry began to blur as the tears cascaded down Kim’s face. Hope handed her a tissue allowing her to compose herself.
“Finish it,” she whispered knowing the pain Kim had to be feeling right now.
Forcing herself to look again, Kim continued to read. ‘I felt like I was raping her myself as she looked into my eyes crying, screaming at me to help her, to make daddy stop hurting her. Carlo looked at me and laughed as he continued assaulting his own daughter. She feels so good, the bastard had the nerve to say. He yelled at Lauren to stop crying, he told her she was his wife now, that they were married and she would give him what I would not,’ the entry was almost finished. ‘He made her call him Carlo, he kissed her on the mouth sticking his tongue in hers, I watched this dog thrust in and out of my baby for what seemed forever until he finished, pulling out as his corrupted semen ran down her skin. How could he hurt our child like that, how could he hurt my baby that way? Lauren is only 12 years old.’ The entry finally concluded as Kim began to retch rising and heading for the bathroom.
22
Jaron inched his way closer to the window praying he wasn’t given away, and that they didn’t have any alarms or dogs in the house. Finally making it close enough to see in the window, he carefully peered inside. Gabrielle was pacing back and forth a worried look on her face. Jaron watched her walk over to the bedroom door and turn the knob. After watching a few moments more he figured out it was locked. Why would they lock her inside a room in her own home, he thought frowning deeply as he continued to watch the beautiful woman. Turning to the window he could see the tears cascading down her face. What the hell, Jaron thought still watching her. Obviously something was very wrong. Were they punishing her, torturing her, what the hell was the deal, Jaron desperately wanted to know.
“Let me out of here, Seth,” Gabrielle screamed breaking his thought as Jaron again looked in the window. She was sitting on the bed sobbing deeply. Whatever was going on, Jaron wasn’t going to let her stay there a minute longer. Tapping on the glass to get her attention, he saw Gabrielle jump, then slowly rise and walk over to where he stood. She looked out of the single pane and saw Jaron standing in her yard. Gabrielle hurriedly unlocked the window trying to raise it. She was dismayed to find it had been nailed shut on either corner. When the hell did Seth do this, she wondered having never noticed before. Gabrielle seldom opened her window finding the stagnant heat suffocating.
“Move,” Jaron told her through the glass.
Gabrielle read his lips and hurriedly got out of the way as the brick sailed through the glass causing a loud crash.
“Stay back,” he told her, using a stick from the yard to finish breaking the glass.
Telling her to place her sheet on the broken sill, Jaron helped Gabrielle from the window holding her until he got her footing after reaching the ground.
“Did you drive,” she asked looked at him fearfully.
“Yeah, my truck is about half a mile back up the road,” Jaron answered as Gabrielle nodded and took his hand.
She knew the woods well, even in the dark. She was careful to stay hidden in the cover the woods offered as they made their way back to where he told her his truck was parked. Gabrielle’s nerves were on edge with every sound she heard, she imagined Seth’s hands grabbing her and his gun shooting Jaron and killing him. Breathing a small sigh of relief when they reached his truck, Gabr
ielle told him to get them out of there, which he did, without question.
Jaron noticed her looking over her shoulder the entire time they road. She didn’t relax enough to start talking to him until they’d gotten onto the interstate out of Louisiana heading for now, back to Mississippi.
“Why did you come,” she questioned reality easing back into her existence.
“I needed to see you again and to make sure you were all right,” Jaron told her honestly.
“Why were you locked in that room,” Jaron questioned her now.
Sighing deeply Gabrielle told him her brother had flipped out and locked her inside. Not really lying, but not divulging the entire truth either.
“I’m not going back there,” she said simply, more to herself than Jaron.
Gabrielle didn’t know what she was going to do, or how she was going to do it, but she wasn’t going back to that house or anywhere near Seth ever again.
“Do you wanna come with me,” Jaron asked looking into her eyes and praying she said yes.
“Where are you going,” Gabrielle questioned.
“Atlanta,” he said simply.
Now that she was with him again, he could approach Tariq about the promise he’d made to allow him to work in the Atlanta operation.
Gabrielle told him that sounded good as Jaron smiled and continued driving. She finally relaxed completely, laying her head on the headrest and drifting off to sleep after seeing the mileage marker indicating another 80 miles to Mississippi. Jaron took her hand and held it as he drove. He kissed it softly and smiled thinking how glad he was he followed his mind. Thankfully he wouldn’t have to disappear now. He could continue to work for Tariq making good money and being treated fairly. Jaron thought about their lovemaking and wondered if she’d seen her period yet. He pushed everything out of his mind except her presence in his life and kicked up the speed on the truck wanting to hurry and get home.
