Thin Ice 7 - Echoes of Reckoning (30 page)

“
I’m Shango, by the way,” he told her as she nodded slightly, turning once again and walking away.

“
You’re a mess,” Blue teased as Shango licked his lips watching her walk away, promptly putting the number in his pocket and beginning to devour his food.

*****

Kim was humming softly as she got KiSean together and prepared to drop him off at school.

“
Hey baby,” Mook greeted walking into the kitchen.

“
Hey,” Kim returned amiably.

He walked over and hugged her, kissing her lips. “Don’t forget to be at Memoirs for the delivery folks today,” Mook told her as Kim assured him she had it covered.

She knew he and Tariq would be busy handling other business for Memoirs and the strip club that was set to open almost two weeks after this celebration.

“
Mama, I gotta go change my shirt,” KiSean told her as Kim saw the jelly stain sitting on it.

Sighing heavily she told him okay and to hurry up. She walked back into the bedroom to get her phone and small pocket planner, dropping them into her bag. Checking the other compartment contained she saw the .9mm she’d deposited last night.

“
I like this skirt,” Mook told her coming up behind her, grabbing her around the waist. “No, see stop,” Kim giggled trying to get away from him.

“
What,” Mook threw out trying to sound innocent as his hands slipped under the rim of her underwear.

“
Stop Mook, you know I gotta go,” Kim tried as his fingers found her clit and began stroking it gently.

“
You got time for a good nut, I know you do,” Mook teased, kissing her neck now as she began to flow under his touch.

“
Why you gotta be so nasty,” Kim asked half heartedly as Mook pushed her against the bedroom wall and ripped the lacey boy shorts from her.

“
Destructive ass,” Kim murmured as he began kissing her, freeing his erection.

She guided him inside her as she wrapped her legs around his waist and Mook went deep, turning her faucet on full flow.

“
Mmm,” Kim moaned as he made love to her, thrusting deeply telling her how good it was.

“
Mook, damn,” Kim continued to cry out as she got closer and closer.

Mook was enjoying the sensations of her tight space, gripping her butt with every thrust. Kim felt him begin to spasm inside her.

“
You bout to nut aren’t you,” she teased, gripping his firmness with her tightness.

“
Kim, shit,” Mook moaned feeling her effort.

“
It’s good ain’t it,” Kim again teased as Mook breathed harder.

“
You aren’t gonna punk me Kim,” he told her through gritted teeth trying desperately to hold on.

She giggled slightly, kissing his neck and running her tongue across his lips as he moaned again.

“
Just say it Mook,” she told him, gripping him once more.

“
Hell na’ll,” he tried as she grabbed his butt holding him tightly throwing her sex back at him.

“
Damn Kim, shit baby, yeah its good, damn,” Mook replied as he lost the battle and his finish surged from his body deeply inside her.

Kim smiled to herself kissing his neck gently. Mook put her down looking into her eyes as she continued to smile.

“
Make me sick,” he mumbled and went into the bathroom to gather himself as Kim burst into laughter, following him.

*****

“
Riq you don’t need me there,” Kaitlyn told him patiently. He’d called earlier asking if she would come for the opening.

“
KiKi, baby, I want to share this with you,” Tariq told her.

“
It’s your night Riq,” Kaitlyn replied. “I can’t come to the opening and I refuse to drag you away from your own party.”

Tariq asked why she was being so difficult. Kaitlyn laughed.

“
I’m not trying to be difficult, I’m being logical,” she explained.

“
KiKi, I want to leave that opening and come lay in your arms,” Tariq told her plainly. “Is that enough logic for you,” he asked as she laughed again.

“
OK Riq, damn, your spoiled ass,” she returned hearing him chuckle.

“
Good, glad that’s settled,” Tariq told her. “I’ll reserve your suite,” he added as Kaitlyn told him she wanted to change hotels.

He didn’t question the why and she was grateful for that. After the incident with the ice, Kaitlyn didn’t want to be anywhere near that hotel again.

“
You’re flying in Friday night,” Tariq asked.

She supposed she could, Ian had called earlier saying he would be in the Bayou a little longer, probably not returning until Monday or Tuesday of the next week. Mrs. Connor would of course take care of the girls without asking questions.

“
OK, I’ll be there Friday,” she acquiesced once again.

“
Good, I can’t wait to see you baby,” Tariq told her, his voice laden with the love he felt for her.

Kaitlyn returned the sentiment and disconnected.

She continued to think about him.
How long do you think he’s going to be satisfied with these weekends,
her mind taunted. Kaitlyn knew she was going to have to make a decision and soon; especially now that Tariq was no longer with Cyiarra.
Good thing for her,
Kaitlyn thought, knowing if the woman had called again she would have killed her. Changing her thought from the woman she again concentrated on Tariq. This weekend she needed to let him go and that was just that. Kaitlyn knew Ian would never let her divorce him, though it was more and more on her mind these days.
If he even suspected Tariq and I were seeing each other, he would try and kill him,
she continued to consider. Thinking still her mind fell to the incident in Atlanta. Kaitlyn frowned deeply as she shuddered at the memory; still there was something that wouldn’t leave her mind, the voice speaking in her ear. Not the one doing the incantation, but there was someone else talking in her ear.
It couldn’t be him,
Kaitlyn tried to reason. She hadn’t seen or heard from Blue in years. She didn’t even know where he was or if he was still alive, yet she could have sworn the voice in her ear while she lay in the tub was his. Even the soft, gentle kiss on the ear felt like his touch.
Shit, I do not need any new craziness in my life,
she thought as her nightmares began screaming back into her conscious thought.

“
Why am I dreaming this bullshit now,” Kaitlyn murmured making herself a drink.

Her hands shook as she poured the Crown into the glass. Those voodoo rituals were something she never wanted to remember. Her father had been absolutely consumed with them and practiced some spell, incantation, or ritual every chance he got.
Might be what kept you hidden and safe all those years,
her mind tried as Kaitlyn immediately dismissed it.

“
Good old fashion common sense and Carlo’s training kept me hidden,” she murmured aloud once more.

Kaitlyn still couldn’t believe she’d seen her grandmother the night of that particular ritual. To this day she vehemently denied it’d happen surmising it as a wild hallucination brought on by her fear of the unknown practice.

“
Why did you hurt me like that Carlo, why, dammit,” Kaitlyn asked softly the tears coming without warning and flowing torrentially down her cheeks.

That was the one question that even now, after all the years, all the therapy, all the love and support, she still needed answered. It was the one thing that hurt to her core more than anything else. She had worshipped her father. Carlo could do no wrong, not ever, as far as she was concerned. Then came that fateful day; the cold, black, day that her world came to a crashing halt as her father violated her in the most unspeakable way. Kaitlyn began to sob deeply, falling to her knees as the hurt again descended and the act replayed itself in her mind yet another time.

“
Why daddy, why,” she whispered in a soft, quiet voice, still lying on the floor curled tightly in a protective ball.

*****

Kim arrived at her destination, mood even better after her frisky play with her husband. Knocking on the door she put on her game face. She stood a few moments more and no one came to it.

“
Hmph,” Kim thought aloud.

Taking a chance she turned the knob figuring that since the door was inside the garage it wouldn’t be locked. She was right and the door gave immediately under her touch.

“
Hello,” Kim called out as she walked inside, removing the .9mm from her purse and disengaging the safety.

“
Hello,” she called out again, walking stealthily through the house.

Satisfied no one was here she began checking the various rooms one at a time to be sure she was right and no one was hiding inside. Arriving at the room furthest from the front she pushed the door open with the .9mm, coming slightly inside and taking it in. The room was bare with the exception of the queen bed and the clothes tossed all over it.

“
What a slob,” Kim remarked, frowning slightly as she continued to take in the house.

Not wanting to waste too much time, Kim quickly went to the closet looking for any boxes or containers that might hold what she needed to retrieve. Finding nothing she sighed softly and returned to the living room.

“
Bastard,” Kim murmured removing the incriminating DVD and quickly putting it in her purse.

She turned to leave the house when she heard him speaking, knowing he was headed to inside.
Damn,
Kim thought of Tyshon returning. She knew he would see the truck and figure out she was inside. Thinking fast, Kim stood right outside of the kitchen, not immediately in his line of sight. That would force him to actually come inside the house. Tyshon walked into the house closing the door as he disconnected his cell call.

“
Kim, I know you’re here baby,” he threw out jovially. “Come on out, lets talk,” he returned walking directly to the DVD player and ejecting the tray.

“
Baby, I know you got the DVD, but let’s talk okay,” Tyshon told her once again.

Stepping out of her hiding place, Kim addressed him, .9mm firmly pointed at his chest. “Damn Kim, it’s like that,” Tyshon returned slightly uneasy with the gun on him.

“
I don’t have time to play with you Ty,” Kim returned calmly.

“
Baby, don’t be like this,” he pleaded taking a step toward her.

“
Don’t be stupid,” Kim told him never lowering the gun or her gaze.

“
So you’re going to kill me now,” he scoffed, actually chuckling aloud.

Kim smiled slightly. “Ty, it’s been a lot of years since you knew me,” she told him coolly. “Killing you would be like getting a glass of water for me, no sweat,” she added as he began to realize she was serious.

“
You got the DVD so leave it at that,” Tyshon told her, angry but careful not to show it.

“
See that’s the thing Ty,” Kim began anew. “I don’t know if you’ve made copies of this shit, or if you might be stupid and try to tell my husband about it,” she explained patiently.

“
I didn’t make copies,” Tyshon returned flatly. “I’m going to get me a bottle of water, can you let me drink that before you shoot me,” he asked smartly as Kim shrugged slightly.

Tyshon’s mind was racing as he went to the fridge and got the water, opening it and drinking almost half the bottle.

“
That’s better,” he murmured. “Kim look, I get it, you don’t want me, okay cool,” he replied, trying to talk to her again. “Take the DVD and walk out of my life, you’ll never hear from me again,” he told her hoping she believed him.

Truthfully Tyshon had plans to make Kim sorry she’d come into his house and especially that she’d drawn a gun on him.

“
Hmph,” Kim replied. “The cool thing about the work I’ve been doing over the years Ty,” she began again. “Is that I know when someone is selling me bullshit, and right now you got a buy one, get one, sale going on,” she told him shooting him the first time in the chest.

Tyshon’s eyes grew big as he gasped.

“
Bitch,” he managed as Kim frowned deeply and shot him twice more.

He took a last gasping breath and became still. Walking over to him she looked into his eyes and took his pulse. Both were devoid of life. Grabbing her bag Kim hurriedly got into the truck backing calmly out of the garage and just as calmly going down the street. She wasn’t worried about anyone calling the cops, the silencer on the .9mm took care of any sounds and she was pretty sure no one would find the body for a while. She never saw the shadowy figure parked across the street frowning deeply as she left, getting out of their car and walking toward the house as she turned the corner.

26

Ian kissed Gabrielle softly as they all left the house heading out to their evening. She admonished him to be careful and he promised her he would as she smiled and went back inside the house. His mind was now on their task as the men made their way through the darkness to the small shanty house almost three miles up the road. They drove the dark road, turning out their headlights once they got within a half mile, getting out and garnering the weapons they all began walking the trail that had been marked earlier during their exploration. They stealthily inched closer and closer to the house finally seeing the light from the windows illuminating the open yard before them as they still stood in the brush that served as a property line. Creeper saw their contact standing at the bottom of the stairs alone. He took out the small penlight and flashed it in the man’s direction. The contact immediately turned to them, nodded slightly and beckoned them forward. The men crept out of the brush alert, guns cocked, just in case they were being set up.