Thin Ice 7 - Echoes of Reckoning (33 page)

“
It’s hard to believe that finally after all the planning things are taking shape,” King Diesel remarked almost wistfully.

Blue nodded but said nothing.

“
Are you excited yet,” he asked, giving Blue another look.

Sighing slightly he answered the question.

“
In a way, but cautiously excited,” Blue returned as King Diesel murmured telling him he understood.

“
Could you kill her if you had too,” he threw at him.

Blue frowned a bit quickly changing his expression.

“
It might come to that,” King Diesel patiently explained as Blue continued to try and gather his thoughts.

He wanted to punch the man squarely in the face for even suggesting something so absurd.

“
If it actually came to that,” Blue began calmly. “I’d do what I have to do,” he answered as King Diesel watched him closely.

“
Business is still business,” Blue added for good measure as the man smiled slightly and told him he was glad to see he was still holding onto his objectivity.

Turning into the complex where Layla lived, Blue pulled into a parking spot as King Diesel spoke once more.

“
I shouldn’t be long,” he told him as Blue grunted and watched him get out of the truck.

“
This shit cannot be over soon enough,” he mumbled aloud as he coldly watched his employer the earlier words still ringing in his mind.

28

Jaleesa was melancholy returning to Atlanta after all the turmoil. On the one hand she was super excited being this close to her sons and her mother. On the other she was depressed that she couldn’t see them or let them know she was still alive. Jacoury had been super supportive all morning since they arrived and checked into their hotel, telling her how much he loved her, promising to take her shopping, anything he thought to say to try and get a smile from her. She did actually smile thinking about him and how lucky she was to have him. Jaleesa also thought about the visit from his first love a couple weeks back. They’d all met when she and Jacoury went over to Ramell and Sam’s for dinner at their invitation. Jacoury had been upfront and open about Necie being there and what their history was. Jaleesa wasn’t threatened by the woman, especially after Jacoury told her there were no feelings other than friendship on his end. The one thing she’d learned about her man over their time together, when he was done with something or someone, he was done. Jaleesa could tell the woman wasn’t all that keen to meet her, but she didn’t let it show. She also chuckled recalling the look of envy on the woman’s face as Jacoury hugged and kissed her off and on all night.

Giggling aloud now, Jaleesa refocused her energy picking up her cell and making a call.

“
Wassup chick,” Tae threw out amiably, giggling as well.

Jaleesa smiled broadly and returned the greeting telling her to hold on while she got Kim on the line.

“
Hey girl,” Kim greeted, seeing Jaleesa’s number.

“
Wassup girl,” both she and Tae threw out.

“
You talked to CiCi, everything still good for tonight,” Jaleesa asked as Kim assured them that both women would be in attendance.

“
Cool, that’s great news,” Tae told her as they laughed again.

“
Yeah, but we’re going to have to be discreet as hell,” Kim warned.

“
Why, what’s up,” Jaleesa asked, catching the tone.

Kim sighed deeply, then told them she overheard Mook and Shells talking.

“
Damn, he told him didn’t he,” Tae asked as Kim said yes.

“
So you know they are going to be watching to make sure you don’t trip Tae,” Kim told her as Tae sucked her teeth.

“
Still not a problem,” Jaleesa told them.

Kim was curious, so she asked why not. Jaleesa explained that they knew Tae was upset, but as far as anyone else knew she hadn’t shared the information. Both Kim and Tae began to chuckle following her line of logic.

“
So, we just make sure we get miss thang in the right place, Tae knows how to bob and weave staying out of their line of sight, and we take care of business,” Jaleesa explained as they all laughed again before going over each of their parts in the plan.

Tomorrow night Tae was going to get some payback on little miss man chaser and her girls had her back.

“
Everybody got outfits and stuff,” Tae asked as Jaleesa told her no and she needed to hit the malls.

Kim told them she had something but she wanted something new.

“
Well hell sounds like a shopping trip to me,” Tae threw out as they all laughed again.

“
Who’s picking me up,” Jaleesa asked as Tae told her she would swing through and get here and they could scoop Kim soon after.

“
Cool, let me get dressed then,” Kim returned as they told her okay and she disconnected leaving the two women on the phone.

“
You gonna cut her ass,” Jaleesa asked Tae knowing her very well.

“
I don’t know what I’ma do to that bitch just yet,” she replied honestly. “I do know she won’t try anymore of our men after I get done with her, that much I do know,” she added as Jaleesa gave her a resounding Amen.

“
I knew her slick ass was trouble,” Jaleesa told Tae going on to enlighten her about the conversation she’d had when they first met.

“
So that bitch just bold huh,” Tae returned as Jaleesa told her no, just stupid.

Tae burst into laughter at that point and she Jaleesa chatted a while longer before hanging up with Tae giving her thirty minutes to get ready.

*****

Horse carefully rose from bed as Sapphire still slept. He smiled looking back over his shoulder at her. Being with her had been everything he imagined and more. Horse was glad Sapphire had given him a chance to show her how wonderful he could make her life with him in it. He’d been spending the night regularly, but not fully moving in. Rising he headed into the living room and checked his cell. Sa’Cari had called and left him a voicemail. Checking it, Horse smiled. He was only calling to check on him as well as his mother telling Horse he hoped he had finally leveled with his mother about his feelings. He was also asking about buying a diamond and the things he should look for, the price, size, clarity etc. Horse sighed softly knowing the young man’s mind was fully set on the girl he’d brought home and there was no unmaking it. He knew Cartier would have approved of her. She was a good girl in every sense of the word and Sa’Cari adored her. Sighing softly he returned the call getting Sa’Cari on the fourth ring.

“
Hey Horse,” he greeted.

“
I got your message,” Horse told him after exchanging pleasantries.

“
Oh okay cool,” Sa’Cari returned. “I can’t really talk about it right now though,” he added as Horse chuckled slightly knowing that Ashlyn was within hearing distance.

“
How’s mama,” he asked as Horse assured him Sapphire was fine.

“
Mmhm,” Sa’Cari replied. “And how are the two of you, together,” he fired off as Horse chuckled at his bluntness.

“
We’re fine,” he replied simply as Sa’Cari pressed again.

“
Did you tell her Horse, are you two at least talking about it,” he asked another time. Horse took a deep breath and blew it out slowly.

“
Yes, we talked, we’re good,” Horse told him evasively.

He didn’t want to admit to Sa’Cari that he and Sapphire had been intimate. She was still his mother. He heard the young man chuckling before speaking.

“
Uh yeah,” Sa’Cari returned his tone mischievous.

“
My mama can still have babies, ya’ll need to use protection,” he told Horse bursting into laughter at the end of his statement.

Horse, at first thrown by his bluntness, smiled and told him to watch it; he wasn’t too old for his mama to whip his butt. Sa’Cari laughed even harder at the statement before calming himself and returning to his conversation.

“
Horse, man it’s cool, I told you that,” Sa’Cari told him earnestly. “I’m glad she’s not alone anymore and I know you got her back come what may,” he added as Horse assured him that was truth spoken.

“
Tell her I’ll call her later this weekend,” Sa’Cari told him as Horse grunted his understanding. “And when I’m by myself I’ll call you back about my message and we can talk,” he added as Horse assured him it was fine and disconnected.

He chuckled to himself at the young man’s statement before realizing he was right.
I better get some condoms,
Horse thought praying it wasn’t already too late.

*****

“
What do you think about this one,” Layla asked as she tried on yet another dress.

This one was sparkling silver, shimmery and form fitting. It stopped mid-thigh, spaghetti strapped, v-cut.

“
It’s cute, but what accessories would you wear with it,” CiCi asked taking her in.

“
Red, maybe or royal blue,” Layla returned still looking at herself in the triple mirrors.

She knew Saturday was going to be quite the night to remember, far more than CiCi, Tariq or any of his crew suspected. King Diesel had come and seen her this morning and they’d of course had sex. He gave her the final payment and told her the when and where of her role. Glancing at her bestfriend in the mirror, Layla had a temporary flash of guilt; until she thought of the crisp bills lining her suitcase in the condo. After everything was said and done tomorrow night she was blowing this city, hell the country, hopping a flight for someplace warm and tropical.

“
Yeah that would be cute,” Cyiarra spoke breaking her thought and returning her to now.

Layla nodded her agreement telling her she would get this one and asking about shoes.

“
We passed a couple shops on the way up,” Cyiarra replied.

She’d already selected an Ocean Blue strapless number, knowing Blue was Tariq’s favorite color. She was wearing the blue diamonds that Tariq bought her when they first starting dating. Sighing softly Cyiarra was praying that she could convince him to at least spend the night with her.
A good time, lots of liquor, he should be agreeable,
she thought almost desperate to get him back in her bed.

“
OK, lemme pay for this and then we’re headed to the shoe store,” Layla told her breezing out of the stall and heading to the cashier.

Cyiarra rose and followed her friend’s good mood rubbing off on her and she soon found herself smiling and looking excitedly forward to tomorrow night.

“
We need to go to the hairdresser too,” Cyiarra reminded as Layla told her she was right.

“
I think I’m going to get some color,” she told Cyiarra. “Maybe just some highlights in the front, something to make them say, wow, ya know,” Layla laughed as Cyiarra chuckled as well.

“
You’re sure Tariq isn’t bringing his slut to the party,” she threw at her bestfriend as Cyiarra frowned slightly.

“
I asked Kim that same thing and she told me he wouldn’t, said it wasn’t his style,” she told Layla who grunted slightly.

She was glad to know that much, the plan was very specific and they didn’t need any extra players.

“
Well that much is good, I know you got a serious outfit planned,” she baited as Cyiarra chuckled and shared the details with her.

“
Oooh, sounds like a good choice girl,” Layla told her. “And once Tariq gets a few hits of champagne and that damned yak he likes to drink, you should be able to get all the dick he has to offer,” Layla told her crudely as they both burst into laughter.

“
You are so damned stupid,” Cyiarra laughed as they grabbed smoothies after leaving the shoe store and headed out of the mall to the hairdresser.

*****

Tariq looked at his phone after it vibrated, smiling as he read Kaitlyn’s message. She was here.
Can’t wait to go and spend some time with her,
he thought sighing softly. That would be much later however, as he texted and let her know. Tariq had a full day of making sure everything was in place for the opening. He had last minute deliveries today as well as minor remodels and fixes to various issues he’d found when he and Mook did their walk through late last night. Still, knowing she was in the city, within arms reach and waiting for him, made his day flow much smoother. Tariq wished she could be at the opening but he knew that was impossible. He did however know Cyiarra would be there and that brought a shadow of frown to his face. He didn’t dislike the woman, but she was still trying to hang on; still trying to make a dollar out of fifteen cents. Tariq sighed deeply and pushed the thoughts away. He only planned to be at the opening for the first three hours anyway. Then he was going to the hotel and climb in bed with his baby, making love to her until the wee hours of the morning, falling asleep with her in his arms.

How long are you going to be able to deal with the hit and miss,
Tariq’s mind kicked up. He seldom let himself think of him and Kaitlyn long term, knowing it only served to either piss him off or make him melancholy. Tariq sighed deeply. Even if he could get her to divorce Ian, the man would make their lives hell. Tariq was sure he would vindictively try and take the children from her and not let her see them. For Kaitlyn that was a price too high and he would never put her in the position of having to choose.
You could just put a bullet in his skull,
his mind pushed once more. Tariq dismissed that just as quickly. If he killed Ice all hell would break loose and there would be bloodshed no end. Kaitlyn would also never forgive him for taking her children’s father from them. No, he would have to either learn to accept the affiliation for what it was or give her up, the latter Tariq wouldn’t even consider. His cell buzzed again and he saw the message from Mook and Shells letting him know they were at the club. Grabbing his keys and wallet Tariq headed out the door to his truck. He continued to think about Kaitlyn as he drove. He couldn’t explain the feelings for her or why his heart just refused to let her go. Tariq replayed all the hell they’d endured, the loss of their daughter, the breakup of their marriage.
All because of Ice and his damned obsession,
he thought becoming angry. Tariq was almost positive the one and only reason, other than the girls, that she stayed with Ian was because of him. Tariq knew Kaitlyn would never forgive herself if she felt that she had been the cause of him getting hurt, or worse. Arriving at the club he pushed the thoughts aside and concentrated on the club for now. Today was strictly business, tonight was all pleasure.