Thin Ice 7 - Echoes of Reckoning (44 page)

“
We have a beautiful daughter and hopefully a handsome son with this baby,” Ryan addressed, pointing the .10mm at him now.

“
Even if I let you live, you’d be continually trying to find some way to undermine what we have, and I just don’t like complications,” Ryan told him firing the first time.

The bullet hit Cameron in the chest and his eyes grew big.

“
You should have listened when I gave you that free pass,” Ryan again spoke, standing over him as Cameron gasped on his knees.

Ryan shot him twice more, another to the chest, and one to the head.

“
Pass revoked muthafucka,” he said evenly, putting the gun back into his pocket and calmly exiting Cameron’s apartment, reminding himself to stop at the store and get the chocolate ice cream Nikki was craving.

*****

Ian was sipping his drink and thinking about his situation. He and Kaitlyn were separated but so far he’d been successfully battling the divorce. Quickly retaining Ray to handle the proceedings, Ian had managed to force Kaitlyn to remain in Overton Park because of their daughters. She wasn’t hostile when they met, but she was cold and reserved, which bothered Ian even more. At least with her hostility he knew where he stood with her. The woman he was dealing with now was a mystery to him. Ian also wasn’t happy that Blue was still a part of her life. The man had seemingly attached himself to her without invitation. Kaitlyn spent time with him but she hadn’t slept with him, Ian thought, having paid handsomely for the informant she now employed as her nanny.
What is his damned angle,
Ian continued to brood. There had to be more to Blue than an ex-lover wanting another chance and Ian was determined to find it. His thought temporarily shifted to Gabrielle and the child she still carried. He picked up his cell and made a call, the nurse answering on the second ring.

“
Good afternoon Mr. Bailey,” the woman responded amiably.

Ian returned the greeting going on to ask how Gabrielle was today. The nurse replied that she was fine and the baby was fine as well. Thanking her, Ian disconnected as his mind recalled their conversation.
“You can’t keep me here,” Gabrielle screamed once they arrived at the private facility and she’d been brought inside. “Yes I can, and I will,” Ian told her. “Until my child is born and your right’s dismantled, you will remain in this facility,” he said coldly as she began to cry. “Why Ice, why are you hurting me like this,” Gabrielle asked quietly, sitting curled in the corner of the bed the room contained. Sighing deeply Ian chose not to address the question simply telling her she would be taken care of, and compensated for all her distress. “You can’t pay for this Ice, you can’t pay for destroying someone’s soul,” Gabrielle told him as Ian turned without a word and left her in the room.
That was almost five months ago. The child was due in the next month and everything would finally be over. Ian would have his son and Kaitlyn would be spared the pain of childbirth and delivery.

Now you just have to get back into her heart and her bed,
Ian thought as he drained the glass and picked up his keys. He needed to shop. The girl’s birthday was coming up this week and the party was at his house. Kaitlyn would of course come and Ian had every plan of making sure she stayed the night, encased in his arms. Ian also thought about Tariq and knew that as long as the man breathed he would forever be a problem.
Why the hell is she so in love with this fool,
he thought angrily before his mind told him to stop fighting the affiliation and learn from it. Ian took a deep breath trying to see past his distaste for the man and be logical. Maybe if he could dissect, piece by piece what drew them together in the first place, he could use it to his advantage to win Kaitlyn’s heart back and make them the loving couple they used to be. He had to try. Ian couldn’t see himself without Kaitlyn. It was more than a promise to his dying father; it was more than a partnership for him. He would never admit it to another living, breathing, soul, but Ian’s heart loved her fully; without pause, without pretense. She made him weak in that love and while he hated that, Ian was terrified of the raw hurt he’d faced when he was without her. Much like the hurt and emptiness he felt right now.
I’ve got to make her fall in love with me again, I have too,
he thought finally arriving at the toy store, getting out and going inside, excited to get the ball rolling this weekend at the twin’s party.

*****

“
Come on India,” Dr. Chavis told her as she pushed. “One more good push and he’ll be here,” he encouraged once more.

India took another deep breath and pushed with all her might as the baby finally slid out, screaming loudly as she and Ray beamed with pride. Still smiling, Ray cut his son’s umbilical cord as they laid the still screaming infant on India’s stomach.

“
He’s beautiful,” she said through her tears as Ray readily agreed. “I want to name him after you,” India told Ray looking into his eyes.

She’d asked him before and he’d told her no, saying he wanted the baby to have his own identity.

“
Please,” she added as Ray melted.

He couldn’t deny her and it secretly pleased him that India loved him so deeply.

“
All right darling, whatever you want,” he told her, kissing her lips softly as she smiled.

“
Raynard Lockhart, II,” she said sweetly to the baby as she held him and he regarded them quietly.

“
Ray squared,” Ray chuckled as India laughed telling him no that would not be the baby’s nickname.

The nurse came and took the baby, saying they needed to run some newborn tests.

“
We’ll bring him back within the hour,” she assured them both as she left them alone.

“
I’m going to let you get a little rest and make some calls,” Ray told her sweetly as they kissed once more and she told him okay.

Walking back into the waiting room Ray was surprised to see Brent seated in one of the chairs contained.

“
Hey Pop,” he greeted his father.

Ray returned the greeting, though still leery. He’d released Brent from the confinement once they returned and he’d had his son thoroughly checked over. King Diesel had indeed drugged him, given him a slow acting poison that would have shut down his neurological system and killed him over the course of two to three months, making an autopsy virtually useless to trace the cause of death.

“
How’s my brother, is he okay,” Brent asked softly.

Ray smiled slightly telling him the child was fine.

“
Has great lungs,” Ray joked.

“
Pop, look,” Brent began never taking his gaze from his father. “I know I was an ass, and I know you have every right to not trust me, to disinherit me, to disown me,” he continued. “But this experience with King Diesel taught me some shit,” he said as Ray raised an eyebrow.

“
It showed me I don’t know a fraction of what you do when it comes to this hustle, and if I want to survive and eventually learn to be the man you are, I need to learn to shut up and listen sometime,” Brent finished as Ray smiled finally.

“
Sounds like good wisdom to me,” Ray told him as Brent nodded. “How are things with you and Necie,” he queried giving him a look.

“
We’re working on it,” Brent told him honestly.

“
She’s finally forgiven me for hurting her like I did, and we made up,” he told him father as Ray chuckled slightly, catching the inference.

“
We’re going to counseling,” Brent began again. “I want us to be back on track and everything at peace by the time the baby gets here,” he told Ray who smiled again. “How far along is she,” he asked of Necie.

Brent sighed lightly and told him. Ray frowned slightly knowing she’d conceived when Brent raped her.

“
I don’t want her to hate the baby for that,” Brent told his father fully remorseful.

Ray assured him he didn’t believe Necie was that kind of woman.

“
Yeah, kinda helps that Charisma is pregnant too,” he added as Ray burst into laughter.

“
Well seems we were all very busy this year,” he joked before becoming serious once again.

“
Brent, you’re my son and I love you,” Ray told him. “I would move heaven and earth to protect you, but I can’t have you in my organization with plans of overthrowing me every time you don’t understand a move I make,” he told him as Brent interrupted.

“
I get that Pop, and I swear, give me another chance to show you, I can succeed you when you’re ready to say enough,” he pleaded as Ray sighed deeply.

“
For now, resume your duties,” Ray told him. “Once everything is settled, we’ll talk further,” he added as Brent nodded and they embraced once again.

Asking if he could see his brother now, Ray smiled brightly and beckoned him down the hall as they headed to the newborn nursery.

*****

Everything was still going well for Horse and Sapphire. Their life together was the joy of his existence. He’d finally moved in at her urging and continued caring for her. The kidney transplant was a marked success and Sapphire was once again enjoying life as she should. They were both worried about Sa’Cari and Ashlyn seemingly on the outs, but the young man assured them everything was fine between them. “Have you talked to him today,” Sapphire asked as they watched TV together.

“
Yeah earlier,” Horse told her.

Sa’Cari had been very upbeat saying that Ashlyn was coming over and they were spending time together.

“
How is she,” Horse had asked of the young woman’s state of mind.

Sa’Cari replied that she was still in shock, but doing a little better each day.

“
I’m going to get her through this,” Sa’Cari told him confidently.

Horse smiled again thinking how much the young man constantly reminded him of his father.

“
I’m sure they will be fine and work things out,” Horse told Sapphire, stroking her face gently and kissing her lips.

“
I hope so,” she replied going on to tell him how much she liked the young woman and believed she was good for her son.

“
It’ll be fine baby, I’m sure,” Horse once again told her as she smiled back at him.

“
How did your checkup go,” he asked regarding her now.

Sapphire told him everything was fine and she could stop her medication now.

“
That’s wonderful baby,” Horse told her genuinely pleased.

“
Can I ask you something,” Sapphire began tentatively.

“
Sure baby, what do you need,” Horse returned.

“
Do you have children,” she questioned.

He exhaled softly and told her he didn’t.

“
Never found the right woman, I suppose,” he told her without malice. “Why do you ask,” he returned looking into her eyes now.

Sapphire smiled a bit before answering his question.

“
I just wanted to make sure if you did they got a chance to meet their new sister or brother,” she told him quietly, waiting for his reaction.

Horse continued to look at her digesting what she’d just told him. Sapphire began to fret given his silence, when he leaned down and kissed her passionately.

“
I cannot begin to thank you for this,” Horse told her the emotion in his voice.

Sapphire smiled and kissed him back as they rose and headed to their bedroom, arm in arm.

*****

Kaitlyn was gazing out of the window, her mind deep in thought. Blue had given her the folder back that next day as they traveled and she’d forced herself to read it. The things contained blew her away and made her open the wound she’d spent years soldering and resolddering to keep closed. There was a second and even a third folder that Blue had given her of all the details that King Diesel had gathered and kept over the years. To her shock and sometimes dismay there were sound recordings and video of her father after his incarceration. Kaitlyn learned about them leaving prison and living their lives once again in the outside world. She found out that King Diesel was behind the incantation that was performed at the hotel in an attempt to drive her over the edge and force her to take her own life.
He was such a demented soul,
she thought sighing once more. The files made her see Carlo as he used to be, before he hurt her and began to abuse her. She saw the laughter that made her smile, and heard the voice of the father she used to know.

Kaitlyn learned about the schizophrenia and assumed the drug use had only aggravated the condition. She read about the things he and Socrates did while in prison still running the streets and their organization with precision. Kaitlyn had taken the extraordinary step of meeting with Horse and asking about her father’s last years as he worked for them.
“Hangman was good people,” he told her as Kaitlyn nodded slightly. “He wasn’t this crazed killing machine that the media and Roderick tried to make him out to be,” he continued. “Hangman loved his family, he loved you Lauren, with his whole heart,” he told her sincerely, producing a small tape recorder. “No one, not even Socrates, knew about this tape,” Horse began as he pushed play and Kaitlyn heard her father’s voice. She could hear the death in it as he gasped for air and labored in his speech. “My precious Lauren,” Carlo spoke haltingly. “I am dying, but I don’t wish your pity or sympathy,” he went on. “I only wanted the chance to see you and tell you to your face how sorry I was for hurting you,” Carlo continued to talk as the tears came to Kaitlyn’s eyes. “It is not to be however, and that is my punishment so I accept it,” he began anew. “I am leaving you these words so that you don’t follow my path and end up in the same hell I’ve endured,” Carlo stopped, coughing now as he tried to gather his breath again. “Daughter, forgive me for the dark things I’ve shown you, the evil I introduced you too,” he began anew. “There is no immortality through the darkness, there is only death, I see that now,” he continued. “I took away your innocence daughter, angry with your mother, who’s soul I must pay penance for destroying,” Carlo continued to speak as Kaitlyn let the tears fall. “I have listened to Socrates and Horse and confessed all my wrong, I don’t know if their God will hear me, much less forgive me, but I feel it is worth trying,” he said softer now. “Forgive your aunt, daughter,” Carlo said now. “It was I who did not allow her to take you, it was I who sentenced you to the life of solitude you have now through my own selfishness, please forgive me daughter,” he said his voice almost completely gone. “I love you Lauren, of that never doubt, you are my heart and my soul, and someday I pray that you will be able to forgive me as well,” the message ended as Kaitlyn sobbed deeply and Horse held her while she cried.