Thin Ice 7 - Echoes of Reckoning (6 page)

The contact was electric and Kim’s mind immediately reminded her she had a husband now.

“
We’re fine Ty,” she replied calmly removing her hand from his grasp.

“
Good, so when can we spend some time,” he quickly returned.

“
Ty, I’m married and I have a son,” she told him as his face fell slightly.

“
OK, I can respect that, but Kim we’re still friends right,” he pleaded.

He swore all he wanted was to renew their friendship and he would respect the boundaries of her marriage, only taking whatever time she chose to give him. Finally against her better judgment Kim acquiesced and agreed to have lunch with him tomorrow.
You sure you wanna open this door,
her mind charged as she watched him walk out of the wing place, once again admiring all the sexiness that was Tyshon.

5

Ian met up with Ryan at Finnerans sports bar, taking the empty chair across from his brother and ordering a double vodka martini.

“
Damn, who pissed you off today,” Ryan joked slightly.

Ian smiled a bit before telling him he was simply restless.

“
Hmph, well the trip should relax you a bit,” Ryan returned as Ian grunted and the server sat the double martini in front of him.

“
You talked to Creeper and Pirate,” he asked as Ryan nodded telling him he had.

“
Seems there’s a specter of the past visiting the Bayou these days,” he told Ian cryptically.

His younger brother frowned marginally waiting on him to elaborate.

“
Gabrielle,” he said simply as the frowned deepened.

“
Really,” Ian replied asking if either man had spoken to her.

“
Creeper says she’s very reclusive these days, only sees her out with a man who appears to be related,” he told Ian as he nodded knowingly.

“
Probably her cousin Zeke,” he spoke, recalling the man.

“
Her face is badly scarred,” Ryan again enlightened, passing on information he’d gotten from Creeper.

Ian shook his head slowly. “She’s lucky to be alive honestly,” he told Ryan.

The two talked about Gabrielle a few moments more before returning to their original conversation.

“
So what do you want to do about the Bayou, are you permanently turning it over to them,” Ryan asked.

Ian told him he didn’t see why not. The two men were doing an excellent job and they didn’t need the additional headache.

“
As long as they send our percentage, I don’t have an issue,” he added.

“
Me either, I was simply wondering,” Ryan returned. “We’re going to have to do a little housecleaning while we’re there,” he told Ian, piquing his interest.

“
Seems there are some remnants from the DuBois brothers, and Kareem’s first lieutenant, some fool named Tagg of all things,” he finished as Ian nodded and sighed deeply.

“
Yes, I need to kill a few people, relax some of this tension,” he replied.

Ryan questioned him. “You and KiKi beefin’ again,” he asked, eyebrow raised.

“
No,” Ian replied. “We’re actually good, she just won’t talk about having another child,” he told him as Ryan sighed this time.

“
What’s up with you and Nikki,” he threw out picking up the sigh and recalling the argument Ryan told him about almost two weeks ago now.

“
I don’t think being with me, or taking care of Rayne is a priority for her right now,” Ryan said calmly.

His brother’s calmness unnerved him sometimes, almost as if their father was sitting across from him and not Ryan.

“
Law school can be pretty taxing Ryan,” Ian tried to reason.

“
Hmph, yeah that’s what I keep trying to tell myself, but I can’t help what my gut is saying,” he replied and Ian left it alone for a moment.

“
What are you plotting,” he asked seeing the look in his brother’s eye.

Ryan smiled faintly and Ian again had that Cartier moment.

“
Don’t worry about it little brother, I got this,” he replied knowing Ian hated being called his little brother.

“
OK, but be careful,” Ian threw back ignoring the other part of his statement.

Ryan chuckled aloud when his text vibrated and interrupted his revelry. Ian saw him check the text, another small smile on his lips, delete it and put the phone back on the table.

“
You’re not going to share,” Ian inquired as Ryan looked him in the eye again, mischief written on his face.

“
Nope, then I’d hafta kill you,” he replied bursting into laughter as Ian chuckled with him and continued sipping his drink.

*****

“
Are you coming home for dinner,” Cyiarra asked as Tariq readied himself to leave her presence.

“
Probably not,” he replied simply.

She knew from the tone he was still pissed about her taking his phone two weeks ago. Cyiarra wasn’t stupid though and she didn’t tell him about her call to his lover. Obviously the woman had gotten the message since she hadn’t called again after that day. Ashamed as she was to admit it Cyiarra sneakily checked his phone every night when he went to sleep.

“
Tariq, I told you it was an accident my taking your phone,” she tried apologizing once more.

He was being even more distant now, barely touching her more than the two times they’d made love when they first arrived in Atlanta.

“
I said it was straight, so let it go,” he replied finally looking up and meeting her eyes.

Cyiarra swallowed hard and nodded without speaking. Tariq brushed by her and grabbed his .9mm, putting it in his pocket before heading out of the front door without a goodbye, a hug, or kiss. Feeling the tears Cyiarra headed into the kitchen to busy herself with more unpacking.

Her cell went off and she answered seeing Layla’s name on the caller ID.

“
Hey girl,” she greeted her friend hoping she wasn’t sounding as sad as she felt right now.

“
Hey chick,” Layla chirped happily. “Guess what,” she threw out giggling.

Her laughter was contagious and Cyiarra found herself giggling as well.

“
What,” she managed trying to control the laughter.

“
I got the transfer,” Layla gushed as Cyiarra squealed in earnest now.

Her friend had applied for, and now gotten, a transfer to her company’s Atlanta office. Now she wouldn’t be alone and feeling totally helpless with her problems. Kim normally talked and spent time with her, but since they’d been back in Atlanta her time had been taken getting all the operations up and running. Times like this showed Cyiarra how far outside of Tariq’s internal circle she really was when it came to his business dealings.

“
Girl that is great,” she threw back as Layla told her she would be moving this weekend.

“
You got a place already,” Cyiarra asked, amazed at how quickly everything seemed to be happening.

“
Yep, found a great place online, recommended by one of our VP’s who transferred there,” Layla told her.

Still smiling happily Cyiarra continued talking until Layla finally asked about the woman she’d called on Tariq’s phone.

Cyiarra assured Layla the woman hadn’t called again.

“
See, I told you she was just selling you a load of bullshit,” Layla told her, giggling again.

Cyiarra recalled that Layla’s reaction the day of the call had basically been the same thing. She’d told her not to let the woman bully her and to stand her ground.
“Tariq is your man and she needs to step the hell off,
”
Layla said plainly.
Cyiarra had to admit she felt a lot more secure being away from Gary and Tariq’s obvious easy access to the woman. Chatting a few moments more, they disconnected and Cyiarra went back to putting up various kitchen items. Her cell rang again. She answered recognizing the area code but not the number.

“
Hello,” Cyiarra answered amiably.

“
CiCi, this is Tweety,” Jaleesa said simply.

She’d been wrestling with calling the woman for days now. Kaitlyn had honestly told her who the woman identified herself as once she disconnected, and Jaleesa had begged her best friend not to kill the woman. For now Kaitlyn was holding true to her word, but if Cyiarra did something stupid like the stunt she pulled a couple weeks ago, hell itself would come down around her.

“
Hi Tweety,” Cyiarra returned breaking her thought. “What’s up, Tariq isn’t here,” she replied, thinking that’s what the woman called for.

“
That’s a good thing,” Jaleesa told her. “I want to talk to you and I need you to listen to what I’m saying,” she added as Cyiarra frowned slightly.

“
OK, so what’s on your mind,” she returned sitting down and giving Jaleesa her full attention.

“
I know about the call you made a couple weeks ago,” she told her as Cyiarra frowned deeply.

“
How would you --,” she began and then faltered.

Was Tariq sleeping with Jaleesa
, her mind whirled.

“
Because I was with the person you called,” Jaleesa answered honestly. “Now, before you ask, I’m not going to tell you who they are, but I am going to give you a warning that could save your life,” she continued as Cyiarra remained mute.

“
Don’t call that number again ever, leave it alone and give Tariq an ultimatum, but don’t call again, not ever,” she finished and prayed the woman listened.

Cyiarra swallowed hard, her throat hurting from the knot of pain caught there.

“
I just want my man back and her out of our lives,” she managed as Jaleesa sighed deeply.

“
Then you need to deal with Tariq, because trust me, you do not want to deal with them,” Jaleesa told her asking if she understood.

Cyiarra told her she did and Jaleesa let her go. The tears began to flow as her helplessness overwhelmed her.
I’ve got to find out who this woman is, that’s the only way I will know and understand how to defeat her and get her out of our lives forever,
she thought rising and resolving to get Layla’s help in doing just that when he bestfriend arrived and got settled.

*****

Blue was drenched in sweat after his workout. He spent three hours every day engaged with various martial arts workouts as well as his regular weight and strength training. He’d been very dubious of King Diesel and his actual motives when they originally met three years go, but the man had been true to his word in every aspect. Now his goal was within sight. Blue had worked out extra long today trying to rid himself of the anxiety and impatience. King Diesel told him again and again to be impatient would ruin all their well laid plans. That couldn’t happen in Blue’s estimation. He saw King Diesel coming down the long hallway as Blue made his way to his bedroom and a hot shower.

“
Long day,” the man asked simply taking in Blue’s demeanor.

“
Yeah,” he replied basically.

“
Everything is on schedule Blue, don’t let the small things take you off your game,” he admonished as Blue told him he understood and he would stick to the plan.

“
Good,” King Diesel replied smiling slightly as he continued his journey, allowing Blue to make it to that well needed shower.

Emerging from the scalding hot spray moments later he lay down, exhausted, and closed his eyes. Blue was asleep almost immediately. As they usually did, his dreams immediately conjured Lauren and what used to be between them.
“Baby, mm,” Blue moaned as he made love to Lauren. “Yes,” she breathed softly enjoying the things he was doing to her. He returned to her lips, kissing her deeply. “Lauren, you’re so special,” he told her breathlessly as she came hard and called out his name. Blue felt himself getting closer and held her tightly, kissing her again. “Lauren,” he said hoarsely crying out her name right as he came hard collapsing atop her.

“
Why don’t you come and stay with me,” he threw out as they talked now and Lauren frowned slightly. “You know that wouldn’t work Blue,” she replied. “Why, I would never hurt you Lauren and I’d take good care of you,” he told her. “You do want to be with me right,” he asked, looking into her eyes now. “Blue, you know I do,” she told him truthfully. “But you also know the police would be looking for me, everyone would be looking for me, and you’re already on probation,” she reminded him. Blue sighed deeply knowing she was right, but not wanting to hear or admit it.

Blue bolted out of his sleep breathing hard and the hurt of his loss came full blown again. The beginning of the dream had been pleasurable as it always was before the bitter reality of their end came screaming into his subconscious.

“
This bullshit cannot come together quick enough,” he said quietly rising for the bed, not wanting to close his eyes and have yet another replay of his and Lauren’s fragmented past.

Blue pulled on his sweats and quietly headed back downstairs to the basement and the home gym. He began working the heavy bag over again and again as he was soon once again drenched in sweat, exhausted and semi assured this time when he laid down he wouldn’t dream of anything.