by KR Bankston
“You’re going to take care of a loose end for me,” he told her calmly.
Removing an envelope from his inner suit coat pocket, Kai slid it across the table. Jaleesa looked at the envelope like a snake, coiled to strike.
“Pick it up and open it,” Kai told her, raising his voice slightly.
Jaleesa immediately complied, hands shaking as she began lifting the envelopes back flap.
Jaleesa read with horror the instructions contained. “You can’t be serious,” she told Kai, praying the note was a joke.
“Very,” he replied simply.
“Please Kai, I can’t do this,” she pleaded.
Jaleesa’s mind was spinning just thinking about it.
“You either do it, or you go to jail,” Kai replied coldly. “Your choice,” he added, going back to his salad.
Jaleesa couldn’t breathe. If she did what Kai wanted and someone found out, it would be her life, in the literal sense.
“But what if they find out,” Jaleesa tried to hedge.
“No one will be the wiser, Tweety,” Kai told her finishing the salad and pushing the plate to the side.
“Will it be over then,” she asked, wanting to see if doing this one thing would free her from the leverage Kai held over her.
“There’s a strong possibility, yes,” he replied almost dismissively.
Jaleesa knew he was lying. This would only be the beginning of the hell her life would become if she started doing dirt for him. She needed to buy time though; time to get a plan together and take care of this nonsense once and for all.
“Let’s skip dinner,” Kai told her looking her over and licking his lips.
“OK,” Jaleesa replied without hesitation.
She needed to get the evening with him over with so she could get home. There were only two other people in the world she could share this drama with, one of them was automatically removed by default, the other was going through hell of their own right now, so she was effectively on her own.
Arriving at the parking deck, Kai pulled her to him and kissed her deeply. Jaleesa didn’t pull away, simply allowing him to do what he wanted with her.
“I want you right now,” he whispered huskily in her ear, unlocking the car and pushing her into the back seat.
Jaleesa was mortified he wanted to have sex in the parking lot where someone may see them but she didn’t dare refuse, not just yet. Kai’s hands were under her dress removing her thong and fingering her clit. Jaleesa again closed her eyes and let her mind have free reign to make it through yet another assault. She felt his breathing on her neck and heard the zipper on his pants as he freed his erection. Moments later she felt Kai’s hardness slip inside her and him begin to thrust into her, moaning in her ear. Please God, give me the strength to do this, Jaleesa prayed quietly as her plan began to solidify in her mind.
“Tweety, mm, sweet Tweety,” Kai murmured breaking her thought and returning her to the present.
Jaleesa began faking her way to orgasm, praying it would hasten his own end.
“Kai, please baby, please don’t stay in me,” Jaleesa pleaded once more.
She’d barely made it home and cleansed herself of his semen the last time he came inside her. He didn’t respond as his strokes grew faster. Without warning she felt the liquid heat invade her body and bit her lip to keep from crying.
“I told you before, you belong to me,” Kai whispered tersely in her ear, biting her neck hard once more, deliberately leaving a mark.
He finally removed himself from her, handing her the underwear back as he readjusted his own clothing. Jaleesa hurriedly exited the car and walked to her own, getting in and leaving the parking deck, as Kai did the same. Neither of them noticed the black Benz truck parked almost directly across from them, nor the lone occupant who’d just witnessed their indiscretion.
*****
Tariq and Mook were talking with the rest of the group when Shells spoke up.
“I have a tail,” he said simply as they all gave him their undivided attention.
“Are you sure,” Tariq asked.
Shells then told them of the vehicle he’d seen following him last night when he and Tae were out on the town.
“I decided to test dem, when we left the Soca bar,” Shells went on. “I take de long way to de house, deliberately passing by and going to de corner liquor store,” he told them. “Him follow me everywhere I go, so I go home and get Tae in de house, tell her to check de baby and I go back outside through de back door,” Shells enlightened them, taking a breath and sip of his beer.
“I see him truck, but him not in it,” he told them once again.
Shells told them he watched the truck for the next few minutes until Tae began calling to him.
“I don’t want her to catch on, so I go back inside,” Shells began again. “When I look out de bedroom window, the truck gone.”
None of the men liked the sound of that at all. Tariq immediately had a suspicion of both the who and the why.
“It sounds like Ice is trying to spook us,” Mook threw out effectively reading his bosses mind.
“Yeah, sounds like some stupid shit he would do,” Tariq added. “We need to be more careful from here on out,” he began again. “Everyone needs to beef up the security around their house, hell find some safe houses if you have too,” Tariq instructed.
Mook looked at Shells and began speaking once more. “You ready to move forward,” he asked calmly as Shells assured him he was. “Good, ‘cause with this new development, we need to get a move on and shut this bullshit down once and for all,” Mook replied.
Shells told him he agreed. “I’m telling Tae I got to go to New York for a month,” he threw out so everyone would know the cover story.
“We got her covered Shells, no worries,” Tariq assured him.
“Thanks Top, I know you do,” he assured his friend. “Only contact you all when I have too, everyone need to believe I am gone,” Shells added and they all agreed. “When dis thing said and done, everybody need to be ready, war will be on then for true,” he finished and they again agreed with the sentiment.
The men continued talking for the next hour making sure all the plans were in place before finally calling it a night.
Tariq was talking to Shells about picking up Tejdra.
“Let her stay, its late, I’m sure she’s sleeping and Tae fine wit her,” he told his friend who reluctantly agreed.
Tariq was exhausted and there were a million things going on in his head. After thanking Shells and Tae for helping him, he bid his friend goodnight. Jacoury seized the opportunity to talk to him while he was alone again.
“What’s up with you and miss lady from the bar,” he asked calmly.
Tariq kicked himself for not being more discreet, forgetting where he was when he was talking to Carlita.
“She’s just someone I met tonight, a friend,” Tariq replied.
Jacoury gave him a look before speaking again.
“When’s the last time you got some,” he asked point blank.
Tariq sighed deeply, knowing where he was headed.
“I’m not going to do anything stupid,” he told him.
Jacoury nodded slightly.
“Look Riq,” he began, using his name. “I understand shit is bad with you and KiKi right now,” Jacoury told him. “But man I been there, and unless you’re sure you and KiKi are done, don’t get caught up with this chick.”
Tariq nodded thoughtfully, taking in the information Jacoury was sharing. He was right and Tariq knew it, still his ego loved the stroking of another woman being attracted to him. Kaitlyn’s deception had hurt him deeply, far deeper than he’d ever admit to any of his friends or even his cousin.
“I promise not to get caught up man, seriously,” Tariq replied as Jacoury again raised an eyebrow slightly but said nothing else, leaving him alone with his thoughts once more.
Driving home he thought about the things he’d promised and how lonely he found
himself tonight. The house would be empty and honestly Tariq just couldn’t face that right now. Pulling out his cell he took a chance and texted her. Carlita answered back almost immediately telling him to stop by and providing her address. Sighing deeply Tariq began thinking about Kaitlyn and all the history between them. He thought about all the pain and hurt they’d endured together losing their first daughter. He thought about the drama of finding out about her past. Tariq couldn’t help but wonder how differently his life would have been had he not tried to get to her that fateful night when he was shot and left for dead. Maybe all this bullshit with Ice, my people putting their lives on the line, my fighting to keep my daughter, wouldn’t be happening, his mind threw out. Maybe we are better off apart, Tariq thought to himself of the union he shared with Kaitlyn. She herself had told him years ago it wasn’t meant to be.
“Maybe I should have listened,” he mumbled arriving at his destination and parking the truck.
Taking yet another deep breath Tariq asked himself if he really wanted to do this, before finally opening the door and getting out.
*****
“Where’s my niece,” Ryan asked smiling as he walked into the playroom where Ian and Tajdra were.
“Here’s my pride and joy,” Ian replied still holding her as he sat in the huge rocking chair.
Ryan took the baby from his brother and held her, kissing her cheek softly. Tajdra again gave a curious look but didn’t cry.
“She has a great disposition,” Ryan told him as Ian readily agreed.
Mrs. Connor came into the room at that point and asked for the baby. She was the real nurse Ian hired to care for his daughter. Ananda was sent first by the service, but Ian wasn’t feeling her, being that she was so young. She did however fit his other purpose of angering Kaitlyn so he paid her to be present when the baby was dropped off and to be present again when Kaitlyn returned to pick her up. Mrs. Connor on the other hand was a seasoned nanny with over 30 years of experience. Tajdra took to her immediately when she fed and changed her earlier.
“I think she’s tired,” Ian told the nurse as she took the baby from Ryan.
Tajdra was rubbing her eyes and yawning periodically.
“Yes, she probably is,” Mrs. Connor replied, smiling slightly as the baby laid her head on her shoulder. “I’ll give her a nice warm lavender bath, that should relax her,” she told Ian who nodded his understanding.
“I’d like to put her to bed myself,” he threw out just as the woman was leaving the room.
She assured him she would bring the baby back after her bath so he could do just that.
“Your ass is gonna be broke,” Ryan teased his brother.
He could already see the little girl had him wrapped completely around her finger. Ian chuckled and told him he was probably right, but she was worth it.
“How was seeing KiKi,” Ryan asked, as they walked to the library and he made himself a drink upon arrival.
“Ready to fuck me up,” Ian replied as Ryan burst into laughter.
“She asked me how I found out about the baby,” he told Ryan who withheld comment and repeated her question.
Ian enlightened him as he nodded thoughtfully.
“So now what,” he asked sipping the cognac.
“I’m waiting to see how Ray’s petition turned out,” Ian replied honestly.
Almost as if on cue his cell rang.
“Speak of the devil,” Ian murmured, answering the device and putting it on speaker.
“Good evening, Ice,” Ray greeted him amiably enough.
“How are you tonight Ray,” Ian returned. “Ryan is here with me,” he added as Ray greeted the other brother as well.
“I saw Judge Murdock this morning on our emergency petition,” Ray began as Ian and Ryan listened intently. “He’s a total hard ass so I knew it would be an uphill climb and as serious sell, even after persuading him to hear on us on a Saturday,” Ray told them.
Ian wasn’t getting a good feeling about the ending to the story, even before Ray got to it.
“He wants more compelling evidence than the innuendo we’ve given him,” he told the two men. “So for now he’s not going to grant the temporary custody,” he finished as Ian frowned deeply.
“What kind of evidence does he want,” Ryan asked, his mind already working.
“He wants solid evidence that either KiKi is unstable to the point of hurting the child, or that her husband is deliberately ignoring or abusing the child,” Ray told them.
Ian knew they would have to fabricate evidence of that sort if they wanted to try that angle. Even with all the drama unfolding Kaitlyn was unquestioningly an impeccable mother, and by all accounts, Tariq had treated Tajdra no different than Tejdra.
“Fine,” Ian said, already past that and looking ahead. “When do we go to trial,” he asked instead.
Ray replied their case was on the docket in five weeks.
“OK, thanks for trying Ray,” Ian replied amiably.
Ray assured him he was welcome and he was still pulling some strings here and there in their favor. Disconnecting Ian and Ryan began talking once more.
“So they’re twins,” he asked of the babies.
Ian told him they were. “Fraternal,” he added before correcting himself. “Well, I guess technically just sisters,” he added as Mrs. Connor returned with a nodding Tajdra in her arms.
Ryan watched as his brother lovingly took the baby from the nurse and began heading to the nursery with her. Alone, his mind continued to mull over all the information he’d been given in the last few moments, the tumblers combining and falling into place. Deciding he needed some help on this one, he pulled out his cell and sent a text. The reply was almost instant and Ryan smiled slightly locking the phone and putting it back into his pocket.
8
Tariq awoke to the sound of his phone going off. Disoriented he quickly gathered himself and answered seeing Kaitlyn’s name on the ID.
“Hello,” he answered groggily.
“Hey, did you pick up Tejdra last night,” she asked calmly.
Tariq explained the meeting ran extremely late and Shells asked him to leave her at their place.
“Yeah, that’s straight,” Kaitlyn replied and held the phone.
Things were extremely strained between them, event to point of their inability to communicate with each other.
“How did Tajdra do with him,” Tariq asked, the edge nudging its way into his voice.
Rising he stumbled into the kitchen as Kaitlyn gave him a rundown of her time dropping the baby off. Tariq told her he was glad things went smoothly.
“I’m going to get her in an about an hour,” Kaitlyn told her as Tariq glanced the clock.
It was already after 10 AM. He hadn’t gotten home until about 4:30AM this morning after talking with Carlita. “What time does your flight get in,” Tariq asked, mentally preparing himself to pick them up.
Kaitlyn supplied an answer as he told her okay he would see her then and disconnected.
Sighing deeply Tariq began to replay his evening in his mind’s eye. Carlita had been extremely hospitable allowing him to talk until he was exhausted from the effort, while she listened wordlessly and passed no judgment. “Tariq, maybe you should really sit down and talk to her,” Carlita had replied. “She may want out as much as you do right now, but doesn’t know how to say it.” Tariq thought about the statement and wondered if the woman wasn’t right. Surely Kaitlyn had to know things weren’t the way they used to be between them. The knock at the door interrupted further pondering as he went to answer.
“Good morning sir,” the delivery courier greeted him.
Tariq returned the greeting as the man told him whom he was delivering the package for.
“Yes, that’s me,” Tariq replied as the man smiled and asked him to sign.
Tariq scribble his signature and gave the man a five dollar tip. The driver scurried back to his car and sped off, headed to his next delivery. Tariq thought it odd
the man was delivering on Sunday, but assumed he was being paid very well to do so.
Walking back into the living room he noticed there was no return address on the package. Curiosity peaked, Tariq opened the plain brown wrapper finding a DVD enclosed with a note. ‘Man to man, I think you deserve the truth. Don’t you?’ the note read. Frowning deeply Tariq took a deep breath and put the non-labeled disc into the machine and pushed play. The screen immediately illuminated with Ian and Kaitlyn making love. Tariq was furious as he watched her kissing and touching Ian, purring softly as he brought her to orgasm and she cried out his name. “Mmm, Ian, yes,” Kaitlyn murmured as Tariq’s fury grew.
“Lying bitch,” he murmured angrily recalling her declarations of not being herself.
He could see for himself Kaitlyn was fully lucid during their lovemaking. “No, Ian, don’t, please,” she pleaded softly, putting her hands on his chest and trying to push him off of her. “KiKi, I love you baby,” Ian assured her kissing her lips softly. “It’s okay, I know you’re scared, it’s okay,” he told her once more going back to his task, shuddering moments later as he finished. Tariq hurled the glass that moments earlier held his juice hearing it shatter as it connected with the opposite wall.
*****
Jaleesa was perusing the breakfast menu trying to decide on an entrée when Kim arrived.
“Hey girl,” Jaleesa greeted her smiling.
Kim returned the greeting and sat down across from her. Jaleesa had been surprised to get the call from Kim inviting her to brunch. They weren’t enemies but they weren’t exactly close either. Jaleesa simply assumed the woman was reaching out trying to mend bridges and make friends.
“Hey Tweety,” Kim returned calmly.
“I was surprised when you called me,” Jaleesa told her as Kim smiled slightly.
The server came to the table, temporarily halting conversation as they each ordered an entrée and beverage. “So, how is everything with you and Mook,” Jaleesa asked making conversation.
Kim replied they were fine.
“They all seem to be up to something though,” Jaleesa told Kim as the woman agreed with her assessment. “Do you want to hit the malls or shops when we leave here,” Jaleesa continued to chat pleasantly.