by KR Bankston
Picking up the one bearing her name, Kaitlyn opened it and began to read. ‘KiKi, I want you to know that I love you. You’ve been my sister for as long as I can remember. We’ve done everything together and hanging and running with you were some of the happiest years in my life. I’m tired though KiKi. I’ve fucked up and I fucked up good. I see him every time I close my eyes. He haunts my every thought, my every dream. I see him every time I look at Jashon or Rondé. I’ve destroyed my boy’s lives, KiKi. Do you know how that makes me feel? I’ll tell you. It makes me feel worthless, empty and unworthy of their love. Tell Tariq how sorry I am for taking the closest thing to a brother he had left on this earth and that I love him too. KiKi take care of yourself and stay with Tariq always. He really loves you. I need you to do one last thing for me. Take the other letter to my mama, and take her to Lake Alatoona to get my truck. Please don’t grieve for me KiKi. I’m happier than I’ve been in a long time and now, I’ll finally get some peace. I love you. Tweety.’
“Hell no,” Kaitlyn screamed turning and running out of the house to her car. She jumped in starting it and burning rubber heading for Lake Alatoona. She called the police in route and told them about the letter and what she suspected her friend had done. Tears were streaming down her face, but Kaitlyn refused to slow down. She had to get to her. She had to get to Jaleesa and stop her before she did this. “Tweety, please, please,” she whispered prayerfully as she raced down the interstate. Lake Alatoona was almost to the Alabama line and the drive wasn’t short. She arrived almost 45 minutes later, the police already on scene. Parking on the shoulder, Kaitlyn jumped from the Benz and ran down the hill to the lake’s edge. A uniformed officer stopped her. “I’m the one who called,” she told him almost hysterical. “Please did you find her,” Kaitlyn screamed again. She saw Jaleesa’s truck, empty, sitting at the waters edge. Kaitlyn turned looking out in the vast lake seeing nothing but the currents melodic flow as it continued on its daily existence. She saw several divers out in the middle of the lake and held her breath. The officer standing closest to the edge was talking to them.
Kaitlyn managed to talk the first officer into letting her approach the one in charge, standing by the water. “Have they found her,” Kaitlyn asked quietly as the man regarded her sympathetically.
“No, not yet,” he replied as gently as he could Kaitlyn shook her head that she understood, still holding out hope they would find Jaleesa and she would be all right. That hope began to fade some five hours later when they still hadn’t found her and declared the search over for the day since dusk had fallen and it was getting dark. Realization kicked in and Kaitlyn fell to her knees sobbing deeply. Her bestfriend was gone. Jaleesa was dead, by her own hand. How much despair had she felt to make her do something so horribly cruel to herself and everyone that loved her, Kaitlyn thought as she continued to cry. She hurt so badly she could barely breathe.
The officer was about to reach down for her, when the male voice spoke.
“I’ve got her,” Tariq said calmly, picking his wife up as she looked into his eyes and laid her head on his shoulder, still crying.
DeNoah called him as he raced to keep up with Kaitlyn, giving him their destination. Tariq directed DeNoah to have the auto club get her car and deliver it to the house. Tariq put her inside the Infiniti and belted her in. Kaitlyn was deathly quiet and it scared the hell out of him.
“Baby, I need you to take this,” he told her, holding one of her pills.
She didn’t fight him as he placed it in her mouth and gave her water to swallow it. She closed her eyes after that and Tariq drove them home in silence, worried as hell about his wife and her sanity. Christ Jaleesa, he thought, guilt creeping in. Did I add to this decision, Tariq wondered finally pulling into their garage. Kaitlyn had fallen asleep and he was careful not to wake her as he took her from the car and laid her gently in their bed, climbing in beside her and holding her tightly. Tomorrow was a new day and somehow he knew it would be ten shades darker than today.
7
Kaitlyn opened her eyes praying yesterday was just a horrible nightmare and that her bestfriend would answer her cell when she called. Reaching over to get her phone, Tariq walked into the room.
“Who are you calling baby,” he asked gently, sitting down on the bed beside her.
Looking into his eyes, Kaitlyn knew yesterday was real and her best friend was truly dead.
“Why,” Kaitlyn asked softly, her eyes filling and the tears overflowing. “Why would she do that,” she murmured again.
Tariq dried her tears and told her that Jaleesa must have felt utterly hopeless about her situation.
“I guess she just couldn’t deal with not seeing her son’s again, or you,” Tariq replied still holding Kaitlyn.
She sighed deeply and simply nodded.
“I have to go see Charlotte,” she told Tariq as he frowned slightly.
“How about you go see her later and I’ll go with you, okay,” he questioned praying he wouldn’t have to fight her on it.
Too exhausted to protest, Kaitlyn simply nodded her head yes and Tariq smiled, kissing her forehead softly.
“Lay back down honey, rest a little while longer,” he told her as Kaitlyn again obeyed without argument. Closing her eyes, she tried to relax as Tariq stroked her face lightly.
Convinced she was finally asleep, Tariq left the room, closing the door behind him and pulling out his cell. He called the officer who’d given him his card yesterday asking if they’d found a body yet. The man responded they had not, but had ruled her dead by suicidal drowning and called off the search. Thanking him, Tariq disconnected and turned his attention to the children. He called their attorney having him gather all the necessary paperwork to give LaRon’s assets to his kids now that his wife was dead. The attorney told him he would have everything set up and in place within the next 24 to 48 hours. Tariq thanked him and once again disconnected. He continued to brood about how the distress all the events of the last few months were affecting his wife. So far Kaitlyn was holding it together. What if that damned Ice is still alive, his mind ate at him. Tariq was anxiously awaiting Mook’s arrival as well as his cousin Ramell, and his friend Jacoury. His first order of business once everyone arrived and got settled was a little trip to Bayou country. This time he wasn’t leaving until he saw for himself Ian’s rotting corpse.
*****
Ramell and Jacoury were talking over business, making sure everything was fine at the club before they pulled out heading for Atlanta.
“So what’s the deal with your cousin,” Jacoury asked in passing.
Ramell told him all the history Tariq had with Ian and how Kaitlyn fit into the equation.
“Damn, homeboy just won’t take a clue, will he,” Jacoury asked about Ian.
The entire situation reminded him very much of Necie and the fiasco with Brent.
“Who’s that,” Ramell asked, nodding toward the girl near the bar.
“Oh, that’s Tyashia, new chick I hired this morning,” Jacoury told him as Ramell grunted slightly.
He looked the woman over. She was attractive enough. Nice body, auburn micro’s in her hair, couple golds on her lower front teeth.
“Where she come from,” he queried as they did a liquor order.
“I dunno,” Jacoury replied. “Said she had just moved here not long ago, needed a job,” he added, shrugging slightly.
Ramell murmured again but let the conversation go, returning to their task at hand.
Satisfied finally that everything was in order, Ramell headed out. He needed to get with Sam and make sure everything at home was straight for her and the boys. He still wanted that little princess, but was having a hard time selling her on another baby; Ramell thought and chuckled to himself telling Jacoury he would see him in a few hours. Jacoury walked over to the bar and greeted Tyashia again.
“How’s it going,” he asked casually, looking her over again and thinking how sexy she was.
“Its good,”
she replied quietly and looked away.
Jacoury liked the soft grey-brown contacts she wore.
“Well if you need anything, don’t be afraid to ask David,” he told her, referring to the club manager they were leaving in charge.
“I won’t,” Tyashia replied, smiling back now. “Thank you again Jacoury for the job,” she told him sweetly.
He continued to stare, making her blush slightly, before finally speaking. “You’re welcome,” he told her. “Just make sure you do a good job,” Jacoury admonished as Tyashia assured him she would.
Nodding slightly, he let her go back to work as he continued to watch her and his mind raced.
Jacoury was single now. Mia managed to get herself locked up, fooling around with her sister Kea, even after he warned her not too. Thinking about the forty-five year prison sentence the woman had drawn made him sigh deeply. Jacoury warned her that Kea was into some deep drug dealing and to stay away from her, especially going to Texas and running with her. Of course, they’d argued and Mia had curtly told him that was her blood and she was going. Jacoury let her go and in the end, it was the last trip she ever took. Kea was busted transporting over 100 kilos of cocaine with Mia in the car. Of course the law is not hearing the, I didn’t know it was there story, especially when your sister is telling them you were a willing participant. They charged Mia as an accessory to possession, transport with intent to distribute, and transporting narcotics across state lines. Compared to the life without possibility of parole they wanted to give her, Mia’s was actually a light sentence. Dismissing the thoughts, Jacoury once again regarded Tyashia thinking how he might want to get to know her a bit better once they got back from Atlanta and handling this business. Grabbing his keys he headed out of the club, catching her eye one last time and giving her a sexy smile.
*****
Kim was thinking about the boarding school they’d visited and how much she was dreading sending her baby there. The facility itself was nice, but it was still a boarding school, away from her and any family that truly cared.
“Baby, are you hearing me,” Mook asked breaking her thought and returning her to the now.
“No, I’m sorry, what did you say,” she admitted.
Sighing softly Mook stopped his packing and came to her, sitting down on the bed beside her. “I said, I have a better solution than boarding school,” he told her still seeing the apprehension in her eyes.
Kim immediately gave him her undivided attention. Right now she was willing to do almost anything but that.
“I talked to Maria this morning,” he told her of their former nanny.
She’d left them about six months ago when her mother fell ill and she had to care for her. Maria was biracial, black and Hispanic, divorced with two boys, ages 8 and 6.
“Oh okay,” Kim replied having no idea how this had anything to do with Sean and boarding school.
Mook chuckled slightly seeing the confusion on her face, before gathering himself and going on.
“She lives in Jacksonville,” he told her as Kim continued to nod and wait somewhat impatiently for him to get to the point. “She’s agreed to take care of Sean, and I’ll pay all her living expenses and give her money for Sean,” he told her as Kim’s heart began to lift. “Its only five hours away from Atlanta by car, couple hours by plane,” he went on as Kim actually began to smile.
Maria was good people. She’d taken excellent care of Sean for them from the time he was a year old. She treated him like one of her own children, protective and nurturing.
“Really, that would be so much better, Mook,” Kim told him as he caressed her face.
“Yeah baby, I just want you to know Sean is okay and kept safe,” he told her as Kim kissed his lips telling him thank you.
“So we’ll drop him off as we head up,” Mook told her as Kim replied that was fine.
“Most of this stuff will come with the movers,” he went on as she again voiced her understanding.
Right now Kim was on top of the world. Her baby would be safe and she knew and trusted the woman he would be with. Sean wouldn’t be lonely or have to make lots of new friends. He knew Alejandro and Roberto very well and they all got along great. “Thank you,” she told Mook, genuinely moved that he’d gone through all the effort to put her mind at ease.
“Anything for you Miss Kim, you know that,” he replied tenderly, kissing her back. The kisses grew passionate and she soon found herself naked and at Mook’s mercy once more.
“Mmm,” Kim moaned as he tasted her, using that stud in the center of his tongue like the weapon that it was.
Mook smiled slightly hearing her cry out as he tasted her body’s approval. He absolutely loved touching, tasting, making love to Kim. She was everything to him and he knew exactly how Tariq felt with Ian constantly looming to take Kaitlyn away from him. Pushing the dark thoughts away, Mook returned his attention to Kim as she reached yet another orgasm and hoarsely voiced her desire that he be inside her now. Mook took his time, slowly, sensuously licking his way back up her body as Kim breathed hard and urged him to take her.
“This what you want,” Mook asked, burying his hardness deep inside her.
“Yes, oh god, yes,” Kim moaned arching her back to take every inch of him.
Mook was thrusting deeply into her enjoying the slippery slope her body had become since his entrance. Kim reached orgasm once more as Mook groaned deeply and followed. Still kissing softly they never heard the door as Sean stood in the doorway watching them.
“Daddy, what are you and mommy doing,” he asked as Mook jumped off Kim quickly turning his back to his son.
“Sean, close the door, I’ll be there in a minute,” he told him as Kim shrank under the sheet she’d managed to grab, embarrassment flooding her face.
Mook dressed and turned to her as she still sat in bed, shocked.
“Well guess I need to have that talk with him,” Mook told her as Kim continued to say nothing and he chuckled, leaving her in the bedroom wondering if she would ever be able to face her son again.
*****
Ian was giving the woman an incredulous look as she stood before him.
“Did you hear me,” Kelly asked a bit more forcefully.
She was angry as hell that Ian was leaving and even angrier he wasn’t taking her with him. She’d been good to him for the last year, taking care of his every need; absolutely every need.
“Why are you trying my patience,” Ian responded becoming angry.
“I’m telling you what you need to know,” she threw back.
Kelly was desperate to keep Ian here at the hospital, in the state, and in her life.
“How Kelly,” he asked simply managing to suppress his anger for a moment.
“What do you mean how,” she snapped, his current mood lulling her into a false sense of security. “We had sex Ian,” Kelly told him. “You came inside me and now I’m pregnant,” she threw out curtly as Ian rose again and walked over to her, standing right in front of her looking into her eyes.
“We used a condom when we fucked, Kelly,” Ian told her icily.
“Condoms break, Ian,” she replied, slightly afraid now.
“And you want what exactly,” Ian replied as his mind raced. This was a complication he didn’t need. He honestly didn’t even believe she was pregnant.
Ian knew Kelly was in love with him and had been for some time. She’d been throwing subtle hints for months now that she wanted a long term relationship and to live with him once he left the hospital. As soon as he made it know he was checking out, she shows up with tales of pregnancy, Ian continued to brood.
“I just want to be with you and raise our child together,” Kelly told him sweetly as Ian scoffed. “I’m not trying to be a bitch, Ian, really,” she went on as he sighed lightly and continued to regard her silently.
“I don’t love you Kelly,” he told her plainly.
“You loved me enough to screw me,” Kelly threw back angry he was rejecting her.
Ian laughed, which only served to piss her off more. “We were fucking Kelly, nothing more,” he told her calmly as she swung at him.
Ian grabbed her arm and threw her onto the bed. He was on top of her, hand around her throat, looking calmly into her eyes as he strangled her.
“You are not KiKi,” he told her as she wheezed and he squeezed harder. “If you are pregnant, good riddance to you and the bastard I don’t want,” Ian spat angrily as her fighting began to cease and he watched the final light go out of her eyes.
Removing his hands he left the room momentarily, retrieving a wheelchair and placing Kelly in it. He wheeled her down to the aquatic room and rolled her to the edge of the pool.
“You should have left well enough alone stupid bitch,” Ian growled dumping her from the chair making sure her head hit the concrete wall next to the pool.
Her body tumbled into the pool and sank like a bowling ball straight to the bottom. Satisfied everyone would draw the conclusion he wanted, Ian returned the chair and then himself to his room to finish packing. Tomorrow would soon be here, and Ian had a flight to catch.
8