by KR Bankston
She heard the shower stop and returned to the bed, just as Ian walked into the room. He’s fine, she thought lustily, taking in his sculpted body. He climbed in beside her, nude, and lay down, turning on his side so they could talk.
“What happened to you,” Lauren asked, noting all the scars.
They weren’t ugly scars, but they were numerous.
“Tariq and his boys tried to execute me,” Ian replied calmly as Lauren gave him a look.
Sighing slightly again, he told her the story of the fateful day in Louisiana when they left him for dead.
“You shot me here,” Ian told her calmly, pointing to the scar on his arm.
“Why would I shoot you Ian,” Lauren asked.
Ian smiled slightly and kissed her gently. “Because you weren’t yourself,” he answered, kissing her again.
Lauren was confused. She didn’t like the darkness about him, but she felt slightly intrigued at the same time. Ian pulled her closer, kissing her deeply and passionately. Lauren felt her body begin to respond and pushed him away.
“No,” she said simply, trying to get up.
“Baby, come here,” Ian told her, pulling her back to him. “I understand, okay, I do,” he whispered, kissing her neck gently.
Lauren let him continue to arouse her, her mind spinning. She closed her eyes as the darkness began to envelope her and she fought back. Not yet, she told the other entity fighting for control. Lauren had to figure this out and end it once and for all, she told herself just as Ian’s tongue found her clit and she decided to see just what he brought to the table.
*****
Victor was on the phone talking with C-Rod, finalizing their plans. Seth was too impatient to wait the three days they’d agreed on.
“He’s making a move tomorrow,” Victor told him, as C-Rod frowned deeply.
“Well shit, are we ready,” he asked.
Victor sighed deeply and told him they would have to be. “I made the call and the crew will be in place tomorrow,” he added as C-Rod grunted.
“What about Gabrielle,” C-Rod asked. “That fool is gonna freak, and I don’t wanna see her get hurt,” he told Victor, who frowned deeply on his end.
“That won’t happen,” he said with finality. “I’m going to grab her and make sure she’s out of harms way,” he told C-Rod. “We’re going to have to move quickly,” Victor began again. “Time isn’t on our side and the fact that it’s a public place makes it even worse,” he added.
“This muthafucka been about to fall over the edge for a while now anyway, so this is no surprise,” C-Rod returned.
“Yeah,” Victor answered. “Some people can’t handle the game at all, you know,” he went on. “Think they have what it takes, but the shit is no joke.”
“He’s gonna want to still kill her boyfriend, what’s his name,” C-Rod threw out.
“Jaron” Victor said without animosity.
“Yeah, he’s deadly, I can tell you that,” C-Rod returning, going on to tell Victor about the confrontation he had with Jaron after he and Gabrielle had lunch at the wing place.
“He’s still jacked up sounds like about her being abducted that time,” Victor offered as C-Rod agreed.
“He definitely doesn’t let her too far out of his sight,” C-Rod told him. “I don’t think she even has any friends,” he added sounding saddened.
“She seems to be well adjusted,” Victor noted.
“Yeah, surprisingly, she is,” C-Rod returned. “So I guess whatever he’s doing, it’s working,” he added chuckling.
“Well, make sure you’re at full alert tomorrow,” Victor told him bringing C-Rod back to their original conversation.
“He gonna be packin’,” C-Rod asked.
“Yeah,” Victor replied as they both thought the same thing.
Seth could be very reckless and they knew he would have no hesitation shooting inside the medical facility if it meant getting to Gabrielle.
“We have to make sure this shit goes down right, or its going to turn into a bloodbath,” Victor told C-Rod once more as his friend agreed and they went over the plan another time before bidding each other goodnight and disconnecting.
*****
Ian was kissing her neck gently as they made love. He’d forgotten how good KiKi’s body felt to him. It was taking all his concentrating not to finish first.
“Mmm, nice,” Lauren moaned as Ian took her.
Well hell, no wonder she hooked up with him, she thought concerning Kaitlyn. He’s good too, Lauren continued to think behind the closed lids. Ian switched positions, rolling her over with her on top now. Lauren began to ride him aggressively as he murmured his pleasure at her actions.
“KiKi, mmm, baby,” Ian whispered as Lauren smiled slightly at his ignorance.
I can fool them all, she thought confidently, just as Ian shifted and rolled her over again, taking command once more.
“You belong with me baby,” Ian whispered in her ear as Lauren came hard and her body shook from the orgasm.
“So perfect,” he whispered again as she sighed deeply.
Lauren was shocked by how intense their session was. Ian may have been dark in her mind, but his skill was on point. He brought her to orgasm three more times before he started getting closer.
“No Ian, don’t,” Lauren told him, trying to push him off her as she felt his manhood stiffen and expand inside her.
“You’re my baby,” Ian managed just as his release surged forward flowing deep inside her and he moaned deeply, collapsing atop her. Ian returned to her lips after gathering himself, kissing her again, now looking into her eyes.
“Don’t be scared of what you feel baby,” he told her gently, stroking her face still. “I’ll protect you and its going to be fine,” Ian said, rising finally and pulling her up with him. “Let’s go shower,” he told her, smiling at her.
Lauren mustered a small smile and accompanied him to the bathroom. Her mind was doing laps trying to figure this guy out. He was charming as hell, even sweet, when they were together. She’d seen the other side though. Earlier when he thought she was sleeping, Lauren had ventured downstairs quietly and heard the beat down he was giving his own brother. What makes me think you won’t turn on me one day, she thought obediently stepping into the tub with him as he began to gently lather her. Lauren needed a little bit more information on him, his brother, and the two men working with him, before she decided which, if not all, of them she was going to kill. The thoughts subsided as Ian began kissing her neck again, his hand on her breast, the nipple hardening as Lauren readied herself for another adventure.
*****
Pirate, Creeper and Shamar were chilling at the strip club, talking about DeNoah. “When’s the last time you talked to him,” Pirate asked.
Shamar replied earlier this evening. “They know the chick is missing and they know about Ice being alive and somewhere in Atlanta,” Shamar enlightened them.
Pirate chuckled, as did Creeper.
“Well the shit will definitely be on now,” Creeper remarked.
“Make sure you keep in touch with that fool, get as much as you can out of his stupid ass,” Pirate threw out as Shamar told him he would.
“I don’t know how he’s lasted so long,” Shamar began. “I mean DeNoah is definitely a rank ass amateur,” he added as they again chuckled at the observation. “So is Ice gonna be able to make the chick stay,” Shamar asked curiously.
Creeper shrugged slightly. “I get the impression nobody does shit to cross Ice, including miss thang,” he replied.
Pirate added his agreement.
Strawberry, the featured dancer for the evening, made her way to the stage, garnering all the men’s attention.
“Shit, I need to get home,” Creeper said semi aloud.
Pirate agreed with his sentiment. It’d been far too long since they’d made love to their women.
“Tell Ice we’re taking a road trip tomorrow,” Pirate threw out.
Creeper n
odded and told him that was a plan. The dancer came to their table and began taking off her clothes. The three men began to shower the dancer with bills as she stripped faster, wanting to get more of the confetti rain the men were providing. Chuckling again, Pirate threw a couple of twenties her way and returned his attention to his friends, effectively dismissing her.
“Once we get a location from this fool, we can go ahead and cancel that ass,” Pirate told Shamar.
“We don’t want any possible ties coming back to us,” Creeper added as Shamar again nodded his understanding.
Further conversation was unnecessary as the men sat back, ordering another round of drinks, and enjoyed the next stripper on deck.
22
“Kim is coming to have lunch with me today,” Gabrielle told Jaron as he dropped her off in front of the hospital.
“That sounds like fun,” he replied smiling.
He was glad the two women hit it off and even gladder that Kim could handle any situation that may arise.
“Have a great day baby,” Jaron told her, kissing her lips once more as Gabrielle smiled and got out of the car, waving as he drove away.
Walking inside she met C-Rod at the usual spot and said good morning.
“I’ll be glad when we switch shifts,” he told her as Gabrielle laughed and asked why.
“We don’t come in really early,” she added as he nodded.
“But this 10:00AM until 8:00PM takes up all my day and some of my night,” C-Rod replied as Gabrielle burst into laughter.
“You don’t have anything to do, so hush,” she teased.
C-Rod gave her a look of indignation before speaking. “Girl, I got chicks in different area codes,” he teased.
Gabrielle laughed again. “Um, phone sex lines don’t count,” she quipped as they both burst into laughter again and headed for the nurses station, retrieving charts and beginning their day.
*****
Victor was making a few last minute phone calls before Seth exited the shower, dressing, and joining him in the living room. They were headed to the hospital in about an hour. Please let this shit go down right, he thought getting a text and quickly answering just as he heard the bedroom door open.
“Wassup,” Victor greeted Seth.
The other man smiled slightly and told him everything was cool.
“Everyone in place,” he asked as Victor assured him they were.
“You still going to hang around and kill the boyfriend,” he asked Seth.
Sighing deeply, he closed his eyes and was silent a few moments more.
“I want too, but hell,” Seth began as Victor relaxed a little. “As long as I have Gabrielle and we get the hell out of Atlanta before he finds out, he can keep his life,” Seth said benevolently.
Victor spoke his understanding, thankful that at least that much was settled.
“What time is it,” Seth asked, looking for his phone.
“Almost 12:15PM,” Victor replied.
Finally finding the cell, Seth sent a text to C-Rod asking his and Gabrielle’s whereabouts and their next break time. The instrument vibrated moments later with the reply as Seth regarded the screen.
“Let’s go,” he said simply as he rose and grabbed the .9mm, putting it in his jeans pocket.
“What did C-Rod say,” Victor asked finally since Seth didn’t seem interested in sharing the information.
“Oh sorry,” he replied, still preoccupied. “He said they have a lunch break at 1:00PM,” Seth told him. “So we need to be there and in place by then,” he added opening the townhouse door.
Victor followed, his mind still racing as he checked his own .9mm and grabbed the car keys locking the townhouse door behind him. Seth was gazing quietly out of the car window as they rode down the interstate. Victor didn’t like the look on his face, his sense of dread deepening about Seth’s stability.
“Do you have the sedatives,” he asked out of the blue, interrupting Victor’s train of thought.
“Yeah, they’re in the back,” he replied once again unsettled.
“Cool, might want to keep one handy,” Seth told him. “Gabrielle can be pretty excitable sometime,” he finished calmly, saying nothing else as they continued ride.
*****
Kim was still grousing about the hospital parking garage and the exorbitant fees they charged when she entered the huge sterile facility. Finding a directory she saw the floor she was seeking and followed the signs heading for the elevator. She and Gabrielle were heading to the Cheescake Factory for lunch. Kim had heard really good things about the food, as well as the decadent cheesecake selection they sold. The elevator arrived and she waited as the volume of people exited. Kim wasn’t all too keen on stepping inside the large metal box, given some of the unsavory whiffs she’d gotten of its previous cargo. She took a deep breath and entered, stepping to the side near the front doors so she could quickly disembark. Fortunately a couple of men got on smelling like heaven, immediately dispelling the earlier mustiness.
Kim casually glanced at the men. They were attractive enough. One was extremely tall and lean, not exactly her cup of tea, but he wasn’t ugly. She noticed they hadn’t chosen a floor and simply assumed they were going to the same floor she was. Kim thought nothing else of them as her cell vibrated and she smiled reading the message from Mook. He’d still be extra attentive and loving even this morning. Of course he still hadn’t told her anything about what was going on. She’d caught bits and pieces as he and Tariq talked this morning, but didn’t catch anything that shed any light on the secret they were keeping very close to the vest. The elevator stopped and Kim exited the two men right behind her. She turned right, and they left, as each walked toward their destination and continued their own day.
*****
Gabrielle was still pouting as C-Rod laughed, seeing the expression.
“Dang girl, it will only take a minute,” he told her of their trip to the lab.
“I’m hungry and my friend is already here,” Gabrielle told him just as Kim approached them.
“Hey,” Gabrielle greeted her smiling.
The two embraced lightly as she introduced C-Rod and Kim said hello.
“We have to take these specimens to the lab,” Gabrielle told her, giving C-Rod the side eye. “It won’t take a minute,” she added as Kim chuckled and told her it was fine.
“I’m not on a schedule, do what you need too,” she replied as C-Rod silently thanked her and she chuckled again.
Kim watched as the two of them turned and headed down the hallway. Deciding she didn’t want to look suspect standing at the nurses station, Kim moved to the other wall, actually able to see the two as they bantered back and forth walking away. I hope he’s not the real reason she’s thinking of leaving Jaron, Kim mused as they continued to walk getting further and further away.
Kim saw movement and it caught her attention as one of the doors on the opposite side of the hallway opened and the two men that rode up on the elevator with her emerged. That’s odd, she thought continuing to watch. Gabrielle and C-Rod had completed their task and were returning, when the men stepped into their path and Gabrielle looked up. From her reaction the man was obviously someone she knew. They were embracing tightly and he’d lifted her from the floor. This can’t be good, Kim thought absently sticking her hand in her bag, finding and holding the gun encompassed. I wish I could hear what the hell they were saying, she continued to think, still watching intently.
*****
The tears were still streaming down Gabrielle’s face as Seth finally put her down. “Why didn’t you contact me, tell me you were alive,” she asked once she was able to find her voice.
“I was recovering for quite a while,” Seth lied. “I came to get you though,” he told her growing slightly anxious. “I’m going to take you home and take care of you again,” he told her as Gabrielle frowned slightly.
“Seth, I have a life here, a boyfriend, I’m in school,” she replied innocently.
&n
bsp; “You can go to school there,” Seth threw back, intentionally not addressing the boyfriend comment.
“Seth, I’m glad you’re alive, and I love you, but,” Gabrielle began before he cut her off.
“It’s not open for discussion,” Seth told her firmly. “You’re leaving with me right now,” he told her acidly.
Gabrielle’s eyes filled again as she looked to C-Rod and the other man, whom she hadn’t been introduced. Neither made a move to help her.
“They work for me Gabrielle,” Seth told her, answering the unasked question.
“Please Seth, don’t,” she tried as he reached out for her.
“No,” Gabrielle began to scream.
Seth covered her mouth with one of his massive hands, lifting her fireman carry with the other. Gabrielle began kicking, twisting and turning her body causing him to lose his grip for a moment.
“Let me go,” She screamed again, pushing Seth as hard as she could. C-Rod moved closer helping him coral her and Victor removed the sedative from his pocket, readying the syringe.
Gabrielle’s eyes grew big as she saw the needle and guessed what they were going to do.
“No, Seth, no,” she screamed once more before the light pellet like sound got everyone’s attention.
C-Rod’s eyes grew big before his body went limp and he fell to the cold, glossy, marbled floor, his blood beginning to pool from the gunshot to his head.
Both Victor and Seth spun, looking right into Kim’s venomous face as she held the .380, silencer attached, and stared at them both.
“Back the fuck up,” she hissed, reaching out for Gabrielle.
“Oh my god,” she began to cry seeing C-Rod on the floor, dead.
“Not now,” Kim said evenly addressing her.
Gabrielle followed Kim’s lead as she backed toward the stairwell, the smaller woman behind her. Seth was giving her a deadly look, his hand itching to go for the .9mm he carried. Gabrielle opened the door and they backed into the opening just as hospital security rounded the corner, guns drawn ordering the two men in front of them to freeze and raise their hands. Kim quickly pushed the door closed turning and regarding Gabrielle.