by KR Bankston
“No baby, it’s not like that,” he told her as she finally dropped her gaze and closed her eyes again, still lying in his arms.
Tariq felt her breathing become even and knew she’d fallen back to sleep. What the hell can I do to help her get over the loss, he wracked his mind. Tariq knew Kaitlyn would eventually implode holding everything she felt inside her and never letting it out. Tariq also had sense enough to know Kaitlyn would never agree to any professional help of any kind. Please God, he began to pray kissing her forehead. Help my wife, Tariq prayed simply, kissing her again and rocking her gently. Kaitlyn stirred slightly drawing even closer to him as he held her tighter. Whatever the horrors were that plagued her, tonight at least, Tariq was determined to keep them at bay and her overloaded mind at rest. Closing his own eyes moments later, he drifted off to sleep a strange feeling of peace overwhelming him and putting him into a deep and dreamless sleep.
*****
“Who was that,” Kim asked sleepily.
“My girl,” Mook threw back as Kim turned to him fully awake.
“Say the shit again,” she told him punching him in the chest.
Mook laughed and easily pinned her down in bed, holding both her arms with his hands.
“My girl,” he told her as Kim’s eyes narrowed and she promised to kick his ass.
Mook burst into laughter, kissing her as she tried to turn her head.
“Don’t be like that,” Mook told her kissing her neck softly.
“Then tell me who it was,” Kim told him.
She really was irritated with him playing around and not telling her who texted him. She was still slightly raw about the whole Tae incident.
“It was Train baby,” Mook told her as he kissed her lips softly again.
Relaxing, Kim smiled and told him that was all he had to say in the first place.
“Didn’t I make you a promise,” Mook asked, looking into her eyes now, picking up on her earlier uncertainty.
“Yeah,” Kim replied softly, ashamed for not letting it go.
“So do you believe me or not,” Mook asked still holding her down and looking into her face.
“I do, but,” Kim began as Mook sucked his teeth and let her go.
“Baby, wait, I didn’t mean it like that,” Kim tried jumping from bed to talk to Mook who’d already risen and was standing by the window looking out of it.
“But what Kim,” he told her turning around so she could see the hurt registering on his face. “I was wrong, I admit that,” Mook told her. “But I apologized and I haven’t done shit since then to warrant you not trusting me,” he added as Kim swallowed hard and admitted he was right.
“I just don’t wanna lose you,” she told him softly.
Mook took a deep breath and blew it out slowly.
“Miss Kim,” he began calmly, pulling her into his arms. “I love the hell outta you, you hafta know that shit by now,” he told her as Kim nodded that she did. “How about we put this bullshit out of our mind, you come on over here and let me and fatty spend some time with each other, up close and personal,” he told her, kissing her neck gently. Kim smiled, her body warming in anticipation. “I think I’d like that,” she replied as Mook kissed her deeply, lifting her from the floor and carrying her back to the bed.
Placing her gently on it, he went back to his old tricks, grabbing the silky nightgown and ripping it from her body. “See, there you go again,” Kim whispered already on fire. “You can tell our daughter how she got made when she gets here,” Mook returned, wrapping her legs around his neck introducing himself to fatty once again.
15
“Good morning,” Jaron greeted Gabrielle coming into the room where she was. “Hi,” she returned quietly, her mind racing.
“What’s wrong,” he asked walking over and sitting on the bed beside her.
“How long are you two gonna keep me here,” Gabrielle asked.
She was homesick and being in the confined room day in and day out was taking its toll on her. Sighing deeply Jaron was about to answer her question when his cell went off again.
“Yeah,” he spoke into the mouthpiece as Gabrielle remained quiet, having quickly learned the routine.
“Are you serious,” he shouted scaring her as she jumped. “How the fuck that happen,” Jaron went on angrily, the caller obviously giving him bad news.
Gabrielle hadn’t seen him angry since the day at the riverfront. Thinking about it brought the horrible images back, as well as the anger at Corey’s cowardice.
“Yeah, okay, yeah,” he said finally disconnecting, still frowning deeply.
Gabrielle remained quiet drawing her knees to her chest sitting against the headboard.
Pulling himself together Jaron regarded the frightened woman and spoke to her. “I’m sorry if I scared you,” he told her calmly.
“It’s okay,” Gabrielle returned.
“Come here,” he told her as she immediately complied.
Jaron took her into his arms, kissing her deeply, laying her gently back onto her pillows. “I would never hurt your Gabrielle, you hafta believe that,” he told her sincerely as she looked into his eyes.
“I believe you,” she told him simply.
The crazy thing was she actually did believe him. The look in his eyes told her that somewhere along the way he’d fallen hard for her. He smiled again and kissed her softly. Gabrielle knew he wanted her again. They hadn’t been together since that first night three days ago.
“What about the condom,” she tried again as Jaron looked into her eyes.
“OK,” he said gently, pulling the Magnums from his jean pocket.
He really didn’t want to use one with her, but he knew she was scared. Gabrielle smiled and allowed herself to relax as Jaron began arousing her all over again.
Kissing her cheek softly as she lay sleeping afterward, Jaron rose and quietly made his way into the living room. He needed to make some calls and get instructions. His earlier caller informed him that Mace had managed to get himself locked up. He was pulled over heading to his girl’s house, driving a vehicle with expired tags. When they ran his license, warrants came back. When they searched him, they found three bags of crack and two bags of cocaine. He was looking at felony time now and the judge refused to set bail. That ass is fucked, Jaron thought angrily. Mace had always made foolish choices and did things without thinking them through. Dialing the number he waited for the call to connect.
“Yes Jaron,” Tariq answered amiably.
Jaron gave him the rundown on Mace and his recent predicament. He heard the man sigh deeply.
“Can you handle her alone,” Tariq asked as Jaron smiled and told him he could.
“She’s very docile,” he told Tariq.
“Seems we really have no choice at this point,” Tariq returned, thanking Jaron again for keeping his head and doing the job right.
Jaron swallowed hard knowing Tariq would probably kill him himself if he knew about the two of them being together sexually.
Disconnecting Jaron was thinking about the new developments. He was pleased he would have Gabrielle all to himself and didn’t have to worry about hiding his feelings when Mace was around. Or wanting to shoot him myself for calling her a bitch, Jaron thought angrily. Rising he went back into the room. Gabrielle had awakened and was in the shower he observed hearing the water run. She emerged moments later as he stood in the doorway watching her.
“You wanna watch TV,” he asked calmly as she gave him a look.
“What about your friend,” she replied cautiously.
Jaron smiled slightly and told her it was just the two of them now.
“He had some other business,” Jaron lied as Gabrielle nodded knowing better.
She immediately recalled the earlier call. He’s probably locked up, she thought as she smiled and accepted Jaron’s invitation. She dressed and joined him as he sat on the sofa. Jaron immediately pulled her close and held her as they watched the movie he’d chosen. Gabrielle to
ok the time to glance around the apartment, her eyes falling on the front door. She could see three locks, all deadbolts requiring a key to open them. Glancing again under the guise of repositioning herself she saw the back door. It held two deadbolts, but neither required a key. Making up her mind that would be her way out, Gabrielle began to bide her time and continued to enjoy Jaron’s company.
*****
Ian, Kareem and Mecca were up early headed to Seth and Peyton’s room. Knocking the door immediately opened as the three walked inside, greeting the other men waiting.
“Damned car was impounded last night,” Peyton spoke angrily.
They’d spent most of the evening casually asking questions and paying for information when they finally got a lead on the car.
“Doesn’t matter,” Ian told him as they all gave him their attention. “Find the number for the impound lot,” he threw out as Mecca quickly looked it up on his phone.
Dialing from his direction, Ian reached the operator.
“Hi, I’m calling about the 1968 Chevy impounded last night,” he told the woman as she sighed lightly and told him she needed more than that. They had four of them on the lot.
Ian went on to describe the color and customization.
“Hold on sir,” the operator threw back as she placed him on hold.
Ian waited patiently for her to return, actually enjoying the hold music, until she broke in once again.
“Yes sir, that car is $718.67 to get out,” she told him.
Ian told her that was fine and if she could verify the address for him so he knew he had the right car. He was paying it for a friend and would hate to pay the wrong one. The woman chuckled and gave Ian the information he requested.
“Thank you so much,” Ian replied. “And what is the latest I can come down,” he asked continuing the ruse.
Answering his question once again, Ian thanked the woman again and disconnected, turning to the men in the room and addressing them.
“Let’s go find Brie,” he said simply, his tone anything but.
******
Tae was watching the news her eyes glued to the story about Python’s murder. “Fuck,” she swore aloud. Her cell rang. She wasn’t surprised when Kaitlyn’s name showed up.
“Wassup girl,” she threw out still regarding the news report.
“You see this bullshit,” Kaitlyn threw back tense as hell.
Tae told her she did.
“This throws a crimp in our shit for real,” she added as Tae told her she knew. “Who else can we get another 5 keys from this short notice,” Kaitlyn asked.
Tae told her she was working on that very thing right now.
“Cool, call me and let me know what’s up or if you need my help,” Kaitlyn replied disconnecting.
Tae finally tired of the news and rose, searching for and finding her little red book. Most people kept a black one, but she decided on the red color because this book contained all her emergency back up suppliers. Tae began calling around hitting a few dead ends before striking pay dirt. Of course the price was higher, given they needed them on such short notice, but Tae was willing to pay it. They would simply heighten the price on Kareem’s end. With that much settled she called Kaitlyn back and told her everything was good.
“Way too much bullshit going on for a Tuesday morning, damn,” Tae remarked heading into her bathroom.
The knock at the door further annoyed her as she stopped and returned to the door, opening it without asking who it was, coming face to face with Shells.
“Yes, who are you,” Tae asked, having never seen the man before.
“We need to talk,” he told her calmly in the clipped English.
“I don’t know you,” Tae told him as Shells sighed deeply.
“Ma, ya need to let me in and we need ta talk,” he told her again giving her a look.
Tae swallowed hard as she wrestled with letting him inside. If he wanted to kill her, he could have by now, Tae surmised, finally stepping aside and allowing Shells entry. “What’s this about,” she asked immediately.
Tae was still on edge having a complete stranger in her house.
“I wanna know what da hell you and your gurls are up too,” Shells asked point blank, going on to tell Tae in vivid detail how he witnessed their exchange the other day.
“So what’s your angle,” she threw out, shaken but determined not to let him know. Shells sighed deeply once again.
“I’m tryna save your life gal, can’t ya tell dat,” he pleaded as Tae continued to watch him silently. “Ya gals are in ova ya heads, way ova,” Shells tried again.
“So you want us to stop, is that what this is about,” Tae questioned.
Shells nodded yes and she sighed deeply. “And you’re gonna bust us if we don’t,” she threw out assuming he was an undercover agent of some sort.
Shells didn’t correct her assumption as he continued to regard her quietly.
“Where da dope you got the other day,” Shells asked.
“We delivered it already,” Tae lied smoothly.
“Hmph,” Shells replied. “Let that be the last time,” he told Tae, giving her another look.
Swallowing hard, she nodded contritely and told him okay. Satisfied, Shells rose and began walking to the front door.
“Tae, dis game serious,” he told her looking into her eyes again. “You don’t heed my warning, you may not walk away dis time,” Shells admonished as a final thought, opening her door and letting himself out.
Tae let out the breath she’d been holding, and called Kaitlyn, getting Jaleesa on three way. The playing field had just shifted and if they didn’t want to end up in a jail cell or a coffin, they’d better figure out a seriously secret way to get this load to Kareem and Mecca, on time, as promised.
*****
They found the house easily. Pulling to the curb, they watched it for a few moments as people came and went on either side. Some went to the house itself buying product Ian observed. They’re not keeping her there, he thought. He reasoned that Tariq only wanted information from Brie, and that he also fancied himself the gentleman, so she would be somewhere pleasant, not the heart of the hood.
“She’s not in there,” Ian finally said aloud as everyone regarded him again.
“Then how do we find her,” Seth asked beginning to tire of the cat and mouse game. He wanted to see his sister and know she was still breathing. He also wanted to place two well deserved bullets into the head of each man responsible for kidnapping her. “We listen,” he said as they frowned again.
Telling them to crack the truck windows and be quiet, Ian began to listen to the various chatter from the street.
They wouldn’t be sitting idle too long. “Yo man, you heard ‘bout Mace,” the man asked his friend riding the bike as they stood and talked not ten feet from the Escalade. “Yeah that fool got his self locked up,” the other man threw back as they both chuckled.
“Where Jaron at though,” he asked as Ian and everyone else paid rapt attention.
They were betting the two men were partners.
“You know they got that other place over by the old mill and shit,” the men told him as they both nodded knowingly.
“Lemme go up here and get me a hit,” the first man said as the second laughed and walked away commenting he was head to the corner store for a beer.
“OK, we got a location to start scouring,” Ian told them as they started truck and Peyton Googled mills in the area.
“Found it,” he replied moments later giving them the address listed.
Ian punched it into the GPS and they were soon headed toward an entirely different side of town.
Getting closer to the location, Ian began to feel more confident. The landscape was clean with small shops and restaurants lining the area. People walked freely and the children played on the large playground provided by the city.
“We’re in the right place,” he murmured as they all nodded silently.
Driving another two
or three miles they came up on two apartment complexes.
“We’re gonna have to stake them both out,” Ian told them as they all agreed.
Making decisions on who would watch which building, they got out of the truck and took up positions. Because the area was so appealing and frequented, they all blended in immediately. Seth and Peyton grabbed soft drinks from a local street vendor, finding a huge shade tree and resting under it. Ian enjoyed an Italian ice while he sat on the patio of the small bistro directly in front of the other complex. Kareem and Mecca sat at an outdoor picnic table almost strategically located between both complexes. They hoped to catch a glimpse of Gabrielle or hear another conversation that would help them in their pursuit. Right now however, all they could do was watch and wait.
*****
“You might wanna start talkin’,” Mook advised their houseguest.
LaRon had worked him over pretty well. The guy was struggling to breathe.
“Where is Ice and what’s his next move,” Mook asked once again.
Still their guest remained mute.
“Well hell, you must like pain,” Mook told him rising and walking away as LaRon began to walk over to him again.
“Wait a minute,” the man managed.
LaRon paused as Mook turned to him and waited. Tariq walked into the room at that moment and the man regarded him as well.
“He said take over Miami, cause chaos,” the man wheezed. “When ya’ll turned to fix it, take over Atlanta, kill Top,” he finished before a coughing fit overtook him.
“Hmph,” LaRon commented.
“Where is Ice now,” Tariq questioned.
He wasn’t in a good mood this morning and the man before him was testing his patience. His mind was still on his wife and her state of mind at the moment.
“He’s back in Louisiana,” the man wheezed as Tariq’s eyes glazed over.
“What,” Mook asked calling him on it.
Glancing at the floor the three men left the room so they could talk.
“KiKi and Tae are going to the Classic this weekend,” the told them both as LaRon groaned.
“I know Tweety is going too,” he threw out, having to explain his answer.