by KR Bankston
“OK, I’ll be there Friday,” she acquiesced once again.
“Good, I can’t wait to see you baby,” Tariq told her, his voice laden with the love he felt for her.
Kaitlyn returned the sentiment and disconnected.
She continued to think about him. How long do you think he’s going to be satisfied with these weekends, her mind taunted. Kaitlyn knew she was going to have to make a decision and soon; especially now that Tariq was no longer with Cyiarra. Good thing for her, Kaitlyn thought, knowing if the woman had called again she would have killed her. Changing her thought from the woman she again concentrated on Tariq. This weekend she needed to let him go and that was just that. Kaitlyn knew Ian would never let her divorce him, though it was more and more on her mind these days. If he even suspected Tariq and I were seeing each other, he would try and kill him, she continued to consider. Thinking still her mind fell to the incident in Atlanta. Kaitlyn frowned deeply as she shuddered at the memory; still there was something that wouldn’t leave her mind, the voice speaking in her ear. Not the one doing the incantation, but there was someone else talking in her ear. It couldn’t be him, Kaitlyn tried to reason. She hadn’t seen or heard from Blue in years. She didn’t even know where he was or if he was still alive, yet she could have sworn the voice in her ear while she lay in the tub was his. Even the soft, gentle kiss on the ear felt like his touch. Shit, I do not need any new craziness in my life, she thought as her nightmares began screaming back into her conscious thought.
“Why am I dreaming this bullshit now,” Kaitlyn murmured making herself a drink.
Her hands shook as she poured the Crown into the glass. Those voodoo rituals were something she never wanted to remember. Her father had been absolutely consumed with them and practiced some spell, incantation, or ritual every chance he got. Might be what kept you hidden and safe all those years, her mind tried as Kaitlyn immediately dismissed it.
“Good old fashion common sense and Carlo’s training kept me hidden,” she murmured aloud once more.
Kaitlyn still couldn’t believe she’d seen her grandmother the night of that particular ritual. To this day she vehemently denied it’d happen surmising it as a wild hallucination brought on by her fear of the unknown practice.
“Why did you hurt me like that Carlo, why, dammit,” Kaitlyn asked softly the tears coming without warning and flowing torrentially down her cheeks.
That was the one question that even now, after all the years, all the therapy, all the love and support, she still needed answered. It was the one thing that hurt to her core more than anything else. She had worshipped her father. Carlo could do no wrong, not ever, as far as she was concerned. Then came that fateful day; the cold, black, day that her world came to a crashing halt as her father violated her in the most unspeakable way. Kaitlyn began to sob deeply, falling to her knees as the hurt again descended and the act replayed itself in her mind yet another time.
“Why daddy, why,” she whispered in a soft, quiet voice, still lying on the floor curled tightly in a protective ball.
*****
Kim arrived at her destination, mood even better after her frisky play with her husband. Knocking on the door she put on her game face. She stood a few moments more and no one came to it.
“Hmph,” Kim thought aloud.
Taking a chance she turned the knob figuring that since the door was inside the garage it wouldn’t be locked. She was right and the door gave immediately under her touch.
“Hello,” Kim called out as she walked inside, removing the .9mm from her purse and disengaging the safety.
“Hello,” she called out again, walking stealthily through the house.
Satisfied no one was here she began checking the various rooms one at a time to be sure she was right and no one was hiding inside. Arriving at the room furthest from the front she pushed the door open with the .9mm, coming slightly inside and taking it in. The room was bare with the exception of the queen bed and the clothes tossed all over it.
“What a slob,” Kim remarked, frowning slightly as she continued to take in the house.
Not wanting to waste too much time, Kim quickly went to the closet looking for any boxes or containers that might hold what she needed to retrieve. Finding nothing she sighed softly and returned to the living room.
“Bastard,” Kim murmured removing the incriminating DVD and quickly putting it in her purse.
She turned to leave the house when she heard him speaking, knowing he was headed to inside. Damn, Kim thought of Tyshon returning. She knew he would see the truck and figure out she was inside. Thinking fast, Kim stood right outside of the kitchen, not immediately in his line of sight. That would force him to actually come inside the house. Tyshon walked into the house closing the door as he disconnected his cell call.
“Kim, I know you’re here baby,” he threw out jovially. “Come on out, lets talk,” he returned walking directly to the DVD player and ejecting the tray.
“Baby, I know you got the DVD, but let’s talk okay,” Tyshon told her once again.
Stepping out of her hiding place, Kim addressed him, .9mm firmly pointed at his chest. “Damn Kim, it’s like that,” Tyshon returned slightly uneasy with the gun on him.
“I don’t have time to play with you Ty,” Kim returned calmly.
“Baby, don’t be like this,” he pleaded taking a step toward her.
“Don’t be stupid,” Kim told him never lowering the gun or her gaze.
“So you’re going to kill me now,” he scoffed, actually chuckling aloud.
Kim smiled slightly. “Ty, it’s been a lot of years since you knew me,” she told him coolly. “Killing you would be like getting a glass of water for me, no sweat,” she added as he began to realize she was serious.
“You got the DVD so leave it at that,” Tyshon told her, angry but careful not to show it.
“See that’s the thing Ty,” Kim began anew. “I don’t know if you’ve made copies of this shit, or if you might be stupid and try to tell my husband about it,” she explained patiently.
“I didn’t make copies,” Tyshon returned flatly. “I’m going to get me a bottle of water, can you let me drink that before you shoot me,” he asked smartly as Kim shrugged slightly.
Tyshon’s mind was racing as he went to the fridge and got the water, opening it and drinking almost half the bottle.
“That’s better,” he murmured. “Kim look, I get it, you don’t want me, okay cool,” he replied, trying to talk to her again. “Take the DVD and walk out of my life, you’ll never hear from me again,” he told her hoping she believed him.
Truthfully Tyshon had plans to make Kim sorry she’d come into his house and especially that she’d drawn a gun on him.
“Hmph,” Kim replied. “The cool thing about the work I’ve been doing over the years Ty,” she began again. “Is that I know when someone is selling me bullshit, and right now you got a buy one, get one, sale going on,” she told him shooting him the first time in the chest.
Tyshon’s eyes grew big as he gasped.
“Bitch,” he managed as Kim frowned deeply and shot him twice more.
He took a last gasping breath and became still. Walking over to him she looked into his eyes and took his pulse. Both were devoid of life. Grabbing her bag Kim hurriedly got into the truck backing calmly out of the garage and just as calmly going down the street. She wasn’t worried about anyone calling the cops, the silencer on the .9mm took care of any sounds and she was pretty sure no one would find the body for a while. She never saw the shadowy figure parked across the street frowning deeply as she left, getting out of their car and walking toward the house as she turned the corner.
26
Ian kissed Gabrielle softly as they all left the house heading out to their evening. She admonished him to be careful and he promised her he would as she smiled and went back inside the house. His mind was now on their task as the men made their way through the darkness to the small shanty house almost three mi
les up the road. They drove the dark road, turning out their headlights once they got within a half mile, getting out and garnering the weapons they all began walking the trail that had been marked earlier during their exploration. They stealthily inched closer and closer to the house finally seeing the light from the windows illuminating the open yard before them as they still stood in the brush that served as a property line. Creeper saw their contact standing at the bottom of the stairs alone. He took out the small penlight and flashed it in the man’s direction. The contact immediately turned to them, nodded slightly and beckoned them forward. The men crept out of the brush alert, guns cocked, just in case they were being set up.
Reaching the contact he quickly whispered everyone’s location inside the house. “Me and my boys are out,” he told Creeper who nodded and handed him a thick envelope padded with money.
Ian and Ryan watched as he sent a quick text and three other men appeared from the back of the house. They all joined the contact and walked away getting into a truck parked outside, two of the men pushing it out of the yard and down the long winding gravel driveway, careful not to make any more noise than necessary. Returning their attention to the house, Ryan noted that no one seemed the wiser. Creeper and Pirate headed around to the back, Ian and Ryan making their way up the three stairs to the front door. Ian felt his cell vibrate alerting him Creeper and Pirate were in position. Standing upright, Ryan kicked in the front door as Pirate kicked in the back. All of the men in the house began to scatter as Ryan, Ian, Creeper and Pirate opened fire, dropping them like flies. Tagg tried to run for the bathroom as Creeper shot him in the knee, Pirate hit an arm. Ian fired over Sheik’s head and he cowered on the floor begging for his life as he and Ryan stood over him. Suddenly everything shifted and the smoke began to fill the house.
“What the fuck,” Creeper yelled, coughing as the smoke began to make his head light.
Ian, Ryan and Pirate were all coughing as well trying to make their way back out of the house but finding it hard to move as their limbs grew heavy. The men succumbed moments later as King Diesel entered the house, mask in place, Blue by his side. They put bullets in Tagg and Sheik before turning their attention to the four remaining men.
“Take them all,” King Diesel said simply as he turned and walked outside, the four men that accompanied them, walking in after he exited.
Blue gave them direction and left them to their task as he joined King Diesel and they got into the truck heading back the way they came.
*****
Ashlyn was still looking at Sa’Cari cautiously as he talked.
“We can get in Ashlyn, stop worrying,” he told her as she looked at the two fake ID’s.
He wanted to go the Memoirs grand opening but they were both underage. Ashlyn took the documents from his hand admitting they were great forgeries.
“What if we get caught Sa’Cari,” she worriedly asked, having no idea Tae would be at the opening.
“Girl, that place will be packed with people,” he patiently explained. “Once we get inside no one will know us from any other partier,” he told her chuckling now.
Ashlyn continued to think about it admitting to herself that she really did want to go. They’d been hearing the hype about the club all month with one radio spot or the other. Sa’Cari had driven by it last week when we they were out on a date and she’d seen the beautiful building, peaking her curiosity about the inside.
“You know you wanna go,” Sa’Cari taunted as he tickled her.
Ashlyn began to laugh and giggle finally admitting she was curious.
“So let’s use these and go,” he cajoled once again.
“I have to get something cute to wear,” she told him signaling her agreement to the plan.
Sa’Cari smiled brightly telling her it wasn’t a problem. “Let’s go shopping now,” he threw out as Ashlyn told him she couldn’t.
“Why baby,” he asked kissing her softly.
“I don’t get paid until tomorrow,” she told him referring to Friday.
Sa’Cari scoffed. “Girl please, come on,” he told her pulling her from the bed and into his arms. “I got you,” he added as she shook her head no.
“I can’t let you do that Sa’Cari,” she told him looking into his eyes.
He gave her a look before he spoke.
“Ashlyn, we are so not going to have this fight again, miss independent,” Sa’Cari said calmly as she burst into laughter at the title he gave her.
“I just don’t want you to think --,” she got out before he kissed her deeply, silencing her.
After they parted he spoke again.
“Ashlyn if I thought you were a gold digger, and I’ve known a few, I would have never talked to you,” Sa’Cari told her calmly.
“OK, OK,” Ashlyn chuckled in surrender as he smiled and they headed out to the mall.
“Where do you want to go,” he asked as they rode.
“Um, how about Lenox,” Ashlyn replied calling the mall by name.
Sa’Cari told her that was fine, turning onto the interstate to get them there.
Finding a park after they arrived they exited the vehicle and headed inside the multi-store structure.
“So what are looking for,” he asked, ready to help Ashlyn find an outfit.
“Um something cute,” she returned as he laughed.
“That’s really not helping a whole lot,” Sa’Cari replied as Ashlyn laughed and told him she knew.
“I guess I will know when I see it,” she told him as Sa’Cari shrugged slightly and told her okay.
Passing the jewelry store he stopped, glancing at the various diamonds on display in the window.
“What are you doing,” Ashlyn asked, noticing him finally.
“You like any of these,” he asked as she glanced in the window and told him they were all nice.
“Come on, we’re supposed to be looking for my outfit,” she teased.
Sa’Cari smiled at her reaction, deciding he would return later and find something suitable on his own. They continued walking through the mall passing a group of girls who gave him the once over, one even throwing out an open invitation to get with her. Ashlyn whipped around and addressed the girl.
“Keep walking bitch,” she said low and cold. “You’re about to hit quicksand,” she added her eyes flat and empty.
The woman mumbled something under her breath quickly turning back to her friends and leaving their presence.
“Wow,” Sa’Cari returned as he looked at her now. “Where have you been keeping that cougar,” he teased as Ashlyn smiled slightly.
She didn’t get mad often, but when she did, she did.
“I don’t want to talk about it anymore, please,” she pleaded as he chuckled again and told her sure.
“Let’s go in here,” Sa’Cari suggested as Ashlyn burst into laughter seeing the lingerie store and walking in with him.
*****
Every muscle in Brent’s body ached. From the time he regained consciousness he’d been worked over. First, by several large thugs who beat the hell out of him with wet towels, then he was strapped to a chair and given shock therapy again and again, followed by sensory manipulation of every imaginable kind. He knew Ray was furious with him and Brent felt like a complete fool for allowing himself to get caught up in madness. You should have just talked to him and avoided all this shit, his mind told him as the orderly returning and put the small black puck into his mouth once more. What now, Brent wondered as the door opened and the cart was rolled in. His eyes grew big as he saw the car battery sitting on the cart and Rahja walk inside closing the door. Brent tried to remove the object from his mouth but it was taped in place.
“Really, you have no one to blame for this but yourself Mr. Brent,” Rahja told him as he removed his suit jacket and rolled up his sleeve.
Brent screamed in agony as they man shocked him again and again with the battery cable wires. His heart rhythm was discombobulated and his breathing shallow and labor
ed. Brent felt like he was having a heart attack and they were all standing there watching him without emotion.
“While I personally have no issue with what you did to your wife in the privacy of your bedroom,” Rahja began again, alerting Brent of the how behind his father finding out about it.
“Mr. Lockhart finds it extremely distasteful and wants it punished,” he told him as the hospital gown was cut away, leaving Brent exposed. Rahja again used the cable wires, this time on Brent’s scrotum as the young man cried in pain, passing out only to be awakened again with smelling salts.
“This,” Rahja began, producing the needle. “It’s a stimulant, still experimental,” he told Brent calmly. “But I’m sure you won’t mind helping the trials out,” he chuckled slightly. “It will give you an erection, a lasting erection,” Rahja spoke again.
“The downside however, is that you will never ejaculate and the longer you stay hard the more it will hurt,” he added as the other men snickered.
“I’ve given you enough for eight hours,” Rahja added, turning and putting his suit jacket back on.
Brent could only breathe; anything else was beyond his capabilities right now the pain still lingering from the cables. He felt the prick of the needle, seeing Rahja step back. “Good night Mr. Brent,” he said calmly. “Sweet dreams,” Rahja threw out as the orderlies roared leaving him alone in the room as Brent began to feel the effects of the drug, praying for unconsciousness once again.
He wasn’t sure how long he’d been enduring the pain when the door quietly opened once again. Brent began to cry again seeing the white uniforms. He was sure they were here to hurt him once more. One of the orderlies wordlessly pulled out a syringe and injected him. Brent felt almost instant relief from the pain. His head began to float almost immediately afterward and the darkness again quickly descended. Sure he was out one of the men pulled out his cell and dialed King Diesel.
“We got him,” he said simply as King Diesel grunted his understanding.