by KR Bankston
“Well the days of you having your cake and eating that shit too are over,” Ryan began anew. “You’re going to go home to my brother, your husband, and you’re going to be his wife, in every way, and I might think about not wiping out every trace of your boyfriend from the earth,” he hissed, never taking his eyes from her.
Kaitlyn knew he was serious. Everything about Ryan screamed Socrates right now.
“What about your other brother,” she threw out as Ryan raised an eyebrow.
“What about him,” he returned.
“Have you forgotten he’s in love with Tariq’s sister, and my cousin,” she fired off.
Ryan chuckled.
“One has nothing to do with the other,” he told her dismissively. “Don’t try and play me KiKi, I know the game, remember,” Ryan told her once more.
“Why the hell can’t you and Ice leave me alone and let me be with the man I love,” Kaitlyn again fired, her anger rekindled.
“Ice loves you, what about that shit, what? Doesn’t he count,” Ryan returned irritably.
Kaitlyn sighed deeply.
“I’m not trying to hurt him Ryan, but this is one time Ice cannot have what he wants,” she tried to explain.
“Hmph,” Ryan replied as Kaitlyn picked up her drink and drained the glass, exhausted from the conversation.
Ryan was impressed. Kaitlyn was sticking to her guns this time. He knew she loved Tariq but that was beside the point. She was married to Ian and he was hell-bent to make sure it stayed that way. Ryan dropped the packet onto the table in front of her, garnering Kaitlyn’s attention once more.
“What’s this,” she questioned looking into his face again.
“It’s information,” Ryan returned cryptically.
Kaitlyn frowned slightly, reaching out and flipping open the folder. It contained all the information Ray Lockhart had procured through the DEA and other sources on Tariq, Mook, Jacoury, Ramell, Kim, Tae and Jaleesa. She sighed deeply having a pretty good idea what was coming next.
“You do realize how many reincarnated life sentences they would all get with this information right,” Ryan told her as Kaitlyn regarded him.
“And you would destroy all these people’s lives just to keep me with Ice,” she threw out, her eyes never leaving him.
“Without thought,” Ryan replied evenly.
Kaitlyn sighed tiredly again.
“You don’t have to make a decision tonight KiKi,” Ryan told her amiably. “I’ll give you 90 days,” he spoke once more, lighting the cigar he’d just removed from his pocket.
She sucked her teeth lightly, rolling her eyes at him.
“Are we done,” she asked, really wanting to leave his presence.
Ryan put the cigar down, reaching over and taking her hands holding them between his own, his eyes boring into her.
“I’m not my brother KiKi, I won’t have mercy on Tariq, his people, or his son,” he told her as Kaitlyn absorbed every word.
“You are a Cisneros, your blood runs in my family, your life has been intertwined with mine since conception,” Ryan continued to talk sounding very much like his father.
“Your heart can love him, but it can never have him wholly, you belong with Ice and in time you’ll see that,” he finished, hugging her gently and allowing her to leave.
Ryan sat back in the chair after Kaitlyn left, pulling out his cell and making a call.
“Make the pickup,” he said simply and disconnected, finishing his cigar and making himself another drink.
1
Mrs. Connors gently put the sleeping baby down, turning on the lighted carousel nightlight featuring Noah’s Ark. The soothingly melodic lullaby that played kept the baby asleep through the night, making everyone’s life a little easier. Trey Kian Bailey was Ian’s son with Gabrielle. The little boy was born five months ago as Gabrielle remained hospitalized at the private clinic where Ian had committed her. Ian entered the room moments after the nurse left, checking on his son and thanking God once again the child had survived. Ian paid good money to keep Gabrielle in the institution and supposedly away from harm, yet when she delivered the staff left her alone with the infant. Gabrielle quickly found a syringe, preparing to puncture the baby’s skull and kill him; making good on her threat to Ian some two months earlier. Thankfully the nurse walked in at that precise moment, stopping her. The baby was immediately removed and Gabrielle restrained, placed back in her bed. Of course when someone is determined, they will succeed eventually if given enough chances. Gabrielle accomplished that goal two days later when she managed to steal a scalpel from one of the emergency carts left unattended in the facility’s hallway. She cut her throat, severing the jugular vein, bleeding to death before a nurse discovered her body almost four hours later.
Ian came and retrieved his son hours later, as well as making arrangements for Gabrielle. A private service was held the next day and her body buried next to her brothers. He’d covered the mauve coffin with an expansive spray of yellow and white roses and marked her grave with the small cherub headstone, espousing her goodness as person. Ian had left Louisiana and not looked back. He left Creeper and Pirate in total charge of the operation, simply collecting their percentages at the appropriate time. Sighing gently Ian continued to watch the sleeping baby, shaking the bad memories from his mind. He had the son he wanted, but the woman he wanted to make his mother was still beyond his grasp. Truthfully Ian was running out of time and excuses. Ray told him that the next time they went before a judge they would need more than innuendo and stall tactics to stop the proceedings from moving forward. Kaitlyn had agreed to and attended each court ordered mediation. She hadn’t budged from her original position. She is going to get this divorce, go back to Tariq and you’ll only see her on weekends, Ian thought growing irritated at the thought of Tariq not only being with Kaitlyn, but spending time with his daughters.
“That bullshit is not going to happen,” Ian murmured turning and leaving the nursery.
His cell rang almost immediately after his arrival into the den.
“Hello,” Ian spoke amiably.
“Hi Ice,” Kaitlyn returned calmly. “I wanted to see what time you would arrive tomorrow,” she questioned.
They were meeting at the girl’s school production to support their daughters in the small play where they were performing. Tejdra was playing a talking shrub, Tajdra was a tree. Ian smiled slightly thinking of the girls, before returning his attention to Kaitlyn’s question.
“I’ll be there at 4:00PM,” he told her. “That’s what time their teacher said they needed to arrive,” Ian added as Kaitlyn grunted slightly.
“Fine, I’ll meet you there,” she returned about to disconnect.
“Are you all right, KiKi,” Ian asked, hearing the tone in her voice.
Sighing deeply she told him yes.
“Just tired,” she explained as Ian told her okay, not fully believing her, but not pushing either.
Letting her go his mind continued to whirl. Kaitlyn still hadn’t seen the baby. Every time she would come over to bring the girls, the baby was asleep. She had knowledge of him by way of the girls sharing the news, but Ian wanted her to see Trey, spend time with him. He felt the little boy was the key to him getting closer to Kaitlyn and back inside her heart. Draining the quick shot of Cognac, Ian turned and headed upstairs. Tomorrow was a new day and he was looking very forward to it.
*****
“What do you want from me, Sa’Cari,” Ashlyn questioned tiredly.
They’d been going around in circles for the last two hours about being together again. She still wasn’t sure how she felt about all the things she’d learned in the last year about herself, her family, and the man she still unfortunately loved with her whole heart.
“I want you to come home, for us to be together and live our lives Ash, come on,” he told her patiently for what seemed the hundredth time.
“I’m the same man you fell in love with Ash, the same man who wants nothin
g more than to make you my wife and be with you forever,” Sa’Cari pleaded.
He couldn’t understand why she was still so adamant about living away from him and keeping him at arms distance. She’d tried to date some fool or other a couple of months ago, but Sa’Cari made sure he quickly put an end to that nonsense. Ashlyn sighed deeply and sat on the bed. He wouldn’t let her leave the bedroom once he’d managed to talk her into coming over to the apartment so they could talk privately. Sa’Cari came and sat beside her, taking her hand and holding it as he continued to talk to her.
“Are you afraid of me Ash,” he asked softly.
She shook her head no, the tears caught in her throat.
“Then what baby,” Sa’Cari tried, knowing he was breaking down her defenses.
“I’m scared of me,” she whispered. It was his turn to sigh this time.
“Why,” Sa’Cari returned calmly.
Ashlyn told him her entire life felt like a lie since the night she found out about her adoption.
“I feel like I don’t know who I am, Sa’Cari,” she began to talk once more. “My dad was a lunatic, my mom never knew I survived, my uncle, half-brother, sister, even you, are all in a life I totally don’t understand and am scared to death of,” Ashlyn spoke, the tear rolling down her cheek.
Sa’Cari hugged her tightly, kissing her cheek.
“Baby, you’re Ashlyn, the only thing that has changed is the biological connection,” he said evenly.
“As for the life, baby, that doesn’t hafta be scary, I got you Ash,” Sa’Cari iterated once again. “Baby, let all that drama go, just concentrate on being with me and how much I love you,” he tried another time.
“I have to tell you something,” Ashlyn began again, quietly.
“OK,” Sa’Cari returned seeing the expression on her face.
“I was pregnant,” she again spoke.
Sa’Cari was stunned, but he was also apprehensive, hearing the word was.
“What do you mean, was pregnant,” he asked, trying to keep his temper in check.
If Ashlyn had killed their child he wasn’t sure how he would react.
“I lost it, I guess all the stress, and then I wasn’t really eating,” she explained telling him about the spotting one evening after classes.
She’d gone to the emergency room but there was nothing they could do at that point.
“Why didn’t you tell me Ash,” Sa’Cari asked, the hurt in his voice as he held her even tighter, kissing her cheek.
“I don’t know Sa’Cari, oh god there was so much going on, I just figured it was for the best at the time,” she explained as Sa’Cari kissed her cheek again.
Ashlyn looked up, seeking his eyes. He smiled slightly assuring her everything was fine, and he understood, as he leaned down and kissed her. As much as she wanted to pretend to be hard and not care, that single kiss caused an avalanche of desire to be unleashed as the kiss grew intense and passionate.
“Ashlyn,” Sa’Cari whispered sensuously undressing her without protest.
Ashlyn was on fire as his lips found her breasts, sucking the nipples gently.
“Mmm,” she groaned as his other hand found her clit and began massaging it, her flow on full stream.
“Baby, I’ve missed you so much,” Sa’Cari told her earnestly, kissing her stomach gently before placing his head between her legs and taking her to another world.
“Aah, Sa’Cari, damn,” Ashlyn moaned as she quickly reached the first orgasm.
Sa’Cari never slowed his rhythm, continuing to taste and tease her with his tongue. She was gone. Whatever he wanted to do to her, Ashlyn was his willing participant. Sa’Cari brought her to another orgasm, gently licking her stomach and breasts again, as he slipped between her thighs and buried his hardness deeply inside her.
“Yes,” Ashlyn breathed as they moved together creating nirvana.
Sa’Cari consumed her fully, making up for their time apart.
“Don’t stop, Sa’Cari, don’t stop,” Ashlyn breathed.
Sa’Cari kissed her in response as he grew closer. Her hands slid smoothly down his back, gripping his firm cheeks and pulling him even deeper. The tight constriction of her walls pushed him over the edge and Sa’Cari came hard, collapsing atop her.
“Please come home Ash,” Sa’Cari managed after he caught his breath, still inside her.
“OK,” she returned softly as he kissed her deeply and they began making love another time.
*****
Shango rolled over irritated by the ringing phones interruption. He and Dee had just finished a few vigorous rounds of lovemaking and he wanted to sleep now. She shifted slightly, but drifted right back off.
“Yeah,” he answered still not fully coherent.
“Hey man, sorry to wake you up,” Blue returned as Shango cleared his throat and shook the cobwebs.
“Yeah, it’s straight man, what’s up,” Shango returned.
Blue told him he needed his help once again.
“OK, so what do you need,” he asked.
“I need you to find someone, someone from a long time ago,” Blue returned almost immediately.
Shango’s curiosity was peaked.
“Who,” he returned, waiting for the response.
Blue gave him the information as the man frowned deeply.
“You’re serious,” he returned as Blue assured him he was.
“It’s important Shango, real talk,” Blue said as Shango again frowned deeply.
“I’ll see what I can do,” he returned as Blue thanked him profusely.
Shango was still in deep thought after ending the call. What in the world was Blue up too? He honestly hoped he would find something, just so he could find out the full realm of the reasoning it was requested in the first place.
Shango rose gingerly from bed, leaving Dee sleeping peacefully as he went into his living room, sitting on the couch, still naked. He smiled seeing her pumps on the floor recalling her arrival hours earlier. He’d been trying to persuade her to come to Detroit for a visit since he left Atlanta. They’d gotten together a few more times in the year since, but he always flew or drove down to see her. She complained about the cold and snow so Shango didn’t push. It was pleasant now, so he’d asked her to come and to his surprise she’d agreed. Lighting the blunt his mind went again to Blue. The man was still pursuing Kaitlyn but the woman wasn’t reciprocating at all from his observations. Shango had even gone as far as to tell Blue he thought he should cut his losses and move forward. The man stubbornly and adamantly refused, saying he loved the woman. Shango was surprised she still allowed him to be around, though he’d moved from the main house and was keeping an apartment of his own these days. He better hope Ice doesn’t flip on his ass too, Shango thought, remarking inwardly how patiently the man had tolerated Blue’s presence in the woman’s life.
“Oh so it’s like that,” Dee teased coming into the room disturbing his thoughts.
Shango turned to her confused as she chuckled.
“Smoking all the herbal pleasure while I sleep,” she clarified as Shango offered her the blunt, pulling her onto the couch with him.
They finished the relaxing treat, beginning to kiss and touch each other once more as the christening of the couch began.
2
Waking up in a strange place, tied to a chair, definitely wasn’t a good thing. Blinking to try and focus and regain some semblance of balance, they continued to take in their surroundings. Where the hell am I, what the hell is going on, the thoughts run rampant as the fear began to take root. Rummaging the mind’s resources they tried to recall if they’d done anything lately to warrant the current situation. You’ve got plenty of dirt to choose from, don’t act pious now, the evil conscience was quick to point out. The room gave away nothing. Its walls were a sick yellow beige color, with no discernible artwork or decoration. The floor was a conglomerate of the same sickly yellow beige combination, set off with the occasional random black tile thrown in. It u
nsettlingly reminded them of a hospital; which quickly brought back the deeply entrenched fear of sickness, weakness, and death. Continuing to steady their breathing, they tried listening for any sounds that might betray location or captor identity. There was nothing. It was as if even the very forces of nature stood still on command. They couldn’t hear a fly buzzing, a bird chirping, the sound of traffic or human. It was utterly still. Even the air stood motionless inside the increasingly suffocating boundaries of the room itself.
Finally a sound broke the oppressive barriers as the door creaked open, the laborious groan alerting them it was heavy and would be a worthy hurdle to surpass in any attempt at escape. The footsteps on the tiled floor made the hair on the nape of their neck stand on end. They weren’t facing the door and the not knowing terrified them, unable to see if the captor was armed, or if the end of life was only seconds away. The steps ceased and they began to breathe harder. Who is this, what are they doing back there, they continued to think, forcing themselves to calm down. The loud scraping of the chair being dragged across the floor made their ears scream and memory envision someone’s nails being pulled across a chalkboard. Closing their eyes tightly they endured and prayed the chair would find its mark quickly and cease movement. The chair was directly in front of them now, and they were staring at the sleekly designed Prada shoes the captor wore. He has good taste, they thought fleetingly, being quite the connoisseur of designer fashions. They still couldn’t bring themselves to look up, instead continuing to study the pattern on the shoes as the sound and scent of a match being lit permeated the still room. The cigar smoke wafted to their nose moments later, and slowly, they forced their eyes upward.
“Welcome back,” Ryan said simply looking into the eyes regarding his own questioningly.
Swallowing hard and continuing to remain mute, they waited for him to speak again.
“I suppose you’re wondering why you’re here, hmm,” he questioned, taking another drag from the cigar and slowly blowing the smoke out. “Well you’re here because I have a job for you, a job that might possibly take your name off my death list,” he spoke evenly, not hint of humor in his voice.