Thin Ice (6 page)

She’d had time to think while she waited on him.

“I’d still like to talk, if you could find time to come by the job later maybe,” Tariq tried again.

He didn’t want another day to pass without her knowing the truth. Sighing softly Kaitlyn told him she would try but she wouldn’t promise.

“OK, KiKi,” Tariq returned gently. “I just want to say I’m sorry one more time,” he added as she sighed softly again.

“Yeah, me too,” she replied amiably.

“We all right again?” he asked hesitantly.

“Yeah Tariq, we’re all right again,” Kaitlyn replied as he smiled and let go the breath he’d been holding. “I’ll text you if I can get that way tonight, OK,” Kaitlyn added readying herself to disconnect.

“I sure hope so KiKi,” Tariq told her and wished her a great rest of the day finally letting her go.

Thinking back on the conversation Kaitlyn smiled; glad she and Tariq weren’t fighting anymore. She had to understand finally that he was just as frustrated they weren’t together as she was. It had to hurt to know she was sleeping with someone else, even as they spent time together, and he reacted just as any other man would have. Pushing the thoughts away Kaitlyn got up from the table she been sitting at and threw her trash away, heading outside as the supplier arrived, beginning her day.

*****

“What do you want me to do Ice,” Evan asked the man sitting calmly in front of him who could destroy his entire life with one phone call.

“I want to know where the bitch is and who her contacts are,” Ian told Evan evenly.

He’d found out about Jaleesa and Kaitlyn’s new found clientele and his own lock out from the festivities.

“She’s off in Vegas this weekend,” Evan said bitterly.

He was still smarting from Jaleesa’s manipulation of him and her new affiliation with Tristan.

“Fine,” Ian returned still regarding the man in front of him. “Call me when she gets back,” he ordered as Evan nodded his understanding. “You are my eyes and ears from now on,” Ian continued. “Nothing better go on that I don’t have advanced first hand knowledge of, get me?” Ian told him coldly.

“Yeah Ice, I get it,” Evan returned as Ian dismissed him and the man wasted no time leaving his presence.

Brooding, Ian made himself another drink and rolled around the information he’d gleaned in his mind.
I’ma kill that trifling bitch,
Ian thought to himself of Jaleesa. He also thought about Kaitlyn and grew angry again. He’d found out from Evan that she was sleeping with Landon and he was absolutely furious about it.
KiKi’s been running from me for three long months now,
Ian thought draining his glass.
Time to put the brakes on that sista,
he completed his thought and picked up his cell calling Carlos. He had a quick errand for him. After giving his bodyguard instruction, Ian headed to the shower and dressed. He was going to see Kaitlyn and this time before he left they were going to come to some understandings Ian again thought as he grabbed his keys and headed out the door, turning on the GPS and locating her, making a left onto the interstate and heading to the Lakewood location the computer gave him.

*****

Evan returned home and made himself a drink.
Paybacks a bitch stupid trick,
he thought acidly of Jaleesa. Evan hated to be outsmarted and she’d run circles around him in this last deal. He’d found out quite by accident that she and Kaitlyn dealt, after witnessing an exchange with some of the visiting players during a game. Thinking about Kaitlyn brought a small smile to his face.
Landon’s a lucky muthafucka,
he thought of his friend bedding the woman on the regular. Truthfully, the night they met Kaitlyn, Evan immediately wanted her instead of Jaleesa, but his lot already cast, he made the best of it. Picking up his cell Evan made another call.

*****

Landon sipped his drink as he waited for the recording to finish. “This is Kaitlyn, sorry I can’t get to the phone right now,” her voicemail went on as he smiled. Once the recording was complete, Landon left his message. He sat back after the call reflecting on the woman and how quickly they’d meshed. He also thought about Ian and how Evan told him the man was interested in Kaitlyn.

That damned thug needs to step the fuck off,
Landon thought angrily.
Why won’t he just find himself another hood chick and get with her,
Landon thought recalling Shelby, Ian’s last girlfriend. He’d seen her around and at some of the parties Ian had managed to get himself invited to at the arena. Landon learned Shelby was a stripper, which came as no surprise considering her dress and demeanor. Kaitlyn was definitely way out of Ian’s league as far as Landon was concerned. He continued to stew about the man’s affection as well as his own hopes and dreams for his relationship with her. There was still Kaitlyn’s reluctance to completely commit to him and her vagueness when he would try and steer her down that highway.
What is she running from,
Landon questioned.
Women always sayin’ they want a good man, but when he shows up, they trippin’,
Landon continued to think finishing his drink. Pushing the thoughts away, he finally rose and headed to his bedroom exhausted from his earlier workout at the gym, as he lay down and sleep quickly found him.

*****

Bryce was just completing his purchase when his cell rang. He fumbled for a moment adjusting his bags trying to answer the instrument, finally managing to get it to his ear.

“Hello,” he chirped happily into the phone, unaware of who was on the other end. “Where are you?”

Bryce immediately became alarmed. This wasn’t someone he wanted to make angry.

“You said eight baby, it’s only a little after seven,” he replied trying to appease the person on the other end of the line.

“Are you out spending my money again?” the voice shot back, still angry, assuming a tone Bryce hated to hear, knowing it meant pain for him.

“I only bought a couple of things,” he replied subdued. “I’m on my way now baby,” he tried again. “I’ll be there in twenty minutes,” he finished and waited for a response.

He heard a non-committal grunt.

“Stop at the liquor store and bring me a bottle of cognac on your way,” the voice told him, starting to sound a bit calmer.

Bryce slowly let out the breath he’d taken and said he would. They ended the call and he hurried to his car.
Why do I keep letting myself be treated this way,
he wondered. Bryce Palmer was a good looking man, had a good job, and a great personality. So why was he allowing himself to be constantly abused, he asked himself for what seemed like the tenth time today. He already knew the answer. He was in love and scared, more of the second than the first. Bryce sighed deeply at the revelation and pulled into the liquor store parking lot.

*****

Ian was thinking about Kaitlyn, his mind racing as he drove. He was tired of dating silly women with no intellect; tired of investing money without seeing any return. Not one of them had shown an ounce of interest in what he did or helping him to do it. As long he bought them a few clothes, or some cheap jewelry, everything was fine. Ian wanted more, a whole lot more. They were always easy, which he had to admit, was what drew him to them most times; easily manipulated and gullible. A couple of them he’d actually slept with at the club, in his office, without even having to buy them a drink. Stupid wanna-be gold diggers were all they were.

That time was over for him though; Ian was trying to become even more wealthy and powerful. He needed a woman with brains, one that could help him run his empire and keep things flowing smoothly. From everything he’d seen and learned about her, Kaitlyn was the one. Even though he owned Inferno, and Castles, the club in Alabama, there was always room for more. Once he and Kaitlyn were together, things would definitely change quickly and for the better, Ian thought exiting the interstate and making a left turn.

*****

“Baby, I’m here,” Bryce sang out as he arrived letting himself inside the house, liquor in tow.

“Fix me a drink,” was the command issued in lieu of a greeting.

“Here you go honey,” Bryce said quietly as he entered the bedroom and handed the drink over.

He was given the once over, and began to get nervous all over again from the look he received. The slap came out of nowhere and knocked him onto the floor. Bryce sat there quietly, afraid to say anything else to add fuel to the fire.

“Who the hell is Diego Rodriguez,” Evan growled angrily, towering over the man still cowering before him. “You screwing around with that joker?” he yelled, preparing to hit Bryce again.

“No, I swear, I didn’t!” Bryce told him emphatically.

He didn’t want another beating at this man’s hands.

“He’s just a friend of mine. That’s all I swear,” he told him again beginning to cry softly, praying Evan believed him.

Evan sipped his drink as he continued to stare at the man on the floor. His anger finally abating he spoke.

“Come here,” he said gently and Bryce obediently complied. “I’m sorry,” Evan told him lovingly caressing his face. “I just get really jealous thinking of someone else touching you and being with you.”

Bryce wanted to tell Evan he felt the same way every night when he was with his other, but he knew that would only get him another beat down. Instead he smiled and began to caress his lover’s chest.

“You know I would never cheat on you,” Bryce told him as they began to kiss again and he found himself becoming aroused.

“You better not,” Evan told him forcefully as he closed his eyes and enjoyed the feel of Bryce’s mouth enveloping his fully erect member.

8

Kaitlyn turned off the water and exited the shower. She’d ended her day early as the heat became unbearable, retreating to the coolness of her apartment deciding to relax for a few hours before heading out to see Tariq. Drying herself and wrapping the towel around her, she headed into her bedroom, stopping in her tracks seeing Ian sitting on her bed patiently waiting for her, .10mm in hand.

“These surprise visits gotta stop Ice,” Kaitlyn returned trying to calm her frazzled nerves.

How the hell does he keep getting into my house,
she wondered. She’d changed the locks after his first visit, yet here he was again.

“Why you got the piece,” she asked again still standing in the door frame of the bathroom, watching him carefully.

“Didn’t I warn you KiKi,” Ian said calmly never raising his voice or changing his position.

“What are you talking about Ice,” Kaitlyn tried again.

“Come in here,” he replied instead, his tone leaving no room for discussion.

Obediently Kaitlyn came into the room and stood across from him leaning on the wall next to her dresser.

“I thought you were smarter than this , KiKi,” Ian told her as he once again looked into her eyes.

“Ice, if I had a clue what the hell you were talking about, I might have an answer for you,” she replied her mind whirling trying to come up with a way for her to get to the switchblade she kept between the mattress, or the gun hidden behind her nightstand.

“I’m talking about you and Tweety dealing through the arena league and invading my territory,” he replied angrily as Kaitlyn jumped slightly from the force of his statement.

“Ice, we don’t sell to your group,” she told him trying to stay calm.

“It’s all my group,” Ian returned rising and walking over to where she stood.

“You and Tweety thought not selling locally was what, a technicality,” he threw out looking into Kaitlyn’s eyes and seeing the fear. “You two managed to mess up years of hard work, securing contacts, lining up delivery points, and percentages,” Ian told her close enough to Kaitlyn for her to feel his body heat.

“Ice, look,” Kaitlyn started before Ian told her to hush.

“Right now you better be concerned with your continued existence,” he told her ominously.

Ian wasn’t going to hurt Kaitlyn. He was completely caught up with her.

Swallowing hard, terrified Ice would indeed kill her Kaitlyn remained mute waiting for him to say something more. Ian fed off the fear he saw in her eyes as he held her gaze.

“When did you turn into Tweety,” he asked as Kaitlyn gave him a quizzical glance. “Trading ass for connections,” he told her distastefully as Kaitlyn blushed deeply and looked away.

Ian smiled slightly seeing her blush, then returned to his serious expression as her eyes returned to his own.

“I didn’t do that,” she replied quietly.

“So why you screwing Landon then,” Ian threw at her as Kaitlyn once again averted her gaze.

“I told you to keep your legs closed didn’t I,” Ian asked again.

“Yes,” Kaitlyn replied softly.

She felt completely helpless and abhorred it.

“What happened with the junkie,” Ian continued cruelly seeing the tears come finally.

He needed to break Kaitlyn and she was proving extremely difficult.

“You decided since you couldn’t lower yourself to fuck the user, you’d just screw another loser,” Ian badgered her.

Kaitlyn continued to endure not wanting to hasten Ice’s abuse, knowing he planned to hurt her badly before he left, and that was at the very least. She took another deep breath and continued to pray he didn’t kill her.

Ian saw he was cracking her armor, but she was still holding on. Taking the gun and placing it on the dresser next to her he didn’t say another word, instead Ian grabbed her arms put them above her head and held her fast with one hand, while slapping her hard across the face with his free hand. Kaitlyn was stunned, but she wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of crying.

“Let me go!” she screamed, anger kicking in, as she began trying to free herself thinking if she were going to die, she was going to die fighting.

Ian held her fast. He was much stronger than Kaitlyn and holding her arms above her head kept her at a distinct disadvantage.

“Shut up!” he barked, and Kaitlyn ceased struggling for the moment, waiting on his next move.