Hide & Seek (12 page)

Waiting a while longer, Ian finally chanced moving and coming out of his space. He carefully made his way back to the front of the office and saw nothing. Making his way to the doors he’d entered in, Ian carefully made his way out, gun still in hand in case they were waiting outside for him. Finding nothing, his gaze fell on the Benz. They’d broken the windshield with a huge rock that still sat on the shattered glass and hood.
Fuck,
Ian thought pulling out his phone and calling his insurance company. The representative assured Ian they had someone in route to him, as well as reservations for his rental in place. Thanking the woman, Ian disconnected and let his mind race.
These sonsofbitches are crazy,
he thought beginning to worry even more for both women. Ian decided they couldn’t wait any longer for the man they were watching to make a move. They had to shake him themselves and make him talk. Ian made another call, gave the order and disconnected just as the Insurance representative drove up and got out of the response truck smiling and greeting him.

10

LaRon was smiling as DeNoah spoke telling him about the incident with Ice.
Bet that shocked the shit outta his ass,
LaRon thought continuing to listen.

“
You didn’t hit him did you,” he asked as DeNoah assured him the shots were way wide.

“
Good,” LaRon returned. “You did good DeNoah,” he told him as DeNoah thanked him. “Yeah head on over to the house,” he replied to the man’s question. “Let her go outside for about 30,” he added as DeNoah acknowledged his instructions and disconnected. LaRon chuckled to himself again before calling Tariq and enlightening him.

“
Good,” Tariq replied once they connected and spoke. “Now he can tell Ryan they’re both missing,” he added. “Time to shift into phase two,” he added as LaRon replied his readiness.

Tariq again gave him the time and after acknowledging it, LaRon disconnected, headed into the room to talk to Jaleesa.

*****

Jaleesa was enjoying the shower, needing the escape the cascading water afforded her as she continued to think about the nightmare she found herself reliving. Never in her wildest dreams would she have dreamed she would find herself prisoner to Deuce and his tyranny again. This man had brought nothing but fear, hurt, and loss to her life. Now he was in front of her again asking for another chance. Telling her he loved her and wanted to make their lives become one again. That was the absolute last thing Jaleesa wanted. She needed to escape this place. Escape this man and his delusions of what once was and could be again. Jaleesa would never forget or forgive the cruelty shown by this man during their time together. Deuce would beat her for no reason at all, other than the fact that he could. She’d aborted the child they created together because she hated him. She didn’t want any part of his existence to remain in her body or in her sight. Jaleesa knew she would have abused the child had she given birth. Every time she looked at it and thought about its father, she would have hurt it. No, having the abortion was the best decision she’d ever made and she didn’t regret it for one single second she thought as her mind cursed her and the tear that fell called her a liar.

LaRon heard her in the shower. He wanted to go join her, but controlled his desire and instead waited on her to re-enter the room where he remained. Jaleesa emerged moments after he heard the water stop, wrapped in her towel, stopping in her tracks once she spotted him.

“
Hey girl,” LaRon greeted her, looking her over.

“
Hey Deuce,” Jaleesa returned calmly.

She hoped he wouldn’t force her to have sex right now. The thought nauseated her.

“
Go ahead and get dressed, I just wanna talk,” he told her lighting a cigarette and relaxing on the chaise.

Jaleesa slipped on a pair of jogging pants and a tank, going over to the bed and sitting on it, waiting for him to speak again. LaRon continued to take her in quietly, his mind reeling. He knew she was still terrified of him and it hurt to think Jaleesa may never come around and love him again. Pushing the thought away he finally addressed her.

“
So tell me about the last 7 years of your life,” he asked calmly.

Jaleesa swallowed hard and told him what he wanted to know, careful to leave out the various trysts and short term relationships she’d had in the interim. LaRon hissed slightly before speaking again.

“
If I hadn’t beat you that night,” he began and Jaleesa tensed. “Would you still have killed my baby,” he asked and she finally saw the depth of hurt he had about the pregnancy.

Jaleesa took another deep breath and blew it out slowly before she answered him. “I dunno, Deuce,” she told him quietly, not looking at him.

“
Hmph,” LaRon replied before speaking again. “You know four years in lockdown is a long time,” he began as Jaleesa listened without comment. “When you’re sitting alone in a cell you get a lot of time to reflect,” LaRon went on, looking deeply into her eyes. “I began to replay all the things that led to my being in that place, finally honestly seeing myself for the nothing that I was,” he went on as she continued to watch him. “I should never have hurt you like that Tweety. I apologize for every time I hit you, for every time I raped you, and most of all for taking away the two lives we’d created together,” he finished as she caught her breath.

Jaleesa had never told him about the first pregnancy. She’d miscarried right after he beat her again for nothing.

“
How,” she managed to get out before he kissed her gently.

“
I found the pregnancy test later, after you said you had your period,” he told her calmly as Jaleesa nodded slightly.

“
I know you’re really finding it hard to believe me,” LaRon began again. “But all I can do is show you, I really have changed,” he finished kissing her deeply and then releasing her.

“
Words are cheap Deuce,” Jaleesa told him, the pain in her voice evident. “I think about my baby almost every day,” she told him as the tears formed in her eyes.

Jaleesa wasn’t acting now. She was honestly hurt when she thought of the child he’d taken from her for no reason. “You were a spoiled, little mama’s boy,” she told him angrily, watching his reaction. “You treated me like shit and all I ever did was love you,” she finished as one of the tears spilled down her cheek.

She brushed it away angrily, glaring at him now. LaRon sighed again. He’d never known the depth of her pain until this very moment.

“
Baby, you’re right, about everything,” he told her, still looking into her eyes. “I was a complete jackass, and I didn’t deserve you,” he went on. “I’ve gotten my life together, and I’ve gotten another chance at living it differently,” he continued. “I still love you, more today than I ever did,” LaRon admitted freely.

“
I definitely don’t deserve it, but I want more than anything, to have your forgiveness, your friendship, and most of all your love, one more time,” he plunged ahead, as Jaleesa’s expression never changed. “Baby, give us another chance,” LaRon pleaded. “I know you’re scared, I know this whole situation is crazy,” he went on. “I can’t explain it to you right now, but I promise, in due time I will,” LaRon finished as he hugged her tightly, kissing her neck tenderly.

“
Think about it Tweety,” he told her preparing to leave her presence. “Really think about us, about how we used to be, how much you used to love me,” LaRon tried. “Then let down your guard and give me another chance to make you happy,” he went on. “I promise this time, I won’t let you down,” he added kissing her cheek gently as he rose leaving the room, and Jaleesa’s mind in a tailspin.

*****

Kim was calmly enjoying her drink as the show began at Peppermint’s.
Some assignments do have their perks,
she thought smiling into the Margarita as she took another sip. Normally she didn’t frequent strip clubs, but this was where she was told to be, so she was here. Kim continued to glance around the club taking in the various fixtures and patrons. Most of the women were acting as if they hadn’t seen a living, breathing man in years. Looking at some of them she could understand the desperation. They weren’t attractive in the least and Kim was pretty sure the only sex they ever got was pity sex or drunken desperate sex. Chuckling to herself at that last thought her eyes fell on the sexy exotic dancer gracing the stage now. He reminded her slightly of Mook with his creamy skin and firm toned abs. Thinking about her new love gave Kim a warm feeling she hadn’t experienced in a long time. History hadn’t been very kind to her in the romance department. Kim was considered too hard by most of the guys she found interesting. They always turned out to be thin skinned, ego deprived morons who resented a strong, independent, outspoken woman who could and would hold her own. Sighing softly, Kim thought again about Mook and how her strength hadn’t deterred him in the least.

She spotted the first shadow and readied herself. Before the thought left her mind chaos ensued as the four masked gunmen entered the club, shutting down the DJ and discharging several warning rounds into the air.

“
Don’t nobody act a fool and this will be over, fast,” Mook threw out to the terrified crowd of women.

The dancers were still standing on stage, naked. Kim smiled slightly as she continued to remain seated, eyes scanning the club. She watched wordlessly as Spider and DeNoah began barking orders at the women telling them to give up wallets, jewelry and cell phones. LaRon was at the bar holding the .10mm to Azi’s head and demanding all the cash receipts.

“
Take me to the muthafuckin’ safe,” he barked as Azi immediately complied not wanting to get shot tonight.

“
Welcome to the party bitches,” Mook threw out at the women who were rounded up from the bathroom by DeNoah.

Ordering them to contribute to the bootie, Mook continued to watch the crowd silently waiting for LaRon to return. Kim saw movement out of the corner of her eye. She pulled the.380 from her thigh holster and shot the man in the shoulder before he could react. Mook turned to the commotion seeing the man and Kim calmly sipping her drink again. Smiling slightly under the mask he spoke again.

“
Anybody else wanna play hero tonight,” he asked gruffly.

All the women continued to whimper, some cry, as the dancers continued to stand fixated on the gunmen.

“
Smart,” Mook said simply as LaRon returned with the money from the safe.

“
We’re leaving now,” LaRon announced. “If we even think we see somebody stick their head outta this bitch in the next 10 minutes,” he went on. “We’re coming back, and trust and believe no one will live to tell that shit,” he finished as the women continued to cower in front of the men.

Backing their way to the entrance the men fled as the club patrons continued to sit stunned, praying they didn’t come back.

The wounded man was unconscious from the blood loss, as the patrons and dancers finally gathered the courage to use the house phone and call police reporting the robbery. Kim quietly and discreetly slipped out of the chaotic scene headed to the other side of town. She still had work to do and the night was young. Driving, her cell rang and she answered seeing Mook’s name on the ID.

“
You straight,” he asked immediately.

Kim assured him she was fine. “I was like Casper,” she told him as he chuckled his approval.

“
Good looking’ out earlier,” he told her about the armed man. “Can’t have you getting hurt just yet,” she told him calmly as Mook chuckled slightly.

“
Yeah Miss Kim, I love you too,” he told her gently as Kim smiled to herself but said nothing. “Where you headed now,” he asked hearing the background noise. “Emperian,” she told him plainly of the nightclub. “Gotta watch the baby tonight,” she threw out as Mook chuckled again.

He knew this was her codename for the assignment she had.

“
OK,” Mook returned. “I’ll see you at the suite later,” he added as Kim told him she’d be there.

“
Meet you in the shower,” he returned sensuously as Kim blushed.

“
Bye Mook,” she threw back flustered as he chuckled and disconnected.

Kim refocused her attention on her current task trying to calm her libido as it raced ahead to the sexy man she was falling head over heels for.

*****

Ian was furious. “What the fuck went down here,” he asked his house security. One of them had been shot in the melee and right now he was the only one not on Ian’s kill list.

“
They blindsided us Ice,” Reggie told him.

He was Ian’s head of security here.

“
How many were there,” Ian asked still regarding Reggie furiously.

The man answered his question as well as giving every detail of the disturbance.

“
Somebody knows something,” Ian returned angrily. “I can’t have people scared to come to my damned club,” he added as Reggie stood contrite apologizing profusely. “Where are the other two,” Ian asked once more of the security.

He had a total of four men assigned to Peppermint so things like this wouldn’t happen. Tonight had been a disaster of major proportions as far as he was concerned and Ian wanted satisfaction. Kaitlyn was very much on his mind making his patience even shorter than usual. He still hadn’t heard another word from either the kidnappers or the defector.