Hide & Seek (39 page)

“
Tell me about the shit that went down last night,” Ryan told him, sitting down and popping the top on his drink.

Ian brought him up to speed on all they’d learned and what they were planning to do in the next six days.

“
So where’s the talker,” Ryan asked, referring to Role.

“
Permanent sleep,” Ian replied calmly as Ryan chuckled slightly and said okay.

“
They blindsided our ass last night,” Ian told him angrily. “Killed Manuel, and damned near the rest of them,” he went on as Ryan grunted slightly.

“
You were outside,” he asked giving his brother a look.

Ian had a penchant for wanting to be right in the heart of the battle, even when it wasn’t in his best interest to do so.

“
Yeah, I did the watch,” he replied as Ryan nodded slightly, pleased to hear him say so.

“
How are things with you and Caramel,” Ian asked.

Ryan told him things were fine and she was doing fine.

“
I still gotta find Tweety and find out what the fuck happened with her,” Ryan replied as Ian told him he had a feeling it was all tied together.

“
I’m willing to bet the same crew snatched her,” he added as Ryan agreed.

“
Why haven’t they asked for shit though, you know what I mean,” he asked as they both began to fear the worst.

“
Who knows what the fuck these jokers are thinking man,” Ian tried, not wanting to believe just yet that Jaleesa was dead, his mind immediately going to Kaitlyn and her own mortality.

“
You’re right about that shit,” Ryan returned as Dixon walked in.

Greeting both men, Dixon sat down as Reggie and Andre’ joined them moments later and they began to plan once again.

32

LaRon was completely enjoying the time he and Jaleesa were spending as she lay in his arms watching the Discovery Health show on labor and delivery.

“
Damn,” LaRon murmured as they showed the scene of an actual birth.

“
You are not squeamish are you,” Jaleesa asked giving him a surprised look. “Are you serious,” she teased as LaRon averted his eyes.

“
It’s just so, graphic, shit,” he murmured as she burst into laughter.

“
Deuce, you kill dudes, and a woman having a baby grosses you out,” Jaleesa continued to chuckle as LaRon pouted.

“
Aww, baby its okay,” she told him still laughing.

“
You can stop all that damned laughing too,” LaRon threw back smiling now. “I missed you, you know that,” he told her as they gathered themselves.

“
I missed you too,” Jaleesa replied, looking into his eyes.

LaRon was still on cloud nine with the 180-degree turnaround she’d done. The old Jaleesa was back and she once again looked at him with love in her eyes.

“
Is he dead,” she finally asked.

LaRon hadn’t said a word when he got back earlier in the morning, undressing and collapsing into bed.

He looked at her hard for a few minutes, sighing deeply before speaking.

“
Not yet,” he said simply.

Jaleesa frowned slightly asking what happened.

“
You’re not upset having this discussion,” LaRon threw out.

Now it was her turn to sigh.

“
Deuce, look, like I told you, I can’t get in your business like that,” she told him. “I mean, me and Ryan were close, well hell I guess I thought we were close,” she went on. “But he ain’t who I thought he was and obviously I wasn’t who he really wanted to be with,” Jaleesa told him matter-of-fact.

“
The question was more curiosity than regret or remorse,” she clarified for him.

LaRon reached up and stroked her face, kissing her in the process.

“
I’m sorry Tweety,” he told her sincerely. “I guess I’m just still a little nervous you might change your mind about us.”

She smiled slightly and told him she completely understood.

“
He wasn’t in place when we got there,” LaRon began again. “We got word he was headed back here, so we came home to finish it.” Jaleesa nodded her own understanding this time.

“
So are we moving when this is done,” Jaleesa began anew, changing the subject.

LaRon chuckled aloud. “Where do you wanna move,” he asked, hugging her a little tighter.

“
Covington is nice,” she replied.

“
Damn, it’s far too,” LaRon remarked.

“
Mmhm, but a great place to raise the baby,” Jaleesa threw out.

Shrugging slightly he agreed with her. He could also keep her far away from the illicit activity he and Tariq would still be engaging in after the takeover, LaRon thought. He wanted to make sure that Jaleesa and his child were safe. That nobody knew how or where to find them and that no harm ever came to them.

“
I guess we can see what they got out that way,” he acquiesced.

“
See how easy that was,” she teased once more, poking him in the ribs.

LaRon reciprocated, beginning to tickle her now as she laughed aloud.

“
Stop,” Jaleesa squealed, still laughing.

LaRon kissed her, softly at first, but more insistent as their passion began to once again grow.

“
Thank you baby,” LaRon told her, kissing her ear as he spoke.

“
For what,” Jaleesa murmured, on fire from his touch.

“
For us,” he said simply kissing her deeply, pushing himself inside her as they began to make love and consummate their new beginning.

*****

Kaitlyn was thinking about her situation, about Ice and about the new Tariq. She thought back to their fight the other day and how he’d quickly checked her when she got angry. That was something she would have never expected out of him back in the day.
This is some movie Mafioso shit,
she thought sighing lightly. Tariq was a man on a mission and nothing she said seemed to slow him down on his quest to kill Ice.

“
Then what happens to our lives,” she said quietly aloud still looking out of the window.

“
We live them,” Tariq replied simply, causing her to jump.

“
Damn, make some noise or something,” Kaitlyn replied embarrassed she’d been caught talking to herself.

“
KiKi, baby, you gotta relax and stop worrying over what’s got to happen,” Tariq tried, coming to her, taking her into his arms.

“
This is hard Tariq,” Kaitlyn replied honestly. “I know that, and I don’t take it for granted baby,” he replied just as quickly. “You hafta think about our new life, KiKi, our baby, us,” he reminded her as she sighed lightly.

“
I just feel like,” she began, then stopped.

“
You feel what,” Tariq prodded, looking into her eyes and holding her gaze.

“
I feel like all of this is my fault, that somehow I’m responsible for all the carnage that’s about to take place,” she told him sadly, tears filling her eyes as she bowed her head.

Tariq gently lifted her chin again looking into her eyes. “KiKi, this is not your fault, Ice started this war, I’m simply finishing it,” he tried to explain going on to finally tell her about Ian’s visit to his home, the threats made, him ordering the hit on Hasaan.

“
He wanted to destroy me KiKi,” Tariq told her, the pain evident in both his tone and look. “Killing Hasaan and taking you away from me almost did.”

Kaitlyn reached up and stroked his face gently wanting to ease the hurt she saw.

“
I love you, Tariq, you hafta know that,” she told him as he smiled slightly.

“
I know,” he replied. “If I didn’t before, I damned sure do now,” he teased rubbing her stomach gently. “I can’t imagine you letting nobody put a seed in you that you didn’t want growing there,” he told her kissing her deeply after the sentence.

Kaitlyn smiled slightly as they parted. “You tricked me,” she teased as Tariq laughed aloud.

“
Man’s gotta do, what a man’s gotta do,” he replied as she sucked her teeth and laughed as well.

“
KiKi,” Tariq began anew, becoming serious. “I’m going to move you,” he threw out as she frowned deeply. “I’m pretty sure Ice knows where this house is, and I’m not taking any chances with you or with our baby’s life,” he told her resolutely.

“
How do you know he knows about the house,” Kaitlyn questioned.

Tariq shrugged slightly, telling her about Role and all that’d transpired with him.

“
So you think Ice made him talk,” she asked as Tariq gave her a look.

“
Yeah, I guess you do have a point,” she told him answering her own question.

“
Where am I moving too this time?”

Tariq told her about the apartment he’d procured in Buckhead.

“
I somehow don’t think Ice will know to look for you there,” he added as Kaitlyn again nodded silently.

“
When?”

Tariq told her he would take her in a couple days.

“
Are you going to stay with me,” she asked beginning to get a bad feeling.

“
No baby, it’s safer if I don’t,” Tariq replied seeing the anxiety on her face. “After everything is said and done, I’ll come then.”

“
No,” Kaitlyn replied stubbornly. “If you’re not coming, then I’m not going, simple as that.”

Tariq sighed deeply.

“
KiKi, please, don’t fight me on this, its too damned important,” he told her. “You’re too damned important.”

Kaitlyn continued to hold his gaze never looking away, neither did he.

“
Don’t you leave me hanging,” she admonished, her voice wavering.

He hugged her tightly, kissing her cheek gently.

“
I promise I won’t baby, I promise I won’t.”

*****

Kim jumped slightly at the knock.
Fuck,
she thought already knowing Freight was on the other side of the door.

“
You expecting’ company,” Mook asked, giving her a look.

Swallowing hard, Kim quickly told him the who and why of the visitor at the door. He smiled at the end of her explanation, scaring the hell out of her.

“
Let him in,” Mook told her, going back to the couch and picking up the .10mm and his drink.

Her heart was racing, but she did what he asked. Rising from the recliner, Kim made her way to the door and asked who it was.

“
It’s Freight, baby,” he replied amiably.

She rolled her eyes at his calling her baby. Mook smiled again and Kim’s stomach clenched. Opening the door she looked into his face, giving him the once over and an evil look.

“
I deserve that,” Freight told her contritely. “Aren’t you going to let me in,” he asked as they continued to stand at the door.

“
Yeah,” she said simply, moving aside and allowing him entrance.

Freight walked in, his back to the now closed door, where Mook was leaning casually against the wall.

Taking a seat on her couch, Freight finally looked up regarding Kim and seeing Mook.

“
Wassup,” Mook asked simply the gun trained directly on Freight as he finished his drink and set the glass on the table.

Fuck, she set me up,
he thought of Kim glancing her way. Her face held an unreadable expression and she wouldn’t look at him. Another knock came to the door and Kim jumped once more. Mook didn’t flinch. Freight was curious about the visitor as Kim again went to her front door, this time looking through the peephole. She frowned slightly as she opened the door.

“
Yes,” she asked seeing the strange man standing on her doorstep.

“
Where Freight at,” Myles asked agitated.

He didn’t like Kim one bit, and he had a bad feeling about his friend coming here to meet with her.

“
Who the fuck are you,” Kim replied angrily, finally recalling him from Mardi Gras.

“
Bitch move and show me Freight, before I cap your ass,” Myles barked.

The click took him by surprise as he felt the cold steel at the base of his neck.

“
You don’t disrespect her like that,” DeNoah said calmly as Kim opened the door fully and he pushed Myles inside.

“
Wassup Mook,” DeNoah greeted his friend as he returned the greeting.

Mook texted DeNoah when he first arrived having him watch the condo. He had the feeling that Freight would show up sooner or later.

“
Any more of you fuckin’ crabs in the bucket,” Mook asked looking directly at Freight, murder in his eyes.

“
I’m glad you’re here,” Freight replied arrogantly.

“
Are you now,” Mook replied giving him another look.

“
Yeah, shit, might as well put the cards on the table right now,” he went on, actually leaning back on the couch and making himself comfortable.

“
What cards would that be,” Mook asked, his trigger finger itching for a score.

“
Kim and I were together,” Freight told him point blank. “She’s done with you and wants to come with me,” Freight told Mook who smiled slightly.