Thin Ice 3 - Armageddon (23 page)

*****

         
Kareem and Mecca were talking amongst themselves waiting on Ian to arrive.

“
I like Ice,” Mecca told his friend as Kareem instantly agreed.

“
I think he would make us unstoppable,” Kareem told him. “Seems like we were destined to hook up anyway,” he went on. “I mean what are the odds, our suppliers are his past and the meanest one is his heart,” Kareem chuckled at the end of the sentence.

Mecca smiled as well. “I’m sure she wasn’t like that when they were together,” he added as Kareem continued to laugh. “You and Tae worked everything out, she know the deal,” Mecca asked giving his friend a look.

“
I’m letting her do her little independent woman thing for now,” Kareem told him as Mecca nodded absently. “Course once I get her here tomorrow, we’re going to come to some understandings,” he added darkly as Mecca again agreed.

         
The knock at the door interrupted further conversation as Mecca rose opening it and inviting Ian inside.

“
Wassup fellas,” Ian greeted them both as they returned the greeting and offered him something to drink.

Settling on bottled water for now, Ian sat down in one of the plush highboy chairs in the professionally decorated living room. Ian liked Kareem’s house. It was secluded and tucked away in an exclusive area of the city. Close enough to be convenient but far enough to be private. The landscape was exquisite with lush green grass every direction your eyes looked. The hedges were neatly manicured as were the three huge trees that provided the yard with ample shade.

“
Are you ready for tomorrow,” Kareem asked Ian.

He sighed deeply, eyes taking on a faraway look, before answering the question.

“
I’ve been ready for tomorrow for the last five years,” he said simply.

Mecca could actually feel the man’s pain and anger in the statement. He could only imagine what he would do to Tariq when he finally got the chance to kill him.

          “
I talked to Tae earlier this morning,” Kareem told them. “She said they’re leaving early morning and should get here right around 1:00PM or so.”

Ian nodded thoughtfully. “Cool,” he replied. “Can we get in the suites early in the morning to set things up,” he asked as Kareem assured him they could.

“
I’m actually picking up the keys tonight when I pay for them” Mecca threw in.

Ian again nodded. He had to stay calm and not get anxious. He only had to wait another 24 hours and his heart would be back in his arms.

“
You do know Tweety is basically married and has a kid right,” Ian questioned Mecca. He was actually beginning to like the man a lot. He wanted to know if he would have to kill him once he took Jaleesa’s life.

“
Yeah, I know about that,” Mecca replied shrugging slightly. “I’m pretty sure she just wants some dick on the side, and I’m cool with that,” he added chuckling slightly as Ian smiled too.

He might prove useful after all is said and done,
Ian thought behind the smile. Kareem he didn’t really care for, finding the man sneaky and dishonest, even for the criminal enterprise they were all involved in.

          “
I’m going to head over and check on Brie,” Ian told them preparing to leave their presence.

“
Hey, that’s cool, Ice, but could we talk a little bit before you do,” Kareem asked as Ian continued to sit and wait on the man to speak.

Kareem told him how much respect both he and Mecca had for him, giving him a deep and detailed explanation of their enterprise and the hopes they had for the future.

“
We think you’re just the man to complete that triangle Ice,” Mecca told him as Ian smiled again slightly.

“
I’m not sure I’m going to stay in Louisiana once I get KiKi back,” Ian told them dishonestly.

Truthfully, he had every intention of staying here, but reclaiming Atlanta as well.

“
I think we can convince you that it would serve you well to stay,” Kareem told him confidently.

Mecca nodded his agreement as Ian sighed lightly and told them he would remain open minded for now.

“
That’s all we ask,” Kareem replied.

Ian again nodded and vocalized his understanding, rising and this time making it to the door.

“
Call me once you’ve gotten the keys,” he told Mecca who told him he would.

Bidding the two men goodbye for now, Ian opened the door and headed out. There was much to do, and time was running full steam ahead.

*****

         
Hope was struggling to get the eggs and toast down. She really didn’t have an appetite but she had to eat before she could take her medicine. Her doctor had prescribed powerful pain killers, since she stopped taking the chemo treatments.
Please God, not yet,
Hope prayed silently forcing another piece of the dry bread down with a sip of coffee. She was too close now. For so many years she’d prayed, wished, wondered. Now Hope finally had an opportunity to put all the pieces in place and she was determined not to leave this earth until she gave it her all. Kim seemed like a very nice woman. Hope smiled thinking that it was the woman’s own deep curiosity that had brought them both to this place, meeting and perhaps finally finding closure.

         
Satisfied that she’d eaten enough, Hope took one of the pills from the plastic case and placed it on her tongue. Taking another sip of coffee she swallowed it down, praying it took effect quickly. The pain of her illness brought Hope almost to the point of incapacitation, but most days she simply endured; an unearned sense that somehow this was her penance from God. Today however, she’d given in and taken the medication. Kim called her earlier and let her know she was indeed coming. Hope had graciously told her that was fine and to simply call once she was leaving her own hotel. Lying back onto the bed again, Hope closed her eyes and prayed. She prayed for a quick relief of her pain. She prayed for the strength to see her task through to the end. She prayed for restoration of every soul that the years had ravaged, but most of all Hope simply prayed for peace.

19

          “
What’s this shit, Seth,” Peyton yelled angrily waving the papers around.

Seth was furious. How dare his brother snoop through his personal things.

“
Answer me asshole,” Peyton threw out again.

“
Watch your mouth,” Seth warning getting angrier and seeing red.

“
Fuck that,” Peyton yelled again. “Tell me what the fuck this is, Seth,” he yelled again still eyeing his brother hatefully.

Peyton had always suspected Seth was up to no good. Now he had proof.

“
Ice know you wanna fuck his chick,” he growled as Seth’s jaw set. “Yeah, that’s what I thought,” Peyton continued goading his brother. “Do you really think she would look at your lanky ass,” he insulted.

Peyton had always fancied himself the ladies man. Seth only got mercy sex in his opinion, based on who he was. Seth still remained silent as the rage simmered. His fists were clenching and unclenching involuntarily as Peyton continued to run his mouth.

          “
Oh but don’t worry, I’ma let Ice know what kinda snake he’s trusting to watch his back,” Peyton told him as Seth took a step toward him.

“
Back the fuck up,” Peyton growled, producing the .25 caliber he always kept in his pocket. “Let’s get back to this bullshit right here though,” Peyton abruptly switched gears. “So you been making side deals and shit with the supplier in St. Louis huh,” Peyton told him, his eyes narrowing.

“
You think you’re kingpin material,” Peyton asked distastefully. “You’re too fuckin’ stupid to run anything, I only keep your ass on cause you’re my brother,” Peyton readily admitted.

“
I wasn’t too stupid to cut your ass out of the equation,” Seth returned plainly, slowly advancing on Peyton who was too busy ranting to notice.

“
Muthafucker all I gotta do is make a call and undo all this bullshit,” Peyton arrogantly told him. “I can’t wait to tell Gabrielle about her perfect big brother too,” he threw out knowing it would piss Seth off.

“
You leave her out of it,” he growled angrily, almost close enough to touch Peyton, who foolishly still hadn’t noticed the gap narrowing.

          “
Or what,” he yelled the veins bulging in his neck. “You act like she’s your damned wife, instead of your fucking sister,” Peyton told him, giving him yet another look. “Do you jack off thinking about your own sister, you sick fuck,” he accused as Seth swung, connecting with his jaw, knocking him to the floor.

In a flurry of motion Seth was on top of Peyton as the two began fighting. Gabrielle heard the commotion and jumped from the bed, startled away by the force of the sounds. She ran to the dining room where the two brothers were demolishing every piece of furniture in sight.

“
Stop it!” Gabrielle screamed at them.

Neither man slowed their progress as she ran and tried to grab Seth.

“
Stop Seth, stop!” she screamed pounding him with her small fists.

Enraged Seth turned to her, grabbing her arm and flinging her hard across the room into a corner.

“
Stay there dammit,” he screamed at her as Gabrielle shrank into the corner, crying hysterically, terrified of her brother right now.

Peyton took advantage of the distraction, grabbing the mason jar he’d been drinking from earlier and hitting his brother in the head with it.

         
The glass shattered, but instead of slowing Seth, it only served to enrage him as his anger turned full blown on his younger brother and he began pummeling him with both his huge fists. Gabrielle was still crying, moaning stop, again and again as Seth beat Peyton into unconsciousness. Still furious, Seth grabbed his brothers limp neck and began choking him.

“
No Seth, please,” Gabrielle cried out, daring not to move from the corner. “Please,” she screamed as Seth turned to her his eyes glazed over, blood red.

He continued to watch her, eyes locked as his hold on his brother’s neck tightened and Gabrielle heard the sickening sound of his windpipe cracking and his head falling back against the floor in the unnatural angle of a dead man.

“
Oh god,” Gabrielle gasped quietly as Seth finally snapped out of his trance and regarded his brother now dead at his hand.

Dropping him back onto the floor he turned his attention to Gabrielle once more, rising and walking toward her.

“
No!” Gabrielle screamed, jumping from the floor and running out of the door, Seth right behind her.

*****

         
Shells opened the door managing to hide his shock as Tae stood on the other side. She looked at him taking in every sexy, delicious, inch of the Adonis that stood in her view.
Damn, this man is past fine,
she thought admiring each rung of his six pack. Her eyes slid upward admiring the sculpted pecs, connected to the most defined and muscular arms she’d seen in a long time. Tae’s thong was saturated and changing it after she left was a must.

“
So are you gonna invite me in,” she threw back reeling her mind away from her lustful thoughts.

Shells stepped aside allowing her entrance as he returned the earlier favor and took in every inch of her, his eyes glued to her sexy butt as she threw it from side to side walking slowly to his couch.

          “
What cha doin’ here gurl,” Shells asked calmly.

He was outdone that she was here at all, considering they didn’t talk.

“
I figured one good tail deserved another,” Tae threw back equally as calm.

I’ma need him to put on a shirt, shit,
she continued thinking as she salivated.

“
So ya here now, what’s the next move,” Shells questioned having very dirty thoughts of his own.

Deciding he needed something to change his thoughts and ease the growing erection, he grabbed his stash pulling a blunt he’d rolled earlier from the box and lighting it.

“
You want,” he asked, holding it out to Tae.

“
Thanks, but no,” she replied, giving him a small smile.

Shells was pleased she didn’t smoke for some reason.

“
You never answer my question,” he told her once more as Tae sighed deeply.

          “
I just wanna know why you’re following me,” she asked and sat back waiting for him to answer, crossing her legs.

Shells admired the sexy angle at which she sat, taking her in again starting at her beautifully manicured toes and working his way upward, until he reached her eyes finally.

“
Personal business,” Shells replied simply as Tae frowned slightly.

“
So someone is paying you to watch me,” she asked, beginning to get irritated. “Something like that,” Shells answered vaguely.

“
Who,” Tae returned flatly, never losing eye contact.

“
Me can’t tell you that, you already know that,” Shells returned just as plainly.

Sucking her teeth Tae sighed deeply. Shells wanted to smile, but he didn’t, as he continued to regard her and enjoy his ganga.

“
Stop following me,” Tae told him now, giving him yet another look.