Thin Ice (10 page)

It still hurt to think about it now almost a full month later. He thought they were growing closer the more time they spent together. Their love life was aggressive and they both enjoyed the other. Her breaking up with him was definitely a blindside blow. Landon glanced over at the clock on his nightstand. It was four a.m. He grabbed his clothes and dressed. He headed out for a walk to clear his head.

I can’t just watch her walk away,
he thought as he enjoyed the lights and sounds of Vegas. They’d arrived early today for an upcoming game.
Some way, some how, I’ve got to get back into your life Kaitlyn,
he vowed stopping and going inside of the 24-hour casino he walked upon.

*****

Tariq dialed her number again for the tenth time and hit the end button before it connected.
Why the hell would she hook up with Ice,
he wondered all over again. Kaitlyn met him the day after their original agreement and he’d come clean to her about Hasaan and his habit, where he was now, and what he hoped for concerning his future with her. Tariq’s mind was replaying the meeting for him once again as he sat and remembered. “
This is real jacked up Tariq,” Kaitlyn told him softly as he kissed her gently and the tears fell. “Why baby,” Tariq returned. “We can be together now,” he told her kissing her once more.

Pushing him away gently Kaitlyn told him about her commitment to Ian.

“
You wanna be with Ice,” Tariq had asked incredulous of her decision.

“
God, Tariq, it’s so much more complicated,” Kaitlyn tried again.

“
KiKi don’t mess with that fool, baby be with me,” he pleaded.

“
Tariq I can’t,” she replied starting to cry harder as he took her into his arms and held her. “KiKi, I love you,” he told her softly as she hugged him even tighter.

“
Please don’t,” Kaitlyn told him terrified that Ian would hurt him.

“
Let me go Tariq, please, for me, let it go,” she begged as he continued to watch her, finally figuring out she was more scared of Ian than attracted to him.

“
I can’t promise you something like that KiKi,” Tariq told her again. “Me and you got history,” he added as she dried her face and looked up at him again.

“
Tariq, I can’t see you anymore, and I need you to let it go, not try to contact me anymore,” Kaitlyn told him trying hard to steel herself and keep from crying again.

Now that she finally knew the truth and they could hook up, there was yet another obstacle. That was confirmation enough for her that they weren’t meant to be.

“
If that’s what you really want KiKi,” Tariq began and she assured him it was.

Sighing deeply he’d kissed her again as their passion rose and almost overtook them.

“
No Tariq,” Kaitlyn told him pulling away again and grabbing her keys. “Ice would kill you,” she told him plainly, opening the door and apologizing once more before she left and his world shattered.

Tariq threw the glass in his hand across the room and it shattered hitting the wall. Rising he went to the kitchen and opened the drawer looking for his lighter, planning to smoke a blunt, when the packet of heroin slid into sight. Picking it up, he toyed with it a few moments before closing it in his hand and heading for his bedroom, closing the door behind him.

*****

Landon was startled awake in his hotel room by the ringing phone. He looked at the nightstand and saw it was only seven a.m.

“Hello,” he answered still half asleep.

“Landon,” the voice boomed in his ear.

He recognized it as Tristan Carson, the team owner.

“Hey Tristan,” he replied awake now and curious as to why he would be calling, since he was due to arrive later today for the game.

“I have some bad news,” Tristan began.

Landon asked him what was wrong and he paused a moment before speaking again.

“Evan was killed last night in a botched home invasion robbery,” he told him plainly.

Landon almost laughed. This had to be a joke.

“Are you sure there isn’t some mistake Tristan,” Landon asked hopefully, not ready to accept what he’d been told yet.

“The police have made a positive ID,” he replied sighing deeply.

Landon thanked Tristan for calling and told him he’d inform the players at the team meeting this morning.

“I’ll have to miss this game Landon,” Tristan began and Landon told him he understood.

There were a lot of things to do and arrangements to make. The two talked a few moments longer, before finally saying goodbye and disconnecting.

“Damn Evan,” Landon thought to himself of his friend.

He and Evan had been close for years and his friend’s sudden demise hurt Landon deeply. He knew Evan would probably meet his end violently, being the short fused man he was, but he never suspected it would be so soon. His thoughts went to Jaleesa. He had to call her. He was pretty sure Tristan had already told her about Evan, but he wanted to make sure she was okay, he thought as he dialed her number.

*****

“Hello,” Kaitlyn said sleepily, still recovering from the shock of the ringer going off. “Slow down, I can’t understand you,” she said becoming alarmed and sitting up in bed.

Ian was watching her attentively; curious as to what was going on.

“OK, yeah,” Kaitlyn was saying. “I’m on my way, I’ll be right there,” she told the person and hung up.

“I have to go over to Jaleesa’s,” Kaitlyn told Ian as she rose from bed.

He asked her what was wrong as she put on her jeans and t-shirt. She told him that Evan had been killed last night and Jaleesa just found out this morning.

“She’s really upset, and I don’t want her to be by herself right now,” she told him, heading to the bathroom to brush her teeth and wash her face.

Actually Jaleesa wanted her to come and tell her the details of last night and them to sync their stories should the police want to question either of them.

Ian was up by this time and pulled her to him, kissing her softly on the lips.

“Go ahead,” he told her as he stroked her face. He suspected there was something going on that he wasn’t supposed to know but didn’t push. Ian was well aware that Evan and Jaleesa hadn’t been together since she met Tristan, and he was pretty sure the man’s death meant next to nothing to her. Kaitlyn smiled and told him thanks, turning to leave grabbing her keys and blowing him a last kiss as she closed the door behind her.

Ian stretched and picked up his cell. He pressed a speed dial number and an operator answered.

“Yes sir, how can I assist you this morning,” the woman asked pleasantly.

“Give me the playback of the last call for 678-555-3017,” Ian replied, calmly reciting Kaitlyn’s cell number.

The operator placed him on hold after verifying the security passwords and he heard the line click shortly afterward as the conversation between her and Jaleesa replayed itself.

She killed him,
Ian thought of Kaitlyn.
What the hell pushed that button,
he continued to wonder as he disconnected and headed to the shower. He was going to have to rethink his game plan now. With Evan dead he would have to find a new set of eyes and ears to keep him one step ahead of Jaleesa. Ian called Carlos and told him to start digging. He wanted to know what set Kaitlyn off and why Evan ended up dead at her hand. Carlos acknowledged his direction and assured him he’d have some answers soon as they disconnected and each went about their own tasks.

13

Jaleesa was still sitting quietly, as Kaitlyn brought her the hot tea she’d asked for.

“Here,” she told her amiably, offering the cup. “I hope its sweet enough.”

Jaleesa took the cup and sipped the tea, enjoying the warmth it brought to her chilled body. She was still reeling slightly about Evan being dead.

“What did the police tell you?” Kaitlyn asked and Jaleesa told her it had been Tristan and Landon who’d informed her of Evans death.

Kaitlyn sighed slightly and Jaleesa noticed. She decided not to call her on it right now, but tucked it away for later.

“How’d you get in,” Jaleesa asked calmly looking Kaitlyn in the eye.

“Took your key,” she returned just as calmly.

“Mmph,” Jaleesa remarked and sipped her tea again.

“Thanks,” she told her best friend the love coming through her voice.

“You knew I wasn’t gonna let that bullshit slide,” Kaitlyn returned evenly, gearing up to tell Jaleesa everything else that was going on.

“I’m getting out of the hustle KiKi,” Jaleesa told her before she could speak.

Regarding her for a few moments more Kaitlyn broke her silence. “That might be a great idea right now,” she returned cryptically as Jaleesa gave her a quizzical look.

Kaitlyn took a deep breath and told her friend all the events that had transpired since they really talked. When she was finished she sat back and waited on Jaleesa to digest what she’d heard and react to it.

“Damn KiKi,” she replied quietly. “What the hell am I supposed to do now,” she replied her voice wavering.

She was scared and Kaitlyn knew it.

“I’m trying everyday to talk Ice out of this ,” Kaitlyn threw back. “Maybe now with you getting out, he’ll really see there’s no need to bother you,” she added hopefully as Jaleesa regarded her for a moment, and then sighed deeply.

“I dunno KiKi,” she replied still outdone at the predicament she now found herself in. “Ice can be a real ass when he wants to be,” Jaleesa told her as Kaitlyn sighed softly. “Don’t get it twisted though,” she began again as Kaitlyn continued to regard her. “I know you’re still my girl, and I’m grateful for that,” she went on. “I’m sorry I got us both caught up in this ,” she finished falling silent for a moment. “You know, if you can keep an eye on him and stall him for about three weeks, I got this,” Jaleesa replied as a new idea popped into her head.

“What,” Kaitlyn asked simply, not wanting to be in the dark and grateful her friend understood. Jaleesa explained her plan and Kaitlyn agreed it sounded good.

“He might just let it go,” Kaitlyn spoke thinking semi aloud.

They were going to turn all the clients they had now in the league over to Ian, and set up the others that had contacted them, to deal with him too. Kaitlyn was hoping if they gave him back what he felt he’d lost, he’d let Jaleesa keep her life.
Please let Ice see reason,
Kaitlyn prayed silently as she prepared to leave her friend and return home.

“If the police contact you, lemme know,” Kaitlyn told her in parting as Jaleesa assured her she would.

“What about Tariq, KiKi,” she asked her friend gently seeing the pain immediately mirrored in her face.

“I left that alone,” she answered simply.

Jaleesa sighed deeply telling her she understood and that she was sorry. Smiling slightly Kaitlyn nodded, heading out the door to her car.

*****

Kaitlyn was still deep in thought as she drove. The cell rang out of the blue and startled her, she answered without looking at the display. “Hello,” Kaitlyn spoke into the receiver.

“Hi Kaitlyn,” Landon replied, smiling at the sound of her voice.

“Hi Landon,” she replied, smiling slightly herself.

“I was calling to check on Jaleesa again,” he began. “And she told me you’d just left, so I took a chance and called.”

Kaitlyn sighed softly. She knew he was still feeling her and she didn’t want to do anything to feed into or encourage his feelings. For his own well being, Landon needed to let those feelings die.

“I miss you,” he told her softly.

“Landon, I’m sorry I hurt you,” Kaitlyn returned evenly trying to keep her emotions in check. “But what we had is over, you need to move on, seriously,” she admonished hearing him sigh deeply.

“I can’t just turn my heart off like that Kaitlyn,” Landon returned. “You had to know how much I cared for you,” he threw at her again. “How can you just walk away from me like this,” he asked out of frustration.

“Landon you and I were having sex, nothing more,” Kaitlyn told him plainly.

She hated hurting him like this again, but she needed him to let go once and for all.

“Damn, so all I was to you was release,” Landon asked, the hurt coming through his voice.

“Pretty much,” Kaitlyn replied her tone the same.

“You are one cold bitch Kaitlyn,” he returned angrily.

“Thanks,” she replied once more.

“Well I got the message for sure this time,” Landon ranted still furious and hurt. “I’ll definitely be deleting this damned number when we disconnect,” he told her taking another breath.

Kaitlyn remained quiet allowing him to pour out.

“I really cared about you, but you best believe you’ll get payback Kaitlyn,” Landon told her calming some. “What goes around comes around, and someone is gonna make you hurt like you’ve hurt me,” he finished and disconnected before she could reply.

Kaitlyn sighed deeply feeling very empty at the moment.
I need a drink,
she thought as she pulled into her complex and parked in front of her unit.

*****

Landon couldn’t believe how much it hurt to hear the things Kaitlyn had said to him.
Damn,
he thought kicking himself mentally for allowing her into his heart like he did. He should have known better. Evan had tried to warn him that she was just like Jaleesa, a hood rat looking for a hand out. Sighing deeply he dismissed the thoughts knowing they weren’t true. Kaitlyn was a class act all the way around.

It wasn’t her fault he got caught up. He was old enough to have known the difference between a friend with benefits and a lover. Even now seeing his error in the situation the hurt was still just as intense. Landon grabbed his room key and headed downstairs to the bar. He wasn’t really needed at the game anyway he thought as he ordered the first shot of vodka threw it back and ordered another. Landon was in pain and he was going to drink until it stopped hurting or he passed out, whichever came first.