Thin Ice 5 - Checkmate (10 page)

“
Yeah it’s straight and I think it’s going to stay that way,” Ryan told her honestly.

He loved Nikki’s independence and ability to separate reality from fantasy.

“
Of course it will,” she retorted. “You’re free to do you and so am I,” she added as Ryan frowned slightly.

“
Well, you’re free with limits,” he told her seriously.

“
What does that mean,” Nikki replied, slightly irritated.

He had a woman and she accepted that. There was no way he was locking her down while he had all the fun.

“
It means, you can see, date, hang out with, go to the movies with, anybody you want,” Ryan told her, never taking his eyes from her. “But you better not open your legs for anyone but me.”

Nikki scoffed.

“
You’ve got to be kidding,” she told him calmly. “In case you forgot, you have a woman, so you’re in no position to tell me who I can and cannot get with,” she threw out.

Quicker than she could react, Ryan held her tightly around her waist, pressed right up against his body as he spoke again. His voice was low and cold, Nikki could actually feel the molten anger emitting from his body.

“
I am not going to repeat myself Nikki,” Ryan growled. “If I even think another fool has felt the inside of your pussy, I’m going to kill him, and I’m going to make you wish you were dead,” he continued growing angrier. “I’m not playin with you either. You know who the fuck I am and that my word is bond, don’t you?”

Nikki swallowed hard and simply nodded. The man holding her was scaring the hell out of her.

“
Do we understand each other,” he asked finally as she whispered yes.

Murmuring slightly Ryan kissed her deeply his hands beginning to fondle her breast. Nikki felt his body relaxing and followed suit, allowing herself to respond to the things he was doing to her. Ryan began gently kissing her neck, making his way down to her stomach.

“
Come here,” he told her lying back on the pillow.

He turned her around so that beautiful butt was right in his face.

“
Sit down,” he told her as Nikki complied and felt the warmth of his tongue as he licked and sucked her clit.

Moaning deeply, fully aroused from his effort, she took his hard manhood in her mouth sucking greedily. Ryan moaned and she knew he was enjoying it. He sank his tongue deep inside her opening and Nikki flowed freely showing her appreciation. Ryan brought her to orgasm with his tongue as she continued to suck his hardness and bring him closer and closer to release. Telling her to stop, Ryan repositioned her on her knees, getting behind her, kissing the small of her back softly as he continued to finger her clit.

“
Yess,” Nikki breathed as his other hand fondled her hard nipple.

She felt his hardness at her opening and pulled away slightly.

“
The condom Ryan,” she moaned, wanting him to hurry and put one on.

She heard the nightstand drawer slide open where she kept them, and the package wrapper tearing. The next sensation was that of Ryan’s manhood as it slid deeply inside her and hit her G-spot.

“
Oh god,” Nikki screamed in ecstasy as Ryan rode her hard and deep.

“
That’s my girl,” he told her as she came hard and coated the condom he wore. “That’s my girl,” Ryan moaned once more as he too reached blissful climax and they collapsed in a sweaty heap onto the bed.

9

Monday found Pirate and Creeper waking up in the small out of the way hotel room where they’d crashed earlier in the morning after the all night drive from Louisiana. Gyp hit them up moments after they arrived and they scooped him up from the Greyhound bus station. All three men shared the room as was the plan, keeping their plans secret and able to watch each other’s backs simultaneously. After everyone was awake and coherent they began to talk.

“
We need to find the place she’s staying and watch it for a while,” Pirate threw out.

Gyp nodded his understanding taking another deep drag from the blunt he was enjoying.

“
You plan to see this fool she dating,” Creeper asked.

Pirate told him yes, he wanted to see what made Lila take his son and leave the only home she’d ever known.

“
He must really be one mighty ass muthafucka for all that,” Pirate spat angrily.

The men dressed, finished the weed and headed out into the midmorning.

“
Fuck, it’s hot,” Gyp replied as Creeper and Pirate chuckled.

They were pretty used to the hot temperatures.

“
I just put the address in the GPS, says it’s about a 45 minute drive,” Creeper told them as they started the truck and followed the device’s instruction.

“
You gonna kill him,” Gyp asked Pirate as they rode.

“
Depends on him,” he replied calmly.

Pirate honestly had no beef with Mighty at the moment. As much as it hurt him that Lila was with another man, he really had no right to say anything. They weren’t together and hadn’t been for some time. His sole focus at the moment was his 7-year old son and making sure nothing had happened to him.

“
Man what’s up with this toll shit,” Creeper mumbled, placing the bills in the attendant’s hands.

Thanking them, he raised the toll arm and allowed them to pass.

The rest of the trip passed uneventfully with them finally arriving at their destination some 20 minutes later.

“
That one right there,” Gyp pointed out, seeing the matching address.

Circling the block, they returned parking the truck 3 car lengths away from Lila’s front door. As hot as it was, they turned off the truck and rolled down the windows, trying to appear as inconspicuous as possible. They wouldn’t need to wait long. Five minutes into their surveillance a burgundy 560SLK Mercedes pulled up to the front stoop and a well-dressed man got out.

“
Think that’s him,” Creeper asked.

Pirate frowned slightly and nodded yes. They watched as the man pulled out a key and entered the residence.

“
This muthafucka got a key and shit,” Pirate questioned, half to himself.

Moments later the man returned to the outside, Lila and CJ following closely behind. Creeper saw the anger instantly appear on his friends face.

“
Chill,” he told Pirate giving him a look. “We got this,” he added as Pirate took a deep breath and nodded his understanding.

Taking another deep breath, Pirate started the truck and pulled away from curb just as the Benz did, following at a discreet distance.
Just let me get my son and get the hell out of this city without catching a fuckin’ case,
Pirate thought as the Benz came to a stop in front of a doctor’s office and Lila kissed the drivers lips before she and CJ got out and the Benz went about its way.

*****

Kaitlyn was still in a state of disbelief. Looking around the bedroom she was still having a hard time believing what had happened. Tariq picked them up at the airport yesterday, bringing Tejdra with him. The girls were of course ecstatic to see each other, as was Kaitlyn to see her other daughter. Tariq was cold and distant from the time she walked outside the airport until they reached the house, each taking a child and bringing them in the house. He hadn’t said more than three words to her, and those had been by force.
“Tariq, can we at least talk,” Kaitlyn tried as he gave her a look. “Talk about what KiKi,” he asked acidly. “About how you keep lying to me and making a damned fool outta me,” Tariq continued to badger. Kaitlyn was completely in the dark about the source of his newfound anger, continuing to think he’d spent the weekend brooding about the custody situation. “Tariq I never meant to hurt you,” she tried again. “I love you,” Kaitlyn told him as he laughed meanly and gave her another look. “Yeah,” Tariq questioned angrily. “I don’t believe that shit,” he added as Kaitlyn’s heart ached. “Look,” he began anew, his tone all business. “I’m going to see you through this custody bullshit, then you and I are going to start divorce proceedings,” Tariq casually addressed her. Kaitlyn’s mouth dropped. “But until that time, I’m moving into the guest room,” Tariq began again, ignoring the pain on his wife’s face. “From this moment on, you do you, and I’ma do me,” he finished, turning on his heels and leaving her speechless.

Coming back to the present Kaitlyn stood in the bathroom looking at her reflection in the mirror.
This is entirely your fault you know,
her conscience threw at her.
If you had left him when you found out he was alive, none of this would be happening now.
Kaitlyn sighed deeply rubbing her temples as her mind once again began speaking.
She was 10 years old again, having a long philosophical discussion with her father. “Lauren, people lie,” he told her calmly as the little girl listened and absorbed. “They will tell you anything to get too close to you,” he went on as she frowned slightly. “Why daddy,” Lauren asked, full of childhood innocence. “Because people are no good, daughter,” Carlo explained. “Because they like to see you in pain,” he went on. “Stay guarded Lauren, always protect your heart,” he told her as she nodded understanding. “Everyone doesn’t love you, even the ones who swear they do,” Carlo said again. “Especially them,” he added almost wistfully. “Love is simply a four letter word of convenience they use to get a clear aim when they put a bullet into your heart,” he finished as Lauren told him she understood and would always guard her heart. Carlo smiled then and told her she was a good girl and would always be his special princess.

“
Too bad I didn’t realize you were warning me about you too,” she murmured as the first tear fell. Wiping it away, Kaitlyn continued looking into her own eyes. “Enough of that shit,” she mumbled again angrily, washing and drying her face.

Kaitlyn decided the only person in this world she could trust was herself and it was high time she stopped trying to deny who and what she was to please everyone else. Showering and dressing, she walked into the living room where Tariq was watching television. She saw him take her in and smiled to herself. Kaitlyn knew she looked good in the second skin fitting jeans and halter that showed off the perfect breasts sitting high in the push up halter bra she’d paired with it. She also knew the deep Sea Blue coloring was Tariq’s favorite. She was clad in diamonds and sapphires, stopping at the counter long enough to grab the matching blue Coach bag. Turning on the 3-inch, steel heeled, strappy stilettos she addressed him.

“
The nurse will be here in 15 minutes,” Kaitlyn told him calmly, her tone emotionless.

Tariq waited expectantly for her to say more, but she didn’t. Turning just as abruptly as before, Kaitlyn picked up her keys and walked out the front door. It was time to start planning her own life once again.

*****

Pirate and his friends stayed put, watching again in front of the doctor’s office. Gyp got out, casually sauntering in front of the office to see what kind of doctor they were visiting. Returning moments later he informed them it was a children’s dental practice.

“
Probably time to get CJ’s teeth cleaned,” Pirate said aloud as they all agreed.

The Benz returned almost ten minutes after Gyp’s report and Lila and CJ once again exited the building getting inside. Pirate’s blood boiled seeing the man reach into the back seat and playfully rub his son’s head. Creeper could see the fury boiling in his friend and again reminded him they had to keep their cool to pull this thing off. Managing to gather himself once more, Pirate again followed the vehicle as the driver continued on his way, seemingly oblivious to the tail. They arrived back at Lila’s place and he again kissed her as she exited the vehicle and went inside.

“
You wanna go see her now,” Creeper asked.

“
Nah, let’s see what’s up with dude,” Pirate returned as Creeper and Gyp smiled, happy he’d said that.

Following once more the men kept the Benz in sight as they took in the neighborhoods.

“
So you figure he sells dope,” Gyp asked as the surroundings became seedier.

“
Probably and he probably supplies too, taking in the car and shit,” Creeper added.

Pirate simply nodded slightly and kept his eyes on the man in front of him. The Benz slowed and pulled to the curb, parking in front of what looked like a meat market.

“
There’s a space there,” Gyp pointed out. Pirate put the truck into the small space, barely squeezing in without hitting the car in front of them, and turned it off.

They watched Mighty exit the car and go inside the window barred building. Movement caught their eye and the men turned to the alley directly beside the market. They heard the lift-gate being opened on the delivery truck and two men walking up the ramp to enter it. Dismissing it as unimportant they returned their attention to the front door waiting for Mighty to reemerge. If they’d watched a few moments longer they would have seen the actual cargo the trucks belly held as the men inside marched each of the frail, half starved, young girls inside at gunpoint.

Mighty emerged some forty minutes later with several wrapped packages.

“
Bet you $50 that shit ain’t fresh meat,” Creeper said as both Pirate and Gyp agreed with is observation.