Thin Ice 5 - Checkmate (11 page)

“
Smooth ass front though,” Gyp remarked of the supposed meat market.

“
Yeah, it definitely is that,” Creeper agreed.

He once again hopped into his Benz, started it and pulled away from the curb. Pirate again followed suit. They followed him until they reached downtown, seeing him pull into one of the luxury establishments and pick up yet another woman.

“
This muthafucka playin’ her stupid ass,” Pirate mumbled, angry yet again.

Mighty and the woman shared a passionate kiss before he turned the Benz to the street again, merging into the traffic. Having seen enough, Pirate turned the truck around and headed back to the Lila’s apartment. It was time they had that talk.

*****

Tariq had to admit he was pissed that Kaitlyn left and didn’t bother telling him where she was headed.
Admit it; you still love the damned woman,
his mind accused. Tariq pushed the thoughts away, instead rising and letting the nurse inside. Her name was Leatha Sullivan, but everyone just called her Miss Leatha. She came with impeccable references and the girls took to her immediately. Tariq told her he was going out for a while and that Kaitlyn was already gone.

“
I have both your numbers if I need you,” Miss Leatha replied without missing a beat.

Tariq heard the girls giggling as the nurse entered the room and began playing with them. Smiling now, Tariq went into the guestroom and found his clothes, heading to the master bathroom to shower and change. He would move the rest of his things from here later, he told himself standing in front of the mirror about to shave.
Are you sure you want to do this,
his mind pushed once again.
If she closes that door you know she’ll never open it to you again,
the pesky voice continued to assail. Tariq sighed deeply his mind immediately returning to the DVD, to the deception of the baby’s paternity, to all the drama he’d been through with Kaitlyn because of secrets held.

“
Yeah, I’m sure,” Tariq finally said aloud, his resolve shored.

Grabbing his wallet after he dressed, Tariq headed out into the day. He had a couple of stops to make checking on the operation and such. Then he and Mook were going to get together and pick up some things they needed for the coming weeks.
I need to talk to him too,
Tariq made mental note. He also wanted to see Carlita again. Tariq needed to talk more, to unburden himself again.
You want her,
his conscience charged making him sigh deeply. True he was needy, Tariq didn’t want to rush into anything. Still he couldn’t help but feel the longing in his loins to touch her, to kiss her and be inside her. Carlita was beautiful, sexy and sensual and he wanted to get to know her on an intimate level.
What if she’s not willing to go there with you,
Tariq thought, knowing the woman knew his marital status. Deciding he would feel her out more when they talked today, he put his mind back on business and making sure that what they planned didn’t blow up in their face.

*****

Carlita smiled as she thought about the time she and Tariq spent.
He’s very sexy,
her mind told her as she showered and washed her hair. She wanted to sleep with him that night, but forced her libido to behave. There was far too much at stake to get sloppy and careless now, Carlita reminded herself. She knew he would come back. Things were hard at home and she knew how to make them very easy for him when he was with her. This time she was going to come out on top and get everything she deserved, Carlita thought angrily to herself, finishing the shower and getting out of the tub. Wrapping herself in a towel, she quickly dried her hair. Deciding she was thirsty, Carlita walked into the kitchen to grab a bottle of water. The knock on the door startled her and she jumped slightly.

“
Who is it,” she asked calmly, cordless in her hand just in case.

“
It’s Tariq,” the masculine voice replied.

Smiling fully, Carlita opened the door, loving the expression on his face as he took her in.

“
I’m sorry,” Tariq apologized, finally looking into her eyes. “I should have called first.”

She smiled and assured him it was okay.

“
Come on in, and I’ll go put on something right quick,” Carlita told him sweetly, ushering him inside.

“
Are you sure I’m not intruding,” Tariq asked, praying she said yes.

Looking at her in the towel was turning him on beyond measure.

“
Yes, I’m sure, have a seat, I’ll be right back,” she told him turning to walk into the bedroom.

Tariq reached out almost on impulse and grabbed her arm, pulling her back to him.

“
Tariq, what,” Carlita got out before he kissed her full on, tongue sliding into her mouth.

She allowed the kiss to reach its full plateau before pulling away.

“
No, Tariq, I don’t think this is what you really want,” she told him, feigning reluctance.

Tariq looked into her eyes not wanting to hurt her, but desperately needing her at the moment.

“
I want this, and I want you,” he told her hoarsely, kissing her yet again, undoing the towel as it fell to the floor.

His lips were on her neck as Carlita sighed softly.

“
I can’t, no, please stop,” she half-heartedly protested as his lips found her nipple and it hardened as the tip of his tongue gently rolled over it.

“
Shhh, baby, don’t feel guilty,” Tariq told her, lifting her effortlessly from the floor and taking her into her own bedroom.

“
But your wife, what about,” Carlita tried again as Tariq silenced her with his lips.

His hands ventured between her legs finding her wet and her clit hard.

“
I need you Carlita,” Tariq told her honestly as she undid his pants and helped him out of them.

Once he was naked, Tariq climbed fully into bed with her, returning to her nipples as he fingered her to saturation. Pushing her legs apart he lay atop her, his manhood rubbing against her clit as he slowly grind against her.

“
Mmmm Tariq,” she moaned loving the sensation.

“
Do you have condoms,” he asked softly in her ear.

“
Yes,” Carlita replied breathlessly, telling him where.

Tariq rose and retrieved the condom, opening it and placing on himself. Climbing back into bed with her, he began kissing her again as Carlita urged him inside her.

In one swift motion, Tariq broke his wedding vows and promises of love and faithfulness. Carlita moaned deeply loving the feel of him inside her as they had frenzied animalistic sex. Tariq held her tightly as he thrust into her, needing and wanting blessed release. To his chagrin his mind shifted to Kaitlyn and how good she felt when they made love. Carlita was sexy, but she’d obviously been around. She wasn’t tight and firm like Kaitlyn and he was having a hard time getting sensation to finish.

“
Yes Tariq, mmm, that’s good,” she cried reaching orgasm and becoming even more saturated.

Tariq switched positions, pulling her to her knees and entering her again. Here the sensation was slightly better and he could finally concentrate on getting his. He slammed into her again and again as she murmured her approval. Tariq’s rhythm became more syncopated as his mind showed him his wife, naked and spread before him. Just as he saw himself place his lips on her, Tariq exploded and groaned loudly. Carefully removing himself from Carlita, he went into the bathroom to dispose of the condom. Catching his reflection in the mirror, his conscience assailed him again.
We even now,
it asked of the act he’d just performed and the one he saw Kaitlyn and Ian enjoying together.

10

Ryan called his house checking on his woman and son. Even though he was pissed about her deception, he still cared for Caramel.

“
Hello,” RJ’s small voice answered.

Ryan smiled in spite of himself and greeted his son.

“
Hey daddy,” the boy giggled happily.

He felt immediately guilty for letting three weeks pass without talking to the child.

“
What you doing buddy,” he asked.

RJ told him has was watching cartoons and eating cereal.

“
That’s cool,” Ryan replied. “Where’s your mama,” he questioned.

RJ told him Caramel was sleeping. Glancing at his watch Ryan noted it was only after 2:00PM, early for her to be sleeping.

“
She always sleeps after she takes her medicine,” the child added without prompting.

Ryan frowned slightly unaware anything was wrong with Caramel.

“
What’s mama taking medicine for,” he asked the child.

RJ replied he didn’t know but she started taking it more often after he left.

“
She was taking it before,” Ryan continued to quiz the child, his sense of dread deepening.

“
Uh huh,” RJ replied crunching on a mouthful of cereal. “She has to use a needle,” RJ again piped up.

Ryan frowned deeply and swore under his breath.

“
OK, that’s cool man,” he told his son, swearing him to secrecy about the call.

“
When are you coming home daddy,” RJ asked, the longing evident in his voice.

“
Soon, but don’t tell your mama, it’s a surprise,” Ryan advised.

He heard the child giggle again and promise to keep the secret. Disconnecting Ryan’s head began to throb. He knew from his son’s description his girl was a heroin fiend.

“
Fuck,” he swore aloud as Ian walked into the room.

“
What’s wrong,” he asked, reading his brothers expression.

Sighing deeply Ryan replayed his conversation with RJ.

“
I gotta go handle this shit,” he told Ian.

This time his younger brother sighed deeply, not wanting him to leave, but understanding.

“
I’m coming right back,” Ryan assured him. “I’m probably going to have to bring RJ with me,” he added as Ian told him it wasn’t an issue and he would have Mrs. Connor find school information for them immediately.

“
Thanks,” Ryan told his brother.

Ian waived him off replying that was how they did.

“
What about her,” Ian asked, referring to Caramel.

“
I’m going to sign her ass into a rehab,” Ryan told him evenly.

Ian nodded slightly understanding his brother’s frustration.

“
Then what,” he asked giving Ryan yet another look.

He knew his brother had been seeing Nikki and he’d admitted the other night the feelings he was beginning to have for her.

“
I haven’t thought that far, honestly,” Ryan replied as Ian let it go and didn’t push.

He knew all the events transpiring were throwing everyone off kilter. He’d had four visits with Tajdra by now and every time she left, Ian felt his heart break just a bit more.

“
When do we go to court,” Ryan asked once again.

Ian told him they only had another couple of weeks to wait.

“
Good, cause this shit needs to be settled too,” he added as Ian again murmured inaudibly aloud and made them both as drink while Ryan booked his flight back to the Bayou.

*****

Shells was calmly watching the man as he made his way to his vehicle. He’d kept on eye on him for the last two weeks non-stop and he was definitely a creature of habit. Starting the rental he’d picked up, Shells followed the man along the familiar route, stopping at a local doughnut shop and picking up what Shells assumed was a treat for later in the evening. They continued on without interruption arriving at the condominium building they’d come to everyday in the last two weeks. Shells pulled out the weed he carried and rolled himself a blunt while the man got out of his vehicle and retrieved his briefcase and doughnuts. He greeted one of the other residents of the high-rise and went inside the huge plate glass doors. Shells took his time smoking the blunt, relaxing and letting his mind work.

Getting out he went toward the back stairwell he’d found in his earlier exploration of the location. Using the small screwdriver he carried in his back pocket Shells jimmied the door open and slipped inside. The stairwell was poorly ventilated and every foul stench imaginable seemed to be present. Shells frowned slightly and tried to breathe shallow while he walked up toward the tenth floor. He noticed how the paint chipped and peeled on the lower floors from the basement to the fifth floor. Here there seemed to be a marked difference. The walls were painted a bright cheery yellow with wooden stair rails and clean well placed signs identifying the floors.
Guess this is where the money begins,
he thought and chuckled lightly to himself. Shells was in good shape and stairs presented very little challenge to him. He arrived at his destination some ten minutes later and carefully opened the door, peering into the hallway outside. Seeing no movement, Shells still waited an additional ten minutes before leaving his hiding spot, and venturing down to unit 1007.

He’d paid dearly for that coveted piece of information. The night security consisted of two underpaid, overachieving want to be cop types who fancied themselves real policemen. He’d waited until one went on break before sending the young man he’d found wandering the street to approach the younger of the two, pizza box in hand. The guard questioned the young man harshly using his small bit of authority to hassle him. Shells was impressed however when the young man stayed calm and reminded the guard he would make sure he wasn’t the only one who lost their job. That seemed to shake the guard from his self-imposed perch and he gave the young man the information he requested. Pretending to go upstairs the young man took the box and disposed of it, waving cheerfully at the guard when he returned and left the building. Shells gave the young man an extra $200 for the headache he’d endured and allowed him to go on about his way.