Thin Ice 5 - Checkmate (32 page)

It had been a long time since she and her best-friend had a chance to talk.

“
Where do we even start,” Jaleesa threw out as Kaitlyn told her to just pick a beginning and talk.

Jaleesa told her about the rest of the drama with Kai, and eventually killing him.

“
His bitch ass had that shit coming,” Kaitlyn replied calmly.

“
He got me pregnant,” Jaleesa said softly.

“
How the hell,” Kaitlyn asked knowing her friend protected herself.

Jaleesa told her she didn’t know that her pills must have failed or something.

“
I got an abortion quick, and told Jacoury I was having some female issues,” she explained as Kaitlyn told her that was smart on her part.

“
You and Jacoury still good,” Kaitlyn asked.

Jaleesa assured her they were and that Dre was growing like a weed.

“
Girl I bet he is,” Kaitlyn chuckled.

“
I wanted to come to the girls party, but I didn’t think it would have been cool,” Jaleesa told Kaitlyn as her friend sighed lightly, understanding.

“
It was a circus,” she told her as Jaleesa burst into laughter.

“
You knew it would be girl,” she replied as Kaitlyn shook her head yes.

“
How are you and he getting along,” Jaleesa asked of her and Ian.

Kaitlyn sighed deeply rubbing her temples slightly. “We’re existing for the girl’s sake,” she told her honestly.

“
You don’t feel him anymore,” Jaleesa asked, knowing that at one time Kaitlyn had cared deeply for the man.

“
I just got my heart to accept that Tariq and I are divorced, Tweety,” Kaitlyn answered honestly. “I don’t know if I can just pick up with Ice like shit never happened, ya know,” she went on as her friend commiserated with her.

“
KiKi, you need to sort out what you do and don’t feel when it comes to Ice and be real about it,” Jaleesa told her point blank. “Have you slept with him,” she threw at her as Kaitlyn told her no.

“
Not because he doesn’t want too,” she added, going on to tell Jaleesa about Ananda and Ian’s affair with her.

“
You know he’s only doing the shit to piss you off, don’t you,” Jaleesa told her.

Kaitlyn sighed deeply again telling her she knew, but she still had so many questions.

“
Look,” Jaleesa began again. “I am definitely nobody’s Ice fan, but I do know that through all this bullshit, the one thing he has always shown is that he loves you KiKi,” she told her as Kaitlyn again sighed deeply.

She told Jaleesa all about Cartier ‘Socrates’ Lemming, being Ian and Ryan’s father.

“
Damn,” Jaleesa said, speechless after finding out about the connection.

“
How is Ryan by the way,” she asked, no hint of malice or remorse, simply curiosity.

“
He’s good, him and Nikki are expecting,” she told Jaleesa.

“
Wow, really, that’s nice,” she replied genuinely happy for her former lover.

“
What are we going to do about us KiKi,” Jaleesa replied as her friend sighed deeply.

“
Nothing,” she told her calmly. “Tweety you and I are closer than blood, and just because we’re in different parts of the boat, doesn’t mean we can’t still sail together,” she told her friend. “I don’t get into Riq’s business like that, and I know you won’t ask me about Ice, so we’re good,” Kaitlyn surmised as Jaleesa readily agreed with her.

Finishing their lunch and visiting a while longer, Jaleesa finally rose to leave.

“
Look KiKi,” she told her friend in parting. “Stop punishing yourself because you feel bad about Tariq,” Jaleesa told her. “He’s moved on, and yes I know you didn’t ask, but I need you to know, he’s okay now,” she continued as Kaitlyn endured. “I need you to be okay too, so really think about what it is you feel for Ice and make a move, one way or the other, but make one,” she finished, kissed Kaitlyn’s cheek softly and left her friend alone at the table deep in thought.

*****

Ray was handling business, trying to put things back in some semblance of order since Nero’s death and Santana’s shooting. His godson was slowly but surely making a full recovery and they were eternally grateful for that. He faced the daunting task now of finding someone to take Nero’s place. Kai was easy; they already had two other agents in their pocket, so his death was no real loss. Ray’s private line rang and he looked at it curiously since the number wasn’t recognized.

“
Yes,” he answered simply picking up the receiver.

“
Hello Mr. Lockhart,” the voice said calmly.

“
What exactly can I do for you,” Ray replied, not acknowledging anything else.

“
Nothing,” the voice said once again. “There is however much I can do for you,” he said once again.

Tired of the games, Ray told the caller to state their purpose or hang up.

“
My name is Rahja and I am Nero’s successor,” he said without hesitation.

Ray was intrigued. “What makes you think you’re qualified to do that,” he threw back.

Rahja wasted no time, telling Ray several secrets that were known only to himself and Nero.

“
I would like to meet with you and discuss your needs and how I may fulfill them,” Rahja told him as Ray acquiesced and set the time and place.

Disconnecting he sat back in chair and continued to brood. He hoped that Rahja indeed did turn out to be a suitable replacement. He needed a new right hand like yesterday. His cell rang this time and he smiled seeing Gabrielle’s name on the ID.

“
Hello darling,” Ray greeted her sweetly.

Gabrielle returned the greeting telling him she was preparing dinner and wanted to know if he had any requests. Ray told her he would like lamb, and she thanked him for letting her know. He smiled again as they disconnected. Their relationship was good, even with the skepticism of his son. Brent definitely wasn’t keen on Ray dating the younger woman. He’d asked point blank whether they were practicing safe sex or planning to have another child. Ray told him he wasn’t being foolish and that he and Gabrielle had talked about having a child, but she didn’t think the time was right. Brent told him he didn’t think the timing would ever be right, considering his father was already almost 50 years old. Ray asked him how fair he thought that was to Gabrielle to deprive her of having a child if she wanted one. Brent finally acquiesced telling him he only wanted to make sure this woman wasn’t a gold digger trying to bleed him dry. Ray promised Brent they wouldn’t make any rash decisions concerning children.

Ray returned his attention to the business, making note of new territories they wanted to explore with the counterfeit monies they produced. He made a mental note to check on Dexter later on and arrange a dinner party for later in the week to introduce them formally to Gabrielle. He thought about Ian and how well the partnership was going between them. Ray also marveled at the affiliation of his father, Socrates, and Kaitlyn’s father being Hangman Cisneros.
That’s a heavy damned pedigree for sure,
Ray marveled smiling slightly. He wanted to sit down with Kaitlyn and really explore her past with the man and find out what made him and Socrates tick. Sighing softly he knew it would be a while however before the woman was ready to bridge that gap and tell him what he wanted to know. Picking up his Blackberry, Ray headed out of the door to meet Rahja, expectations high.

*****

Ian watched his daughters as they continued to play with each other, giggling with Mrs. Connor. She was a wonderful nanny and the girls flourished with her. His thoughts of course immediately turned to their mother and how distant he and Kaitlyn still were. He recalled the day he’d finally reunited with her inside his father’s hospital room. Cartier sent the text telling Ian he was looking in the wrong place and that Kaitlyn had come to the one true home she knew, Chicago. Of course he and Ryan took the next flight they could, arriving later that evening. Cartier insisted on meeting with them first, even though he was weak and very near the end of his life existence.
“Ice, Ryan, this is the last time I’ll talk to either you,” Cartier told them. “You both have an empire to run and a legacy to uphold,” he went on. “Ryan you keep Ice on track and the business free of liabilities and nonsense,” he addressed his oldest son. “Ice, you will fulfill the promise I made to my oldest and closest friend in the world, Carlo,” Cartier now turned his attention to Ian. “Lauren was the sweetest and best thing he ever did on this earth,” he began anew. “He entrusted me as her Godfather and I’ve watched out for her all her life,” Cartier explained, of course adding he wasn’t allowed in the loop once Carlo went off the deep end and began using drugs and abusing his daughter. “She needs you to keep her safe, and grounded,” Cartier told Ian. “She has Carlo’s temperament, an explosive anger that leaves no room for logic or thought,” he went on. “You are her balance, just as I was his,” he told his son. “You’re a ruthless man Ian, but you have my penchant for logic and order, Lauren needs you for that,” he added as Ian again nodded mutely.

The next day she came to the hospital and Ian was there. He knew she was scared when she heard his voice and blacked out. He was still holding her when she came too almost forty minutes later, at home in her bedroom. Ian sighed deeply as he noted that they still hadn’t made much progress from that day to this one almost six months later. Kaitlyn was still pushing him away every chance she got. He tried to understand and give her time to get over Tariq. Ian had to finally admit that the woman had loved the man; more than he could have ever understood or comprehended, Kaitlyn loved him deeply and leaving him had hurt her to the core of her being.
I just want to make her happy, I love her so very, very much,
Ian thought finding himself in the library now and making himself a drink. He thought bringing Ananda around would push Kaitlyn into trying to make their relationship work, but so far she had still had a very nonchalant attitude about the entire affiliation. He heard the door and turned knowing it was Ananda, tonight was their night to have sex. The girls came into the library with Mrs. Connor and Ananda immediately scooped Tajdra up, hugging her tightly and kissing her cheek. The little girl was of course giggling, as Ananda repeated the gesture, picking up Tejdra as well. Both girls were still giggling and laughing with Ananda holding them when Kaitlyn walked into the house.

Hearing the girls she made her way to the library, stopping in her tracks seeing Ian’s lover holding them. Before she realized it, she’d spoken.

“
Put my daughter’s down and get the hell out of my house,” Kaitlyn told her icily.

Ian smiled slightly, finally seeing some emotion from her. Ananda was visibly shaken as she gently put the girls down and they ran to their mother.

“
Hi babies,” Kaitlyn greeted them sweetly as Mrs. Connor returned to the room and took their hands heading to the kitchen for their snack.

“
Make this the last time you touch my children,” Kaitlyn began again returning her attention the young woman regarding her with doe eyes.

Ananda looked to Ian, but he continued to sip his drink, never taking his eyes off Kaitlyn.

“
Leave. Now,” she barked once more, raising her voice this time.

Ananda jumped, hearing the venom laced in her tone and grabbed her purse. Kaitlyn grabbed her arm as she passed her, looking directly into her face.

“
Your days of fucking Ice are over, when you walk out of my front door, don’t ever come back,” she told her evenly. “As a matter of fact, if you see me on the street, pray I don’t see you,” Kaitlyn told her, the look she was giving her, deadly. “And if I do see you, run like hell,” she finished coldly finally releasing the woman’s arm as Ananda hurriedly fled the house, slamming the door behind her.

“
What was that about,” Ian asked, his hopes up she was finally coming around.

Kaitlyn regarded him silently a few moments more. “Why were you screwing her,” she asked instead of answering his question.

Ian drained his glass, making himself another one before answering her question.

“
Because she was willing,” Ian told her plainly.

“
You in love with her,” Kaitlyn fired off once again.

“
Don’t be stupid,” Ian replied never averting his glance.

“
Why do you care anyway,” he began anew. “You’ve been blowing me off for the last six months,” he told her. “We buried my father together and that was that, you talk to me, you spend time with me as long as the girls are included, but that’s it,” Ian told her pushing to get a real response out of her.

“
What the hell do you want from me Ice, really,” Kaitlyn threw out as he walked up to her, standing in her face.

“
I want to love you, is that so damned hard for you to believe,” Ian asked, looking into her eyes, allowing himself to be vulnerable again for a moment.

“
Why Ice,” Kaitlyn asked. “All I’ve ever done is put you through drama too, shit,” she added, almost to herself.

Sighing softly, Ian put his arms around her and spoke soothingly.

“
KiKi, do you remember when we first started in Atlanta, and things I told you,” Ian asked as she nodded slightly. “I meant it, I have been waiting all my life, just for you,” he went on, kissing her lips gently. “You and I are a team destined to be together and destined to be successful together,” he went on, kissing her again. “I know you’re scared of who Hangman made you, but baby I’m here to keep you grounded, and together we can have this empire rolling like it should and fulfill the legacy left to us,” Ian finished, kissing her yet another time, this instance turning passionate.