Hide & Seek (50 page)

“
Then why you all tense and shit,” LaRon asked, grabbing the second beer and opening it.

His eyes were bloodshot and Jaleesa could tell from the slur in his speech, he was drunk.

“
Deuce, I was just moving’ out of your way, that’s all,” she replied, hoping he would let it go and leave her alone.

“
Hmph,” he replied still eyeing her and drinking.

“
Hey daddy,” Jashon greeted him, coming into the kitchen where they both were.

Jaleesa sighed a small breath of relief, knowing LaRon wouldn’t show out in front of their son.

Laughing and roughhousing with the boy, the two went back into the family room and Jaleesa continued to cook and think. She was really beginning to resent all the drama and turmoil of what was supposed to be a normal life. She thought about all the days of gun running and fast money she and Kaitlyn used to make. The places they went and people they met.
You mean the men, don’t you,
her mind kicked in as Jaleesa smiled slightly to herself. She was honest with herself in admitting that lately, LaRon just wasn’t doing it for her sexually. She supposed it was all the tension of them fighting constantly, but that didn’t change how many nights she was spending unfilled in their bed.

“
Mommy, can we eat now,” Jashon asked, again returning to the kitchen.

Jaleesa smiled and told him yes and to go wash his hands. Making everyone’s plate she set the table and called LaRon into the large eat in kitchen. Jashon chattered away during dinner asking questions and making comments to both his parents. After finishing his plate, Jaleesa instructed he go take a bath and after a few minutes of whining, the child complied.

Jaleesa headed into the master bedroom laying out her own night clothes and running a bath for herself. Standing, after turning on the water in the tub and adjusting the temperature, she found herself face to face with LaRon.

“
Is there something wrong,” Jaleesa asked calmly as he continued to stare at her.

After a few moments more of silence, she tried to step around him, only for him to put his arm across the door blocking her path.
I don’t wanna do this tonight,
she thought taking a deep breath and blowing it out slowly.

“
Deuce, if something’s wrong, then just say so,” she tried again.

“
Don’t take all night giving Jashon a bath,” he told her calmly, kissing her neck at the end of his sentence.

Making her face remain neutral and not give away the repulsion she felt at the act, Jaleesa managed to smile slightly as she nodded her understanding and LaRon let her leave the room. She heard him turning off the faucet as she left, her mind whirling as the prayer began that the lovemaking be short and he left the house quickly afterward.

*****

“
I thought we were going to Chicago,” Kim asked as Mook showered and she sat on their bed, flipping through the magazine.

“
We were, but Top said he needed us in Atlanta,” he replied as Kim softly spoke her understanding. They’d already sent Sean ahead to stay with relatives until they arrived. Mook had called and informed them earlier that Sean would spend the summer with them, while he and Kim handled some personal business. Thankfully they hadn’t had another child yet, but it wasn’t because Mook wasn’t trying. Kim smiled to herself thinking of all the lovemaking they were afforded being alone in the house for the past 3 weeks.

“
Did you call Dixon,” she asked again as Mook walked into the room, towel wrapped around his waist.

“
Yeah, but I got his voicemail,” he returned walking over and standing in front of her.

“
Love the towel,” Kim told him seductively, using her finger to loosen it as it fell from him. “Nice,” she murmured, getting an up close and personal view of her man.

“
You got on too many clothes,” Mook returned, helping her undress. Pulling her up to him, he removed her bra, managing not to rip it this time, and took her nipple in his mouth.

“
Mmm,” Kim murmured softly as her temperature rose.

Mook’s hands slid down her smooth skin, coming to rest on her firm butt, as he squeezed it gently, pulling her closer to his throbbing erection.

“
Damn, I’m loving’ this shit,” he murmured, kissing her neck softly as Kim grasped his hardness in her hands and began stroking him.

Mook began walking forward, pushing her back in his wake as she fell back onto the bed. Wasting no time, he went to his knees putting her legs on his shoulder and pulling her sex directly into his mouth. Kim’s eyes rolled back in her head as that tongue stud of his went to work again. Mook heard her gasp and cry out softly as he smiled to himself and continued his effort. Kim began trying to pull away from him, alerting him she was about to explode. Grasping her legs tightly, Mook held her in place as his tongue delved deeply into her now flowing and pulsating sex. Kim bit her lip trying not to scream, when the orgasm ripped through her and she cried out loudly, her body heaving from the force of it.

Mook began tenderly kissing his way back upwards, stopping at her still swollen nipples, taking them into his mouth one at a time while Kim moaned her delight. His hands replaced his tongue as Mook met her lips once more, parting them and tasting her deeply as his other hand slipped between her legs. Kim was on fire. She wanted nothing more than for Mook to take her with all the force he could muster.

“
You ready baby,” Mook whispered hoarsely in her ear, his erection harder than before and standing at full attention waiting for release.

“
It’s all you, Mook,” Kim whispered back as he rolled over, her in his arms, and her softness enveloped him.

“
That’s my girl,” Mook murmured as she rode him, her hips bucking in the rhythmic symphony of seduction, while her man moaned his pleasure and held her tightly around the waist.

“
Yeah baby, I’m loving’ that,” Mook murmured again as Kim increased her movements and his toes curled.

Leaning down, she whispered several nasty phrases in his ear, bringing a deep guttural moan from Mook as he felt himself losing the fight, but desperately trying to hang on. Kim felt him just as her own body signaled orgasm again. She opened her mouth and whispered once more in his ear as he exploded and she joined him, their mingled moans of passion filling their bedroom. Breathing hard, she collapsed atop him as Mook softly stroked her back.

“
You’re a bad braud, Miss Kim,” he told her softly as Kim smiled to herself and closed her eyes, drifting off.

*****

Tariq found Kaitlyn in Khari’s room again. He wasn’t surprised. She spent most of her time in here looking at their daughter’s pictures, drawings; holding her clothing and inhaling her lingering scent from her pillows. The past eight months had been the hardest in both their lives. Their daughter was killed as Kaitlyn drove through a Southwest Atlanta neighborhood in what was a ruled a random act of violence. Tariq however, had a very different point of view. He had enemies, plenty of them, and he’d told Kaitlyn time and time again not to travel that way without DeNoah. This particular day however, she’d decided to be contrary and go on her own. The BMW was easy to spot with the dark tinted windows and chrome outfitting. The personalized tag definitely identified the who of ownership. Tariq remembered getting the call like it happened last night. He and LaRon were taking care of business, just finishing packaging some product for transport, when his cell rang and he saw DeNoah’s name on the caller ID. Hearing the man tell him his wife and daughter were in the ER forced his heart into his stomach.

Tariq raced to Grady’s trauma center only to be met by police who wanted to question him, several loud protesting indigent patients, screaming children, and shackled inmates waiting to be seen as indifferent nurses gave them plenty of attitude and no customer service. Putting the cops off for a time, he managed to find a nurse who summoned the Attending Physician. When the distinguished looking, older black man, emerged from the triage room, his face said it all. Tariq didn’t think he actually even heard the words as the Doctor told him Khari hadn’t survived and Kaitlyn was in serious condition. If LaRon hadn’t been there with him, Tariq didn’t think he would have made it through the night. Burying their daughter was harder than killing any man he’d ever put a bullet into, Tariq continued to muse, watching his wife silently as she continued to hold the pillow and the tears rolled down her face. Kaitlyn was still too weak to attend the funeral and she never got the chance to say goodbye. Tariq believed that was why she was still grieving so hard. Shaking the dark thoughts, he walked into the room and gently touched her shoulder.

“
KiKi, I’m going out for a while,” he told her calmly as Kaitlyn opened her eyes and regarded him. “OK,” she said simply and returned her attention to the child’s bedroom.

Leaving his wife, Tariq thought about their marriage and how strained everything was as he drove. They hadn’t made love to each other in months. Every time he went to touch her, Kaitlyn would pull away from him.
I want her so much,
Tariq thought longingly. He knew she missed Khari, but if she would just allow them to make love, he would give her another child without question.
Even though you think Khari’s death was her fault,
his mind charged as Tariq frowned slightly pushing the thought away. He loved his wife and Khari was gone. There was nothing he could do about that now, but there was something he could do about him and Kaitlyn.

“
Please baby, open up,” he murmured aloud turning into the parking lot of Mardi Gras.

He and LaRon bought the club after Ryan’s death and Ian’s lockdown. It still did banner business and they’d renovated it, making it larger so they could host more celebrity events. Sighing deeply no longer contemplating his marriage, Tariq turned his attention to the club and went inside, ordering a drink immediately. He hoped the dancing, music, and revelry would take his mind off the emptiness that was his existence at the moment.

1

“
Wassup girl, seriously, it’s been a long time,” Tae greeted Kaitlyn as they spoke on the phone. Shunte’ Russell aka Tae, was a good friend of both hers and Jaleesa from their illegal days on the streets. Kaitlyn smiled at the question imagining the look on Tae’s face as she spoke. The three of them had a lot of fun days together when they were all hustling. Tae was a pretty girl, like herself and Tweety, creamy light golden chocolate with two deep dimples that sparkled when she smiled. Tae was no joke though. You could ask the 3 or 4 chicks walking around with train tracks on their faces from her straight razor about that.

“
I know,” Kaitlyn replied chuckling herself now. “We’re doing a barbeque tonight,” she told her friend. “You need to come through,” she added sipping the crown and coke she’d made herself a few moments earlier.

“
Sounds good,” Tae replied still enjoying her salad as her date sat across from her, incredulous that she was carrying on a conversation with her girl in the middle of their date.

“
What time,” Tae asked giving him a look that basically said shut up and eat.

“
Drop in around 7:30 or 8:00,” Kaitlyn returned.

“
What you want me to bring,” Tae asked again, sipping her water and blowing a kiss at her date, who smiled and continued to eat his steak.

“
We got plenty of everything, so hell, bring whatever,” Kaitlyn returned as they both laughed. Telling her she would be there and couldn’t wait to see them both, Tae disconnected and returned her attention to her date, sweetly apologizing as he smiled back and assured her all was forgiven. Kaitlyn was still smiling as she finished the drink and made another. Brown liquor always made her mellow and today Kaitlyn needed to relax. It was the 9 month anniversary of Khari’s death. Pushing the dark thoughts aside, she dialed Jaleesa next.

“
Wassup chick,” her best friend greeted her cheerfully.

“
Hey girl,” Kaitlyn replied. “You’re still coming right,” she asked as Jaleesa assured her nothing would keep them away.

“
We’re dropping’ Jashon off at mama’s,” she told Kaitlyn who voiced her understanding. “What are you doing,” Jaleesa asked catching a tone and feeling something amiss about her friend.

“
Having a drink,” Kaitlyn replied flatly.

Jaleesa frowned slightly. Kaitlyn hadn’t drunk hard liquor in a long time. Not since she had Khari. She’d switched to wine and the occasional beer, but never the Crown again.

“
Are you alright,” Jaleesa asked hearing a quiet coldness she hadn’t heard in her friend’s voice since they ran together and Kaitlyn hooked up with Ice.

“
Yes,” Kaitlyn returned simply, which further let Jaleesa know something was wrong. “Tae’s coming’ to the party,” Kaitlyn told her disturbing her thoughts once again.

“
Wow, that’s straight,” Jaleesa returned, genuinely excited.

The three of them hadn’t hung out together for a long time and she missed it. She missed a lot of things about her old life, Jaleesa thought silently as Kaitlyn continued to talk.

“
Mook and Kim got in this morning, so they’ll be here too,” Kaitlyn interrupted her thought once more.

“
Cool,” Jaleesa replied. “Gonna be a whole family reunion,” she chuckled as Kaitlyn joined her. “I’ll see you in a couple hours,” Jaleesa told her as Kaitlyn returned the sentiment and disconnected.