Thin Ice 3 - Armageddon (12 page)

Tae chuckled again.

“
Can’t,” she replied, unable to see the disappointment on his face. “Got things to line up and product to pick up,” Tae explained.

“
That’s cool,” Kareem threw back, understanding the complexity of the things they had to do to get what he’d asked for.

“
Everything OK with you and old boy,” Kareem fished. Tae had been honest when he asked if she had a man.

Tae smiled again hearing the jealousy in his tone. Truthfully she and Thames had been fighting like cats and dogs, but again, she wasn’t telling Kareem that. If he wanted her attention exclusively he was going to have to work for that.

“
We’re straight,” Tae replied calmly, elaborating no further.

Kareem frowned deeply not liking the sound of that at all. He wasn’t a man known for sharing and he’d already determined in his mind that Tae was going to be his exclusively.

“
You mad,” Tae taunted after his silence.

“
Nah, cause I know what you need, and it ain’t his ass,” Kareem replied confidently. Tae smiled but she didn’t comment.

“
What’s up with your girl,” he asked, switching gears.

“
What are you talking about,” Tae asked having no clue which of her two friends he was referring too.

“
KiKi,” Kareem clarified. “Is she always so uptight,” he asked.

The woman seemed always wound too tightly, like a simmering dynamite stem, slowly burning to the final explosion.

“
KiKi is straight,” Tae returned calmly. “She’s just strictly business, that’s all,” she added as Kareem acknowledged his understanding.

“
Hang on baby,” Kareem threw out as his other line beeped. “Yeah,” he answered.

“
We need some bodies,” Seth told him.

“
What’s up,” Kareem asked as his 2
^nd
cousin gave him the rundown on Corey’s murder and Gabrielle’s disappearance.

“
I knew about Fontaine’s bitch ass,” Kareem replied, having always disliked the man. “But I had no clue Gabrielle was missing.”

Seth told him he and Peyton had only found out a few hours earlier.

“
We’re about two hours out,” Peyton told him taking the phone from Seth so his older brother could concentrate on the road.

“
Fine,” Kareem replied already making moves. “Where you want us to look,” he asked as Peyton gave him some areas.

“
Make people talk,” he admonished as Kareem told him that was a given.

Disconnecting he returned to Tae.

“
Baby, I hafta go,” he told her. “I’ll call you later,” he added as Tae told him she’d talk to him soon.

“
I will be with my man later, so just leave me a voicemail,” she told Kareem knowing it would piss him off.

Taking a deep breath and blowing it out, Kareem gathered himself before he answered, not wanting to go off. They weren’t a couple yet.

“
You handle your business,” he told Tae calmly. “You don’t screw him though,” he admonished, his tone letting Tae know he wasn’t playing.

“
Goodbye Kareem,” Tae returned dismissing the admonishment.

“
It will be goodbye for him if I think he been inside your walls tonight,” Kareem told her icily, disconnecting before she could reply.

Tae looked at the phone unable to shake the darkness that had just entered her body and was slowly inching through her bloodstream.

*****

Ian was thinking as they rode. He’d met with Dixon earlier and now had all the information he needed to destroy Tariq and his entire operation. He already had people headed to Miami. Since his head lieutenant, Mook, was in Atlanta, it would be easy to run through the operation and catch them by surprise. He had no love for the man, but so far he’d managed to stay off Ian’s kill list.
Lets hope he keeps it that way,
Ian continued to brood. He thought about Dixon and how pathetically pitiful he’d been when they met. Closing his eyes, he replayed the time they spent.
Ian walked into Rebecca’s home finding her eldest son waiting for him. “Wassup Dixon,” Ian asked calmly taking in the man in front of him, fighting to keep his rage in check. “Nothin’ Ice,” Dixon replied subdued. “You have what I want,” Ian asked wasting no more time on pleasantries. “Yeah, its here,” Dixon told him producing the documents. There were names and addresses, account numbers, contacts, safe combinations, email and bank account passwords and user names. “You did well,” Ian returned as he looked over the information. “So you can let my mama go,” Dixon asked praying he was finished being Ian’s snitch. He already knew he was done as far as working for Mook and the organization. Dixon just wanted to escape with his life and know his mother was okay. He’d already planned to relocate to Milwaukee. He had cousins there and he was pretty sure no one would know to look for him there. “Your mother was never a prisoner, Dixon,” Ian told him calmly going on to explain where he’d sent Rebecca and what she was doing.

Dixon released an audible sigh, relaxing for the first time since all the drama began over a week ago. “Now,” Ian began and from his tone Dixon knew it wasn’t going to be good. “There is the matter of another debt you owe me,” Ian went on as Dixon swallowed hard and remained quiet not interrupting. “You betrayed me Dixon,” Ian told him as the man opened his mouth to argue, then changed his mind. “I’d been good to you, more than good,” Ian went on as Dixon continued to endure. “Not only did you leave me to the wolves, you signed on with the muthafucka’s,” Ian growled angrily. “Where did you think I was all these years,” Ian asked looking to the man for an answer. “Dead,” Dixon said plainly. Ian continued to regard him, finally surmising the man was telling him the truth. “Hmph, guess that eased your conscience huh,” Ian began again. Dixon again remained quiet, beginning to pray silently. “Well as you can see Dixon, you can’t trust muthafucka’s cause they lie,” Ian railed quietly. “I am very much alive and the hell I’ve endured the last 5 years would have killed any other man,” Ian told him finally producing the .10mm. Dixon swallowed hard knowing his time was near. “Let’s have a final drink together, hmm,” Ian threw out as Dixon simply nodded. Ian opened the bottle of liquor he’d instructed Dixon to place on the coffee table and poured them both double shots.

Picking up his glass, Ian waited for Dixon to do the same. Sighing deeply the big man finally retrieved his own glass and waited for Ian’s direction. “What shall we drink too,” Ian asked looked directly into Dixon’s eyes. “Let’s drink to loyalty,” he said scathingly. “Loyalty, honesty, and payback,” Ian repeated raising his glass and throwing the double shot down. Dixon poured the shots into his mouth taking a few moments to force himself to swallow around the lump that had taken permanent residence in his throat. “Let’s go see your old room, shall we,” Ian told him rising. Dixon thought it was an odd request, but Ian had always been strange in his estimation. Leading the way, Dixon took in the childhood home as he walked. He saw the childhood photos that lined the hallway wall of him and his siblings as they grew up. He saw the picture of his mother and father on their wedding day. His father had been dead for almost 15 years now, but his mother had never dated another man. Stopping, Dixon put his hand on the knob and opened the door. Walking inside he was transported to another time and place. He was 10 again and the innocence that was life still existed for him. “You should have died with honor six years ago when they had me trapped in that house like a rat,” Ian told him as Dixon turned, standing beside his bed, and faced him. “Now you’re just going to die, but I am going to make sure you get credit for your contribution to the crumpling of Top’s empire,” Ian told him as he shot him the first time. Dixon didn’t fall immediately as the crimson stain began to spread on his shirt. Ian shot him 5 more times, the final bullet sending him sprawled comically onto the twin sized bed, eyes focused blindly on the Playboy centerfold taped to the ceiling.

Peyton’s voice announcing they were back in Louisiana broke Ian’s thoughts as he smiled to himself that one loose end was tied up. As soon as they found Brie and killed the fools that had taken her, Ian was headed back to Atlanta and within seven days time he was going to kill LaRon, Jaleesa, and Tariq.
She’s going to be terrified of you,
Ian thought of Kaitlyn. Dismissing the thoughts, Ian knew they would be all right. He knew how to take care of Kaitlyn and what she needed. He would allow her to grieve for a little while, but then it would be back to business and back to them being together like they were always destined to be. Shaking every other thought except a quick resolution to Brie’s whereabouts, Ian got out of the car, just as Zeke walked up to the three men and began to speak.

9

Tariq was meeting LaRon and Mook later tonight. They’d gotten the call a couple days ago confirming their worst fears. Ian was here in the city. His cell rang with the call he’d been waiting for.

“
Hello,” Tariq greeted his caller.

“
Wassup Top man, how you doin’,” Shells greeted him.

Tariq smiled and returned the greeting. Shells was a friend from the street. His nickname emanated from the shells that adorned the ends of his long dreads and the constant clicking and clanking sound they made as he walked and they connected with each other. He was also as deadly as the day was long. Quiet and efficient, Shells could pull off hits most other men couldn’t get near.

“
I need to employ you,” Tariq returned honestly.

“
What you needin’ Top,” Shells returned, the Jamaican accent peeking through.

“
I need you to shadow my wife, KiKi,” he told him calmly as Shells grunted slightly.

“
I don’t really do the bodyguard thing, Top man,” he replied hesitantly.

Tariq sighed deeply and told him it wasn’t really a bodyguard job in the traditional sense of the word.

“
Make it plain for me then,” Shells replied once again.

Tariq gave him an abbreviated version of all their history with Ian as well as the present developments and why he needed someone with Shells expertise to handle this end for him.

“
I don’t trust my wife’s life in the hands of just anyone,” Tariq told the man as Shells again voiced his understanding.

“
So she won’t know she bein’ watched,” he questioned as Tariq replied in the affirmative.

“
KiKi doesn’t know this psycho is even still breathing,” Tariq told him. “He’s obsessed with her,” he added as Shells again withheld comment.

“
You want me to kill him,” he asked.

“
If he comes near my wife,” Tariq began. “Hell yes,” he finished flatly as Shells told him he would take the job.

“
Thanks Shells,” Tariq replied. “We can discuss price when I come through later,” he replied as Shells assured him they would work that out.

“
I begin tomorrow morning,” he told Tariq.

“
That’s cool,” Tariq replied disconnecting, one less weight on his mind for now.

Dialing Mook’s cell he greeted the man once he answered, asking his arrival time at the meet spot.

“
I’m about 15 minutes away,” Mook answered.

Tariq told him that was perfect and he wasn’t too far behind. “I should be there in about 30 maybe 45 minutes,” Tariq continued. “Gotta make this stop first,” he told Mook who already knew about him hiring the bodyguard.

“
It’s cool, Top,” Mook replied. “Handle yours, we’ll be waiting,” he finished and disconnected.

Tariq grabbed his keys and headed out the door, setting the alarm before he did and texting Kaitlyn to find out exactly where she was.

*****

Kim was still online but coming up very light. Nothing frustrated her more than not being able to find what she was looking for. Kim was good at her job of fact finding. It was why she’d proved such an invaluable asset in Top’s world.
How the hell is this shit possible,
she thought crossly to herself trying yet another avenue. Normally she wouldn’t have wasted as much time as she had already trying to answer questions that were never asked, but again, Kim hated being in the dark. There was a mystery afoot and she was hellbent on solving it. Coming up empty yet again, Kim closed her eyes and took a deep breath letting her mind relax. If she were anxious she’d miss something. Rising and leaving the computer for a few moments, Kim went to the ladies room. Washing her hands she regarded her reflection the mirror.
Maybe there’s a reason you can’t find what you’re looking for,
her mind told her. Some things were perhaps better left alone, that warning bell in her subconscious was telling her.

Kim sighed deeply dismissing the thoughts as she walked out of the restroom and stopped at the water fountain. The gnawing in her gut just would not let her drop the matter. More determined than ever Kim returned to the computer and keyed in something else. The hourglass appeared, turning over and over again, as the computer performed the task she’d entered. Moment’s later information began to fill the screen and Kim sighed again at the monstrous size of the results returned.
Shit, this could take forever,
she thought. Taking each item returned individually Kim began looking through them hoping she got lucky and found something usual. Fifty entries and two hours later, Kim finally got lucky, finding a very promising lead. Kim read the entry as her frown deepened.
What the hell,
she thought, continuing to read. Jotting down information she found at the end of the entry, Kim did another search with what she’d just pulled from the previous entry, again hitting pay dirt.