Thin Ice 4 - Resurrections (18 page)

         
The corridors were virtually deserted and the only thing on the floor was the lab, whose door was located at the end of the long corridor, with no windows present. “There’s a stairwell right there,” Victor told him pointing to their right.

Seth grunted telling him he liked the layout.

“
We’ll tell C-Rod to bring her down her, and we’ll be waiting,” Seth told him as Victor again voiced his understanding.

“
So when you wanna do this,” he asked finally.

Even with the escort they’d set Seth up with, he was still antsy and impatient to snatch Gabrielle.
This fool is gonna mess up everything that’s set in place,
Victor thought as he too continued to discreetly gaze at the beautiful woman now coming back toward the opening of the hallway where he and Seth were. Moving swiftly they turned and ducked into the small vending area, backs to the couple as they passed them still talking amongst themselves.

“
3 days,” Seth said simply as he inserted the dollar bill into the drink machine and retrieved a Coke.

Victor made note of the timeframe and mental note to make some phone calls once they were back at the townhouse and Lucia, the escort, had Seth otherwise occupied.

*****

         
Shells was gently stroking Tae’s face, looking into her eyes as she smiled slightly.

“
You scared da hell outta me gurl,” he told her lovingly.

“
I didn’t mean too,” Tae told him softly.

Her voice was still raspy from the tube in her throat the last few days.

“
What happened Tae,” Shells asked finally.

The police found her truck almost three miles from where she was hit, wiped clean. They’d written up a report, but dismissed it as a car jacking gone wrong. Shells had other suspicions however, but hadn’t been able to substantiate them with her being unconscious. Thankfully her injuries had been minimal. The worst of which was a broken wrist. She had her share of bruises and contusions, but for the most part, Tae had managed to come through the ordeal unscathed. As a precaution they’d put her in a medically induced coma for the three days, but once they woke her up, she was alert and cognizant.

“
I don’t know if you’ll believe me,” she mumbled as Shells frowned deeply.

“
Tell me gurl, you know I believe you,” he replied as the tears came to her eyes.

“
Ice is alive, Shells,” Tae told him quietly.

He was stunned.
How did she know that,
he thought without comment.

“
Tell me what happened,” Shells prodded. Tae sighed softly and told him the story from start to finish. She told him about Jalen and the two men that Ian had working with him now. Tae told him what she could remember about the house, but iterated she didn’t know where it was, since she was unconscious when they brought her there.

“
How you get away,” Shells asked.

Tae told him about Jalen’s confession and his help in her getting away.

“
Him needs to go home, cause he gone get murked here,” Shells said angrily.

“
He’s looking for KiKi,” Tae told him, garnering Shells attention once more. “He wanted me to call her and set her up,” she added as Shells grunted.

Just as he opened his mouth to speak, his cell went off and he looked at the text. “Damn,” Shells swore and Tae saw the look.

“
What’s wrong, what’s happened,” she asking, reading his expression with pinpoint accuracy.

“
I’ll be back,” Shells replied simply as Tae’s sense of dread deepened.

Without another word he rose and she saw him check his pockets. Tae already knew what he was looking for, her suspicions confirmed when the pulled the .9mm from his pocket and checked the clip before he left her room.

*****

         
Pirate carried Kaitlyn as she continued to struggle. She hadn’t tried to scream and he was grateful for that, but she was one hell of a puncher. Pirate was tempted to hit her back, but thought better of it, knowing Ian would kill him. His orders were specific. Bring her back, unharmed. They finally reached the basement where Creeper was waiting.

“
Hold her still,” he told Pirate who replied that was easier said than done.

Kaitlyn’s eyes grew big seeing the syringe.

“
No,” she screamed, fighting even harder now.

“
KiKi, baby, stop,” Ian told her, stepping out of the dark shadows, right into her line of sight.

Kaitlyn stopped fighting as her eyes grew big and her mouth dropped.

“
Shh, its okay,” Ian told her soothingly as he took her from Pirate and hugged her tightly.

Kaitlyn’s mind was spinning.
I’ve finally gone crazy,
she thought believing Ian to be another hallucination.

“
This isn’t real,” Kaitlyn murmured.

“
Baby, I’m real, I’m here,” Ian told her, hearing the declaration.

He leaned in kissing her softly. The kiss broke the trance and Kaitlyn pushed him away.

“
It’s okay baby,” Ian told her, stepping to her again.

“
Ice, what, how,” she stumbled as Ian smiled and stroked her cheek gently.

“
I know you have questions,” he told her. “But we need to go now,” Ian prodded.

“
I can’t,” Kaitlyn told him beginning to resist again.

“
KiKi,” Ian began, giving her a look.

“
No Ice, no,” Kaitlyn told just as the searing pain hit her and her knees buckled.

Ian caught her and picked her up.

Lauren woke up, riding in the back of the car, laying in Ian’s arms.
What the hell is going on,
she thought looking at the man holding her. Ian smiled, seeing her awake again.

“
It’s okay, baby,” Ian told her. “Just relax, we’re almost home,” he added as Lauren frowned slightly.

Who is this guy,
she continued to wonder. Obviously he was someone Kaitlyn knew.
Is she fuckin’ around on the nice one, Riq,
Lauren wondered. There was something about this guy she didn’t like and she’d just met him. Lauren continued to remain quiet and watch. She wanted to get all the information she could then she was going to kill this guy. Smiling to herself at the thought, she closed her eyes once more imagining the how’s of his death and enjoying the ride.

*****

         
DeNoah managed to drag himself up from the basement floor and find the service elevator. The doors opened on the ground floor just as Tariq, Jaron and Mook entered the main doors. He saw Shells come out of the stairwell moments later and join them. Gathering himself, DeNoah made his way to the group.

“
What the hell happened,” Tariq snapped; his anger at boiling.

“
Ambushed,” DeNoah managed.

His head was pounding and he was still seeing double.

“
Shit,” Shells mumbled. “KiKi was coming to see Tae,” he asked as DeNoah nodded. “Then they probably snatch her on de same floor,” Shells threw out as the other men nodded and everyone headed to the elevator.

The doors opened and they all embarked. The ride up was quiet and tense. Arriving at the 12
^th
floor once again, the men got out and began looking around.

         
Mook spotted the broken flowers and water on the floor of the hallway just as the maintenance worker arrived to clean them up. Mook texted Tariq and saw all the men come around the corner seconds later.

“
Those are the flowers she had,” DeNoah clarified as Tariq frowned again.

He was about ten seconds from killing the man standing in front of him. All the warnings came full circle that he’d gotten about DeNoah and his inability to function in the crew. Pushing those thoughts away from now, Tariq returned his attention to where his wife was and if Ian had managed to make good on his threat and take her. They all headed toward the stairwell.

“
You know KiKi would fight, so I’m thinking he didn’t try the elevator,” Mook told Tariq who nodded his agreement.

They opened the door and began walking down, finding more flower pieces as well as bits of clothing. They found the gold charm bracelet Tariq had given her for her birthday on the 3
^rd
floor.

“
Fuck,” he swore again, his anger about to overtake him.

“
We’re gonna find her Top,” Shells told him, pulling the .9 from his pocket as they arrived at the basement and found Kaitlyn’s earring.

19

          “
We’re here baby,” Ian told her sweetly, gently rousing Kaitlyn from her slumber. Looking around Lauren continued taking in her surroundings, following Ian inside the house as he held her hand.

“
Where are we,” Lauren asked taking in the beautiful home.

Obviously this guy had money as well. He also had no idea Kaitlyn wasn’t standing in the room with him.

“
We’re at home,” Ian told her calmly, kissing her softly again.

Lauren allowed it, even though she wanted to slap the hell out of him for touching her. He reminded her way too much of Carlo. He was dark and sinister. She could sense it beneath the sweet exterior he was trying to sell her.

“
I can’t stay,” Lauren threw out.

Ian sighed softly and regarded her again.

“
Baby,” he began taking her into the den and sitting her down. “I know you’re worried about Tariq and all that,” he told her patiently. “But that part of your life is over now. You’re here with me, and we’re together again,” Ian finished as Lauren continued to regard him silently.

Ian saw her struggle and spoke once again. “Come on,” he told her pulling her up and leading her upstairs.

         
They arrived at the huge master bedroom and Ian showed her inside. “Lie down for a little while and gather yourself,” he told her, standing behind her and kissing the nape of her neck.

Lauren was growing increasingly irritated with him touching her, but she decided not to rock the boat just yet.
I’ve got to get in her memories,
Lauren thought of Kaitlyn. Pulling away finally she walked toward the kingsized bed and climbed in, pulling the sheet over herself. Ian smiled and came over, sitting down beside her gently stroking her cheek.

“
I know it’s been a while KiKi,” he told her. “But you don’t have to be embarrassed to undress in front of me,” Ian chuckled.

Lauren smiled slightly before rising and removing her clothes, leaving her underwear and climbing back into bed. Ian was giving her that look and Lauren knew what he wanted to do.

“
My head is spinning,” she told him softly as Ian smiled and kissed her again.

“
I understand baby,” he replied, rising and finally leaving her alone.

Lauren closed her eyes and began to breathe deeply. She needed to get into Kaitlyn’s memories without waking her. Lauren had no intention of leaving just yet.

         
Slowly the images began to filter and Lauren figured out who Ian was. Lauren saw the memories Kaitlyn had about their meeting, their relationship, the drama, the abuse. She saw the conversation of Ian telling Kaitlyn he’d killed her best friend. Lauren saw the stand off with the FBI and Ian shooting Kaitlyn.
Oh this muthafucka has earned a bullet for real,
she fumed angrily. She also saw the sensually erotic memories of their lovemaking. Obviously Kaitlyn had felt deeply for the man at one time Lauren knew, but she couldn’t find any recent memories of him. She did see that he was supposed to be dead.
I’m going to make that shit for real,
she brooded finally opening her eyes. Lauren had gleaned enough from the memories to bluff her way through. The rest she would make Ian tell her himself.
Nothing easier than a fool in love,
she thought and smiled to herself, rising and heading into the bathroom.

*****

         
Tyashia was thinking about the call from Jacoury earlier. He told her he was checking on her, making sure she was all right. She smiled slightly of his concern.
He’s falling hard and fast,
her mind told her as she sighed deeply. Jacoury was a nice guy, but Tyashia couldn’t get tied too deeply to anyone. Her options had to be kept open. Trail knocked on the office door disturbing her thoughts. Tyashia told him to come in and he did. He told her they were running low on some liquor and he needed to make a quick run.

“
Let someone from the kitchen do it,” Tyashia replied, not wanting him to leave her alone with the two women still making her life hell.

Granted she could kill them both without batting an eye, Tyashia vowed to stay out of trouble this time.

“
Yeah, that’s cool,” Trail replied smiling. “I’ll send Harry,” he told her, referring to the fry cook.

“
That’s fine,” Tyashia replied as Trail smiled again and left her alone once more.

         
What are you really up to in Atlanta, Jacoury,
Tyashia wondered. He’d told her they were helping Ramell’s cousin with some business at one of his clubs, but she wasn’t buying that completely. Tyashia wasn’t slow and she knew a hustler when she met one; legit cover or not. Her cell buzzed and she answered, seeing the name on her ID.