Thin Ice 4 - Resurrections (19 page)

“
Yeah,” she queried.

“
Your merchandise is ready,” the voice replied.

“
That’s cool, I’ll pick it up later tonight,” Tyashia replied.

“
Make sure you bring my money,” the party added as she gave her understanding and disconnected.

One less thing to worry about,
she thought of the call before returning her attention to the books in front of her, beginning to see small discrepancies.
David raggedy ass skimming money,
she thought knowing she would have to tell Jacoury and Ramell.

“
Oh well, hope his ass paid for his grave plot,” Tyashia mumbled aloud, knowing the end to that story very well.

You didn’t steal from a hustler, not and live to tell about it.

*****

         
Tariq was fifty degrees past furious right now as they headed to the safehouse to discuss their next move. They’d scoured the entire hospital and there was no sign of Kaitlyn.

“
That sonofabitch has my wife,” he growled angrily throwing back the vodka shot.

“
What you want done about DeNoah’s incompetent ass,” Shells asked evenly.

Tariq sucked his teeth angrily, throwing back another shot.

“
Once I find my wife, cancel his ass,” he said calmly.

Jacoury smiled slightly. That was the sweetest thing he’d heard all day.

“
Hold up on that a minute Top,” he threw out as Tariq gave him a look.

Jacoury went on to explain his expedition from the other evening and the things he’d observed.

“
Hmph,” Mook replied his eyes narrowing. “So what’re you thinking,” he asked.

Jacoury shrugged slightly.

“
One of two things,” he replied. “Either the fool is trying to find a new crew or he’s snitchin’.”

Tariq’s fury grew. “He better hope it’s the first and not the second,” he replied breathing deeply to keep from going off.

         
They’d sent DeNoah on a fool’s errand to keep him occupied while they talked business. Now they were definitely glad they did.

“
Shit, he might have helped Ice set this shit up for all we know,” Mook mused aloud.

Tariq began to see blood.

“
We need to find out just what exactly Mr. DeNoah is up too,” he said as the others agreed.

“
How you wanna set him up,” Mook asked.

They all began discussing different scenarios finally coming up with a plan.

“
So, feed him the phony information we want to get back to Ice and see how long it takes him to run it back,” Tariq told them.

“
You wanna kill him right then or bring him back,” Shells asked, checking his weapon again.

“
Drop his bitch ass where he stands,” Tariq replied without hesitation.

His patience was spent with DeNoah and if he had anything to do with Ian taking Kaitlyn, Tariq was going to personally dismember him himself. Just as they finished discussing it, they heard the car. Everyone put on their poker face and greeted DeNoah when he came inside.

“
You’re right on time,” Mook said calmly. “We got a handle on Ice and its time to go to war,” he finished as DeNoah swallowed hard and told him okay.

         
Grabbing the pizza’s and beer, the men began to disperse into the living room leaving DeNoah alone in the kitchen. Careful that no one saw him, he pulled out his cell and sent a text. The response was almost instant and he sighed deeply, putting the phone back into his pocket and heading into the living room.

“
I’m going to my stock room, we need more weapons,” Tariq told them as everyone mumbled understanding all at once.

DeNoah was getting worried. They were talking like this was truly Armageddon. His mind was racing. He needed to get out for a while, but what excuse was he going to use? Kaitlyn was missing, so there was no watching going on. Jacoury carefully observed the man unnoticed, seeing the anxiety. He gave Ramell a sly look as his friend nodded and continued to eating his pizza.

“
DeNoah, I need you to go over to Mardi Gras, make sure everything is straight there,” Tariq told him, also picking up on the man’s anxiety.

“
Sure Top, no problem,” he replied rising, and heading out the front door.

Tariq waited fifteen minutes before he and the rest of the men gathered, headed out following DeNoah.

*****

         
Jalen was still trying to catch his breath as Ian hit him another hard blow.

“
I’m asking again,” he raged, cornering his brother once more. “Did you let her go,” Ian yelled punching Jalen hard to the jaw once more, kicking him in the side.

“
No, I told you,” he replied, wheezing trying to breathe.

Ian yoked him and held him against the wall, right in his face, his eyes blazing.

“
You don’t wanna fuck with me brother,” he growled angrily. “If you want out, then leave, but don’t fuck up my plans,” he told him coldly, deadly accurate.

Jalen’s mind was spinning. He was terrified Ian would kill him. Still he stuck to his story. “I came in to let her go to the bathroom just like you told me Ian,” Jalen pleaded. “I untied her and let her stand up, she blindsided me,” he repeated for the sixth time since Ian had entered the room.

Jalen at first thought everything was fine. It had afterall been three days since the woman escaped the house. Ian hit him twice to the midsection again, dropping him on the floor.

“
Don’t get it twisted Jalen,” Ian told his brother coldly. “Nothing will get in the way of my revenge,” he hissed. “Brother or no fuckin’ brother, I will put your ass to sleep,” Ian told him as a final point, stepping away and allowing Jalen to upright himself against the wall.

          “
Ian, I’m telling you what happened,” Jalen began again.

He was definitely making plans to leave Atlanta and never look back. He would give back every dime of the money. He had definitely bitten off far more than he could chew dealing with Ian and the life he lived.

“
Hmph,” Ian replied still regarding him angrily.

“
How can I make it up to you,” Jalen began again, trying a new tactic.

Ian seemed to think that over for a while before speaking.

“
There’s a pick up I need made,” Ian began. “I just got KiKi home, so I don’t want to leave her alone just yet,” he went on as Jalen nodded.

He still didn’t know the full story on his brother’s obsession with the woman, but he knew enough to know Ian would kill anyone who tried to separate them again.

“
I’ll go for you,” Jalen readily volunteered.

“
Hmph, yeah I guess,” Ian replied, calling out for Creeper and Pirate.

The two materialized moment later and listened intently as Ian explained the nights task.

“
No problem,” Pirate replied as Ian nodded and left them to work out the details. Heading up the stairs he smiled thinking of Kaitlyn lying in his bed waiting for him to join her.

20

         
Jacoury and Ramell were following DeNoah waiting to see exactly where they would end up. They’d followed him to Mardi Gras where he had indeed done as instructed and checked the club, evening remaining for another two hours. Ramell had suggested that Tariq, Mook, Jaron and Shells head out and both he and Jacoury would remain and watch DeNoah. He knew his cousin was anxious and exhausted. Ramell also knew the others had significant others waiting for them. They turned onto a familiar street and Jacoury grunted slightly, almost positive they were headed for the same abandoned warehouse he’d followed DeNoah too the other evening.

“
This fool needs a cap in the worst way,” Ramell grumbled.

He and Jacoury were both armed and killing DeNoah was absolutely no sweat off their brow.

“
Yeah, sad thing is, he too stupid to even know he been found out,” Jacoury remarked as they watched DeNoah turn into the buildings parking lot, just as Jacoury expected.

         
Just like last time, Jacoury saw several other vehicles already parked, and the solitary light burning in a corner of the building.

“
We’ll give his ass a few minutes, then we’re going to find out what the hell is going on,” Ramell told his friend.

Jacoury replied he was more than ready, pulling out and checking the .380 he carried. Ramell checked his own .10mm. They watched DeNoah approach the entrance and saw the door open. He was greeted by an unremarkable man, dressed casually; who nervously peered around outside making sure DeNoah was alone.

“
Further proof some bullshit is up,” Ramell remarked as Jacoury grunted his agreement.

Sitting another ten minutes, the two men finally got out of the car and began carefully making their way to the building and its occupants. Jacoury was trying to peek inside the one lighted window, but the dust and dirt was so thick he couldn’t see anything besides outlines of what he assumed were people.

          “
Let’s just listen,” Ramell whispered when they found they had no visual.

Getting as close to the door as they dared, both men grew quiet, steadied their breathing and put their ears to the wood door hung inside the concrete reinforced wall. Ramell eyed Jacoury as they both heard the same thing and had the same thought. They withheld comment and continued to stand still listening to the things going on inside the warehouse. Hearing movement, Ramell quickly moved away, Jacoury right on his heels. They couldn’t chance going back to their car and being seen should someone open the door, so they chose to scurry behind the other side of the building, finding an easement they could duck into and be concealed from plain sight. Jacoury heard a couple of the men talking as they came closer to the end of the building where they hid. He and Ramell observed as the men lit cigarettes and continued to shoot the breeze. They quickly finished their smokes and headed back inside the building. Deciding they’d heard enough, Ramell and Jacoury carefully headed back to their car. Driving home they discussed the ramifications, telling Tariq, and how they wanted to kill DeNoah.

*****

         
Jaron came inside the townhouse careful to be quiet and not disturb Gabrielle. It was after 3:00AM and he knew she was fast asleep. Making his way to their bedroom, he slipped into the bathroom and showered, emerging moments later and carefully joining her in bed.

“
Are you all right,” Gabrielle asked sleepily.

“
Yeah baby, I’m fine,” Jaron told her, kissing her forehead gently. “Go back to sleep.”

Gabrielle instead rose and went into the bathroom herself, returning after she washed her hands and rejoining him in bed.

“
How was school,” he asked, seeing that she was awake now.

“
Good,” Gabrielle replied. “We started at the hospital today, remember,” she added as Jaron told her he did.

“
You enjoying it,” Jaron asked, stroking her face gently.

Tonight had been exhausting and he was really glad to be here with her.

          “
Yeah it’s really cool,” Gabrielle told him, snuggling closer to him.

Jaron smiled and put his arm around her. She began kissing his chest, turning him on. “Don’t you have class,” he asked half heartedly.

Jaron was already at attention and ready to make love to her.

“
Not till 10:00AM,” she replied as his lips found hers and they began kissing passionately.

Gabrielle moaned softly as Jaron aroused her. She was on fire from his touch.

“
I missed you so much baby,” Jaron murmured.

Gabrielle returned the sentiment as he pulled her on top of him and her warmth enveloped him.

“
Mm, Jaron,” Gabrielle murmured as they made love.

He was holding her hips, rolling in rhythm with her own movements, sighing softly. Gabrielle cried out as she reached orgasm, her walls closing in on his hardness and driving him wild.

“
Damn girl,” Jaron moaned as he came hard, holding her tightly.

“
Now, we can go to sleep,” Gabrielle teased, climbing off him and laying down beside him.

Jaron kissed her again, pulling her close; eternally grateful she was in his arms.

*****

         
Tariq put the bottle of vodka on the table beside him as he sat in his den. Sleep was not on his agenda at the moment and he needed to do something to dull the seething anger he felt in the pit of his soul. All he could hear in the house was silence. Kaitlyn wasn’t here. He didn’t know where she was, if she was okay, and if Ian had done something crazy to her. The latter thought made him take yet another shot from the bottle.
What the hell is this fools problem,
Tariq brooded. He could understand loving someone, but Kaitlyn hadn’t been with Ian for years now.
When the hell was he going to let go,
Tariq thought, the answer glaring in his face.
He hates you and he’ll never let you and KiKi live in peace,
Tariq’s mind continued to tell him.

“
He better not hurt her,” Tariq growled, pulling the .380 from the hidden compartment in the chair and checking the chamber.