Thin Ice 4 - Resurrections (35 page)

They came over to the table and everyone greeted each other. Tae sat with Kaitlyn and Sam, while the men wandered off on their own.

“
How are you feeling,” Kaitlyn asked her friend, genuinely concerned.

She’d been told about all the things that had happened while Ian held her captive.

“
Girl I’m fine,” Tae replied as the server sat the onion rings down on the table. “Uggh, oh my god, those stink,” she replied frowning deeply.

Sam gave her a look, as did Kaitlyn. “What, they do,” Tae replied looking at both women who burst into laughter.

“
So um, when did you say the baby was due,” Sam asked her as Tae’s mouth dropped and the two women laughed again.

*****

Mook and Kim arrived simultaneously with Jaron and Gabrielle, all of them entering the club laughing and talking amongst themselves.

“
About time,” Tariq threw out greeting them as they made it to the table where everyone was gathered.

Kim and Gabrielle greeted everyone, taking a seat with the women as once again the men wandered off and began to talk amongst themselves once more.

“
You look cute,” Kaitlyn told Kim.

She smiled and thanked her, still not completely sure the woman was one hundred percent back with them just yet, but cordial nonetheless.

“
Gabrielle, you okay,” Sam asked concerned, taking in the woman’s demeanor.

“
I’m okay,” she replied softly.

“
Why don’t you come to the ladies room with me,” Sam suggested.

She’d taken to Gabrielle as well, seeing her as younger sister perhaps. The two rose and left the other three ladies at the table.

“
She wants out of the life,” Kim told them both as they grunted and told her they suspected as much.

“
Jaron’s not going to let that happen without a fight,” Kaitlyn spoke up as Tae agreed.

“
I know, and I tried to tell her that, but if she really wants out, I’m pretty sure she’ll find a way,” Kim replied as they once again all agreed.

Sam and Gabrielle returned a little while later and the woman’s mood seemed to have improved tremendously. The men began coming back to the table and settling in, sitting beside their respective partners.

“
Sabrina,” Ramell called out.

The waitress materialized moments later as everyone began to order.

“
Bring Jacoury’s usual,” Ramell told her as she nodded and walked toward the bar to get the drinks, then to the kitchen to put in their food orders.

“
Where is Jacoury,” Tariq asked realizing he still hadn’t arrived yet.

“
He should be here in a minute,” Ramell returned. “He’s bringing Tyashia,” he added as everyone grunted.

They’d been here for two weeks and none of them had ever met the woman.

“
He’s definitely keeping her a closely guarded secret,” Mook teased.

“
Baby, you’re not drinking yet,” Shells asked, noticing the sprite Tae ordered.

That wasn’t like her. She normally had some José with a light chaser. Sam and Kaitlyn exchanged glances, smirking. Ramell caught the exchange and called them on it. “What’s up,” he asked looking from Sam to Kaitlyn.

Shells regarded the two women curiously as well. They both gave Tae a look as everyone turned their attention to her too.

“
You heffies can’t keep shit,” she teased before telling Shells she was pregnant.

The smile on his face lit the room as he leaned over and kissed her, telling her how much he loved her.

Jacoury and Tyashia arrived as everyone was laughing and congratulating both Shells and Tae.

“
What we miss,” Jacoury asked as they began to settle down. “Sorry we’re late,” he told them walking around the table. “Everyone this is Tyashia,” he told them as the woman walked from the darkened hallway behind the bar, finally stepping into their line of sight.

“
Are you serious,” Tae managed, the blood draining from her face.

“
What the fuck,” Tariq, Mook and Jaron all mumbled simultaneously.

“
Oh my god,” Kaitlyn breathed quietly, rising and walking to her.

They embraced, hanging on for dear life as their loud sobs began to permeate the room.

“
What am I missing,” Jacoury asked finally as everyone continued to sit quietly.

“
You’re supposed to dead,” Tariq spoke.

His voice was tight and the anger was evident as he looked at her.

“
Back off,” Kaitlyn told him angrily, regarding him now.

“
She’s supposed to be dead,” he said again, stepping toward the two women.

“
Tariq, back off,” Kaitlyn told him once more, her voice cold and deadly.

“
It’s okay, KiKi,” Jaleesa finally spoke, never taking her eyes off Tariq. “I am dead,” she told him calmly. “I can’t ever see my children again, I left Atlanta and my mama, my friends, my life, my sister,” she spoke, looking at Kaitlyn now. “How alive do you think I feel Tariq,” Jaleesa asked.

Tariq continued to regard her taking in what she’d just spoken.

He looked at Kaitlyn and saw her still protectively guarding her best friend. “So you came here and started a new life, lying to this man and my cousin,” Tariq accused. “No,” Jaleesa replied simply. “I changed my name, that’s all,” she went on. “I’ve never lied to Jacoury or Ramell for that matter, I simply never went out of my way to disclose my past,” she told him as Jacoury finally spoke.

“
She told me about her past, about dude beating her ass on the regular, about the shit she used to be into, I just didn’t know she’d done it with you and your crew,” he told Tariq honestly.

Kaitlyn walked over to her husband and looked into his eyes. “Let it go,” she told him softly. “Everyone deserves another chance,” Kaitlyn tried. “Tweety gave LaRon one, and he squandered it. He became everything she’d ever feared, yet you would have her continue to live that existence forever because he was your friend,” she asked as Tariq finally saw how selfish he was being.

Sighing deeply he hugged Kaitlyn tightly, admitting she was right. “I’m sorry Tweety,” Tariq told her, finally looking at her again. “Sorry for all of it,” he added as she smiled slightly and nodded.

With that much settled, Tae rose and came to hug her friend. Everyone once again took their seats and the meeting began.

Epilogue

    
After a year filled with ups and downs, surprises, failures and success, Jalen was starting to feel more comfortable with his role in the enterprise. He still hadn’t killed anyone thankfully, but he could administer a perfectly good beat down and pistol whipping. Chuckling at the thought Jalen headed into the den of his spacious condo, overlooking the waterfront. It was luxuriously furnished with every amenity imaginable.
Being rich really does bring its own rewards,
he thought once more, sipping the bourbon in his hand. Louisiana was proving to be a very lucrative hunting ground for Ian and all the illegal things they were still into. He’d gotten to know Creeper and Pirate much better, as well as their families. Thinking about that brought home to Jalen how lonely he was. He slept with women here and there, but he was thinking he wanted a more permanent arrangement.

         
He pushed the thoughts away for now however. He was still trying to make a reputation for himself in the game, independent of Ian, and he didn’t need any lasting distractions. Jalen sent money to his mother religiously, making sure she was as comfortable as possible in the assisted living facility where she now resided. He’d decided she was too sickly to continue living on her own, though she didn’t think so and fought him tooth and nail, until the day they arrived. Only then did she seem resigned to her fate and stopped fighting him, simply asking that he visit her often. Jalen felt guilty because he hadn’t kept that promise. He’d only seen her maybe three times in the past year. Business kept him completely occupied. The knock at the door broke his thoughts once more as he opened the door and invited Sasha inside. She was his current fling, reminding him a lot of Tae, with her perfectly flawless peach skin, shapely hips and thighs, and beautiful brown eyes. Jalen, unbeknownst to anyone, still secretly had a serious crush on her. He spent a lot of time daydreaming about what if and asking what she saw in the Jamaican she was living with.
Maybe I should find her and show her what she’s missing in life,
he thought understanding finally why Ian continued to brood over Kaitlyn.
A man wants what a man wants,
his mind was wandering.

“
How are you baby,” Sasha purred softly, breaking his thoughts as she started to undress.

“
Much better now,” Jalen replied smiling as he too began to undress, pushing the thoughts of Tae out of his mind for the moment and thanking the fates for his great fortunes.

*****

         
Jaleesa couldn’t help the tears that came when she watched Jacoury playing with their son. She felt wholly blessed to have such a wonderful man in her life, and now God had seen fit to give her another child. She thought about Jashon and Rondé often, knowing she would never see either of her precious children again. They all thought she was dead and with a murder charge still hanging ominously over her head, Jaleesa had to leave it that way. She smiled again, thinking of how sweet Jacoury was. He’d had someone taking pictures of the children and she got updates almost every four or five months. Even though she couldn’t be in their lives physically, she was eternally grateful for any link at all.

         
Jacoury Andreaus Slaughter was a bundle of joy who never gave either of them much trouble from his birth. Jaleesa asked about the middle name and Jacoury explained his and Ramell’s closeness to Talin, their fallen friend. She thought it was a very touching gesture. The baby slept through the night and he seldom cried or fussed unless he was hungry or needed changing. They called him Dre for short and his father doted on him.

“
Hey girl,” Jacoury greeted her, putting the baby down to finish his nap and seeing her standing in the doorway.

“
Hey,” she greeted him back, smiling as he kissed her. “He’s gonna be rotten with you holding him all the time,” she chided gently.

“
No he won’t,” Jacoury returned confidently. “He likes spending time with his daddy,” he threw out as Jaleesa chuckled and told him she was sure.

“
You talk to KiKi today,” he asked walking toward the kitchen, her following.

“
Yeah earlier, she’s fine,” Jaleesa replied as he took out makings for a sandwich. “I was going to cook you know,” she told him as Jacoury chuckled.

“
Don’t have time right now baby,” he replied, kissing her cheek. “Got a meeting, then gotta head to the club,” he added as she shrugged and left him alone.

         
Jacoury called Ramell after Jaleesa left hearing range.

“
Everything set,” he asked as his friend assured him it was.

“
His stupid ass suspects nothing,” Ramell told him chuckling aloud. “He thinks we really want to talk to him about coming back to the club and managing,” he added of David, their former manager.

“
Dummy,” Jacoury replied, biting into his sandwich.

“
Definitely,” Ramell replied.

“
I’ll see you in a few,” Jacoury told him, wrapping the sandwich in a paper towel, grabbing his keys and heading out of the door.

Tonight they were going to end the saga that was David once and for all; making it as painful and bloody as possible.
Teach that muthafucka to steal from us,
Jacoury brooded, cranking the car and heading to the meeting spot.

*****

         
Creeper and Pirate were talking amongst themselves while they relaxed at one of their clubs, enjoying a drink.

“
This shit has turned out better than I ever expected,” Pirate said as Creeper nodded his agreement.

“
I told you hooking up with Ice would be profitable to us,” he threw out as they both got refills.

“
I’m about ready to do some expanding though,” Pirate began anew.

Creeper told him he agreed and they would approach Ian with the idea later. “I mean hell it’s been a year, surely DEA has called off the watchdogs by now,” Creeper said.

“
Got to,” Pirate agreed.

“
Things any better with you and Lila,” he asked sensitively.

Lila was furious finding out Pirate was back in the game. She cooperated long enough to relocate to Louisiana and the heat to die down, then she packed up their son and moved back to Philadelphia.

         
Pirate frowned slightly before speaking. “I think I’m making a little progress,” he told Creeper honestly. “We connected on my last visit,” he added as Creeper nodded slightly.

If they were sleeping together that had to be a good sign, didn’t it, he brooded silently. Truthfully things were pretty precarious at his own house these days. Tamiya wasn’t exactly heralding his return to the game either, but so far she’d stayed put and was trying to make their relationship work.

“
Jalen seems to be coming into his own,” Pirate threw out changing the subject.