Thin Ice 5 - Checkmate (16 page)

*****

Pirate was enjoying his time with CJ as they all hung out in the hotel room. It was still early afternoon. They were going to the movies later then come back to the room and get a good night’s sleep. Gyp was headed back in the morning after they dropped him off at the bus station, and they were headed to the Bayou. His cell rang and he glanced at the display seeing Lila’s name. Guessing she wanted to check on their son, he answered.

“
Wassup,” Pirate threw into the phone.

“
Pirate, can you come get me please,” Lila managed words severely slurred from the swollen mouth Mighty left her with when he beat her.

“
You drunk,” Pirate asked, catching the slur.

“
No,” she replied simply. “Please, just drop me off at the bus station if you want,” Lila implored. “But don’t leave me here,” she added as he heard a loud crash.

“
Who you on the phone with bitch,” Mighty growled as Lila screamed again and Pirate heard the phone hit the floor.

He motioned Creeper, telling Gyp to stay put as they headed out the door and to Lila’s. The phone never disconnected as Pirate listened to Mighty beat her and Lila begged for mercy again and again. The final humiliation came when Pirate heard the man forcing her to perform oral sex.

“
Don’t act new bitch, suck it like you always do,” Mighty laughed nastily as they turned onto her street, five minutes from her house.

Craze saw them speeding toward him and quickly called his boss.

“
What,” Mighty barked into the handset, having just shot his load in Lila’s mouth, still breathing heavily.

“
Get out, trouble,” Craze said simply as Mighty quickly zipped his pants, kicked her hard to the stomach once more and walked out the door, jumping into his Benz, and peeling away from the curb.

Pirate told Creeper to follow him, they would come back and check on Lila after they caught him and whipped his ass. Craze tried to follow but the CTA, Chicago’s city bus, pulled directly in front of him, the driver getting off and leaving the bus parked while he went inside his condo to retrieve something he forgot. Cursing he called Mighty and told him the men were on his tail. Mighty checked his rearview and saw the SUV bearing down on him. Making a sharp right, he turned on North Avenue; it would take him downtown and away from all the drama. Pressing the gas the Benz shot forward as the SUV followed suit and closed the gap. Pirate told Creeper to slow down and he acted without question. Turning, he saw what captured Pirate’s attention. Mighty was going too fast to stop as the light turned from yellow to red. Blowing through the signal, he never saw the semi as it plowed into him, the car imploding on impact. Surmising the man could never survive a hit like that Creeper and Pirate turned the truck around and headed back to Lila’s.

14

Jalen smiled at the act he pulled off the night before talking to Ian. True he had been in Overton Park, but it was simply to get more clothes and money. He was parked once again outside of Tae’s house. He’d been watching her for the last two weeks, closer than usual, finally realizing Shells was out of town. Today however, he had plans to finally reunite with her. Glancing at his watch he saw it was after 11:00AM. As was her usual routine, Jalen waited for Tae to pull out of the driveway and take Aidan to the park. He’d learned the child’s name after following her on another occasion and eavesdropping on her conversation with another mother present. Right on schedule the garage lifted and he saw the Silver Lexus truck backing out. Jalen started his own vehicle and casually pulled away from the curb, following at a discreet distance. He saw the child’s arms waving around as he obviously sang along to whatever cartoon was playing on the DVD screen in front of him.

Knowing the route they were taking, Jalen was preparing himself for the maneuver he had in mind to get Tae pulled over to the side of the road. He saw her on her cell phone and hoped she wasn’t talking to Shells. He wanted to snatch her quickly and quietly without anyone being the wiser she was gone yet. Seeing her disconnect and put the phone down, Jalen breathed a sigh of relief. They were passing a fairly deserted stretch of road, and he knew it was time to make his move. Speeding up Jalen intentionally rammed the back of the SUV, denting the bumper. Tae hit the brakes, pulling the truck over immediately. Jalen smiled as he slowed behind her, pulling the baseball cap down over his face with the sunglasses he wore and waited for her to get out. Cell in hand, Tae jumped from the truck and walked to the back, examining the damage.

“
I can’t believe this jackass just hit me girl,” she told Kaitlyn animatedly.

Her cell had just begun ringing when the accident happened.

“
Where are you,” Kaitlyn asked, curiously.

Tae told her and asked her to hold on while she talked to the man since he was getting out now.

Tae still held the phone in her hand, but down near her waist, as she approached Jalen.

“
What were you doing,” she asked angrily, walking up on the man.

“
Wait! what the hell?!” Tae yelled just as the Taser connected with her body and she screamed, before passing out. Kaitlyn heard the commotion and picked up the cordless phone in her house, calling Tariq.

“
Something’s going down with Tae,” she yelled as soon as he answered.

Tariq questioned her, getting a location and telling her he and Mook were on their way.

Jalen caught her before she hit the ground. She was still semi-conscious, but weak enough for him to lift and put her into the car. Securing her in the backseat, Jalen belted her in, cuffed her hands, tying her feet before returning to her truck. Taking the entire seat with the child still inside, he placed it inside his own vehicle, securing it as well. Jalen made one last trip to the truck, removing the diaper bag and Tae’s purse. Satisfied, he started the car and made a U-turn, driving off toward his destination. The black Hummer sped past him moments later in the opposite direction, Mook and Tariq inside, guns loaded heading for the now abandoned SUV.

*****

Pirate checked on CJ once more, finding him still asleep. He’d managed to stay awake almost the entire trip back, asking a million questions. Smiling at the memory Pirate turned and headed to his own bedroom, opening the door and coming inside. Lila was making her way out of the bathroom, stopping in her tracks as their eyes connected.

“
You straight,” Pirate asked, referring to her body.

She’d taken quite a beating from Mighty and still had the black eye and bruises to prove it. Thankfully the swelling had gone done from the ice packs she’d kept on her face as they rode.

“
A little sore, but I’ll be okay,” she replied softly. “Thank you again, Craig,” she added as Pirate humped shortly but said nothing more.

Making her way back to the bed, Lila sat down on the side of it. Pirate sat in the arm chair positioned by the window, glancing out as he began talking to her again.

“
How you hook up with a loser like him,” he asked calmly, referring to Mighty.

“
Met him at a party and got sucked in by his smooth rap,” Lila replied honestly.

Pirate grumbled again, remaining quiet a few moments more.

“
Why you chase this fool to Chicago,” he began once more.

Taking a cavernous breath, Lila finally told him the truth; every embarrassing, belittling, portion of it. She told him about the parties, the extravagant spending, and the gambling.

“
All you had to do was call and ask me for money Lila,” Pirate told her patiently.

Her eyes immediately filled with tears as she looked up at him once again.

“
I didn’t want you to take CJ away from me,” she spoke softly, almost at a whisper.

“
I couldn’t have my son on the street Lila, come on now,” Pirate returned slightly edgy.

“
I know,” Lila replied. “I guess that’s why I jumped at the offer when Mighty made it,” she added tiredly.

“
He hit you like that all the time,” Pirate asked, changing the subject somewhat.

Lila sighed, nodding yes. “But I didn’t have anywhere to go, no money, nothing,” she told him. “So I endured and kept a roof over my head.”

Pirate sat up in the chair, looking her directly in the eye as he spoke.

“
Bullshit,” he told her evenly.

Lila swallowed hard, knowing he was angry.

“
All you had to do was come home Lila,” he went on his voice rising slightly. “I’ve been begging you for months to come home, to make us a family again,” Pirate told her. “But you would rather go to Chicago, get your ass whipped on a daily basis, and treated like shit, than to do that,” he questioned giving her a look. “How fucked up is that?”

Lila wiped the errant tear as it rolled down her cheek, hating the pain she heard mingled with the anger as Pirate continued to glare at her.

“
You ever fuck him raw, and don’t lie to me,” he snapped.

Lila told Pirate honestly she never slept with Mighty without a condom, ever.

“
I guess I just always knew he was with someone else, and I didn’t want to catch shit, or get pregnant from his ass,” Lila replied irritably.

Pirate nodded his understanding.

“
I had an AIDS test last month and everything was fine,” Lila added, needing him to believe her.

As much as she didn’t feel she deserved it, Lila wanted Pirate to give her another chance. She’d seen the error of her ways and if God allowed him to take her back, she would never leave him again.

“
So what’s your plan now,” Pirate asked. “CJ is staying here, so that’s not even an issue, but what do you want to do?”

Swallowing her pride and taking a breath, Lila raised her eyes to meet his again finally and spoke.

“
I want to stay and hopefully make it right between us again,” she replied timidly.

Pirate’s heart leapt when she said the words, but he didn’t allow it show outwardly. Instead he sat back in the chair again and regarded her quietly, without comment.

“
I know I’ve hurt you Craig,” Lila began again, taking his silence for rejection. “But I’m sorry, and I do love you so much,” she went on, beginning to cry now. “I was really stupid Craig, really stupid, to think someone like Mighty would ever love me and CJ the way you did,” Lila told him, breaking finally and sobbing deeply.

Pirate rose wordlessly and walked to the bed, sitting down beside her and putting his arms around her. Lila clung to him, praying he wouldn’t reject her and send her away. He gently lifted her chin and kissed her softly, before speaking.

“
Are you sure this is the life you want Lila, and I’m the man you wanna live it with,” Pirate asked. “I can’t take you running off on me again cause shit gets hot,” he added as she sighed.

“
I know,” Lila replied, laying her head on his chest. “And yes Craig, I’m sure,” she added before he kissed her again and their passion ignited.

Lila clung to him as Pirate made love to her and she thanked God for hearing her prayer.

*****

Tae’s head was pounding when she opened her eyes. Blinking a few times to clear the cobwebs she looked around panicking, until she saw Aidan asleep on the bed next to her.
What the fuck is going on,
she thought angrily, reaching for her purse, also laying on the bed next to the baby and his diaper bag. Hoping they hadn’t searched it, Tae rambled inside looking for the .25 she carried. It was of course gone.

“
Fuck,” she swore aloud.

From the layout of the room she knew they were in a hotel, it was the where that was still a mystery. Hearing the door open, she steeled herself to fight for hers and Aidan’s lives if need be. Jalen walked in to find her awake and standing protectively over her baby.

“
Relax Tae, I’m not going to hurt you or Aidan,” he told her calmly as her mouth dropped.

She immediately recognized him, thinking Ian was behind her abduction.

“
Jalen, what the fuck,” she asked angrily.

“
Calm down,” he told her quietly, with a slight edge to his voice.

Remembering her child was there, she did as he asked taking a deep breath and blowing it out slowly.

“
Why is Ice tripping and having you snatch me,” Tae asked carefully.

Jalen frowned slightly before answering her.

“
Ice had nothing to do with this,” he told her irritably. “I am capable of thought without him you know,” he added hotly.

Tae sensed the tension and immediately apologized.

“
I’m sorry Jalen, it’s just that taking someone is normally an Ice move,” she told him calmly.

Grousing, he waved the conversation away, asking if she were hungry. Wanting to stay on his good side until she could figure out a way to get her and Aidan away from him, Tae told him yes, accepting some of the Chinese food he’d brought back to the room.

“
I got Aidan some toddler snacks and entrée’s,” Jalen told her, showing her the items in the small mini fridge. “You can heat them in the microwave,” he added as Tae nodded and sat with him to eat the Chinese.

Her mind raced as they ate.
Why would Jalen snatch me, what the hell is he thinking,
she continued to brood as they finished and he cleaned up their trash.