Thin Ice 5 - Checkmate (2 page)

“
Well I’m definitely well past ready to finish this takeover so we can get to the good stuff,” Santana threw out referring to Ramell and Jacoury.

Brent laughed and told him to be patient. “From the things I’ve seen so far with Ice, it’s going to definitely be worth the wait,” he replied as they made themselves another drink and started the grill waiting for their wives to arrive with the steaks.

*****

“
Man, I’m exhausted,” Tariq told Kaitlyn flopping onto the couch beside her.

The twins were finally asleep and the two of them could relax for a couple of hours.

“
I totally feel you,” Kaitlyn replied sighing deeply herself.

She loved her daughters dearly but they were definitely a handful. The girls had just turned eight months old and were completely active. She wouldn’t have traded it for anything though. As exhausted and sleep deprived as she sometimes was, Kaitlyn absolutely loved the two bundles of joy they had. The girls loved each other’s company as well, already having forged a deep bond with each other.

“
That Tejdra is a mess,” Tariq remarked laughing at the baby’s antics.

They were both crawling and Tejdra’s favorite destination was the kitchen cabinet, emptying the pots she could reach.

“
Yeah and her partner in crime is no better,” Kaitlyn replied of Tajdra.

While her sister distracted their parents to the kitchen, she would crawl into the bathroom pulling the toilet paper from the roll. Tariq chuckled and agreed with her sentiments.

“
God help us when they start walking,” he threw out as they both laughed.

“
You really should go ahead and hire a part time nanny,” Tariq told Kaitlyn.

She sighed slightly not really ready to do that just yet. She couldn’t describe it; Kaitlyn just felt like she was admitting failure as a parent having to hire a nanny.

“
I know what you’re thinking baby,” Tariq told her, seeing the expression on her face. “You have two babies, not one, KiKi,” he went on patiently. “You need the help or you’re going to run yourself ragged.”

Tariq told her he would help as much as he could, but he still had business to take care of and she would be left with most of the chores alone.

“
I know,” Kaitlyn sighed softly.

“
It’s only part time baby,” Tariq tried again as she nodded thoughtfully.

The doorbell disturbed their talk as they both gave each other quizzical glances.

“
Are you expecting someone,” Tariq asked, rising and heading to the front door.

Kaitlyn told him no as he grumbled, grabbing the .9mm from the foyer table and approaching the door. Asking who it was, he opened the front door, gun behind his back as he took in the man standing on the stoop.

“
I have a certified letter for Kaitlyn Taylor,” the man said smoothly.

Tariq told him yes, discreetly putting the gun in his pocket and signing for the letter. “Thank you and have a good day,” the man said once again in parting, turning and walking away.

Tariq returned to the living room, putting the gun up on the mantle out of the girl’s reach and handed Kaitlyn the letter.

“
What is this,” she mumbled seeing only a return address but no name.

She ran her finger under the tab beginning to open the envelope when they heard the small whimper.

“
I’ll go check,” Tariq told Kaitlyn rising and heading into the nursery to check on the twins.

She continued with the envelope finally opening it and removing the thick packet contained. Kaitlyn unfolded the documents and began to read, her breathing becoming erratic as her mind digested what her eyes were seeing.

“
No,” she screamed jumping from the couch. “Hell fucking no,” she yelled again as Tariq immediately returned to the den.

The fury was etched on her face as she continued to read, dropping each page to the floor as she finished. Tariq picked up the pages and began to read for himself, becoming more and more incredulous with each line.

“
What the fuck is this, KiKi,” he asked angrily, his eyes blazing as they bore into her own. “Is this bullshit true,” he yelled as Kaitlyn returned the stare and he saw the anger mingled with hurt and remorse in her eyes.

“
Yes,” she said simply and Tariq stopped breathing.

“
I’m going to call our attorney,” Tariq snapped as Kaitlyn remained mute. “I’m going to let him handle this shit, but you and I are going to sit down and have one helluva long talk,” he told her his tone tense and tight.

Kaitlyn nodded shortly and Tariq turned without another word leaving the room.

Kaitlyn continued to brood over the content of the letter she’d received. Some way, somehow, Ian had found out about Tajdra and now he was suing her for full custody of the child.
How the fuck did he find out about her,
she was worrying, the anger rising as she thought of the drama Ian was once again raining on her life. She also thought about Tariq and the lies and secrets of the past year. Now everything had been ripped open and she would have to tell him the truth. Tell him about her personality issues, about Ian taking advantage of her when she was not herself. Most of all Kaitlyn had to pray he believed her and that this didn’t destroy their family. She also thought about Ian and the very real possibility that some judge would be stupid enough to give him her daughter.
I won’t ever let that shit happen,
Kaitlyn thought, not above killing Ian to assure that she kept her word.

“
We’re going to see him in a couple hours,” Tariq told her concerning the attorney, returning to the room. “I called Tae, she’s going to watch the girls,” he informed her.

Kaitlyn heard the anger in his voice still as he continued to regard her.

“
I need to know just what the fuck is going on KiKi,” Tariq told her. “So you need to start at the beginning, and this time, don’t leave shit out.”

Sighing deeply and swallowing hard, Kaitlyn opened her mouth and began to speak.

2

Ray was preparing documentation for the upcoming custody trial when his phone rang. Sighing lightly he answered, seeing the court clerk’s number appearing.

“
There has been a postponement granted,” Nikki informed him.

Nicolette ‘Nikki’ Whitten was Ray’s executive legal assistant. She’d been with him for the past five years and proven herself invaluable. Ray loved her attention to detail and fact finding skills. Nikki was extremely analytical and she weighed every side of the equation before moving in any direction. She was also extremely attractive. Ray loved statuesque women and she stood a good 5’9”, possibly 5’10”, tiny waist, ample hips and a butt made for gripping. She also had an exceptionally pretty face and beautiful breasts as well. He never indulged however. Ray had learned long ago not to mix business with pleasure anymore.

“
Who signed,” he asked simply.

“
Judge Murdock,” Nikki told him hearing her boss sigh deeply once again.

“
How long a postponement,” he asked, his mind already working ahead.

“
Two months,” she again replied simply.

“
Humph,” Ray replied as Nikki smiled slightly on her end.

She knew his wheels were turning; now she just awaited instruction.

“
Fine,” Ray returned. “File a petition for immediate visitation, unsupervised,” he added as Nikki nodded and answered she would immediately draft the documents and get them to the courthouse before 5:00 today.

Ray again thanked her for her expertise and told her he would see her tomorrow morning. Disconnecting he continued to deliberate about the upcoming case. He already knew it was going to be an all-out war. After learning from Nikki that Kaitlyn and Tariq had retained Akil Dorsey, one of the most prominent custody attorneys in the country, he knew he had to definitely be on his game.
Nikki and those two master’s degrees are going to be put to their full usage this go around,
Ray thought of his assistant’s credentials. He picked up his cell and dialed Ian letting him know where they stood.

“
Will they grant visitation,” he asked, still annoyed at the delay but trying to stay focused.

“
Yes, but I’m pretty sure Dorsey will fight the unsupervised portion,” Ray told him honestly.

“
Hmph, that might not be so bad either,” Ian replied as Ray asked him to elaborate. “I’m pretty sure that KiKi will bring her, so it gives me an opportunity to see her as well,” Ian explained. “It will also open the door to us having to talk about the child we share,” he finished as Ray told him he may be right.

“
How are things going with the ventures,” Ray asked changing the subject.

Ian told him everything was moving according to schedule.

“
I think the boys are having an excellent time,” he added of Brent and Santana.

Ray chuckled telling him he believed they were as well.

“
Utopia is next on my list,” Ian told him as Ray again acknowledged his understanding.

“
The owner is a cream puff from what I’m told,” Ray advised.

Ian chuckled telling him he’d gotten the same report. “I’ll be taking that over by the weekend,” he informed.

Ray told him he believed him, going back to their original conversation. “Nikki will have the paperwork filed today, so I can press Murdock to rule by tomorrow,” he told Ian.

“
That’s good, I’d like to see my daughter this weekend,” he told Ray.

“
I’m definitely going to do all I can to ensure that happens,” Ray replied. “I’ll call you as soon as I get word tomorrow.”

Ian replied he would be waiting and disconnected. Ray made himself another drink and called Nero. He needed some ammunition for this one and if there was one person who could find what he needed, it was his right hand. The man answered on the second ring as Ray informed him what he needed and how quickly he needed it. Nero as usual gave his word Ray would receive his request and disconnected. Ray rose and headed to the shower. He was having dinner with Dexter and Corinne tonight.

*****

Tariq and Kaitlyn returned home feeling a bit more hopeful after their visit with Akil. He’d immediately filed for a postponement and gotten it. Now they had time to prepare their case and get everything in order. Tariq hadn’t said a word the entire drive there or back. He thanked Tae when they arrived home and headed directly to the twins room. Kaitlyn hugged her friend promising to call her later and tell her everything. Tae graciously told her okay and left the house. Emerging moments after Tae left, Tariq headed to the bar and made himself a drink. Coming back to the living room he sat down in the oversized recliner and regarded his wife as he drank.

“
So,” he began his tone still tense and angry. “Tell me just how the fuck Ian’s child ended up in your womb, and my house.”

Kaitlyn sighed deeply. She knew he was angry and he had every right to be. She only hoped he wasn’t so angry he didn’t hear her when she explained everything that happened. She began by telling him about her blackouts and how long she’d been enduring them.

“
I would come to myself and be places I had no recollection of going,” Kaitlyn told him as Tariq continued to drink and listen. “They were just gaps in my mind, I couldn’t figure out what was happening to me,” Kaitlyn told him as he again continued to watch her mutely.

“
When I finally realized I was with Ice, he told me I’d been with him for the past three days,” Kaitlyn told Tariq. “I didn’t remember anything after the man dragging me to the hospital basement and Ice stepping out of the shadows,” Kaitlyn explained honestly.

“
So you had sex with him during one of these supposed black outs,” Tariq questioned.

“
Yes,” Kaitlyn replied, hearing the cynicism in his voice. “I swear I don’t remember any of that.”

Tariq simply sighed, waving her onward with the explanation. Kaitlyn told him she never suspected anything was amiss with her pregnancy until her doctor made the innocent remark.

“
It kept nagging at me, and nagging at me, so I started doing research,” she continued to explain.

Kaitlyn assured Tariq from the beginning she believed both twins were his.

“
When did you know,” he asked evenly.

“
When we got the last ultrasound, right before they were born,” she answered again honestly.

“
How,” Tariq responded.

“
Tajdra’s birthmark, it’s almost identical to Ice’s,” Kaitlyn said quietly as he again rumbled slightly, rising and making himself yet another drink; adding an extra shot of vodka this time.

“
And you didn’t think that was something you should have told me, your husband, the supposed father of your babies,” Tariq drilled.

Kaitlyn took another breath. Tariq was angrier than she’d ever seen him and it scared the hell out of her. She loved him without question and she’d definitely never meant to hurt him.

“
I didn’t want you to hate her, to treat her differently,” Kaitlyn defended.

Tariq sucked his teeth. “I’m not that fuckin’ petty KiKi,” he accused. “Tajdra is my fuckin’ daughter, seed or not,” he growled angrily. “Secrets have once again brought us nothing but pain and chaos,” he told her as Kaitlyn immediately grew defensive.