Hide & Seek (24 page)

“
What’s your name anyway,” he asked finally as she stood before him still quaking.

“
Enid,” she replied softly looking at the ground.

“
Hmph,” Tate replied. “OK Enid,” he began again as she gave him her attention once more.

“
Come over here, get on your knees,” he instructed as Tyreece grew sick. “Close your eyes and I’ll kill her,” he said simply, freeing his erection and telling Enid to get started.

*****

Kaitlyn once again heard the door open and looked up to find her dinner being brought inside.
What’s this guy’s angle,
she thought. He seemed to always spend more time with her than the rest.
Maybe he has a crush on you,
her mind kicked in as Kaitlyn filed it away not totally dismissing it. If that were the case, she would definitely exploit it to her advantage and get out of here.

“
Thanks,” she replied amiably as the man nodded and moved to the chair sitting down.

Kaitlyn put down her book and moved to the desk, beginning her meal.

“
Thanks for this afternoon too,” she added smiling once more.

Tariq sighed softly, knowing why she was being so friendly. Kaitlyn was plotting. She was probably thinking she could persuade him to let her go, or help her escape.
She’s scared,
his mind told him as he understood and his anger left him. Whipping out the notepad, he scribbled a, your welcome, on the paper and showed it to her.

“
Why don’t you talk to me,” Kaitlyn asked, sitting back in her chair and regarding him.

“
The others do,” she added as he shrugged slightly but said nothing else.

She returned to her dinner, finishing it and heading to the bathroom to wash her hands. Tariq’s mind raced as she left him alone for the few moments. He was still battling whether to tell her the truth and show himself, or stick with his plan and kill Ice first.
What if she trips on you after he’s dead, keeping her here, against her will,
his mind was again tormenting him. Tariq didn’t want to lose her for a second time. It’d almost killed him the first time when he went through all his rehab before scouring the city looking for her, only to find out she’d left with Ice.
You owe it to her to let her choose for herself,
his pesky conscience was at him again. Tariq sighed deeply.
What if it’s him she chooses,
he thought the pain of her possible rejection cutting like a razor through his heart. Kaitlyn walked back into the room stopping directly in front of him. Looking up he regarded her as she continued to watch him wordlessly.

“
Say something,” she barked as Tariq jumped, slightly taken aback by the venom in her voice.

He shook his head no as she sighed deeply and her eyes narrowed.

“
Say something,” she repeated slow and deliberate.

What the hell,
Tariq was trying to figure out. Obviously something was going on in her mind, but he had no idea what.

“
This shit has gotten way old,” Kaitlyn threw out still fully angry. “It took me a minute, but I finally figured the game out,” she went on as Tariq let her talk, still trying to gauge where she was headed with this train of thought.

“
Yet another one of his damned games,” she railed, getting angrier Tariq could tell.

Her statement turned on the light for him. Kaitlyn thought he was working with Ice and this was a set up. Tariq didn’t have time to react to the revelation however as Kaitlyn without warning snatched the mask off revealing his face.

“
Oh my god,” she breathed, both hands clasped over her mouth as she looked into his face and the tears poured down her cheeks.

Tariq began walking toward her as Kaitlyn backed away shaking her head back and forth.

“
Baby, calm down,” he told her softly seeing the shock and disbelief in her eyes. “It’s me,” he added finally getting close enough to touch her. “It’s me baby, it’s OK,” Tariq replied as she finally spoke.

“
I, I, I thought, I thought,” Kaitlyn managed to get out before breaking down completely sobbing deeply as Tariq held her.

“
Shh, baby, its okay,” Tariq told her as she clung tightly to him.

She began to quiet as he picked her up from the floor carrying her to the bed and gently placing her on it.

“
Tariq,” Kaitlyn repeated, her hands still tracing his face as she stared disbelievingly into it. “You’re alive,” she said softly smiling at the revelation.

“
Yes baby, I’m alive,” he replied kissing her gently.

“
What, how, why,” Kaitlyn threw at him all at once.

Tariq sighed slightly rising and going into the bathroom. He came back with a wet cloth and gently cleaned her face. He told her the story of his recovery and what he’d been doing since then.

“
Why didn’t you tell me,” Kaitlyn questioned getting over her initial shock at seeing him.

“
I couldn’t let Ice take you away from me again,” he replied honestly as Kaitlyn saw the hurt.

“
So you kidnapped me and scared the hell outta me,” she asked growing angry.

“
I’m sorry KiKi,” Tariq told her contritely. “I never meant to hurt you,” he added as she sighed deeply.

“
So, I mean, what’s the ultimate goal,” she asked as Tariq never took his eyes from her.

“
To remove Ice and Ryan and run shit,” he told her frankly.

“
You’re gonna kill them,” she asked incredulously.

This was not the Tariq she remembered, not at all.

“
Yes,” he answered bluntly. “I don’t want to talk about that though,” Tariq began anew. “Do you still love me KiKi,” he asked wanting very much to know the answer.

“
Yes, of course,” she replied without hesitation.

“
But you love Ice too don’t you,” he asked as she sighed deeply.

“
Not the same kind of love,” she answered honestly.

“
OK,” Tariq returned deciding he could live with the answer for now.

“
I’m so glad to see you,” Kaitlyn told him, smiling once more as he leaned in and kissed her lips.

All the years of longing came full circle for Tariq as they kissed. He wanted her and his body showed his desire. Kaitlyn reacted with matched fervor, quickly undressing him as he did the same for her. They lay together exploring each other’s bodies as if it were their first time together all over again.

“
You are still so damned fine, KiKi,” Tariq whispered hoarsely his lips finding her hard nipple.

“
Mm, Tariq,” she moaned in response as he went lower and brought her wave after wave of pleasure.

Kaitlyn was oblivious to every other influence outside her realm of reality that Tariq was alive and they were once again together.

“
I’ve wanted to be with you since I brought you here,” he told her honestly as Kaitlyn rolled him over and began licking his stomach gently, taking him into her mouth bringing a deep guttural moan from his lips.

Guiding her head gently Tariq held her to a slow, sensual rhythm. Kaitlyn enjoyed the taste of him as she heard his breathing grow more ragged. Grabbing her hair, Tariq pulled her gently away, pulling her up to his lips as they began to kiss once more. Placing his hands on her hips, Tariq guided her down on his hard manhood, never releasing the kiss they were still sharing. Kaitlyn moaned as they kissed and Tariq began thrusting into her. Breaking the kiss finally, she began riding him vigorously, the first orgasm hitting her hard and fast, saturating his lap.

“
Baby, damn,” Tariq moaned loving the response from her body.

Holding her tightly Tariq rolled her over, taking control of the lovemaking, going even deeper inside her as Kaitlyn cried out his name.

“
So damned good,” Tariq told her taking a breath between each word as he reached his end and she felt the warmth of his finish inside her.

Still breathing hard, Tariq relaxed atop her as Kaitlyn softly stroked his back. Removing himself from her, he pulled her into his arms, still stroking her face gently and kissing her lips as he looked into her eyes. They didn’t speak. There was no need. Everything that needed to be said had already been said as their kisses once again grew passionate and they began making love yet another time.

20

Ryan was up bright and early. Ice called last night filling him in on the all the new developments and the revelations of Kaitlyn’s whereabouts. Today he had to quell all the drama going on here in Mississippi. His first stop was the abandoned mortuary and Tyreece. Enjoying a glass of juice, he heard Caramel coming down the hallway. They’d spent a wonderfully romantic evening together and it was weighing heavily on him this morning. Ryan couldn’t deny what he felt for the woman, nor could he escape the guilt for feeling the way he did.
How are you going to handle this,
he thought just as she made it to the kitchen and said good morning.

“
Hey,” Ryan greeted her looking her over. “What’s wrong,” he asked looking into her face now.

Caramel smiled slightly before answering.

“
Just a little nausea,” she told him softly as Ryan smiled, walking over to her and hugging her close.

“
I’m sorry, baby,” he told her amiably as Caramel smiled back and told him it was okay.

“
Not your fault,” she replied reaching for the saltines.

“
Well it kinda is,” Ryan teased as she opened the package and eyed him silently for a few moments.

“
You know what, you’re right,” Caramel replied smiling as she headed to the fridge and retrieved a bottle of water.

“
I gotta go out for a while,” Ryan told her, walking her back to the master bedroom. “Why don’t you lie back down for a while,” he instructed as Caramel nodded, kissing him goodbye and going into the room as he left, closing the door behind him.

Ryan’s mind was still racing as he drove. He knew what he had to do, but he dreaded it.
I’ve got to find her and make sure she’s safe first,
he thought of Tweety, continuing to ride. He was going to end the relationship. Ryan knew in his heart he wanted to be with the mother of this child. To see his son’s birth, his first step, and to hear his first word was a lifelong dream; something Tweety didn’t share his enthusiasm for.
How are you gonna tell her,
his mind continued to nag. Ryan sighed lightly. Tweety was a big girl. He would simply tell her the truth. He got caught up with Caramel, now she was pregnant, and he wanted to be with her and his son.
You know Tweety is crazy,
he once more thought frowning slightly. He hoped she wouldn’t flip out on him and do anything stupid. As much as Ryan didn’t want to hurt Tweety, he wouldn’t let her hurt Caramel or their baby. Seeing his destination in sight, Ryan pushed the thoughts out of his mind. He had to get things settled here so he could head back to Atlanta. Ice would need him when they made the strike and took out the safe house.
Them fools better not have hurt KiKi,
he thought angrily. Ryan knew Ice was plotting something deadly, vicious, and bloody for these fools, and he couldn’t wait to see what it was. Smiling now, Ryan exited the vehicle and headed inside the mortuary, actually beginning to whistle as he got closer to Tyreece and the embalming room.

*****

“
How many you got with you,” LaRon asked as he and the young man conversed.

“
Three of us, and that’s more than enough,” Xae returned.

LaRon was lining up the finale for Ryan and Tyreece. With the new complications presented, Tariq told him it was time for them to make their move and beat Ice and Ryan to the punch.

“
OK, cool,” LaRon returned. “You know what to do,” he asked as Xae assured him they had everything planned.

“
We bout to make a first run right now as a matter of fact,” he told LaRon as he listened intently.

He once again congratulated himself on picking the young man to take over the operation there. Tyreece was simply a means to an end and he’d now served his purpose.

“
You decided what you gonna do with Tyreece,”

Xae sighed lightly. “If he don’t give us a reason to do him in, he’s straight,” he returned as LaRon grunted his understanding.

“
We’re gonna hit Jazzy’s first,” Xae explained. “That should flush them out into the open,” he went on as LaRon listened intently. “You want him done fast or slow,” Xae asked of Ryan.

“
Take him and hold him,” LaRon instructed. “Then call me,” he added as Xae told him that was cool.

“
Personal hit,” Xae asked once again.

“
Yeah,” LaRon answered simply.

“
That’s straight,” Xae returned. “Makes me no nevermind as long as we get what we agreed on,” he added and LaRon assured him that neither he nor Tariq had any intention of changing the deal.

“
Cool,” Xae threw back. “You care about that other one,” he asked as LaRon frowned slightly and asked who he was referring too.