Hide & Seek (51 page)

*****

Tariq was surprised to hear the music already as he arrived at the house and let himself in. He’d fully expected to have to come home and get everything started himself for the barbeque tonight. He’d planned the gathering as a means of helping Kaitlyn get back into the swing of life. After talking to Mook the other evening and discussing some of the issues he and his wife were having, his friend suggested submerging her back into the scene with the simple gathering, surmising that if Kaitlyn were surrounded by family and friends, it might help her get past the grief and live again. Smiling as he watched his wife dancing along to the music while marinating the ribs, Tariq couldn’t help but think Mook was absolutely right. He hadn’t seen her this animated and complete in months.

“
Hey baby,” Tariq greeted her as Kaitlyn turned to him still smiling.

“
Hi,” she replied happily walking over and kissing him softly.

Tariq returned the kiss taking the time to gently caress her face. He loved this woman so much and her being in pain all these months was killing him.

“
Did you get everything,” Kaitlyn asked, peering into the bags he’d placed on the counter. “Yeah,” Tariq replied, adding that the alcohol was being delivered in about an hour or so.

“
Good,” Kaitlyn replied, sipping the drink again.

Tariq noticed the brown liquor and frowned slightly but said nothing. It wasn’t a crime that she was drinking and she was happy, so he decided not to address it.

“
Well, all the meat is marinating, and I’ve made the kabobs and put them in the fridge,” Kaitlyn told him as Tariq continued to gaze lovingly in her face, loving the life he saw there now.

“
Tweety’s gonna help me with the salads when her and Deuce get here,” she added as Tariq nodded his understanding.

“
I’m sorry baby,” Kaitlyn told him as she sipped her drink again. “I’ve been so rude, do you want a drink,” she asked as Tariq smiled slightly and pulled her into his arms.

“
Not right now,” he told her softly as he kissed her lips gently.

Pulling away, he looked into her eyes as Kaitlyn smiled back at him, and stepped closer kissing him once more. Holding her tightly, Tariq kissed his wife passionately, his longing apparent as both their breathing became labored.

“
I want you so much,” he told her softly as he continued to hold her and stroke her back. “Can we make love KiKi, please,” Tariq asked quietly in her ear, kissing her neck gently.

Fully expecting her to pull away at this point, he was eternally grateful she didn’t. Without a word, Kaitlyn took his hand and led him to their bedroom. As soon as they were inside, clothing flew off as they attacked each other in a heated frenzy of activity.

“
Shit,” Tariq murmured as Kaitlyn pushed him back on their bed and took his erection in her mouth, pleasing him as she worked him aggressively.

Tariq was breathing hard trying to take his mind off how good his wife’s mouth felt on him. He didn’t want to finish and not get a chance to make love to her. Today was an answer to his prayer and he wasn’t about to shortchange himself or Kaitlyn. Pulling her away, Tariq pulled his wife up to him and began kissing her as his hands roamed her body freely.

“
KiKi, mmm,” he murmured once more rolling her on her back as his mouth slowly made its way down her body.

“
Aah, Tariq,” Kaitlyn moaned softly as she felt his tongue for the first time greedily sampling her wet offering.

As she enjoyed her husband, Kaitlyn let herself go. She surrendered every dark thought and contemplation, focusing solely on the man loving her. Tariq heard her sigh deeply and felt her body convulse lightly letting him know she’d reached orgasm. Taking his time caressing her again as he returned to her lips, Tariq kissed her deeply, gently parting her legs and sliding inside her as they both uttered deep guttural moans at their joining.

“
Baby, I’ve missed you so much,” Tariq told her honestly as he continued to thrust deeply into her and Kaitlyn allowed him full access.

“
Yes, right there, oh god,” Kaitlyn breathed as yet another orgasm ripped through her and she pulled Tariq deeper into her being.

His pace began to increase and she felt his erection stiffen even more alerting Kaitlyn her husband was almost at his end. Tariq buried his face in her neck, breathing harder as he held her tightly, pushing himself as deep inside her as he could and releasing his seed. Kaitlyn gasped as she felt her husbands finish, her own orgasm descending simultaneously.
Oh god,
she thought as realization hit her. Kaitlyn didn’t want to get pregnant again. She was terrified of losing another child.
Please don’t let that happen
,
she thought while Tariq continued to kiss her neck softly. Absently Kaitlyn stroked his back as she made a mental note to see her doctor and get fitted for an IUD.

*****

LaRon was trying not to lose him temper and kill the woman standing in front of him going off on yet another tangent.

“
I ain’t gonna be in the fuckin’ dark, Deuce,” Kysha growled angrily rolling her neck as she stood, hand on her hip addressing the man she was five months pregnant from. “Me and this baby deserve as much as that bitch you livin’ with,” she spat nastily referring to Jaleesa.

LaRon sighed deeply. Kysha Brown was a mistake he prayed everyday he could erase and wished to God he’d never made. She worked for them at Mardi Gras as a waitress. They’d flirted off and on, but nothing serious. That all changed after Jaleesa miscarried and LaRon found himself blaming her for the loss. Kysha had been there to comfort him and support him in his self pity. They’d only kissed at first. Then she gave him head as he returned the favor. They finally connected after a celebrity birthday bash at the club. LaRon admittedly was drunk off his ass that night, but he knew better.

“
Kysha, what the fuck do you want from me,” he threw back, tired of the games.

She’d promised to get an abortion two months ago. LaRon again kicked himself for being stupid enough to trust her and not go with her to the clinic. She didn’t tell him until she was four months gone that she’d changed her mind. Now he was subject to any and every demand Kysha made if the didn’t want Jaleesa to find out about his cheating and leave him, taking their son with her.

“
I want you to make a home for me and this baby, to be with us, and not that bitch,” Kysha returned jealously.

She was in love with LaRon and the paper he made. She wanted the big house, the money and jewels she saw Jaleesa laced with when she came to the club. Now she had the means to secure it and she wasn’t letting go until she got what she wanted.

“
You already know I’m not leaving my son,” LaRon told her, beginning to see red again.

“
You don’t hafta leave Jashon,” Kysha told him. “I think he’s a great little boy, I have no problem being his mama,” she added arrogantly as LaRon sighed deeply once again.

“
Jashon has a mama,” he replied as Kysha sucked her teeth and rolled her eyes again.

“
So what you gonna do Deuce,” she threw out regarding him once more, hand on hip, attitude full blown.

“
How I even know this damned baby is mine,” he replied, earning him a slap from Kysha.

Reflex prevailed and he slapped her back, knocking her to the floor.

“
No the fuck you didn’t hit me and I’m pregnant,” Kysha screamed. “Oh, I’ma have your ass locked up,” she yelled grabbing her cell from the table beside her.

“
Wait baby, I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” LaRon told her hurriedly as Kysha eyed him angrily.

“
I didn’t mean to hurt you,” he told her softly, scooping her up from the floor and carrying her to the bedroom of her tiny apartment.

LaRon hated coming here. It reminded him of all the poverty he’d worked so hard to get away from. The apartment was old and unkempt. The paint peeled from the awnings outside. The windows allowed the cold air to seep in during the winter months, making the inside almost as cold as the outside. Her walls were paper thin and every sound seemed to permeate throughout. Kysha herself was a terrible housekeeper. The apartment was always dirty and littered with fast food containers, half used weave packages, hair glue, dirty clothes and empty beer bottles.

“
I’m sorry, okay,” LaRon told her softly, reeling his mind in as he kissed her lips and Kysha smiled back at him. “I would never hurt you or the baby,” LaRon continued to convince her as Kysha began undoing his pants, letting him know what she expected in return for her forgiveness. LaRon went through the motions, undressing her and caressing her to readiness, before entering her and having sex with her. His mind was in continual motion as he thrust into her and Kysha moaned her pleasure. He had to think of a way out of this mess without Jaleesa ever finding out. Kysha was a mistake, but he was determined not to let her or a kid he didn’t want, or even fully believe was him, make him lose the love of his life and the child they’d made together.

“
Mm Deuce, damn,” Kysha moaned aloud again breaking his thought.

LaRon closed his eyes, imagining his wife as he pounded the pregnant woman beneath him, finally fantasizing himself to orgasm and pulling out just in time.

“
Why you do that,” Kysha asked breathlessly. “I’m already pregnant, Deuce,” she reminded him as she closed her eyes and drifted off.

LaRon lay catching his breath, the hate inside him building as the awaiting disaster that lay beside him began to snore.

*****

Mook and Kim were readying themselves to leave for the gathering. As happy as she was about seeing Tariq again, Kim was trying to set her mind to deal with his wife. Kim had never cared for Kaitlyn. She was a complete tramp as far as Kim was concerned. Sleeping with Ice and then getting with Tariq. Still her former boss loved the woman without question, and since she wasn’t one for starting drama, Kim decided to put her best foot forward to try her best to make the evening pleasant.

“
You look cute,” Mook told her coming into the bedroom and taking her in. Kim was wearing a multi-color halter, matching it with teal knee shorts and cute yellow and teal stack sandals.

All the accessories complimented the outfit as the multi color hoops dangled from her ears.

“
You look pretty sexy yourself,” Kim commented back taking in her husband’s physique in the body molding tee and jean shorts he wore. Looking at the jeans she noticed the weighted pockets and gave Mook a look. “Baby, we’re going to a barbeque,” she told him. Mook smiled and told her he knew that.

Sighing lightly, Kim let the conversation go. In all the years they’d been together, she couldn’t remember a time when he didn’t leave the house armed. Even going to church, he insisted on carrying the gun in the car. She smiled slightly recalling how long she’d had to work at convincing him he didn’t need a gun inside a house of worship.

“
You reached Dixon yet,” Kim asked recalling they still hadn’t heard from the man since arriving. “Yeah, this morning,” Mook replied applying his cologne and slipping on his chain. “He’s at his family reunion,” he continued as Kim grabbed her purse. “He’ll hook up with us later tonight or in the morning,” Mook finished, coming over and kissing her lips softly. “Let’s go enjoy some good food and good people,” Mook threw out jovially as Kim chuckled and agreed heading to the lobby of the hotel with him.

Please help me get through this evening and through being around Top’s wife,
Kim prayed silently as the elevator reached the lobby and they walked outside to the waiting cab, climbing inside and giving him their destination.

Mook was in deep thought as they rode. He hadn’t shared everything with Kim, surmising she only needed to have limited knowledge of what was going on.
I knew he should have killed that muthafucka,
Mook thought of Tariq’s admission that Ian was no longer locked up in the mental hospital. Unfortunately the people Tariq had in place were facing incarceration themselves and no longer privy to any information that would have been useful. All they knew was he’d been released over a year ago, but that was it. Mook knew though. He felt in the very recesses of his being that Ian was close and he was making plans. This time when they all met up again, Armageddon would indeed take place. That was the true nature of the business that Tariq had requested his presence for. They were on the offensive, trying to find Ian before he could make any move and wreak any havoc. Unfortunately the man had a year’s head start on them.

“
Baby,” Kim called out shaking Mook’s thought.

Looking up he noticed they were at their destination. Getting out, Mook paid the cab and thanked him as the man nodded and drove off.

“
Now what were you so deep in thought about,” Kim asked, watching him closely.

“
Nothing baby,” Mook returned, forcing cheerfulness to his voice.

She didn’t believe him, but Kim knew the time would come later for her to find out, so she again didn’t push. Everyone relaxed and temporarily forgot any issues when Tariq answered the door smiling and invited them both inside

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