Thin Ice 4 - Resurrections (38 page)

*****

Brent and Santana were talking amongst themselves about their new partner and how much they liked his style.

“
I told you that he was ruthless,” Brent told Santana who chuckled and told him he saw that.

They’d gone on a hit last night. One of the top bosses, Crypt, who owned a saloon Ian wanted, refused to sell or fall in line with the organization. The three men decided they would pay him a visit and see if he could be convinced to change his mind.

“
He was obviously stupid,” Santana threw out speaking of Crypt.

The man had been adamant about his refusal even after Ian diplomatically explained he wouldn’t be losing anything, simply making a new alliance.

“
With that shit flowing out of his mouth, hell he had to be,” Brent concurred.

Crypt made the mistake of insulting Ian telling him he didn’t do deals with backwoods country bumpkins, especially short, backwoods country bumpkins.

“
Bet that ass is eating them words now,” Santana replied as they recalled Ian killing the man.

Before anyone could react Ian’s hand whipped across Crypt’s throat, the blood gushing from the clean cut made by the razor blade hidden discreetly between his fingers. Ian had then proceeded to bludgeon the man to death with a pool cue, breaking it three times as he continued to beat the man. When Ian’s rage finally subsided, Crypt’s face was unrecognizable.

“I was thrilled to hear about his plans for that crew in Indiana,” Brent told Santana.

“
Yeah, we still got a score to settle with them two fools, Ramell and Jacoury,” he added coldly.

Brent grunted and agreed.

“
He tried to contact Necie again,” Santana asked giving Brent a look.

“
Not for a few years now,” he replied evenly.

Brent was still angry that Jacoury had been in contact with Necie even after they were married. He’d written her a few times pleading for forgiveness, asking for a chance at friendship, even going so far once as to ask her to send him pictures of Diamond. Brent definitely wanted to close the man’s eyes forever. Now he had the perfect partner to accomplish it. Granted Ian’s beef was with this guy Top, Jacoury ran with him, so that made him a target as well.

“
When is Ice gonna make a move on Utopia,” Santana asked, changing Brent’s thoughts once again.

Utopia was one of the more upscale clubs found in the city. Everyone who was anyone was always there.

“
Should be soon, Shaft trifling ass won’t be hard to remove,” Brent replied of the owner.

Phillip “Shaft” Roundtree was the owner of the club. He got his nickname from supposedly favoring the actor who played Shaft and sharing the same last name. Everyone knew he was more flash than substance and both Brent and Santana knew with just the right pressure he would cave.

“
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.

“
Its 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 grunted, 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 cleared his throat, 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, some how, 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 brooding, 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.