Thin Ice 7 - Echoes of Reckoning by KR BANKSTON Read Free Book Online Page A

he replied knowing Ian hated being called his little brother.
    “ OK, but be careful,” Ian threw back ignoring the other part of his statement.
    Ryan chuckled aloud when his text vibrated and interrupted his revelry. Ian saw him check the text, another small smile on his lips, delete it and put the phone back on the table.
    “ You’re not going to share,” Ian inquired as Ryan looked him in the eye again, mischief written on his face.
    “ Nope, then I’d hafta kill you,” he replied bursting into laughter as Ian chuckled with him and continued sipping his drink.
    *****
    “ Are you coming home for dinner,” Cyiarra asked as Tariq readied himself to leave her presence.
    “ Probably not,” he replied simply.
    She knew from the tone he was still pissed about her taking his phone two weeks ago. Cyiarra wasn’t stupid though and she didn’t tell him about her call to his lover. Obviously the woman had gotten the message since she hadn’t called again after that day. Ashamed as she was to admit it Cyiarra sneakily checked his phone every night when he went to sleep.
    “ Tariq, I told you it was an accident my taking your phone,” she tried apologizing once more.
    He was being even more distant now, barely touching her more than the two times they’d made love when they first arrived in Atlanta.
    “ I said it was straight, so let it go,” he replied finally looking up and meeting her eyes.
    Cyiarra swallowed hard and nodded without speaking. Tariq brushed by her and grabbed his .9mm, putting it in his pocket before heading out of the front door without a goodbye, a hug, or kiss. Feeling the tears Cyiarra headed into the kitchen to busy herself with more unpacking.
    Her cell went off and she answered seeing Layla’s name on the caller ID.
    “ Hey girl,” she greeted her friend hoping she wasn’t sounding as sad as she felt right now.
    “ Hey chick,” Layla chirped happily. “Guess what,” she threw out giggling.
    Her laughter was contagious and Cyiarra found herself giggling as well.
    “ What,” she managed trying to control the laughter.
    “ I got the transfer,” Layla gushed as Cyiarra squealed in earnest now.
    Her friend had applied for, and now gotten, a transfer to her company’s Atlanta office. Now she wouldn’t be alone and feeling totally helpless with her problems. Kim normally talked and spent time with her, but since they’d been back in Atlanta her time had been taken getting all the operations up and running. Times like this showed Cyiarra how far outside of Tariq’s internal circle she really was when it came to his business dealings.
    “ Girl that is great,” she threw back as Layla told her she would be moving this weekend.
    “ You got a place already,” Cyiarra asked, amazed at how quickly everything seemed to be happening.
    “ Yep, found a great place online, recommended by one of our VP’s who transferred there,” Layla told her.
    Still smiling happily Cyiarra continued talking until Layla finally asked about the woman she’d called on Tariq’s phone.
    Cyiarra assured Layla the woman hadn’t called again.
    “ See, I told you she was just selling you a load of bullshit,” Layla told her, giggling again.
    Cyiarra recalled that Layla’s reaction the day of the call had basically been the same thing. She’d told her not to let the woman bully her and to stand her ground. “Tariq is your man and she needs to step the hell off, ” Layla said plainly. Cyiarra had to admit she felt a lot more secure being away from Gary and Tariq’s obvious easy access to the woman. Chatting a few moments more, they disconnected and Cyiarra went back to putting up various kitchen items. Her cell rang again. She answered recognizing the area code but not the number.
    “ Hello,” Cyiarra answered amiably.
    “ CiCi, this is Tweety,” Jaleesa said simply.
    She’d been wrestling with calling the woman for days now. Kaitlyn had honestly told her who the woman identified herself as once she