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

disconnected, and Jaleesa had begged her best friend not to kill the woman. For now Kaitlyn was holding true to her word, but if Cyiarra did something stupid like the stunt she pulled a couple weeks ago, hell itself would come down around her.
    “ Hi Tweety,” Cyiarra returned breaking her thought. “What’s up, Tariq isn’t here,” she replied, thinking that’s what the woman called for.
    “ That’s a good thing,” Jaleesa told her. “I want to talk to you and I need you to listen to what I’m saying,” she added as Cyiarra frowned slightly.
    “ OK, so what’s on your mind,” she returned sitting down and giving Jaleesa her full attention.
    “ I know about the call you made a couple weeks ago,” she told her as Cyiarra frowned deeply.
    “ How would you --,” she began and then faltered.
    Was Tariq sleeping with Jaleesa , her mind whirled.
    “ Because I was with the person you called,” Jaleesa answered honestly. “Now, before you ask, I’m not going to tell you who they are, but I am going to give you a warning that could save your life,” she continued as Cyiarra remained mute.
    “ Don’t call that number again ever, leave it alone and give Tariq an ultimatum, but don’t call again, not ever,” she finished and prayed the woman listened.
    Cyiarra swallowed hard, her throat hurting from the knot of pain caught there.
    “ I just want my man back and her out of our lives,” she managed as Jaleesa sighed deeply.
    “ Then you need to deal with Tariq, because trust me, you do not want to deal with them,” Jaleesa told her asking if she understood.
    Cyiarra told her she did and Jaleesa let her go. The tears began to flow as her helplessness overwhelmed her. I’ve got to find out who this woman is, that’s the only way I will know and understand how to defeat her and get her out of our lives forever, she thought rising and resolving to get Layla’s help in doing just that when he bestfriend arrived and got settled.
    *****
    Blue was drenched in sweat after his workout. He spent three hours every day engaged with various martial arts workouts as well as his regular weight and strength training. He’d been very dubious of King Diesel and his actual motives when they originally met three years go, but the man had been true to his word in every aspect. Now his goal was within sight. Blue had worked out extra long today trying to rid himself of the anxiety and impatience. King Diesel told him again and again to be impatient would ruin all their well laid plans. That couldn’t happen in Blue’s estimation. He saw King Diesel coming down the long hallway as Blue made his way to his bedroom and a hot shower.
    “ Long day,” the man asked simply taking in Blue’s demeanor.
    “ Yeah,” he replied basically.
    “ Everything is on schedule Blue, don’t let the small things take you off your game,” he admonished as Blue told him he understood and he would stick to the plan.
    “ Good,” King Diesel replied smiling slightly as he continued his journey, allowing Blue to make it to that well needed shower.
    Emerging from the scalding hot spray moments later he lay down, exhausted, and closed his eyes. Blue was asleep almost immediately. As they usually did, his dreams immediately conjured Lauren and what used to be between them. “Baby, mm,” Blue moaned as he made love to Lauren. “Yes,” she breathed softly enjoying the things he was doing to her. He returned to her lips, kissing her deeply. “Lauren, you’re so special,” he told her breathlessly as she came hard and called out his name. Blue felt himself getting closer and held her tightly, kissing her again. “Lauren,” he said hoarsely crying out her name right as he came hard collapsing atop her.
    “ Why don’t you come and stay with me,” he threw out as they talked now and Lauren frowned slightly. “You know that wouldn’t work Blue,” she replied. “Why, I would never hurt you Lauren and I’d take good care of you,” he told