Thin Ice 6 - Hangman & Socrates Read Online Free PDF Page B

already set his mind on something she had no intention of ever giving any other man against her will again. She caught him making crude gestures as they ate, Rose and Matthew oblivious as they chattered pleasantly with each other. After dinner Kenneth cleared the table.
    “ You’ll have a few chores too Lauren,” Matthew told her kindly. “But you don’t have to start now,” he added.
    “ I don’t mind,” she replied amiably, heading into the kitchen and starting on the dishes.
    Rose brought the rest from the table as Kenneth came along.
    “ Thank you Lauren,” she told her. “Kenny will show you where they go,” she added and left them alone.
    He wasted no time. As soon as the door closed to the kitchen, Kenneth grabbed her breast. Lauren slapped him hard.
    “ Mmm, feisty,” he replied grabbing her and kissing her hard.
    Lauren bit his lip and punched him hard to the chest. Angry now, Kenneth recoiled ready to slap her when the knife sliced across his palm and he cried out in pain. Rose and Matthew were in the kitchen almost instantly.
    “ What happened,” Matthew asked, seeing the blood and Kenneth’s hand under the faucet.
    “ My fault,” he said through gritted teeth. “Trying to show Lauren a trick and messed up,” he added as Matthew shook his head and sighed deeply.
    “ That’s what you get,” he told his son checking the wound and seeing that it was superficial.
    Lauren stood next to the sink stoic once again.
    “ It’s okay honey, it’s not your fault,” Matthew told her gently seeing the worry etched in her face.
    He repeated it again as she finally nodded slightly and began washing dishes all over again. Kenneth left with Matthew and Rose as Lauren slipped the paring knife into her pocket, sure she would need it again soon.
    *****
    Cartier was restless. He’d been thinking about Raven and his boys all day long. “What makes you think your seed is strong enough to get me pregnant three times, while I’m married to someone else, ” Raven challenged as they argued yet again. He’d found out that she and Eason had separated right after the daughter she carried was stillborn and that he’d taken Ryan and one of the twins with him. “Maybe because I knew for myself that the muthafucka was sterile,” Cartier replied calmly, never taking his eyes off her. Raven caught her breath but said nothing. “Where are my children,” he asked yet again. Jalen came into the room and Cartier looked down at him, seeing himself once more. “Why would you send those two away and keep him,” he asked of the now seven year old. Raven sighed deeply, telling him he wouldn’t understand. “Try me,” he replied. She finally came clean and told him Ryan and the other twin had been with Eason since they separated almost five years ago. “What,” Cartier boomed. “My sons have been with this man all these years and you didn’t think you needed to tell me,” he yelled.
    Raven slapped him hard and ordered him out of her house. Cartier restrained himself since Jalen was still in the room. “Fine, but I’m taking my son with me,” he threatened as Raven told him no, becoming excited. “Then talk to me,” Cartier demanded as she finally acquiesced and sent Jalen to his room, locking him in. “What do you want from me Cartier,” Raven asked. “You stayed with Maxine, you made your choice,” she told him irritably. “That was business, you know that,” he told her. “Yeah right, some nonsense about her hurting me,” Raven threw back disbelievingly. Cartier sighed slightly. She had no idea who Maxine was. Her father was the one man in Chicago who could end their lives with a single word. When Maxine found out Cartier was in love with Raven and planning to marry her, she’d pulled her trump card and threatened her life, keeping him with her and in place. In exchange her father began bankrolling him and Carlo’s enterprise. “Raven, you know I love you, have always loved you,” he told her