Free Thin Ice 3 - Armageddon by KR BANKSTON

most of the day.
    “ That fool is trying’ hard ain’t he,” Jaron remarked seeing them enter yet another boutique.
    The man had been shopping with the woman almost all day.
    “ Right, and still won’t get no booty at the end of the day,” Mace added as they both chuckled again.
    Taking her in, Jaron had to admit Gabrielle DuBois was one sexy woman.
    “ How we gonna get anything outta her,” Mace asked as Jaron continued to brood, thinking about the exact same thing.
    Tariq had instructed them to do whatever was necessary to get the information he needed.
    “ We need to step to her while she’s out,” Jaron said aloud as Mace agreed.
    In the time they’d been snooping, they’d found out the DuBois brothers had quite the reputation for being violent.
    “I still haven’t seen either brother,” Mace remarked as Jaron agreed.
    “ I don’t think they’re here,” he added.
    Both men were grateful for that small favor, not wanting to deal with the brothers at the moment and feeling they would get much more information out of Gabrielle.
    “ You wanna snatch her or what,” Mace asked again.
    Jaron thought about it long and hard, sighing deeply finally and answering him.
    “ We don’t have much choice,” he replied. “Time we ask about Ice she either gonna flip and tell us the truth, lie to us, or tell us but then call her brothers soon as we let her go,” he reasoned.
    “ Hell yeah man, no doubt,” Mace replied. “Can’t snatch her off the street here though,” Mace began again. “Too many people and they talk too much.”
    Jaron again spoke his understanding still watching the couple as they left the boutique and began to walk again.
    “ Perfect,” he whispered aloud almost to himself as Mace turned his attention to the couple as well.
    They were headed down a small alleyway right off the waterfront that led to yet another boutique, but the path provided adequate cover for what they were planning.
    Rising casually, the two men followed the couple into the alley. The sun was beginning to set and the shadows hung heavily inside the small cobblestone alleyway. Stealthily gaining on the couple, Jaron and Mace heard Gabrielle laughing as Corey continued telling her the story he was reciting. Giving each other a look they separated as if to pass the couple. Corey drew closer to Gabrielle, giving the two men space to get by when they suddenly stopped walking, one in front and one behind them.
    “ Wassup,” Jaron threw out, looking directly at Corey.
    “ What ya’ll wantin’,” Corey replied the drawl heavy. “Here’s my wallet,” he tried, pulling it from his pocket and handing it over.
    Jaron took the wallet, removed the cash contained and handed it back.
    “ Thanks, but that ain’t what we want,” he replied turning his gaze to Gabrielle.
    “ Leave us alone,” Corey told them trying to avoid confrontation.
    “ Where are your brothers,” Mace asked standing behind them as Gabrielle jumped from the sound of his voice.
    Corey frowned slightly; annoyed they were being accosted because of the DuBois reputation once again. It was times like that that made him question his desire to be with Gabrielle at all.
    Gabrielle continued to regard the man in front of her, trying to recall if she’d ever seen him before. He wasn’t local, that much she knew from the way he talked.
    “ Answer the question,” Jaron barked as Corey put his arm around Gabrielle pulling her closer.
    He would protect her of course, but again, he was tired of all the drama her brother’s illegal enterprises always seem to bring him. Corey had aspirations of running for political office and having in-laws like the DuBois brothers was definitely not good for his image. Still he couldn’t shake the deep and abiding attraction he had to their beautiful sister. It’s not her fault her brothers are criminals, Corey thought arrogantly as they continued to be held in the alley. He prayed someone would come through the path and