Free Thin Ice 5 - Checkmate by KR BANKSTON

great disposition,” Ryan told him as Ian readily agreed.
    Mrs. Connor came into the room at that point and asked for the baby. She was the real nurse Ian hired to care for his daughter. Ananda was sent first by the service, but Ian wasn’t feeling her, being that she was so young. She did however fit his other purpose of angering Kaitlyn so he paid her to be present when the baby was dropped off and to be present again when Kaitlyn returned to pick her up. Mrs. Connor on the other hand was a seasoned nanny with over 30 years of experience. Tajdra took to her immediately when she fed and changed her earlier.
    “ I think she’s tired,” Ian told the nurse as she took the baby from Ryan.
    Tajdra was rubbing her eyes and yawning periodically.
    “ Yes, she probably is,” Mrs. Connor replied, smiling slightly as the baby laid her head on her shoulder. “I’ll give her a nice warm lavender bath, that should relax her,” she told Ian who nodded his understanding.
    “ I’d like to put her to bed myself,” he threw out just as the woman was leaving the room.
    She assured him she would bring the baby back after her bath so he could do just that.
    “ Your ass is gonna be broke,” Ryan teased his brother.
    He could already see the little girl had him wrapped completely around her finger. Ian chuckled and told him he was probably right, but she was worth it.
    “ How was seeing KiKi,” Ryan asked, as they walked to the library and he made himself a drink upon arrival.
    “ Ready to fuck me up,” Ian replied as Ryan burst into laughter.
    “ She asked me how I found out about the baby,” he told Ryan who withheld comment and repeated her question.
    Ian enlightened him as he nodded thoughtfully.
    “ So now what,” he asked sipping the cognac.
    “ I’m waiting to see how Ray’s petition turned out,” Ian replied honestly.
    Almost as if on cue his cell rang.
    “ Speak of the devil,” Ian murmured, answering the device and putting it on speaker.
    “ Good evening, Ice,” Ray greeted him amiably enough.
    “ How are you tonight Ray,” Ian returned. “Ryan is here with me,” he added as Ray greeted the other brother as well.
    “ I saw Judge Murdock this morning on our emergency petition,” Ray began as Ian and Ryan listened intently. “He’s a total hard ass so I knew it would be an uphill climb and as serious sell, even after persuading him to hear on us on a Saturday,” Ray told them.
    Ian wasn’t getting a good feeling about the ending to the story, even before Ray got to it.
    “ He wants more compelling evidence than the innuendo we’ve given him,” he told the two men. “So for now he’s not going to grant the temporary custody,” he finished as Ian frowned deeply.
    “ What kind of evidence does he want,” Ryan asked, his mind already working.
    “ He wants solid evidence that either KiKi is unstable to the point of hurting the child, or that her husband is deliberately ignoring or abusing the child,” Ray told them.
    Ian knew they would have to fabricate evidence of that sort if they wanted to try that angle. Even with all the drama unfolding Kaitlyn was unquestioningly an impeccable mother, and by all accounts, Tariq had treated Tajdra no different than Tejdra.
    “ Fine,” Ian said, already past that and looking ahead. “When do we go to trial,” he asked instead.
    Ray replied their case was on the docket in five weeks.
    “ OK, thanks for trying Ray,” Ian replied amiably.
    Ray assured him he was welcome and he was still pulling some strings here and there in their favor. Disconnecting Ian and Ryan began talking once more.
    “ So they’re twins,” he asked of the babies.
    Ian told him they were. “Fraternal,” he added before correcting himself. “Well, I guess technically just sisters,” he added as Mrs. Connor returned with a nodding Tajdra in her arms.
    Ryan watched as his brother lovingly took the baby from the nurse and began heading to the nursery with her. Alone, his mind