Chapter 14 #2
My eyes met his and he saw the answer before I offered him the nod of confirmation.
“I’m not saying right now but it has to happen.
We can’t keep doing this shit. Especially when we don’t have to.
I’m not gonna put Ky through what Mom had to deal with every day.
No matter how much he disrespected her heart, it damn near broke her to walk out that door and see Pops with his head all over the driveway.
She was never right after that. I refuse to allow that to be Ky’s destiny. ”
Amir didn’t say a word for a while. Neither of us did. I just drove. The thought had been heavy on my mind for a while but the text Kemp sent about violating Ky really pushed me over the edge. I was not about to allow her to be a casualty of my life choices.
“Lear won’t say it but she wants me out.
I see the panic in her eyes every time I walk out the door to meet up with you or handle business and I see the relief in them when I make it home and she knows I’m okay.
It does something to me.” He had that goofy ass grin on his face.
“I love her, man. I don’t like causing those feelings. So I feel you. What’s the plan?”
“We set a timeframe, build our legal shit and stack money. It’s not like either of us is hurting for shit, so it shouldn’t be a problem.”
“And what about our people?”
“We put someone in place to step up. We can be hands on while they’re learning shit then step away. Whoever wants to move on can, whoever wants to stay, then that’s what it is.”
“You thinking Kane?”
“Nah, he wants out too. We already talked about it. Laron more than likely but I have to talk to him to see where his head is.”
“Man, he’s gonna fuck our shit up.” Amir frowned.
“Doesn’t matter, once we step back, it won’t be ours anymore. But he’s good, Mir. Don’t underestimate him.”
Amir smirked and nodded. “I know. I just like fucking with Laron because he’s an easy target. He knows his shit.”
“Look, I know this has been us. It’s always been but it’s time for something new.”
“Damn, Ky really has your head all fucked up. You’re trying to walk away from years of hard work and a gotdamn legacy.” Amir grinned, causing me to laugh.
“Nah, it’s deeper than just her but she is a major part of it.”
“I’m with it. It’s been on my mind heavy too so I won’t lie and say I haven’t considered stepping down,” was all he offered before removing his phone and getting on the line with Learah to let her know he was heading her way.
So many things had changed over the past few months, which had me putting my life in perspective.
This drug shit didn’t define me as much as I always believed it had.
There were more important things I refused to risk just for power and status.
That was the real test of being a man, knowing when it was time to change course.
As of right now, it was time for me to start my next chapter.
“Shit,” was the first thing I heard when I pushed through the doors of Brielle’s shop. I didn’t bother looking up to see who had spoken because I was checking the text I’d received from Kane that read, package on the way.
That meant the body had been handled and word that this so-called war was dead would be on the street within a few hours, just like the key players who started it in the first place.
With all the bloodshed that had happened over the past few months, people were afraid to even speak our names unless it was followed by praise.
I still didn’t take shit lightly because there was always one person who wanted to stick their chest out.
That was the main reason I wanted to be completely removed.
If it were just me? I wouldn’t give a fuck.
But I couldn’t be everywhere at all times, which meant Ky would always be at risk of getting caught up in my bullshit.
The only way to ensure she didn’t was to walk away.
“Girl, don’t bother and you might want to keep your eyes to yourself.”
“Why?”
“Because he’s mine and I don’t play about him.” I lifted my eyes from my phone with a smug grin in place when I heard my baby’s voice. She was on her way to me, moving with confidence and her sexy ass had all my attention.
“Hey, what are you doing here?” Ky wasted no time invading my personal space with arms around my neck, body flush against mine, lips puckered and waiting for my attention.
I delivered the kiss she was using to make a point to the other women watching.
Brushing her thumb across my mouth to remove the gloss that transferred, she smiled with appreciation.
“I need a reason to come check you out?”
That dimple showed up immediately. “No, but when you left this morning you made it seem like you didn’t have time for me today. I wasn’t expecting to see you until later.”
A muffled laugh vibrated through my chest, which had her eyes rolling. “I said I had shit to do. I didn’t say one word about not having time for you. How much longer are you gonna be here?”
“I’m done. I just had a few things to get caught up on and my meeting was moved up.”
“Aight, let’s get out of here. I want to take you somewhere.”
“Where?”
“You’ll see when we get there. Bring ya ass. I’ll be outside.”
She smiled big and nodded before pulling away. I also didn’t miss how she grilled the woman I assumed was the one who’d spoken when I entered the store. I chuckled, shaking my head. “Ladies,” I greeted with a nod, since all eyes were on me, before turning to leave.
Ky wasn’t too far behind, so I stood at the passenger side of the car, waiting to let her in before I found my way to the driver’s side. We could get hers later.
“I thought we agreed you wouldn’t come up here.” She narrowed her eyes just a little but I knew she wasn’t really tripping over me pulling up. Kyori had her moments but she was secure in her position in my life.
“And I thought you understood Brielle wasn’t an issue.”
“Fuck her, I’m talking about those other thirsty hoes. I saw how she was drooling over you.”
I laughed at the thought, which had Ky burning a hole in the side of my face until I turned to face her. “Women see me, Ky. You can’t control it but what you can control is knowing that all they will ever do is see me.”
“Mmhmm, you like that shit too, don’t you?”
“Like what?” I knew exactly what she was talking about but I wasn’t trying to argue.
“Women lusting over you.”
“One woman, yes, and that’s you. I don’t care what other women see or do.”
“Yeah I bet.”
“You getting insecure on me, Ky?”
She rolled her eyes playfully and looked down at her hand. “No, but that doesn’t mean I want other women all on your dick.”
“Good, because they’re not. The only person all over this dick is you, baby.”
Ky sucked her teeth quickly. “So I thought you had business to handle. What’s with the unannounced pop up?”
“I did and it’s done, so I decided to come see what you were up to. Do you have a problem with that?”
“Me seeing you is never a problem, Asim.”
“That’s nice to know considering you’ve agreed to a lifetime of seeing me.
” When I winked at Ky, her eyes rolled playfully again but her smile took over half of her face.
For the rest of our drive she busied herself with texting and occasionally mentioning things about her day or conversations in her group chat with Learah and Esha.
Things felt normal, natural in a sense, and that was what I loved most about being with her.
In the past, my interactions with women were only about sex or them gauging my pockets while secretly plotting how to get their hands on my net worth.
Kyori just wanted my time and for me to prove I wanted hers.
“A gun range?” After we arrived and I parked in front of the small building, she had narrowed eyes on me, waiting for an explanation.
“Yes, you’re quick to pull out that little gun of yours but I want to be sure you know how to handle it. Having a gun you don’t know how to properly use is more dangerous than being caught without one.”
“I have a permit and I know how to use it.”
“Having a permit is just paperwork. If you know how to use it, that’s even better. Come on, you’re about to show me.”
I went to open my door but she caught my arm. “Wait, why this all of a sudden? Is there something I need to know?”
The fact that a man threatened to violate you has me needing to take every precaution where you’re concerned.
I refused to be that honest about my reasoning because I knew it would only make her paranoid; so I told the truth in a roundabout way.
“Being with me is a constant threat to you. We’ve already discussed this plenty of times.
There was an issue but it’s been taken care of.
However, that doesn’t mean another issue won’t surface a week, a month, or a year from now.
I will give my life for yours, Kyori, but I can’t always be everywhere you are.
It puts my mind at ease to know at the very least, you can protect yourself. ”
She pulled her lip between her teeth, staring. Those brown eyes reflecting all of the questions running through her mind until she eventually nodded and smiled. “You just want to know how good my shot is for when you fuck up again.”
I threw my head back and laughed at the thought. “You would shoot me?” My brow lifted and she shrugged nonchalantly.
“Depends on how badly you messed up. I mean I wouldn’t kill you or anything but I would hit you where it hurts.”
“Damn.” My narrowed eyes landed on her pretty face. “Maybe I don’t need to teach you.”
“Nope, too late. Let’s go.”
She hopped out quickly, which had me second guessing, but that was cool. I had no plans of messing up with Ky.
As soon as we stepped into the door, Smith ran the fuck out like always. I couldn’t do anything but laugh when he started.