Chapter 11 #2
“No, I’m not doing that. He’s in that same circle. I can’t get anywhere near any of them. My life is already fucked up. There are certain places I can’t go. People I can’t talk to. I haven’t been to a club or the city in years. I just want to be left alone. Please leave me the hell alone.”
“You will do whatever I need you to do.” Patterson moved closer to Asako and got right in her face with a scowl on his. “When I call you and let you know what I need, be ready.”
“Please don’t. My family is finally talking to me again after all the drugs and running the streets and Vega will kill me if he sees me. I disappeared, he’s going to know it was me. Then the whole East thing. I just…” She paused, thinking about the man named East.
She knew very little about him but what she did know wasn’t good.
Women loved him, he was sexy and paid, but he had a dark side that she didn’t want to play with.
She had heard the stories about him. If Vega didn’t take her life, if she crossed East, he surely would.
Asako just wanted to be left alone. “Please don’t ask me to do anything like that again. My life is finally normal now.”
Asako considered the two-year run where she was rebellious and fighting with her family.
She was addicted to the fast life. Dating a thug, getting money, doing drugs.
It was two of the craziest years she could have ever imagined, even if she could barely remember most of it.
She was wild and doing things she was now embarrassed about.
A friend introduced her to that world and Asako quickly fell into it.
The attention she got from men compensated for what she thought she was missing at home, but Asako learned fast that she wasn’t prepared to handle it.
Asako was just grateful to be alive, which was another reason she wasn’t interested in getting anywhere near Vega or East.
“I’m not going to make you do anything. You’re going to cooperate because the consequences are far worse than you playing nice.
Right now, you have me in your corner. I’m sure you don’t want to know what it’s like to not even have me.
” He smiled deviously then stepped away, tossing his last regard over his shoulder. “I’ll be in touch.”
Asako watched the devil himself walk away, regretting the fact that she ever met him. Patterson drove away plotting how he planned on using her to get what he needed. This time, his goal was to come out on the positive side, he just had to figure out what would be required to make it happen.
“I’m about to purchase a few properties.”
Vega stood in his brother's kitchen, watching his wife Paris cater to him. He wasn’t sure why, but the visual made him think about Nyelle.
He hadn’t seen her in a few days, and even though they talked, it wasn’t the same as spending time.
He wanted more but understood that with work and her son, it wasn’t as easy as it would be with most women he dealt with in the past. Vega could handle it, he just had to figure out how to make it work.
The good thing was Vega had his own shit keeping him busy, so he didn’t have time to overthink or dwell on not being able to see Nyelle, but he did miss her.
The past few nights he had to fight the urge to just pop up on her for a chance to taste her again.
“Commercial or residential?” Ace looked up after his wife placed a plate down in front of him. He offered her a nod of appreciation then caught her hand, pressing a kiss inside her wrist, which made Paris’ cheeks warm into a blush as she gazed at her husband.
“Commercial. I might pick up a few residential spots I can rent out too. I just haven’t looked into it yet.”
“You want something to eat, Vega?” Paris smiled softly at her brother-in-law.
She loved him like he was just as much her baby brother as he was her husband’s.
After twenty-three years of being with Ace, she damn near helped raise Vega.
They both suffered a blow when he got locked up.
Vega was the energy of the family. As much as she loved her husband, he was all business most days.
Vega balanced that for him, and while he was locked up, she noticed Ace took on the stress of doing the time with his brother.
She hated what it did to them both, but Vega was home now.
“Nah, I’m heading out in a few. Just checking in with the warden.
” Ace snorted out a short laugh while Vega winked at Paris who rolled her eyes, understanding the dynamic between her husband and his brother.
She defended them both at times, pending the situation, but most times let them deal with their issues.
“We need to do a family dinner soon. It’s been a while.” Paris was excited about the possibility and already mentally planning.
“Three years kind of a while,” Vega added, causing Paris to send a frown his way.
“Well that’s done so I’m planning a family dinner soon.
I’ll let you know when and no random women, Vega,” she warned, prompting him to offer up a charming smile.
The same one that belonged to her husband.
That smile was a huge determining factor in why she loved Ace so much.
He had a way of bending her will in his favor with just a smile.
Vega owned the same powers, but his smile had a different effect on Paris.
She bent to his will just as easily but like any big sister who loved her family would do.
“I don’t have random women, sis.”
“Since when?” Ace cut in.
“Since now. I’m trying something different. Maybe I want what y’all have.”
Ace snorted out another laugh before lifting a forkful of macaroni to his mouth. Knowing Paris, it was made from scratch this morning. With the money Ace had, he provided three chefs, but Paris was simple and loved to cook, especially for family, and her man was at the top of that list.
“You want marriage?”
“Yeah, you made that shit work. Y’all make it look easy.”
“It’s not,” Paris threw out quickly, cutting her eyes at her husband.
He loved her, but his lifestyle brought heartache. It had been years, but the indiscretions were still a sore spot. Paris stuck it out, like any woman in love would do, and now they were in a good place. Paris just prayed they stayed there.
Ace cut his eyes at his wife, prepared for battle, but they softened quickly when he realized he had no fight. I have to own my shit. Ace had hurt his wife and wouldn’t dare pretend like he hadn’t. Instead, he addressed his brother.
“It’s work, Vega. Work I don’t think you’re prepared to do.”
“We’ll see about that. I met someone. She’s pretty dope. I can see something real with her.”
“You have bigger priorities than a woman right now, Vega.” Ace’s tone was that of the father figure he deemed himself to be to his little brother.
Their father had done a decent job with Ace, but with Vega, he had no say.
It was like he didn’t care one way or another.
He loved his son but wasn’t interested in raising him.
The same way he handed over his drug empire, he handed over his parental responsibilities with it.
It was part of the reason Vega was so wild.
During Vega’s younger years, Ace spent most of his time making money.
Ace did what he could, but Vega was on his own a lot. It wasn’t always the best.
“I’m a grown ass man who knows how to handle whatever the fuck I choose to handle.” Vega’s tone was sharp, and when Ace lifted his eyes to his brother, he decided not to challenge him. He was prepared to let Vega be a man as long as he took the role seriously.
“Indeed, you are. With these properties, you need help with anything?”
“Nah, I got it. If I do, I’ll let you know. I also told Dix I’m back on post.”
Ace lifted his eyes to his wife, who was at the sink. She could feel him, and when they connected, she smiled and nodded. Ace didn’t talk business around her. It was a precaution, one he took extremely serious in order to protect them both.
When Ace was sure she was out of earshot, he responded. “They’re gonna be watching you. Maybe give it some time.”
“Fuck time. Patterson was on some bullshit. I learned my lesson. As long as I don’t physically touch anything, I’m covered. Dix knows the drill. If you’re gonna let me run shit, then let me do it my way.”
Ace lifted the fork to his mouth again, but this time it was loaded with a piece of baked chicken. He eyed his brother for a minute before he responded.
“Be careful. Patterson’s dick still gets hard over you. I’m sure he thought it was a way to get to me. I’m gonna put a few people on him, to see what he’s up to. If he’s watching you too closely, I’ll handle it.”
“Fuck him. I’m not a snitch, so that was a waste of time if that’s what he really thought.”
Ace lowered his fork and leaned back in his chair, studying his brother. “Did he offer you something? A way out?”
“What?” Ace’s question caught Vega off guard.
“That night that he pulled you over. Did he offer you anything for a walk?”
Vega considered it for a minute. If Ace was asking, then he already knew. He was calculating that way.
“I did time, so you know what my answer was.”
Ace nodded and lifted his fork again. “He has a routine. He knocks dealers when he knows they are carrying. If they hand over the product and keep their mouths shut, they walk. If they don’t, they do time. I’m sure he wanted you to cooperate.”
“I would never do that.”
“I know.”
“Then why are you bringing it up? Seems to me like you think I would.”
“We’re family, Vega. You wouldn’t fuck me like that nor would I you. My point is, I’m here to help. Stop fighting me.”
Vega considered his response and nodded. “I hear you.”
“Good.”
“I’m about to roll out.”
“Aight, be easy, and like I said, let me know if you need anything.”
“If I do, you’re the first call I make.”
Vega had his back to his brother and was about to leave the kitchen when he heard Ace speak again. “The girl.” Vega stopped but didn’t turn to face him. “You really like her?”
Vega smiled, grateful his brother couldn’t see his face. “Yeah. She’s worth putting some time in.”
“Damn it’s like that?” Ace grinned and Vega turned this time to answer.
“Just like that.”
“What makes you so sure?”
“Because every time I’m around her, my first thought is that I don’t deserve her and that makes me want to get my shit straight so I do.”
Ace chuckled and nodded, understanding the feeling. “You’re in trouble, baby brother. I hope you’re prepared for it.”
“Not even close, but I’ll figure it out.”
Vega left it alone because his word was bond. He was more than willing to put the work in where Nyelle was concerned and nothing was going to get in the way of that.