Chapter 29 #2
“I appreciate you checking on them. You didn’t have to, and considering the situation, you should be running from me and them.”
“I wouldn’t do that. I hope you don’t think I would.” East’s eyes swept over her face. He was always surprised by her beauty. None of her features stood out in a profound way, but they all blended together to create a face he never tired of experiencing.
“You challenge my logic.”
Not sure of what he meant, Joi’s face balled up slightly, causing East to smile before he moved her closer and leaned in for a kiss.
“You could tell me the sky was purple and I would consider it the truth. You’re about the only person I put that much faith in and that shit still fucks with my head because it makes no sense.
” He laughed under his breath before continuing.
“I trust you, with everything about me. Even the parts of me that I don’t really trust myself. Don’t make me regret it.”
Joi’s smile popped up faster than she could control so her teeth sank into her lip right after in an attempt to gain some type of control.
She was helplessly drawn to East in ways she was sure she would never escape.
Even if for some reason, she no longer had him at her leisure.
The good thing was she wasn’t alone. East couldn’t explain the energy that drew him to Joi, but he couldn’t deny it either.
She made him feel vulnerable and that was something he battled with.
In the same right, she provided him with a newfound confidence that came from knowing her presence in his life made him better.
“I won’t.” Joi’s response flowed in the manner that a giddy child would respond and it caused East to smile while lifting his sandwich at the same time.
After a bite that damn near consumed half of it, he swallowed hard and said the words that had been taking up occupancy in his mind for the past few days out loud.
“I thought about catching a flight and beating his ass until he released his last breath.” Joi’s expression turned blank for a moment, and when East noticed, he kept going. “My father. I know where he is. I’ve known for years. You know what fucks me up the most?”
Joi waited with soft eyes she hoped gave East what he needed.
“When he left, I was mad as hell. That shit hurt me so bad, but I was a kid, so I still loved him. Even as an adult I hated his ass, but he was my father, so I cared when I shouldn’t have.
To know what he did…” East’s jaw tightened and he paused thinking about it.
“That shit just changed everything but it’s like I still feel a sense of obligation to the fact that he’s my father.
I’ve done it so long it’s like I can’t erase the shit.
I know I could empty an entire clip in him, watch him take his last breath, but then a part of me, even if it’s the smallest part of me, would feel something for killing that muthafucker. That really fucks with my head.”
“My father killed my mother.” Joi surprised herself when she realized the words had left her mouth. It was something she didn’t talk about. She didn’t know how to.
“He—” East began, face tight from the thought, but Joi cut him off.
“Yeah, and killed himself right after.”
“Damn.”
Joi laughed nervously and looked away, causing East to slide off the counter, lifting Joi and turning her enough to place her in his spot.
Once she was situated, he pushed his body between her legs, placing his palms on the counter so the two were eye level.
“Shawty…” East began slowly, processing his thoughts. “Don’t do that. Don’t hide from me.”
“I’m not.”
“You are. I just told you I wanted to kill my father. You told me that yours killed your mother then took his life. Neither of us are in any position to be judgmental.”
Joi laughed again, shaking her head at the thought. He was right but it didn’t make any of what they were discussing better.
“So, what happened?”
“He, uhh, thought she was cheating. My aunt says she wasn’t, and I believe her, but my dad was real controlling.
Some say protective of the people he loved, my aunt says controlling.
Not like in a mean way because he was good to us.
He was never abusive or anything, but my aunt said he had issues I didn’t know about.
I never asked because I didn’t care. I don’t know if I should care.
He killed my mom. Knowing why wasn’t going to bring them back.
My parents were gone and I didn’t want to talk about it, so she never brought it up again.
Trust me, I get it. I loved both of my parents, but my dad killed my mom, so I hate him too.
I hate him but he’s still my dad, so I love him.
Maybe that makes me crazy, but it’s the truth, so I’ll just have to be crazy. ”
“You’re not crazy, you loved your father because of who he was to you. The issues he had with your mother aren’t yours, Shawty.”
“Same for you.” Joi looked East in his eyes and he gritted his teeth at the thought.
“It’s not the same.” He knew it was but couldn’t allow himself to believe it.
East remembered times where his father had been good to him.
He wasn’t the best, but he wasn’t the worst either.
That was why he naturally went to the place he remembered things with them being good.
That apartment they lived in before he purchased their house was the host of those good memories.
It was the reason he felt the void so severely when his father left.
Over the years the memories faded or were overpowered by the fact that his father walked away and didn’t look back.
It was a fucked-up situation that just turned worse from what East learned about his father.
Unfortunately, there wasn’t a damn thing he could do to change any of it.
East had to make sure his mother and sister were good and that meant pushing whatever feelings he had somewhere inside of him that would allow East to move past it without losing his damn mind.
There was too much riding on his sanity, so for now, he chose to let it go.
The sound of East’s phone going off from Joi’s bed shut the conversation down. Given how tense it had both of them, he was glad. By the time they heard the second ring, East headed to get it, hoping it was Chuck with the information he needed. Upon seeing his name, East immediately answered.
“Yeah?”
“I just sent something to your other line. You got that with you?”
“Yeah, hang on.”
“Aight, bet. You’re not gonna like it. Remember the Asian chick you said was on your dick hard?”
“I hope you’re not sending me shit about her. I need you to handle what the fuck I asked you to handle.”
“That’s what I was on when I saw it. Check the picture. That’s his house.”
East gritted his teeth while his eyes moved around the room until he found the jeans he had on earlier folded on top of Joi’s dresser.
As soon as he had his burner in hand, he flipped it open and went to his messages, first saving the tiny picture to the phone then pulling it up in the outdated photo app.
Seeing Joi in his periphery, moving toward her living room with his half-eaten sandwich, caused his focus to go to her briefly before he went back to studying the picture.
“Is that—”
“Yeah. It makes sense now why she was trying so hard. She’s on his payroll. Has to be. He damn sure isn’t kicking it with a woman like that if she’s trying to be on your dick.”
The flip phone had limited capabilities, but East was able to zoom in enough to know for sure it was Asako.
When he asked Chuck to follow Patterson, he damn sure wasn’t expecting to make that type of connection.
All he wanted was his address so he could slip in, handle him, and slip out undetected.
His connection with Asako changed the narrative and his plans.
“This muthafucker,” East gritted, closing the phone and tossing it on the bed.
“You want me to move on anything?”
“Nah, just shoot me the address.”
“Aight, bet.”
Chuck ended the call on his burner and typed out the address, fumbling over the numbers.
He hated texting on a burner, but it was a safety precaution.
After he was done, he dropped the phone in his lap and pulled away from the curb.
He had other things to handle, and unless East needed him again, the rest of his day would be committed to making money in the streets before he returned to the shop to handle a few clients then close up for the night.
East, on the other hand, was already in the process of mapping out his next move while he found his way to the living room where Joi was. When he noticed the empty plate, he smirked and sat down next to her, shaking his head as she wiped her mouth, finishing the last bite.
“I thought that was for me?” he questioned with raised brows, causing Joi to grin and shrug.
“You left it, so it was fair game.”
“Damn, that’s fucked up.” He smirked again, taking the plate from her lap and placing it on the floor before he pulled her to his side, tucking her under his arm.
“You think you can get away for a couple days?”
“Umm…” Joi frowned slightly, thinking about it. “I guess so. I might have to move a few appointments, but I really need to clean up my shop.” She frowned deeper thinking about the damage Patterson had done.
Yeah and I need to create a permanent solution so that shit doesn’t happen again. “Don’t sweat that shit. I’ma pay for it. That’s on me—”
“East, no. You’re not responsible for what he did.”
Laughing arrogantly, East reached for Joi’s chin, angling her head slightly back so she was forced to look at him.
After a light kiss his expression grew serious.
“I’m not saying I’m responsible for that muthafucker, but I am saying his presence in your life is on me.
I’ll handle what needs to be done in your shop.
Just see if you can get away for a few days. ”
“What’s a few days?’
“Two, maybe three. Whatever you can pull off.”
Joi frowned again before she looked up at East with a sly grin. She dated a lot of men, some in decent positions but none that ever really treated her like she was important. Well important enough to take a few days to…
“Wait, are we going somewhere? You said get away, so do you mean like—”
“Yeah, man. I want to take you away for a few days. Why you acting like that’s a big deal?”
It’s a huge ass deal. East laughed, not realizing how comfortable he was with asking.
Even if his plan was to get her away so he could slip back into town to handle what needed to be done to Patterson, he was still very much comfortable with the appearance of taking Joi away for a few days.
Miami was what he had in mind because he needed access to Cabo’s jet so he could have an alibi and move undetected.
Blushing, Joi dipped from under his arm and climbed onto his lap. “Because it is a big deal. Maybe you fly girlfriends to exotic islands or special vacations like it’s nothing, but I’ve never been on the receiving end before.”
East chuckled at the seriousness in her expression. It was cute as hell. “First of all, I didn’t say shit about no exotic islands or special vacations. I have to go to Miami to handle a few things. I figured you could roll with me because your aunt is there.”
Joi’s happy state was crushed in seconds and her face expressed it instantly. East realized how it sounded and backtracked a little. Why the fuck am I concerned about her feelings being hurt?
“Stop looking like I stole your candy. It’s not that deep. What I mean is I have to go handle a few things, and since I’m going, I’m asking you to go with me. I want you there with me. We can kick it in Miami for a few days. We have both been dealing with some shit and need a break.”
“I’m not looking for charity.”
“Shawty, chill with them crazy ass thoughts. I don’t do charity.
I just told your slow ass I want you there.
If I didn’t, I wouldn’t have mentioned it.
I would have just dipped and caught up with you when I got back.
I apologize if I made it seem like anything other than what it was, but I don’t do shit like this.
I damn sure don’t take women any place other than hotels and my bedroom. ”
Although his confession was meant to help his argument, it only pushed a frown on Joi’s face, which in turn caused East to laugh under his breath while exposing a smug grin.
“I can’t win with your ass. Stop reading too deep into things. I want some time alone with you. Let’s make that happen.”
Playfully rolling her eyes through a blush that warmed her cheeks which were now sitting high, Joi nodded. “Fine but you better not just take me away then ignore me because you have things to handle.”
“Nah, I got you. That’s my word. With what I have to do, you won’t even realize I’m gone. I’m all yours, trust.”
“All mine.” Joi’s eyes shined with devious intent and East simply nodded, pressing a kiss to her full lips.
“What about your mom? She needs to see you.”
East’s expression was tight for a minute. He knew he had to start the process of them dealing with her past, but it wasn’t going to be an easy fix. “I’ma holla at her before we go.”
It was all he was willing to give at the moment, and based on the look he gave her, Joi decided to let the topic go. For now!