“Since the night I met you, I have been consistent about what I want. It hasn’t changed, Pretty Ny.”
Nyelle’s entire soul relaxed as she exhaled a slow breath. “Are you busy later?”
“I have a few things but nothing I can’t move around.”
“Good, I want to cook dinner for us.”
“Us?”
“Yes, us. Me, you, and Nick,” she paused again, “that’s if you’re okay with that. If we do this, I need to know he’s comfortable with you and you’re comfortable with him. It’s important.”
“No doubt. What time?”
“Ummm, let me text you, if that’s okay. I need to figure out when I’ll be done here so I’ll know what time I’ll be home. Is that okay?”
“Anything you want is okay with me, Nyelle. How many times I have to tell you that?”
Nyelle’s cheeks hiked again as they warmed.
“I have to go.”
Vega chuckled, knowing why she was rushing him. Nyelle wasn’t used to a real man. In due time she would learn to not only embrace it, but expect nothing less than.
“Aight, Pretty Ny. Go do your thing and I’ma get with you tonight.”
“Akio,I’m fine. Please stop worrying. If you worry, Mom and Dad will worry. I don’t need them stressed.”
“This is bullshit, Sako. You don’t need to be anywhere near that asshole. Why are you doing this?”
Because of you. Because of Mom and Dad. It’s the only way I can be sure that you don’t suffer from the stupid choices I made.
“I’m doing it because I have to, Kio. Just don’t worry. I know what I’m doing. Once I’m done, I want to leave town and never come back. I can’t leave if he’s still holding that night over your head.”
Asako massaged her temple then lifted her eyes toward East’s shop just in time to see him exit his barber shop and step next door to the tattoo shop. Unintentionally, she smiled at how sexy he was. East was the kind of man you had to admire. Everything about him drew you in. His physique, the way he moved, the definition of his body, the intimidating scowl always affixed to his face. Had their worlds merged at a different point in her life, Asako was sure she would have attempted something real with him. East was the kind of man you wanted to hold onto and not just experience.
“You don’t know what the fuck you’re doing. If that were true, none of us would be in this position. I damn near killed a man, and not just any man, a judge’s son all because you were coked up and too out of your mind to know better than to fuck with him.”
“I know. I’m trying to fix things so you don’t have to worry about it anymore. I know you hate the fact that it’s hanging over your head like a dark cloud, lingering in the corner waiting. You can’t truly live until you know it can’t affect your life anymore.”
“Sako…” Kio was just as frustrated as his sister, however, he was her baby brother. And no matter the cost, he would always protect her.
“No, I don’t get it. I messed up. Do you know how that makes me feel? You, Mom, Dad, all of you suffered because of me. Let me fix it.”
“How? This makes no sense.”
“I can’t really explain everything but I’m not in danger. Can you just trust me?” She paused, exhaling softly. “Please?”
“I do trust you. I don’t trust that muthafucker. He has a gun with my fingerprints on it, along with the muthafucker’s blood I almost killed. He has all of us by the balls, Sako. You can’t trust someone like him.”
“I don’t, which is why I’m protecting myself. I promise I’m fine. Please don’t tell Mom and Dad. Just trust me.”
“I love you. You know that right?”
Asako smiled and nodded. Her baby brother did love her. He loved her so much in fact he was willing to take a life and risk his future for her. Had he been caught, it would have ruined his entire future. Jail; no scholarship, no college.
“I know you do and I love you more. I have to go. I’ll call you soon.”
“Be safe and don’t let that pervert touch you again or this time it won’t be attempted murder. That’s my word, Sako.”
