“Yeah he straight. Still the same asshole, what’s up though?”
Vega lifted his hand and smoothed his waves. It was fucked up that he had to be here, but he felt it necessary. “I heard you got locked up.”
East’s expression grew hard which Vega noticed so he further explained. “Ace told me. He had a few of his guys following Patterson. They were watching him that night.”
“Ace’s guys were watching Patterson the night he arrested me?” East asked for clarity.
“Yeah, they didn’t do shit. When I checked Ace about it, he hit me with some bullshit about you not wanting a connection to him.”
“I don’t.”
“I get that, but they could have dropped his ass in a matter of seconds, and no one would have ever known. There was no need for you to end up in the system. I wasn’t really feeling the fact that Ace didn’t handle things the right way.”
East shrugged. “I respect Ace with a lot of things. He has always been fair and he taught me a lot about the business. But I’m sure you know more than anyone, your brother is a pussy. He should have never been in the position he holds. Life worked out that way, and he did what he could, but some shit is just not in him. I can’t be mad because he is who he is.”
Vega was a little thrown but totally agreed. He didn’t expect East to be so real about his feelings on Ace, but then again, East never bit his tongue about anything. “I just don’t like how that went down. I would have never handled it the way he did.”
East smirked and shrugged. “You aren’t him. Nobody’s perfect. You don’t follow the rules, you do a lot of dumb shit.” East paused, rethinking it. He really had no idea who Vega was as a man now, he only knew what he experienced or heard from others in the past, which wasn’t much. “Or rather use to. But you’ve always been true to who you are. No one can knock you for that.”
Vega chuckled, smoothing his waves again. “Yeah, I did a lot of dumb shit. I’m trying to get right. Bitches and money costme three years of my life. I’m not giving that up to anyone else. That’s my word.”
“I feel you. I appreciate you coming to me, but Ace knows me. He did right. I don’t need a damn thing from anybody.”
Vega nodded and checked the time. He needed to be on his way to Nyelle’s house for dinner.
“Shit, me either. I’ve always worked for my own and created my own, regardless of who my family is.”
“Then that’s all that matters.” East was well aware that Vega was on a mission to figure things out for himself. He also knew Ace was on his way out, even if the word hadn’t officially gone out as of yet. If Vega chose to step in place, then things would run a lot differently. Doing three years on the inside had changed Vega for the better as far as East could tell.
“So when you planning another card night? That shit was kinda dope even though I can’t play worth a damn and Ny was the only reason I came out good.” Vega couldn’t hide his smile thinking about that night nor did he want to.
East laughed at the thought. “At least you came out good. Joi had me all fucked up in the game, but soon. I just need to keep things low for a minute.”
The men shared a look of understanding about what that meant before Vega stood. “Fuck that money. We both know you have it in excess. You got the girl, so I’d call that a win. I’m damn sure claiming mine.”
“Shit, me too. Never thought that would be me but I’m rocking with it.”
“Trust, I’m right there with you but I’m damn sure not complaining. I’ll holla at you though.”
Vega left East’s office just in time to run into Numbers who was walking out of his. It wasn’t until that moment that it clicked for Numbers how he knew the Asian beauty who had been at the shop not too long ago.
“What’s good Vega? I heard you were home, but I haven’t seen you yet.” Numbers extended a hand to Vega which he accepted. The two men shared a brotherly hug before Vega addressed him.
“Yeah, I’ve been home for a little minute, but things have changed. I’m trying to be on my grown man shit. So the only club I’m spending money with is the one I just purchased.” Vega smirked, causing Numbers to laugh. The two were a lot more familiar than East and Vega since they had shared plenty of nights passing bottles and blunts in VIP with women who were passed around just as frequently.
“That’s what up. But what club you got? You know I’ma fall through and support.”
“I picked up Micah’s old spot from him. I’m renovating but we should reopen next month.”
“Word, then yeah, I’ll be up in there. I didn’t know he was selling?”
“He didn’t either.”
Numbers laughed at what was implied but he knew Vega well enough to know that whatever he wanted he was taking. “Damn it’s like that? You just hoed him up out of his place.”
Vega flashed a smile and shrugged. “I offered him a good deal and he graciously accepted.”
“Yeah. I know what that means, you hoed his ass. But check it though, you remember shorty you used to kick it with? Fine ass Asian chick. She used to have blue hair.”
