“We good?” Navi’s tone was seductive as she questioned East to be sure he was satisfied with her delivery.
Once he placed the package back into the crate, pleased with the contents, he offered her a nod. Navi looked forward to her deliveries with East. It was something she thought about constantly, even if he never once entertained any of her advances. East, unlike most of the other men she delivered to, was all about business. Navi prided herself in being a beautiful woman with the type of body men couldn’t deny. However, East didn’t treat her any different than the other men who worked for Cabo and delivered to him. It made her desire him even more.
With a fluid motion, East lifted the backpack that held the payment for the product Navi delivered and handed it over to her. “Tell Cabo that this shit doesn’t need to happen again. If he can’t meet my schedule, then I can’t fuck with him. I need things to work on my terms.”
“Understood. It was a one-time thing. The shipment was late. It was out of our control, but I’ll be sure to deliver the message to the boss man.”
With a straight face and no emotions attached, East spoke. “Not my fucking problem. This was an inconvenience. Make sure he knows it’s a first and last.”
Nodding, Navi pulled the bag over her shoulder, not bothering to offer East more of an explanation. She had dealt with him enough to know it didn’t matter.All business with your sexy ass.
“Give me a minute to lock up and we can head out the front.”
Navi agreed because the vehicle that arrived with the product only stayed in place long enough for East to recover his shipment. After the last crate was removed, Jose drove away, and Navi would leave in the brand-new Benz she had just purchased thanks to her involvement with deliveries like the one she just completed. The system was set in place to protect both the buyer and seller. No one stayed with the product for long.
Navi watched East move around, locking and bolting the door then handling a few more things. She smiled to herself, thinking how much she would love to get her hands on him, literally.Damn, this man is too fine for his own good and that damn dick print is telling a story of its own.
“Aight, let's go,” he tossed out and started moving toward the door that separated the back warehouse from his shop.
As always, he expected her to follow his lead. A habit and a facet of his personality that women loved. East was a natural leader and not many minded following his lead.
“What’s your deal?” Navi questioned, causing East to slow briefly and offer a glance over his shoulder.
“My deal?”
“Yeah, your deal. Not to be arrogant or anything but look at me.”
Feeling Navi pause her movement, East stopped and turned to face her with a scowl etched across his face. He didn’t have time nor was he in the mood for her to throw pussy at him. Eastknew Navi was attracted and would gladly give it up. She had made it known on several occasions, but he didn’t shit where he ate. Navi worked for his supplier, which meant East wouldn’t touch her. Not even for just a one-time thing.
East’s eyes swept her body, taking her in. The tight jean bodysuit, which rose so high on the sides that he could see the bare skin of her hips, and her erect nipples, which pushed against the thin cotton fabric, were a nice visual. However, his scowl didn’t change. “Your body is tight as hell. I’m sure you have no issues attracting and keeping men, but I’m not interested in fucking anyone connected to my money or who has the potential to affect my ability to make it.That’smy deal and all you need to know about me.”
“Is that the only thing or do you have someone? A man like you has to have women throwing themselves at you, East. I mean, shit, I just did. I’m not opposed to a career change. Cabo can replace me if needed.” She flashed him a perfect smile, exposing fluffed cheeks, slanted eyes, and a pair of straight, white teeth.
“Don’t worry about what women will or won’t do for me. You’re not in that number, Navi. It’s late and I have shit to do.” East turned and started toward the door again, leaving Navi to either follow or further fuck up his mood.
She chose to follow, which he appreciated because he was ready for her to leave.
The two made their way through the shop and East was on alert the second he heard voices outside the shop. It was too late for anyone to be that close to his property. Placing his hand under his shirt, he glanced over his shoulder, tossing out “hold up” while he moved to the door. Looking into the street, East moved with long strides, concern taking over when he recognized one of the faces.
“Shawty…” When Joi turned to face him with her hand gently gripping her neck, tears immediately formed in her eyes. East could tell something was off from the disoriented look on her face. Not to mention the woman standing protectively by her side, whose narrowed gaze was on him as if he were the reason behind whatever had gone on.
When Joi dropped her eyes, his moved to the set of blue eyes on the face next to Joi’s for answers. “She was attacked. I called the cops and the guy left.”
Fuck, she called the cops when I’m sitting on four crates of cocaine.The woman kept her hand on Joi’s back while she looked back and forth between East and Joi, sensing their familiarity but still wanting to be protective of Joi.
East’s eyes rolled over to Joi so quickly that he felt as if his head literally jerked from the motion. With more intent, he inspected Joi once more, this time noticing the bruising on her forehead and around her neck that her small hand wasn’t able to hide. His face grew tight with every second that his eyes moved across the discoloration.
“What the fuck happened?” East’s voice was a lot more aggressive than he meant for it to be, but there was no way to mask what was already brewing.
“Reg followed me here, and?—”
“Your ex did that shit?” Once again, his tone was a lot stronger than intended, but it was out of his control. East was already processing how much pain he could inflict before he actually ended her ex’s life.
East shook the thought and moved to Joi, inspecting her once more before he guided her into his chest. The second he wrapped her into a hug, careful not to apply too much pressure, unaware of what other parts of her body might be bruised, Joi broke down.
“Shawty…” He sucked in a deep breath and brought her closer. “Don’t cry. You’re gonna be good. That’s my word, but this looks bad. We probably need to?—”
“East, I’m going to go. That is, if we’re done here.”
