Page 134 of Just Like Summer

When the shackles were removed from his wrists and ankles, he stood until the door closed.

“You Kamilla? The one East has been bothering me about?”

“That’d be me,” Kamilla stated, motioning to the seat. “I’m persistent. Especially when there’s something I want – when I hear something the world should hear too. Have a seat, I come in peace.”

Joey studied her for any inkling that she could be looking to exploit the very thing keeping him alive in this hell hole. He took a seat, still studying her. “So El Jefe sent you to sell me a dream.”

“I don’t sell dreams, Mr. Sims.”

“Aight, then what do you do?” Joey mused.

“I steal moons. Whatever that thing is that eliminates your darkness, I aim for it and make sure you keep it and that it drives you into whatever your success story is.”

He hummed and knocked his knuckles against the table. “So what else you want to give me? A couple million, a house. More women than I know what to do with?”

“No. I just have one question for you – are you ready?”

Joey frowned slightly and asked, “For what?”

“Your redemption.”

Joey pulled in a deep breath. “I want my mother to look at me with pride in her eyes, not disappointment. Can you help me with that?”

“As long as you’re committed to being better and doing better,” Kamilla shared. “If you’re committed to trusting me.”

“I have rules – I don’t need the spotlight. I don’t need my name out. Give me the tools and I’ll steal that muhfucka myself,” Joey stated, making Kamilla smile.

“That’s what I wanted to hear. Your lawyer will be here tomorrow, be on time,” she spoke standing.

“Who’s paying for that?” Joey questioned. “If you say my brother, our business is done.”

“I’ll leave that relationship to you to fix. In the meantime, when my fiancé was in prison, I started a nonprofit for legal support. I have a lawyer assigned to you ready to go. All you have to say is go.”

Joey pulled the hairs of his beard and looked at Kamilla. “Go.”

With her marching order, Kamilla walked out of the prison toward Kwan who was waiting on her to reemerge.

“How’d that go?” Kwan asked, opening Kamilla’s door.

“Like we should do this once a month while I can travel without Cairo or Haddon losing their minds,” Kamilla shared with a chuckle as she got inside. Safely inside, she hit Haddon’s name and waited for him to answer.

“Talk to me nice, baby,” Haddon answered. “Talk to me. What you got?”

“I got Joey. He prefers to be heard and not seen,” she replied.

“What about Indigo?” Haddon mused.

“Indigo wants no issues with me. His fight is with his brother. My fight is to get Joey to see he’s worthy of redeeming.”

“And this is why you’re my partner. I’m proud of you,” Haddon shared. “Tell Kwan to get you back safely or I’ll beat his ass.”

Kamilla laughed, “I don’t know who is more protective, you or the man I share a bed with.”

“We all serve our purposes, Mila. See you when you get back.”

fifty-six

Eight months later