41–Joey
It’d been two weeks since I had come to New York
Two whole weeks of living with Alex. and holy shit, he was busy
I had found myself going into nagging mode at least twice, when I found him not resting, after he’d been attacked, but in the end, I had just thrown my hands up and told him if he injured himself again, not to come crying to me.
That had been met with a chuckle, a kiss and a ‘see you for dinner.
Now I was sitting in the living room, staring at the wall, trying not to be bored out of my brain. Alex had left for work almost an hour ago, promising me he’d be back for lunch, but I knew he wouldn’t
Yuka had found a lead on who had stabbed Alex, and the man was like a dog with a bone
Sota had filled me in on what little he could, but in the end, I’d learned I didn’t really want to know what Alex was up to and who he was chasing. All I wanted to be sure of was that he was safe.
I shifted in the armchair and tipped my head back, looking at the ceiling.
I’d already cleaned the house from the bottom floor to the top. Not that it needed it, there was a cleaner who came in once a week
I’d sticky–beaked through everything I could get my hands on and had realized Alex led a very simple, very lonely life, not unlike
my own.
I needed something to do.
Picking myself up off the armchair, I walked into the hallway and picked up my handbag and the spare key Alex had cut for me and left the house. I couldn’t stay cooped up.
Not today.
Nor could I keep letting Alex pay for things, even if he told me he had more than enough money to cover things. With my last few hundred dollars, I would go out, get something for dinner, and find myself a job. Alex had said I could stay as long as I liked.
I wasn’t a mooch. I would pay my own way.
Two hours later, I had been to the hospital and scored myself some part–time work, starting the following week, and I was currently cruising down one of the isles of Trader Joe’s, my basket laden with fresh produce for dinner.
“Hey pretty lady.”
I blinked and stopped, turning to the voice.
At the end of the aisle, was a trio of men, watching me.
Normally, I’m fairly friendly. Being a nurse, you have to have a pleasant demeanor. But something about this trio had my skin crawling and I turned, not even saying hello.
Quickly walking to the front of the store, I piled my groceries onto the counter and looked back to the aisle, seeing the ment still watching me, but they had gotten closer, and the looks on their faces told me they didn’t have the purest of intentions.
1 bounded from one foot to the other, as the elderly woman rang up my purchases and I paid. Picking up the bag. I turned. and left the store, turning toward home.
The sun was starting to dull, bringing in the signal of the day’s end. My feet pounded on the sidewalk as I hurried and 1 turned my head, looking back toward the store.
-Shit..
They were following me.
“Shit, shit, shit.”
If I could have run, I would have. But the bag of groceries which was resting heavily in my arms, was the last of my money. seriously considered abandoning them, but my stubbornness took over. I’d paid for those groceries with the money I’d
carneil
A wolf whistle, and I turned my head again.
41 Jory
There were now five of them and the scariest part, they weren’t in a hurry. They just seerned to be meandering down the street, as if they knew exactly where I was going and knew they would head me off at some point.
I mean, they probably would. My chunky ass, and the heavy grocery bag would be weighing me down and I would soon grow tired of the pace I was trying to keep. I knew my limitations
My heart started to beat heavier in my chest, my stomach contracting with the idea I might not make it back to the house, and that the next time Alex might see me, would be to identify my body, after they pulled it from the alley.
“Fuck’s sake. Stop it.” I hissed at myself, moving my hand, and I dug into my handbag, pulling out my phone Juggling the groceries, I dialed Alex
It picked up after the first ring. “Hey doll.”
“How far are you from home?” I asked, my breath coming in gasps. Alex must have picked up on it, because his tone changed.
“Joey, are you okay? What’s going on?”
“Uh, I went out for groceries and well… I’m on Third Avenue, just around the corner from Trader Joe’s.” I turned my head, looking back to the group. They noticed me on the phone and one of them gestured to another, who started to walk faster toward me, as if trying to catch me. “There’s a group of men following me.”
“What kind of men? Describe them to me.
I looked back again, focusing on the one who seemed to be the leader.
“Asian, leathers and blue jeans. They have a red tiger on the cuff of their sleeves.”
“Fuck. Sota, step on it.”
I was a little less than 5 blocks from Alex’s house, and I knew my stamina would run out by the time I got even halfway there. The groceries were getting heavier and heavier with each step.
I could hear Sota on the other end of the phone, swearing.
“Just keep going, Joey, we’re almost there.”
The screech of tires and I turned my head, seeing Sota’s sedan barreling down the street, coming up from behind the men. It pulled to a stop between me and the group, and Alex climbed out of the car. He ignored the group, who had stopped and were watching us, instead turning to me, his gaze full of concern and anger.
“Jolene, get in the car.”
I nodded, and hurried back to Alex, as he opened the door, and I scurried in. He closed the door behind me, and I peered out of the window as he turned and looked at the men behind him. I was grateful for the still open front door, otherwise I would have driven myself insane, trying to figure out what was being said.
“She yours?” someone called out, and I looked up, in time to see Alex look down at the window, then back to the group.
“Yes. She is. So why don’t you just go back to wherever you come from, and don’t come back.”
“On whose authority? Huh? All we see are two punks trying to steal a pretty white chick.”
Alex’s hand moved, and he slipped a freaking gun from under his jacket and held it down next to his leg. Fuck! This might get wild
“How about mine!”
I could hear laughter from the group, and I grimaced. I really didn’t want to be in a shootout.. I’d treated the victims of plenty back in Miami.
“And who the fuck are you, pretty boy?
I looked at Alex through the glass and could see him getting frustrated, and almost expected him to point the gun and start shooting. I turned my head back to the group, as Alex replied. “Tam Alexander Kazumi. Right hand man of Yuka Takada. I am telling you to turn your punk asses around and go back to the other side of the tracks, before my driver puts a hole in your head
At that statement, Sota finally climbed out of the car, and I watched as the men in the group visibly stepped back. They all looked at each other, as Sota raised his arm and placed it on the roof of the car. “Bool”
The group which had been following me, scattered
Al–Jory
“Fucking pussies.” Sota chuckled, climbing back into the car and Alex did the same, turning in the seat as
toward home.
There was anger in his gaze, and I shrank a little in the chair. “Are you okay?”
Inodded, not trusting my voice.
Sota took us
“That was a scouting crew from the Ikeda clan. They’ve been causing all sorts of trouble in the East Village for the last two years. They have a penchant for pretty white girls, and once they get hold of them, they don’t come back.”
I frowned, lowering my gaze, and Alex’s hand came out, tilting my chin up.
“You have to be more careful around here, Joey. We’re not in Miami anymore. Okay?”
“Okay.“1 muttered and he turned back to the front of the car.
“Sota, when you’ve dropped us off, go and have a chat with the security team and see who is suitable to be a driver for Joey. I don’t want her wandering around, with the Ikeda out and about”
“Yes sir.” Sota replied, and I curled up on the back seat, cradling my groceries to my chest as we headed back to Alex’s. All I wanted, was some independence…
