42 – Alex
“No, I’m not kidding.” Holding the phone to my car, I walked around the kitchen, putting away the groceries Joey had bought with her, while she showered.
“Are you sure!”
“Yes, Oliver. They were Ikeda, and before you ask another stupid question, they had a red tiger on the sleeve of their jackets.”
When Joey had described the men who were chasing her, I was sickened to my stomach. The Ikeda was a fairly honorable clan, but once you got to the lower echelons of it, the soldiers and the lower–level bosses… well, honor went out the window They were known for taking pretty white girls and secluding them away in their dirty little whore houses; and someone like Joey, with her curves and auburn hair, would have been very popular.
“They’re bold, coming so far out of their territory.”
“Tell me about it.” I scrunched up the paper bag and tossed it into the recycling bin. “Tll get Auto onto more patrols. And I’ll step up security at the Dragon too.”
*Do you
want me to let Yuka know?”
I stopped and looked at the wall. Shit.. I had to tell Yuka. He was the head of the clan; he was the boss and everything which happened in his territory had to be reported back to him. “No, I will.”
“You know he might want to talk to Jolene about it.”
“Fuck.” I sighed, leaning back against the counter and the angle of my leg, made my calf muscle sing. It’d been healing really well and been almost painless. “Ow.”
“You okay?” Ollie asked.
“Yeah, just stood wrong.” I replied, adjusting my stance. “Look, I know Yuka might want to talk to Joey. But I’ve been trying to keep her out of this side of my life.”
There was a bit of a pause, before my best friend answered. “Alex, you really think that’s an option at the moment. Firstly, she’s already met Yuka. Secondly, she patched you up, after being stabbed. Thirdly, she’s been chased by Ikeda, and they know she’s under your protection. She’s already into this side of your life.”
But-
“My suggestion,” Oliver continued. “Is to let her. She is a grown woman, with her own thoughts, I am sure, if she doesn’t want anything to do with this life, she will hightail it out of here and never look back.”
That was what worried me. Joey leaving and never coming back.
I know it’d been only two weeks she had been staying, and because of the injury to my leg, she’d been in the guest room, but fuck… right now, if she left, the stability which had come into my life, would be gone.
“You still there?”
I rolled my eyes and stood, hearing the tap for the shower turn off. Joey was done, and I needed to apologize to her for how I spoke in the car, scaring the shit out of her. “Yeah, look I got to go. I will send Yuka a report tonight about it and if he wants to chat to Joey, then we’ll go from there.”
“No worries. Il chat to you later.”
The phone clicked and I turned, in time to see Joey walk past and into the living room. She was wrapped in a fluffy robe, and I looked at my phone, noticing the time. Barely five pm.
Yeah, she had been rattled. I needed to get my ass in there and apologize.
Turning to the wine fridge I pulled out a bottle of sweet white, one Joey had become partial to, and poured her a glass, taking it into her. She was curled up on the sofa, a blanket around her shoulders and was staring off into space.
Fuck. What had I done?
She was back to her timid, shy, sheltered self
“Hey doll.” I ignored the twinge of pain in my leg, as I crouched in front of her and held out the wine glass. “Peace offering?
น
Joey blinked and looked down at me, then to the wine. “Peace offering?”
“Yeah, I was kind of an overbearing asshole in the car. I shouldn’t have told you that shit, about the Ikeda. I’m sorry if in frightened you”
Joey stared at me, then looked at the glass of wine. She plucked it from my hand and took a sip from it. “You didn’t frighten me, Alex. I just… I wanted to go out and try and get a job and buy some groceries. I understand what you said. I’m not in Miami anymore.”
“A job”
Why would she want a job? She was going to stay a little while longer, sure, but I was happy to cover things. “You don’t have to get a job. Joey. I’m happy to-”
“Nope.” She said, shaking her head. “I am not a mooch, Alexander Kazumi. There is no way in hell I am letting you pay for things anymore. I am a grown woman, and I need to pay my own way,”
”
I raised an eyebrow and smirked, leaning against the front of the sofa. “Well, just moving on in, are you?”
“You said-
“Joey, it’s fine. I was kidding.” I chuckled and she slapped my bicep. “If you want to get a job, I’m not stopping you. But I won’t have you walking around East Village on your own. Sota is organizing a driver for you.”
“A driver? So, what they’ll take me to work and back?”
“And everywhere else you want to go. If you want to go back to Miami, then they will go with you too. Think of them like a loyal pit bull. They will be by your side no matter where you go. And they will bite anyone who isn’t supposed to go near you.”
“And while I am at work?”
“They will wait for you to message them to come and get you. But if they have your schedule, they will already be waiting.” Joey’s brows furrowed and she sipped the wine again.
“Does Sota go everywhere with you?”
“Pretty much.”
“But he didn’t go to Miami.”
“No. He wasn’t allowed to. I was the only one from the Takada Clan who had permission to go.” And boy, had Sota kicked up a stink about me flying to Miami without his protection. “I’m glad though, because we wouldn’t have happened, if he had of come with me”
“Oh, yes. I am glad for that then.“Joey giggled. “How is your leg?”
I looked down to my calf, as if I could peer through the dress pants I was wearing. “Not too bad, actually. Little stingy, if I move it wrong, but for the most part, it’s good.”
“Good.“Joey put the wine glass to the side, and leaned forward, kissing me, her hands going to my hair, fingernails scraping over my scalp. “Think you could handle staying right there and fucking me?”
“On my knees?” I asked, kissing down her neck, while my hands went to my belt, Fuck yes, I could do that. I’d do whatever she asked me to right now. “You bet.”
Joey moved, her legs coming to either side of my hips, as I shoved down the front of my pants and grabbed her ass, bringing her toward me. Her hands went to the front of the robe, opening it and I looked down, raising an eyebrow “You’re not wearing anything under there?”
“Nope.” She replied, gripping my cock as I pulled her closer and she kissed me again. “I was going to try and jump you later, but you’re in the perfect position now
My hands gripped Joey’s hips, as I shoved my cock into her and she tipped her head back, hands gripping my shoulders, moaning as I started to ram.
Fuck.. she was still perfect, still so hot and beautiful and.. “Fuck..”
I wasn’t going to last long. The pain of my calf muscle was oddly, adding to the pleasure, and I rammed harder, hearing the change in Joey’s moans, as she started to peak.
“Oh, Alex…
Oh shit..
She just called my name.
My brain short–circuited and my cock took over, spurting deep into her as we both released at the same time. “Fuck, Joey”
I buried my head against her chest as I slowed my movements and she wrapped her arms around my neck, holding me close
It seemed to take forever for my heart to calm down, but I was okay with this. Lying against her chest, listening to her breathing, feeling her warmth still wrapped around me. I could get used to this..
And there lay the problem because I’d always been taught–all good things come to an end.
43 – Joey
“Jolene, do you have a minute?” I looked at my supervisor and nodded, placing the paperwork back into its folder, then into its file, then closed the cabinet. We stepped out of the records room, and I followed them down the hall, to the emergency room, where my supervisor took me to one of the private rooms. “There’s someone asking for you, to treat them.”
1 blinked and tipped my head forward, looking through the little window and into the room. On the gurney was a large Asian man, with a towel pressed to his face, but I knew who it was, by the dragon tattoo which snaked up the side of his
neck
“You do know him?”
“Yes, it’s fine. He’s a friend. I will see to him.” My supervisor nodded and turned, leaving me alone, and I opened the door and stepped into the room. “Aoto? Are you okay?”
The big man, who had once almost stopped me from treating Alex, looked up, and pulled the towel away a little. Fresh blood gushed from a wound on his face, and I grimaced. “Let me guess, a run–in with another clan?”
He nodded and I sighed.
It was one thing I had learned about the Takada Clan, their soldiers got injured
A lot
Aoto would be the third clan member I had treated in the last week
“Okay, give me a minute to stock my trolley. When was the last time you had a tetanus shot?
He held up his free hand and 4 bunching of his full fist at me.
“Twenty years?”
Aoto nodded and I sighed. “Okay, I’ll give you one as well.”
Leaving the room, I walked down the corridor to the vaccine room and grabbed a tetanus booster, then went to the equipment room and grabbed some supplies. It looked like I was going to have to do some major stitching to Aoto’s face, and also somehow stop the bleeding
Grabbing everything I thought I would need, I left the room with the little trolley and headed back toward the room I’d left
Auto in
“Hey, Jory” Peter, one of the male nurses, sided up to me “Need a hand?”
This guy, while reasonably nice, gave off major red flags. He was always asking me if I needed help, always trying to get into my space, asking me out for drinks.
I looked at him, shaking my head as I continued to push the trolley. “No thank you. I’m fine.”
“But I saw that guy. He’s huge. What if he gets violent?”
1chuckled as I stopped outside the door to the room. The only person Aoto would hurt, would be the one annoying the shit out of me. The clan knew I was to be protected. “He won’t hurt me.”
Peter screwed up his nose. “How are you so sure!”
I smiled as I backed into the room. “Because I’m screwing his boss.”
The look on Peter’s face, as the door closed, gave me such satisfaction, but I knew I probably shouldn’t have said something like that. No doubt it would go around the hospital in no time, then I would be at the height of even more gossip. It was already bad enough that someone had started a rumor I was a lesbian because I hadn’t spoken of a partner.
I didn’t have the energy to deny or affirm shit.
Turning back to Aoto, I noticed the towel to his face was almost soaked through and I donned gloves and an apron, before stepping up to him. “Are you ready for this? It’s probably going to hurt like hell. I can give you a shot for the pain?”
I had made sure I’d grabbed some morphine for him, but Aoto shook his head and muttered.
“I’m fine.”
That was almost the most I’d heard from the big man, the whole time I’d been in New York. Unlike Sota, who didn’t shut sometimes. Aoto didn’t speak that much.
up
43–Jary
“Okay, let’s see to that pretty face of yours.”
Fifteen minutes later, I was just starting the process of stitching, when there was a knock at the door. I turned, as Peter opened the door and popped his head through. “Uh, Joey, there is a pair of men here for you–actually, for him.”
*Is one of them older, and the other younger, and constantly looking around?” Peter nodded and I returned it. “It’s okay, show them through.”
There was no way I was going to stop Yuka and Alex from coming in to see Aoto.
I turned back to Aoto and lifted the stitching needle.
“You ready? I have to go pretty close to your eye.” He nodded and I pursed my lips. “Still no morphine?”
He nodded and again, I returned it, respectful of his wishes.
The door opened behind me, and I turned my head, as Alex showed Yuka into the room.
Aoto tried to stand, knocking the trolley and Yuka clucked his tongue. “Sit down, boy.”
He did and Yuka walked over, smiling at me, as Alex closed the door.
“Good afternoon, Joelene.”
“Mr. Takada.” I bowed my head. “I’m sorry, but I need to stitch Aoto’s cheek.
“Of course, continue.”
It was a bit more daunting, with both Yuka and the man I was sleeping with, in the room. I didn’t want to stuff things up. I sewed nice, neat stitches, making sure they were as even as possible before I tied off the last one. “There. Let me clean it, then cover it, and he’ll be right to go.”
Yuka nodded, leaning in to look at my handiwork, as I turned and peeled the blood–soaked gown and gloves off. It was the first time I had looked at Alex properly since he had walked in with his boss
God… he was stunning.
Alex smirked, as he saw me watching him and he winked. I poked my tongue out at him, and he raised an eyebrow, and I knew I would be in trouble when we got home.
In the last month I’d been here, I’d learned that the more I was a brat to him, the more he liked it. It made our sex sessions phenomenal, and I wondered what I’d be in for later.
“Jolene, my dear.” I turned back to Yuka, as I donned new gloves. He was looking at Aoto’s huge wound and I worried he’d found something wrong.
“Sir?
Yuka stood straighter and smiled at me. “You are an incredible nurse, and our doctor is aging. Would you consider being his student! Learning his trade and becoming the clan’s doctor?”
I blinked and stared at Yuka, for what seemed to be an eternity. “Excuse me?”
Yuka chuckled and stepped closer, “You have once again, showed your amazing skills, your softness, your ability to be compassionate. You have helped three of the clan this week alone, and they have said to others, if they get injured, to come
to you.
My stomach flipped and I turned, looking at Alex. He smiled and nodded, as if telling me to take Yuka’s offer.
“And I will pay you more than what you would make in the hospital if you were to be a doctor.” I looked back to Yuka, who smiled. “Plus, this is a way of you staying in New York, with Alex.”
I turned to Alex, as his eyes went wide, and his face flushed red. “Sir.”
“Oh, come on, Alexander, everyone knows you are together. This way, you can start building something solid. Maybe one day, you might be able to have a family,”
Alex’s gaze shifted to mine and my face heated.
A family? With Alex?
Was he a family guy?
He didn’t come across as a family man. Sure, he was sweet, when he wanted to be. And he tolerated holding Oliver’s son, Hiro. But a family of his own?
13 Jory
Alex’s jaw clenched and I turned, looking back to Yuka. “Wow, that is a lot to take in. May I think about it?”
“Of course you can. Let me know when you have decided.” Yuka stepped past me, his hand coming to my shoulder, “You are welcome in the Takada clan, even if things do not stay as they are.”
I turned and watched as he walked to Alex.
“Come on Alexander, we have meetings, and Aoto is in the best hands possible.”
“Sir.” Alex nodded, opening the door and he threw one last look back to me as he walked Yuka out of the room, and with all
the tension and confusion I saw in his features, it wouldn’t be just the job offer from Yuka I would have to think about.
