59 – Joey
I was sitting at Oliver’s house, wrapped in my bathrobe, watching as Alex paced around the living room, phone to his car. anger in his voice.
“I don’t give a fuck. Just find out how they managed to get into my fucking house.”
I honestly didn’t want to be the one on the other end of that phone and I knew, unfortunately, it was probably Aoto, Even though he had stepped down as second in command of Yuka’s security, to be my driver, he would still be the one Alex called. to yell at.
Jory, here.”
I turned my gaze and looked at Jade. She cradled Hiro in her left arm while offering me tea with her other hand, took it and smiled at her. “I’m so sorry, Jade.”
“For what?” She asked, patting Hiro on the bottom as he stirred in her arms.
“For being a burden, this time of night.” I held the cup in my hands, and even though I knew it was warm, it did nothing to ease the chill that had set in my bones. “I’m sorry.”
“Oh, stop it.” She said, lifting Hiro to her shoulder and she patted his back, as he fussed. “When I married Oliver, I knew if anything happened with Alex, then I would have to deal with the fallout and expected late nights and disturbances. They are best friends, have been forever. I will never turn him, or the woman he loves away from our home.”
“Thank you.” I replied, fighting back tears. That was what friends were supposed to be.
“If you need anything at all. Just ask. I’m going to try and get Hiro settled again.”
Jade wandered off, and I turned my attention back to Alex, who was still pacing, but the phone had gone into his pocket and Oliver was standing near him, speaking in hushed tones. I put my tea on the coffee table and lifted my legs, tucking them underneath me.
What the fuck had just happened?
One minute, I was falling asleep after Alex and I had spent the whole day together, loving each other, the next, he was coming into the room, gun drawn.
And to see that thing on the dresser-
it was an Oni.. but what scare, was the idea that while Alex had been
I knew a little about Japanese culture and knew it w our–someone had broken into the house.
They had come into the house, into our room, where Alex and I had only made love hours before.. and left an Oni on my dresser, facing me. Anything else could have happened. They could have assaulted me, taken me, killed me
No wonder Alex was pissed.
Our own house wasn’t safe anymore.
For a good ten minutes, I stared off into space, before Oliver brought me out of my thoughts. He was still speaking to Alex, but Oliver’s gaze moved to me, then back to Alex, who stopped and turned to me. I could see anger in his gaze, but there was also worry and he sighed, nodding to Oliver, before he came over to me. Alex knelt down in front of me and put his hands on my hips, his thumbs brushing the soft robe.
“Hey, doll. You want to get out of here? I’ll take you to a hotel for the night.”
1 frowned and looked over to Oliver, who was on the phone, then back to him
“Are you coming with me?” Alex closed his eyes and dropped his head to my knee. “Didn’t think so.”
He lifted his head, looking at me as for the first time in the four and a half months we’d been together, I saw fear in his gaze. “Joey, baby. Please. I need to know you’re safe. I can have Reiji and Aoto stay with you, and have men in rooms either side of
you.”
I shook my head. “No. I’m not going anywhere, while you’re still here. You either come with me, or I don’t go.”
Alex’s jaw clenched and he turned his head away, staring at Oliver, who was now raising his voice at whoever was on the other end of the line. “Just fucking find thein!”
I lifted my hand, catching Alex’s jaw and turned his head back to me. “Alex. I’m safe here. I will
39 Joey
He opened his mouth to speak when a shadow fell over us. We both looked up, to see Ollie standing off to the side. “Alex, we have to go…
Alex sighed and lifted himself. “She won’t go to a hotel.”
“She is right here.” I spat and the pair of them looked down at me, and I flipped them both off.
*Alex, she’s fine here.” The guys turned to Jade, who was holding a block of chocolate, two glasses and a bottle of red wine. “I have enough security here. Just go and do what you have to. Joey will be here when you get back. Maybe a little drunk, but
here.”
I could see Alex wanted to argue, but Oliver put his hand on his shoulder and shook his head. “Nope. Don’t go end up shanked with that bottle.”
“Too right.” Jade said, coming to sit next to me. “Now, go on. Pearl is on her way too. She’s bringing sake and strawberry
mochi”
“Wonderful. We don’t need security now. A seventy–year–old woman will chase them off.” Alex said exasperatedly. “Seriously.
“Seriously, Alexander. Go away.” Jade said, “Now.”
Rolling his eyes, Alex leaned down, kissing me, lingering long enough to show me he didn’t want to leave me alone, before he lifted himself, turned on his heel and left with Oliver.
I turned to Jade. “Is Pearl really coming over?”
“Oh yes
She is.” Jade grinned, pouring out a glass of wine and handing it to me. “And bringing Mochi and sake and whatever else she can find. We’re going to get you nice and drunk, to take your mind off things, while the boys go off and chase after
bad guys
As I lifted the wine to my lips and Jade waffled on about something Hiro did that morning, I couldn’t help but think it wasn’t bad guys Alex and Oliver were chasing
