72 – Alex
While I should have been annoyed with Joey’s little display of power at the intermission between meetings. I was actually quite proud. I’d been worried she wouldn’t be able to hold her own in the Takada clan, let alone worry about what other clans thought of her.
But as the day went on, I watched Yasu defer more and more questions away from himself to his trainee, who held herself so well and acted with professionalism, and I knew by the end of the clans‘ meetings, she would be well–known.
Unfortunately, that also came with its own problems.
There were already whispers about Yuka losing his way, hiring a white woman to be his physician, when the role was traditionally held by someone in the clan. Usually a male, of Japanese descent.
Then there were the whispers from other soldiers, in my choice of partner. Ninety–nine percent of the time, Yakuza soldiers married Japanese women. That was the done thing, and white women were used as whores and “playthings for the soldiers, Women who thought it was ‘cool‘ to be fucked by a Yakuza soldier. A groupie who thought they might be able to make it into the inner circles, but only ever stayed on the fringes to be used, then discarded.
So, for me to be open about my relationship with Joey, was almost unheard of, and again, it seemed to reflect badly upon my boss.
Which Yuka really didn’t give a shit about.
“I tell you know, Alexander, if a bomb hit this place, I would be eternally grateful.” Yuka grumbled as we left yet another meeting full of old fat clan leaders and their upstart young soldiers, “If I have to listen to one more thing about the old ways, I am going to stab someone.”
“With what, sir?” I asked, a chuckle coming to my throat. “Your shoe?”
Yuka stopped walking and looked down at the heeled boot he was wearing. ‘It’s an option.”
Both Sota and I laughed, causing some of the surrounding clans to look in our direction. We were a progression they didn’t want to understand. A general being so cordial and close to his leader, and the leader giving him the leeway to do so. Most Yakuza leaders ruled with an iron fist. Yuka had once told me that was how his father had ruled the clan, and he vowed not to be like him.
“No, let’s go and see if we can find those doctors of ours. I think Jolene would be more than happy to get away from Yasu.” Following Yuka through the crowds, we stopped on occasion to speak to other leaders and security, before we finally found Yasu, Joey and Aoto in the corner of the room. The elderly doctor was almost asleep in the corner, while Joey and Aoto chatted quietly to each other.
“Are we ready to depart?”
Joey looked up at Yuka and grinned. “Oh, yes please. Aoto has had to chase off at least a dozen guys who came over asking if I was available for hire.”
My jaw clenched. “Who?”
Joey’s gaze moved to mine. “You never mind. They were sent packing, believe me.”
I didn’t care if Aoto had chased them off. I wanted names. How fucking dare, they come over and-
“Hey, are we going or are you just going to stand there brooding?” Joey asked, and my mind came back to her. “I need a shower. Too many men in this room. Smells like Brut and desperation.”
I chuckled, as did Yuka and I turned to Sota. “Dude, go and get the cars sorted. We’re done.”
Sota nodded. “Yes sir.”
I stepped up to Joey, taking her hand and she blinked. It wasn’t customary for Japanese men to show affection to their partner in public. Even holding hands was seen as too affectionate. It had been something we’d had a discussion on before and she had agreed it was weird but dealt with it.
But standing in this room, with over one hundred Yakuza, I needed to stake my claim on her, so I twisted my fingers through hers and held tight. Joey smiled at me, as Yuka spoke quietly to Yasu
Yeah… I didn’t give a flying fuck what everyone thought about Joey and me. Or Yuka employing her as his new doctor. I 
could leave this world and never come back. I was fine with that, as long as Joey was by my side the whole time.
72–Alex
We left the overly opulent mansion, walked out into the late afternoon and waited for Sota to sort the cars out. Joey stepped closer to me, her other hand grabbing our entwined hands, and he spoke to me quietly. “You know what I hoped would happen, all day?”
I turned my head, looking down at her, a smirk coming to my lips. “What’s that, doll?”
“That you would hear someone asking about me being for hire and lose your shit at them and kick the shit out of them to protect my honor.”
My eyebrows rose, as color came to her cheeks. “I could always do that still. I mean, you just have to point them out.” “No!” She hissed, burying her head against my shoulder. “I don’t want you to get in trouble.”
I chuckled, kissing the top of her head. “I wouldn’t have, doll. I would have had to explain myself, but I wouldn’t have pote
into trouble. Trust me.”
It was one thing I would have gotten away with
Especially since it was known that Joey was my woman. I’d been asked about where I’d met her on more than one occasion and friends just as plump and delicious. I’d told them to fuck off pretty quickly.
So, smacking the hell out of someone, because they’d tried to hit on her, even when they knew she was mine, would have been seen as necessary; plus, Yuka would have stuck up for me too, and even though he was progressive, he was also incredibly respected.
The cars finally arrived, and Yasu and Yuka climbed into the first one, with Sota, while I rode in the second, with Joey and Aoto. She snuggled down into my embrace and chatted with Aoto about random things and I tipped my head back, listening to them, and drifted off to sleep.
Glad the day
was co
