Gambling With Life

19

"I'd like to see that picture" "of course" "I can go get it" jaylah nodded at Nicole. As she sipped on her drink, kalem grinned. Jaylahs right, it will knock her on her ass. She used to drink with kalem and Christophe a lot but now there's nothing to her and she hasn't drank for over two months. "here Hun" Nicole handed the picture to Jackson and Jackson looked at jaylah "your average day?" "He just drew what he seen" "it's a good picture. Bronx showed me the one of his. I don't believe he's batman though" jaylah grinned "why not?" "He doesn't wear a mask" "you are wrong" "what?" Nicole smirked "he does. Everyday" Bronx internally grinned as he looked at jaylah "I think a lot of people do" "he's in black too" Nicole chuckled "he can't exactly wear white" jaylah looked at Nicole "doesn't like tie dye I'm guessing" the men laughed while Bronx kept his face straight. 'This woman is definitely coming out of her shell'. "Is this the way jaylah has always been?" Hearing a lot of the men say yes, Bronx watched as jaylah grinned "liars" "bullshit" jaylah looked at Christophe "so you only smell like smoke because you sit around the men as they do?" "Yep" the men laughed "you are so full of shit man" "have you seen one in my hand?" "Yes. When uncle rayal was carrying me" "okay, I was just holding that for vex" "piss off" "he wasn't even here" "whose side are you on?" "None but when she gets stronger, she will kick my ass" Gerald looked at jaylah with a sneer before picking up his glass. Nicole looked at Gerald staring him down until he gave her eye contact "I'd be careful Gerald. Really careful. It's not just me that has her back. You may not like her but I can bet your ass that these men won't hesitate to kill for her" as the door opened up, Bronx looked to see who it was. "tyson" Tyson looked around. Seeing everyone sitting at the table. Even though he's exhausted, he knew it was jaylah.
"I didn't say shit" "it was the sneer. You didn't need to say anything" "at least with Casey, she had decency and didn't crave all the men's attention" "THAT FUCKING WHORE MURDERED MY SON" Geralds eyes went wide as he seen the anger in Nicole's face "don't fucking tell me she had decency. Don't fucking tell me she was a good person. Why the hell do you think she is rotting in the prison?" Gerald took a deep breath "sorry" Nicole looked at Tyson "Tyson" "Nicole" tyson walked past all the men up to Nicole "how ya holding up woman?" "Better if I shoot someone" Jackson smirked as he seen the worry in Gerald's eyes. "jaylah" tyson grinned as he bent down "I hear you a tough one" "have to be" "not too tough for a hug though right?" "Not for you" tyson grinned as he gave jaylah a hug "boss has done a shit job with the pays. Never on time, some days leaving me broke" jaylah chuckled "that bad huh?" "Very. You are taking over again aren't you?" "Your boss is standing right here" Tyson had a cheeky grin on his face "now he's on time" the men laughed as jaylah grinned "I have my job back but first I need to strengthen myself up" "hmm and Definitely need some fat on you. That's a good excuse for lots of pasta, pizza and steak" "definitely pasta" "always a favorite" "have you been good Tyson?" "He's never good" "doing well but as soon as I heard from Zaire that you are back, I have been wanting to see you" Tyson looked at the drink and picked it up "this helps with weight too but I'm really thirsty" tyson sculled jaylahs drink then stood up "looks like you need another" jaylah and Nicole laughed "comes in taking your drink. How rude" "he will replace it" "YEP" the men laughed. As everyone got into conversation, Tyson put jaylahs drink on the table "thanks Tyson" "welcome".
Jaylah turned to look at Gerald. "So Gerald. How are you?" "Fine" "what do you do here?" "Runs and the prison" jaylah nodded "not the section I was in" "no. East wing" "drugs right?" Gerald lifted his head to look at jaylah "yeah. You know about it?" "I do payroll, I know of the sections" Bronx watched as jaylah spoke with Gerald. 'Why out of everyone is she speaking with him?'.
"How long have you worked here?" She got him to ask a question, it's a good start. "Three years" "why were you in there?" "I was accused of killing Sawyer" "Nicole and Jackson's son?" "Yes. Casey framed me" "and how did you survive?" "With strength" Gerald looked at Jaylah with curiosity "how long were you there?" "Two months I believe. I lost track of days" "the west. Prisoners aren't given water and food. They are also whipped everyday. There's no way you can survive more than three days without water" "must be a miracle then" Gerald looked at the small smile that played on jaylahs lips before she covered it "someone helped you" "we all have our secrets Gerald. But I'm not your enemy" Gerald showed a slight nod "yeah I've been a cunt" "you could say that" 'two months being whipped, no water or food. It's impossible. I can see she was injured and probably didn't move the entire time' Gerald looked at jaylah again as she sipped on her drink "I admire the strength. I did misjudge you and I can see why you have struggled to walk" jaylah peeled her eyes away from her drink to look at Gerald again. 'i turned him around' "I won't be struggling for long Gerald. I have made a goal to be running in two weeks" for the first time Gerald smiled "determined" "yes. I wasn't brought up by my uncle to be weak" "adopted?" "No. Taken in. My parents were killed" "shit" jaylah shrugged "it's gets easier as the years go on. I do know I have a lot of support though. Do you have your own family?" "Parents and a sister. She is a doctor" jaylah grinned "ironic" Gerald chuckled "yeah..I guess" Nicole and sally both grinned at each other as they listened. "Seems someone got through to him" "didn't expect anything less".
"Why are you here? You obviously do payroll" "yep. My uncle found me the job" "why not work with him?" "Just like you with your family. It's a risk and the less time I spend with him, the better" Gerald nodded "yeah I'd hate for something to happen to them" "and you got into this because?" "I fucked up. I got in trouble. Went to prison. Came out and was offered the work" jaylah looked at Bronx not that he was looking then at Gerald "drugs?" "Yeah.." jaylah slightly shrugged "we all make mistakes in life but I believe everything happens for a reason" "whats your reasoning for being accused and hurt?" Jaylah sat back "to make me stronger" Gerald smirked "you aren't that now" "but I will be. When I have the strength, my uncle's men will be training me" Gerald smirked "in what?" "Protection" "no weapons?" "Maybe".
"Hun, we better head off" Nicole nodded "yeah we better. Thanks for having us Bronx" "anytime" Bronx looked at jaylah as she spoke with Gerald "know what that's about?" Nicole and sally grinned "once again, she knows how to use her words" Bronx nodded. If Gerald is to cross the line, Bronx will take him back where he got him from.
"It was good to see you all" "and you two too" Nicole and Jackson both grinned as everyone said their goodbyes.
Jaylah looked at her drink and dropped it back "shit jaylah" jaylah looked at Christophe "what?" "Just scull it" "it went down well" jaylah stood up and walked to the kitchen. Putting her glass in the sink, she turned and walked back out. Grabbing the drawing of Sawyers, jaylah walked to the room and put it on her bedside table. As she picked up the photo, jaylah looked at little Sawyer. He was a really good kid. Bronx entered the room, looking at jaylah. She was happy out there, why did she come back in the room?. As he walked closer, he caught sight of the photo that sat in her hand. Jaylah and Sawyer. Nicole must've gave it to her. Gently moving over the bed, jaylah turned to look at Bronx. Keeping eye contact with him, Bronx spoke "can I?" Jaylah handed the photo to Bronx. "Who took the photo?" "Nicole. She thought the photo was a fitting thank you gift for what you should've taken credit for" Bronx peeled his eyes away from the photo of jaylah and his nephew to look into jaylahs light blue eyes "no. It was only right that I tell them the truth" jaylah kept eye contact with Bronx as she showed a slight nod "okay".