Love Games

19||Man with A Plan

I had been allowing Tia to scrape at the surface, but it seemed she had struck gold. While Tia may not have had much insight into my operations directly, the whispers on the streets were often more informative than any surveillance. With Ed's crew facing trouble, I knew he'd spill everything he knew to save himself. It was time to elevate our game, and I intended to give Tia the exact surveillance she had been seeking.

"Hey, I want in on tomorrow's fight, and I'm bringing a guest," I stated firmly into the phone, dialing Jo's cousin Sam, the organizer of the fights.

"Unless you're putting up the fee, you know new people need to be vetted," Sam replied, his voice gruff with authority.

"I'll pay the fee. Ten grand, right?" I confirmed, my hand already on the doorknob as I prepared to step out.

"You got it. Just squeeze me in," I concluded, hanging up the phone with a sense of determination.

After finalizing the arrangements for tomorrow's fight, I knew it was time to bring Amina into the fold. With an air of authority, I dialed her number, the anticipation building with each ring.

"Amina," I greeted her firmly as soon as she picked up. "Are you ready for me to pick you up?"

Her response came with a hint of excitement and submission. "Yes, Easton," she replied, her voice soft but eager.

"Good," I stated, my voice leaving no room for argument. "Make sure you're ready when I arrive. I don't like to be kept waiting."

"I will be," she assured me, the promise laced with obedience.

As we drove, the familiar rhythm of the radio filled the silence, and I found myself lost in thought, contemplating the plans I had swirling in my mind. Amina, on the other hand, seemed content to peer out the window, lost in her own thoughts.

When the radio finally went to commercial, Amina took the opportunity to break the comfortable silence between us. "So, Easton," she began, her voice breaking through the quiet. "How was your day?"

Her question caught me off guard, but a smile tugged at the corners of my lips as I glanced back at her. It was a simple question, but one I wasn't used to hearing, and it felt refreshing to be asked about my day. "It was good, just busy with work," I replied, genuinely appreciative of her interest.

"And yours?" I added, wanting to reciprocate the gesture.

"It was good, work was smooth. Though I have to admit this feels different," she confessed, her tone thoughtful.

"What exactly?" I inquired, intrigued by her response.

"Talking to someone after work, that's not my mom," she admitted with a smile.

"You two close?" I asked, fishing for more information.

"Extremely. She's my best friend," she replied, her smile widening.

I filed away her words, knowing they could come in handy for my plans. But before I could dwell on it further, Amina turned the conversation back to me.

"What about you? Are you close with your family, I mean besides your cousins?" she asked, her curiosity evident in her voice.

"I'd say I'm close with both of my parents in different ways. And my brother, well, he's like my annoying best friend," I replied, but the words kept flowing, revealing more than I intended. "Though sometimes I feel like I'm the older brother," I added, turning onto the street just before my house.

Amina's giggle filled the car, and I found myself smiling in response. "I always wondered what it was like to have a sibling. Seems like it's not all it's cracked up to be," she remarked playfully.