Jio held her gaze for one last second before walking out of her house.
For the first time in a long time, Talia didn’t want to get high to numb the pain. She wanted someone to love her as much as Jio claimed to love her lil’ sister.
η
He was a calculated dude. Jio didn’t make impulsive decisions. Everything was always carefully considered and he let his thoughts marinate longer than the ribs that his uncle was famous for on the 4thof July. So that was why when he went to visit his Pops in prison, regardless of the outcome of the conversation, he would be content because he’d sat with his decision. He’d even prayed on the situation and asked the Most High for wisdom and discernment. Yeah, dope was paying the bills, but it wouldn’t give him the life he was seeking long-term. It was time for Jio to take the family empire in another direction. Jio had done the research. He was confident in his plan. It was solid and he was guaranteed to see a huge return on the initial investment.
He sat at a table patiently awaiting the doors to open and grant access to a long list of convicted felons to spend a fewminutes with their loved ones. For many inmates, these visits were everything to them. It kept them sane and alive. It was also a reminder of what they had waiting on them when their bid was up.
Big J used to love when his son visited him, but their past few encounters hadn’t gone well. Something told him that this one wouldn’t be any different. Jio wasn’t a lil’ nigga anymore. He’d begun to feel himself, and honestly, he should’ve known this would occur eventually. He’d started acting the same around his age. Big J sat down at the table, instantly feeling the tension and noticing that things had definitely changed between them.
There wasn’t a dap, hug, or kiss to the face like they’d done over the years. It was no love lost, but it damn sure wasn’t on display either.
Big J had been in and out of jail throughout Jio’s entire life. Shit, the majority of their ‘quality time’ was spent in prisons. His own father used to call him Mr. Can’t Get Right.
Big J loved everything that didn’t love him back. He was easily distracted by fast cars, hard drugs, big booties, and round titties. Gambling was his bad habit. A line or two or three was another vice that he couldn’t rid himself of. Jail was the only time his mind was quiet enough for him to think straight. He would promise himself that he could be the made man, the leader that his father expected him to be. Once he got out of jail he tried to do his best, but he would always fuck up again. The cycle never ended.
But now, Jio was old enough to run things. With or without his dad’s supervision.
Big J felt like he’d been pushed out and sat aside, but shit, he was locked away in a cage. Money still had to be made. Bills needed to be paid and the Gotti legacy couldn’t die because Big J was behind bars.
His brother didn’t want any parts of being the head of their criminal family organization.
He would handle whatever was needed if asked of him, but he had no desire to be the leader. Jio always respected and admired that about his uncle. If more people would willingly admit their shortcomings, the world might just end up being a better place. Everyone wasn’t a leader and that was okay. A village needed Indians in order to have a Chief.
“New earrings?” was the first thing that left his father’s lips.
He noticed shit that didn’t even matter.
“I’ve had these for years,” Jio said flatly.
“You must’ve just gotten them cleaned or something. Them bitches shining,” he praised. Jio was unfazed by the compliment.
“Could be the sunlight.”
He hadn’t touched the earrings and his father knew him well enough to know that.
“I guess.”
Jio sat back and rested his arms on his lap.
“You been good? I reloaded the account. Didn’t realize it’d gotten that low.”
“Well, maybe if you answer the phone, you’ll know.”
“I’m not the only person you can call to keep money on the books,” Jio retorted. All the bitches he’d tricked off on over the years…. shit, that was their job.
“You supposed to be the first person I call. You’re my son. MY ONLY SON.”
Jio used to love that reminder. He bore his last name proudly, but on days like this, sitting across from the man who was once his role model and idol… he loathed it.
“Are you good though?” He ignored the dramatics because he was ready to get down to business.
“Maintaining as best as I can, Jio. It’s a part of the game.”
His dad liked to tell himself that but that was far from the truth.
He wasn’t ever going to prison if he could control the outcome.
