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Here’s a look into Mister Teacher before it goes live 2.2.23. Don’t forget, you can preorder Mister Teacher by clicking here.
Tyreek
February
My arms were outstretched as I stared at the wall directly across from us. I hated this part of coming to see Ahmad. It didn’t matter how long we’d known each other, how trustworthy I was, or how many times I’d offered my services to him, Ahmad’s paranoia made it difficult for him to trust anyone. I wasn’t sure that was a lifestyle I could maintain—doing things that had me so fearful and on edge that I couldn’t even be alone or feel free.
My father had always taught Kahlil and I that fear wasn’t real; danger was, and that was what made us as fearless and unstoppable as we were when we were fully in the streets. With nothing to fear, we were able to move with a confidence that made even the most established men and organizations insecure.
It wasn’t my brother or my father with me here today, though. While I carried my father with me in spirit, he hadn’t been around to handle business with us for years. Losing him had changed all of us in some way or another. For Kahlil, he was filled with guilt. For our mother, Adrian, she clung to God and us even more. For me? Honestly, I still hadn’t seen the effects of our father being murdered in my life yet. It was easier to see other people’s issues than your own, I suppose.
“You’re good,” Cory, one of Ahmad’s guards said, motioning for me to enter with his head.
I stepped forward, but I wouldn’t go inside without Antonne. Antonne had taken on the role of protector within our crew just like I had. We all went to war behind each other, but Antonne and I were the only two that were still heavily invested in this street shit, so we had less to care about while our brothers had more to lose. Not too many knew about my dealings with men like Ahmad, though, and I liked to keep it that way.
Above all, my mother had raised me to be a gentleman… the world didn’t need to know just how truly gangsta I was. Just thinking about all the shit I’d gotten away with over the years had a lazy smile lifting the corners of my mouth as I closed my eyes briefly and silently thanked God. Being a henchman for the last fifteen years had its pros and cons, but not a day went by that I didn’t thank God for keeping me free and alive. As crazy as it sounded, the life I lived was the reason I was as close to God as I was. I wouldn’t be foolish enough to say God was pleased with the way I was living, but I found solace in the fact that He shielded and protected me until I had the strength to leave. It was a long time coming, but I was finally at that point.
Watching my brother go legit fully and find his happily ever after with Honey had inspired me in more ways than one. I may have been the oldest by a mere year, but Kahlil had always been the more mature and rational one. The one that thought things through before making choices. As I aged, I started being slower to act, but with my line of business, you died if you weren’t quick to act. That quickness was almost always the difference between you being the one to shoot or getting gunned down.
“All’s well, brother,” Antonne coaxed, trying to get me to go inside. “Handle your business.”
“I will,” was all I said, cupping my palms in the center of me.
Antonne chuckled with a shake of his head. Usually, he was the one hovering to make sure everyone was straight, but I was always the one returning that energy for him. Antonne was calm but lethal. Anything could set him off, and if you didn’t get him out of that situation quickly, there was no telling what his crazy ass would do. While I didn’t think Ahmad would try anything when he heard about my desire to retire, Antonne insisted on coming with me since I didn’t tell my brother about what I was doing, and I appreciated that. I had no problem handling things on my own, but it always increased my power and confidence when I had someone I trusted by my side.
When Cory was done searching Antonne, we made our way down the hall toward Ahmad’s office door. Instead of meeting him at his home, I came to one of his legal business establishments—a car lot. It wasn’t because I thought being in public would make this meeting go smoother. Quite frankly, if Ahmad wanted to try me, he’d do that shit in a fucking church. Ahmad had no qualms about handling an issue immediately, and that was one of the reasons I saved him for last. I had several powerful clients that I needed to detach myself from… politicians, pastors, athletes, drug dealers—anyone with an image they wanted to protect, I served.
Unlike henchmen in movies, bodies who stood around with no true value, my services were highly sought out and valued. I was the one who allowed my clients to keep their hands clean. Whether they needed something taken or someone handled, it fell on me to make it happen. A lot of the jobs weren’t always murders, but some were, and I often handed those to Antonne. I didn’t mind the kidnappings, torture, or beatings, because often they were well deserved, but after losing my father and seeing the devastating effects it had on me and my family, it became increasingly difficult for me to kill. That was another sign that it was time for me to retire.
By the time we made it to Ahmad’s office, the decision to quit had settled a bit more in my spirit. When we first arrived, the moment was bittersweet. Though this was something I’d been wanting to do, I felt like I had no real reason to. Now, I was finally teaching tenth grade English along with having my gentlemen’s club, and my students were my motivation to leave this shit behind. While I knew the chances of my double life affecting any of them were slim, there was always that possibility of getting a job that was more dangerous than anticipated. The last thing I wanted was for someone to follow me and try to harm any of my students or try and hold anyone I loved and cared about hostage.
Plus, a lot of them looked up to me, and I didn’t want being arrested or killed because of this life to make them lack trust with other men in their lives. A lot of the young men in my classes didn’t have role models that weren’t in the streets or celebrities, and I was someone they looked up to that lived a normal life. Something about that gave me a deeper pride that nothing else in my life had, and I wanted to keep it that way.
There were two guards standing by the door, and I found it amusing that his customers never questioned why a car dealer had so many guards on his lot. Maybe they were too wrapped up in the deals they were getting to question him. Either way, that would no longer be my concern after this meeting. With one bob of my head, I greeted both men, and the one on the left opened the door to let us inside. When we stepped in, Ahmad was wrapping up a call. At the sight of us, he stood and gave us a crooked smile.
“Tyreek,” he greeted, extending his hand for me to shake. “Antonne.”
Antonne bobbed his head, crossing his arms over his chest and standing by the door.
“You sure you didn’t want to talk at home?” Ahmad clarified as we both sat down on both sides of his black and brown desk. “I’m sure my daughter would have loved to see you. She’s there for the weekend.”
I was sure she would have loved to see me too, and that was exactly why I wasn’t taking my ass over there.
“This won’t take long,” I assured him. “We don’t have any open contracts at the moment, making this the perfect time for us to part ways. I don’t know if you’ve heard the news or not yet, but I’m retiring. As of now, I will no longer be available to accept any jobs. If you need them, I can provide recommendations for replacements.”
Our eyes remained locked for several seconds as Ahmad processed my words. His brows began to slowly bunch as his head tilted. Slowly, he sat up in his seat and cupped his hands on top of his desk. With looks, he reminded me of Uncle Phil on Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. With attitude, he reminded me of Alonzo Harris from Training Day—a cocky motherfucker who had way more power than he should have had because of fear and the lack of confidence from those around him it took to put him in his place.
“What do you mean you won’t be available to accept any jobs?”
“I mean what I said,” I replied calmly, hoping Ahmad kept that same energy. If not, things could get ugly, real quick, and I was trying to leave the game in peace. Most often, men lost their lives or freedom when they tried to stop the illegal shit they were doing, and I didn’t want that to be the case with me.
“I’m confused. I thought what we had went beyond a professional relationship. You were almost my son-in-law…”
“What happened between me and your daughter has nothing to do with the work I’ve been doing for you,” I interrupted him to say quickly. The last thing I wanted to do was talk about or even think about his daughter.
“I would think that would motivate you to have more loyalty toward me than you’re showing right now. To just show up and tell me that you’re quitting with no warning or time to prepare.”
“If I would have given you time to prepare, you would have given me more jobs or tried to find ways to keep me attached to you. I said I would give you recommendations to replace me. That’s as good as I can do.”
Ahmad’s head shook. His shoulders sagged in disappointment as he released a long, slow breath.
“I don’t trust anyone else with your position, Tyreek. You know way too much about my dealings for me to just… let you walk out of here freely.”
“Is that a threat?” Antonne checked, slowly sauntering over to the desk as his arms dropped to his sides.
Ahmad chuckled, pushing the button that was on top of his desk, like I figured he would. It didn’t matter, though. If we really wanted to harm him, either one of us could have hopped his desk and snapped his neck before the door even opened.
“It’s a declaration,” Ahmad corrected. “Tyreek’s next words will determine if it’s a threat or not,” he added as the door opened. The two guards that were outside came in and closed the door behind them.
My head shook as I stood. “It’s not a threat because I don’t consider you one. I’m done, Ahmad, whether you accept that or not. It’s in your best fucking interest to let me leave without issue.” I pushed Antonne back gently with my hand to his chest. “Let’s go.”
“Are you sure this is what you want to do, son?” Ahmad asked. “You know how this business works. The value you have in my life can’t be duplicated. On top of that, like I said, the secrets you know…”
“Should be insurance. I’m not a snitch, but tread lightly. The shit I know could cause damage in the streets, fuck the police. Let me go, Ahmad, with love and respect, just like I came in.”
I didn’t look back or wait around to see if he would agree. It didn’t matter if he agreed. I was done, and there was nothing Ahmad or anyone else could do to make me change my mind. For the first time in my life, it felt possible for me to live a normal life. My brother was proof of that with his future wife and baby girl, and finally… I wanted those things for myself as well.