Page 34 of A Boy is a Gun: Part I
“I’ve had better days,” Tesh chuckles with her usual Southern charm, “but the guilt will be harder to get over than anything. I should’ve insisted that Ayesha wear her vest. She said we were only getting Mia and coffee and she didn’t have to, but you know how Ayesha is…” Tesh shook her head. “…she’s dead because I didn’t force it.”
“No, Mom, she’s dead because they wanted to get back at me and you two were easy targets.” I correct her. “That’s why Ayesha is dead.”
“Yeah, well, I didn’t help matters.” Tesh lets out a breath. She turns towards me and grins. “That’s the second time you’ve called me mom this year.”
I apologized for the first time, but I’m reluctant to apologize this time. “Is that a problem, Tesh?”
“No,” she bites her lips, “I always wanted a son and God told me in not-so many words I can’t have children of my own. Lord knows I tried,” she softly chuckles and I grip her hand tighter, “I know I said Heather is your mother and I didn’t want to step on her toes with that. But I don’t mind being second mom.”
I kiss her hand again and blink away tears. Very few people can get me emotional and Tesh is one of them. “So, I can call you Mom, officially?”
She smiles at me. “I think I earned it. I will be expecting Mother’s Day gifts, and gifts just because from this moment out.” She nods and I laugh.
“Mom, I will give you the world and more.” I promise her. “But for now, I need you to focus on your recovery as I handle Taylor. I need her Granny to get on my good side, but I don’t know how.”
“I know how,” Tesh replies, just as the physical therapist comes in, “want to come and watch this old lady get her groove back?”
“Sure, Mom.” I need to take my mind off everything and helping Tesh recover is the least I can do.
“And while you help me,” Tesh sits up and I help her off the bed, “I’ll help you.” She winks.
~~~~~
After physical therapy, I went to the nightclub to ease my mind, and Que joined me. I needed to clear my head and rethink everything. I know the EAC is targeting us, and I don’t have a question about who and why. My shit list has substantially grown, and I have very little time to enact my revenge.
It’s now or never.
“You look like you need this,” Que hands me an Uncle Nearest whiskey, neat. He sits across from me and takes a sip out of his glass. The weight of the world is on both of us and we’re feeling every inch. Everything was quiet with our crew, and we mainly conducted business outside of Georgia. Now we’re the primary targets and people are getting killed. “What the fuck is going on, dude?”
I take a sip and let the warm, fiery liquid travel down my throat. I shake my head and my whole body sighs. “Everything.”
“Yo, everything was quiet, man. Everything!” Que shakes his head. “There was no beef, and damn sure no bloodshed. They want us dead, yo.”
“In the worst way.” I put the glass down and lean my head back on the leather seats. “They know if we’re dead, they can take over everything. Hayley wouldn’t want it, and Taylor would walk away.”Would?She already has.
Taylor made it clear from the jump that she disapproves of what I do. She’s also conflicted about it. She knows I won’t give up everything just for her, and she also likes the danger. Let me clarify: she wants the threat when itdoesn’t involve her.
To protect my family, people will have to die, even if it’s people who are close to Taylor herself.
“What’s going on with Ethan?” Que asks. “Or does he not care because it’s not you who’s committing the crime?”
“He says he’s investigating but we all know what that means,” I look over at Que and he shakes his head. It’s the standard police talk for‘leave us alone about y’all killing each other.’“So, if anything is going to be done, it’s because I did something.”
“And then he’ll be on your ass like white on rice….” He pauses for a beat. “…just like last time.”
“Exactly like last time,” I reply. Time is of the essence, and it’s running out fast. Roadie is already working his magic with the Post Malone cosplay character, so I know it’s break-neck speed for me with my actions. “So, I need to act immediately.”
“What’s the plan, man?” Que asks. He doesn’t need to get ready because he stays ready.
“There are numerous targets, but I’m only focused on three women. Enough research has led me to the police chief’s daughter, Morgan; Ethan’s sister, Makayla; and Stephanie, who is connected to the EAC.”
Que knows who Stephanie is and that payback will be the sweetest. “The Jamie of the EAC,” Que nods, and I concur.
“I have the plan to get in with all three of them. Now that Taylor is out of the picture, I can.” The plan was to have one of the other Administration members manipulate the women, but it’s an extrafuck youif I did it. “So, there’s that.”
“What do you want else to do in the meantime?” Que leans forward. “Come on, man. This isn’t something you can do by yourself. Everyone loved Ayesha and her cooking, man. And Tesh? She’s the brains. Yeah, she’s gonna recover but it’s gonna take a long time. The fellas are itching to pull a trigger on someone, oneveryone.”
“No literal triggers yet,” I warn Que. “But something more dangerous.” I take another sip. “Crypto.”
