Page 3 of Mister Teacher

“That’s fair.”

She released a shaky breath.

“I wouldn’t mind the wait if I knew what I was waiting for, Janae, but I’m losing my patience. I don’t feel like you put forth any effort at all. What am I waiting for?”

“I…” Janae snapped her mouth shut. “I want to say you’re waiting for me, but I don’t want to waste your time. I want to be ready for a relationship, ready for you, but I don’t think I’m ready yet. It wouldn’t be fair of me to ask you to wait for me, so maybe we should stop talking for a while.” She chuckled and shook her head. “Honey’s going to kill me.”

“Why do you say that?”

“She’s already planned our lives together in her mind. I’m supposed to marry you so we can be sisters-in-law.”

Tyreek laughed with her this time. “Yeah, she’s already told me that. Does that have anything to do with how you’ve been moving?”

With a bob of her head, Janae squeezed the back of her neck. “I think so. I’ve been holding on to you, hoping I can heal and let you in, but it’s not working.”

Closing the space between them, Tyreek took her hands into his. “Are you giving yourself time to heal, Nae? Honestly. Because to me, it doesn’t seem like you make time for anything. Not even yourself.”

Her head lowered briefly and eyes watered. “Maybe not. No. It’s just… easier to focus on work because it hurts.” She swallowed hard, trying to push back her tears. “I’m sorry, Tyreek.”

“Hey,” he almost whispered, cupping her cheeks and kissing the center of her forehead. “It’s cool. I just want you to be aight, Nae. I can love you, but I can’t heal you. I’m not God.”

“I know.” Janae’s smile was crooked as her tears finally fell. “And I appreciate all that you’ve done to create a safe space for me to heal, but I don’t want to hurt and disappoint you in the process.”

“The only way you’ll disappoint me is if you don’t start taking better care of yourself.”

“I will,” she promised, crumbling a little more when he pulled her into his arms. “You breaking up with me only makes me want you more.”

She laughed, even though she was serious.

“I’ll be here. Just do the work and take care of yourself. I know you’re worth the wait.”

Janae was glad Tyreek believed she was. Softening her body against his, she found solace in his arms, because she had no idea when she’d be able to feel them wrapped around her again.

PREFACE

Several Months Later

Before the Wedding

CHAPTER1

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.

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