NO SUCH THING AS CONTROL
1213 Words
Leon sat in his mother’s dimly lit bedroom, watching her chest rise and fall. The soft hum of the oxygen machine filled the silence, its steady rhythm the only thing keeping him grounded.
She looked smaller than he remembered. Weaker. The once-vibrant woman who used to scold him for coming home late or missing church now barely had the strength to turn her head.
He reached for her hand, careful not to wake her. It felt light, fragile, like holding something that might break at any moment.
"You still in?"
Jay’s words from the night before echoed in his head.
He was in. He had made his choice.
But sitting here, in this room, beside the woman who had sacrificed everything for him, he couldn’t help but wonder if that choice had already cost him his soul.
---
Kia’s Disapproval
Kia was waiting for him in the living room.
She didn’t say anything at first, just folded her arms and stared.
“You been out late,” she finally said.
Leon sighed, rubbing his face. “Not now, Kia.”
“No, now,” she snapped. “I don’t gotta be a genius to know what you been doing.”
Leon tensed. “You don’t know nothing.”
Kia let out a bitter laugh. “I don’t? So you telling me Jay ain’t got you out here running his dirty work?”
Leon exhaled sharply. “It’s business.”
“Business?” Kia scoffed. “Since when you talk like that?”
Leon clenched his jaw. “Since I got tired of watching you struggle. Since I got tired of seeing Mom fight for her life while we scrape by. Somebody gotta step up.”
Kia’s face softened, but only for a second. “And this the only way?”
Leon didn’t answer. Because deep down, he knew there were other ways. They just weren’t fast enough.
She shook her head. “You think money gonna fix everything? What happens when Jay asks for more? What happens when you can’t walk away?”
Leon stayed silent.
Kia’s eyes filled with something between frustration and pain. “You supposed to be the one who makes it out, Leon.”
Leon turned away. “Maybe there ain’t no way out.”
And with that, he grabbed his hoodie and left.
---
A Job That Feels Different
Jay’s call came just after midnight.
“Got something for you,” Jay said.
Leon sighed. “What is it?”
“Meet me at the shop.”
Leon hesitated. He was exhausted. His mother’s condition, his argument with Kia—it was all weighing on him.
But when you worked for Jay, you didn’t say no.
So he went.
---
The Setup
When Leon arrived at Carter’s Auto, Jay was waiting in his office, a cigar smoldering in an ashtray.
“Sit,” Jay said.
Leon did.
Jay poured himself a drink but didn’t offer one to Leon this time. That alone put him on edge.
“We got a problem,” Jay started. “You remember Rico?”
Leon tensed. “Yeah.”
Jay took a slow sip of whiskey. “Seems like he ain’t learn his lesson. Shorted me again. But this time, he ran.”
Leon frowned. “Ran where?”
Jay leaned forward, tapping a finger on the desk. “Brooklyn.”
Leon’s stomach turned. “So what you want me to do?”
Jay’s eyes were cold. “Find him. And handle it.”
Leon swallowed hard. “You mean—”
“I mean,” Jay cut in, his voice like steel, “make sure he don’t come back.”
Leon’s hands curled into fists. “I ain’t never—”
Jay smirked. “That’s why I got Raul riding with you. He’ll make sure things get done.”
Leon felt his pulse hammer in his ears. This wasn’t a warning. This wasn’t a beating. This was something else.
And Jay was watching him closely, waiting to see if he would fold.
Leon forced himself to nod. “Alright.”
Jay smiled, satisfied. “Knew I could count on you.”
---
The Ride to Brooklyn
Raul was already waiting outside, leaning against a black SUV.
“‘Bout time,” Raul muttered as Leon approached.
Leon said nothing, just got in the passenger seat.
Raul pulled away from the curb, his expression unreadable.
“This your first time?” Raul asked after a few minutes of silence.
Leon clenched his jaw. “First time what?”
Raul chuckled, shaking his head. “Yeah. Thought so.”
Leon stared out the window, gripping his knee to stop his leg from bouncing.
This was different. This wasn’t just money. Wasn’t just survival.
This was a line he couldn’t come back from.
And he wasn’t sure if he was ready to cross it.
---
The Confrontation
Rico’s hideout was a run-down apartment building in East New York. Raul parked down the block, cutting the engine.
“He in there,” Raul said.
Leon nodded, but his stomach twisted.
“You good?” Raul asked.
Leon exhaled slowly. “Yeah.”
But as they stepped out of the car, Leon’s mind raced. Could he actually do this?
They moved quickly up the stairs, stopping at apartment 4B. Raul pulled out his gun and nodded to Leon.
Leon knocked.
Silence.
He knocked again, harder.
Footsteps shuffled inside, then the door cracked open. Rico’s tired face appeared—eyes widening in panic when he saw them.
“Nah, man—” Rico tried to slam the door, but Leon shoved it open, sending Rico stumbling back.
Raul stepped inside behind him, gun already raised.
“Jay ain’t happy,” Raul said.
Rico’s hands went up. “Listen, I got the money—”
“You had the money,” Raul cut in. “Now it’s too late.”
Leon’s heart pounded. This wasn’t a robbery. It wasn’t a fight.
This was an execution.
Raul stepped forward, gun aimed at Rico’s chest.
“Do it,” Raul said, glancing at Leon.
Leon’s breath caught in his throat.
This was the test.
Jay had set him up—to see if he had what it took.
Rico’s eyes darted between them. “Come on, man,” he whispered. “You don’t gotta do this.”
Leon’s fingers twitched. His body felt heavy.
“Do it,” Raul repeated, voice sharp.
Leon raised the gun. His hands were steady, but inside, he was shaking.
Rico’s chest rose and fell rapidly. His eyes pleaded.
Leon’s finger hovered over the trigger.
Seconds stretched into eternity.
Then—
He turned and fired at the wall instead.
The gunshot rang through the apartment.
Raul cursed, but before he could react, Leon slammed into him, shoving him against the wall.
“Run,” Leon barked at Rico.
Rico didn’t hesitate. He bolted out the door.
Raul struggled, but Leon grabbed his gun arm, twisting hard. The weapon clattered to the floor.
“You just signed your death sentence,” Raul growled.
Leon’s pulse pounded. He didn’t care.
Without another word, he sprinted out of the apartment, heart hammering.
He had just betrayed Jay.
And now, there was no place safe for him in this city.
- Writer
