A DIFFERENT PATH
750 Words
Leon sat at the kitchen table, Jay’s card spinning between his fingers. The weight of the night still sat heavy on his chest. His mother was home, resting, but the words of the nurse—$1,500 a month—echoed in his head.
Across from him, Kia was silent, watching him.
“You thinking about calling him?” she finally asked.
Leon didn’t answer.
Kia sighed, rubbing her temples. “I just don’t want you getting caught up in more mess.”
Leon exhaled. “Jay ain’t Darnell.”
Kia raised an eyebrow. “Ain’t he, though?”
“He’s legit,” Leon said, though part of him wasn’t sure if that was true. “He got businesses. Real money. Not street shit.”
Kia leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms. “And you think a man like that just hands out opportunities for free?”
Leon didn’t have an answer for that.
Kia shook her head. “Just be careful, Leon. Last thing Ma needs is more stress.”
Leon nodded. “I got it.”
But as he stared at the phone number on the card, he wasn’t sure if he believed himself.
---
The Call
The next morning, Leon stepped outside and pulled out his phone. The street was quiet except for the occasional car passing by. He inhaled deeply, then dialed the number.
It rang twice before Jay picked up.
“Figured you’d call,” Jay said smoothly.
Leon cut straight to the point. “You still got that opportunity?”
Jay chuckled. “That depends. You serious about work?”
Leon clenched his jaw. “Yeah.”
“Meet me at Carter’s Auto on 145th in an hour,” Jay said. “We’ll talk.”
The line went dead.
Leon stared at the phone, his heart pounding.
This was it.
---
Carter’s Auto
Leon walked into Carter’s Auto Shop, the scent of motor oil and rubber filling the air. The place was busy—mechanics working on cars, customers waiting for repairs.
Jay stood near the back, dressed sharp in a dark coat, talking to one of his employees. When he spotted Leon, he nodded and waved him over.
“Glad you came,” Jay said.
Leon stayed cautious. “You said you got work.”
Jay smirked. “I do. But first, I need to know—can I trust you?”
Leon frowned. “You wouldn’t have asked me to come if you didn’t already know the answer.”
Jay chuckled. “Fair enough.” He nodded toward the shop. “I got businesses all over. Auto shops, warehouses, a couple of security contracts. I need reliable people.”
Leon listened carefully.
“The pay ain’t crazy at first,” Jay admitted. “But it’s clean. No cops, no risk.”
Leon glanced around. The shop looked like any other. No shady deals. No signs of illegal activity.
Jay studied him. “Or… you can go back to Darnell. Fast money, quick deals. But you already know how that ends.”
Leon thought of his mother, of Kia.
Fast money would solve problems right now—but in the long run? He had seen too many people lose everything chasing that life.
Leon exhaled sharply.
“I’ll take the job.”
Jay nodded, satisfied. “Good. You start Monday.”
And just like that, Leon had made his choice.
---
Old Ties, New Problems
That night, Leon was locking up his apartment when he heard footsteps behind him.
He turned—Darnell.
Leon’s chest tightened. “What you doin’ here?”
Darnell leaned against the wall, arms crossed. “Heard you turned down my offer.”
Leon kept his face unreadable. “I’m out, D.”
Darnell scoffed. “You out? Just like that?”
“Yeah.”
Darnell studied him. “You workin’ for Jay now, ain’t you?”
Leon didn’t answer.
Darnell shook his head. “You think he different? You think he ain’t playin’ the same game—just in a better suit?”
Leon stayed quiet.
Darnell stepped closer. “Ain’t no clean way out, Leon. You either in the game or you ain’t.”
Leon met his gaze. “Then I ain’t.”
Darnell let out a low chuckle, but there was no humor in it. “Aight. Do you.”
Then, without another word, he walked off into the night.
Leon watched him disappear, a chill creeping down his spine.
This wasn’t over.
Not yet.
- Writer
