Bad Teacher (Temp Title)

26| Forced Proximity

Nickolai

“Boss, the guests have arrived.”

Blaylock's voice carried through the room just as I had completed my last reading. One of the last fucking thirty of a pile that Christoph had dumped onto my desk a few days ago. I had taken to working around the clock when I wasn't preparing teaching lessons and prepping my student for the upcoming exams.

I nodded at Blaylock as he stood in the doorframe.

The Russian man was a legacy too. His father had once worked closely with my father as his right hand—meaning that he was the kind that did all the dirty work when I didn’t want to. Though it has happened very rarely, Blaylock took great pride in doing the tasks I didn’t have the energy for. Twenty-seven years of age, tall, blue eyes and a face that always looked bored with his surroundings.

Blaylock was determined and hardworking and had never disagreed  with anything that I did or wanted him to do. He always left with a nod and always came back with a successful report. I also knew that he would kindly yet sternly tell me when he had his own opinion on the matters he thought mattered. I had always liked that about him.

“Are you done for the evening?” We almost never spoke about anything besides work, but my second-in-command seemed a bit tense tonight.

I knew it wasn't my imagination, and preferred to question subtly to see where his head was at.

If he seemed surprise by my question, he didn't seem to want to show it. Not even a tense shoulder or a twitching brow. Cold and detached and all the better to try and dig for information.

“I am. Finalized some of the deals you had asked me to take care of. The De Luca’s and the Queens both got their shipments a few hours ago. Both are satisfied with the product.”

Both were regulars. The De Luca’s have been customers for more than three decades, ruled by problematic business men  dressed in finely pressed suits. The Queens were new clients, with us for the past five years. A group of gangster women using the cover of an escort business to commit their crimes.

“The extra's that Sin had requested?” I knew that the Last Queen's leader hated it when it when her products weren’t delivered on time. Not even by a minute. She was a business woman, and a fierce one at that. She had no problem telling me exactly where to stick it, and I allowed her tone on occasion. She was a woman after all, and the ones in our world were all to happy to pull a trigger and send shit to straight to hell.

“Yes. Everything is sorted.”

I gave another nod and he took it as his cue. But I wasn’t done taunting him some more for information.

“Blaylock.”

This time his shoulders tensed, and I knew that I was finally getting somewhere.

He turned back to me, and this time his face didn't nearly look as cold as it had a second ago. Not entirely showcasing any emotion, but definitely hiding something. Or maybe even wanting to tell me something.

“Boss,” he mumbled, strained body like he was ready to sprint when the moment came. He couldn't get out here fast enough, that much was obvious.

“If you've not eaten then join us for dinner. Valentin has a new Guard signing today.”

No visible reaction.

I had no idea who the new members of the family were. My brother had overseen this deal a few weeks after we had set foot in town. He briefly mentioned that this guy had an outstanding track record and would be a great asset for the team.