TWENTY TWO

DAMON

"Boss, how did the meeting go?" Lucius asked her as he dragged a stool closer and faced her.

"The meeting was trash. They are insisting on buying her. But she is our best. How can we sell the one that brings us the most money?"

Her response made me very interested in that conversation. As I walked away from the door and to my far right, I wondered if they were talking about a trafficking deal.

I am well aware that most gangs in Población gain power by using humans as a means of exchange. It is a sick practice and if they indeed do that in the Damish Gang, I think I will have to hasten my intentions to find an alternate way to solve my issues.

My hands clasped behind me, I moved forward quietly and listened.

"Don't they want to share?" Lu asked.

"No."

"What are you going to do? What did the board members advise you to do?"

Okay... Don't tell me they have a board of members for their Trafficking business.

How splendid.

"They are so useless, nobody could give a piece of very useful advice. All they know is to have their way to ensure they get more money. I would have done this the crude way but we have to think about the girl. It can get ugly for her." Selena sat back and let out a groan.

"Damon," Lucius's voice almost made me jump. As I composed myself, I gave a short nod as he asked, "What do you think?"

"Huh... I don't know what exactly you guys are talking about, but I will take a guess. I would say you shouldn't sell her."

A look of sudden interest appeared on their faces. Selena sat up and poured all her attention in my direction.

"Why do you say so, Damon?" Selena asked.

I tore my eyes from hers as it seemed she was about to seduce me with her pretty look.

"It is a very bad thing to buy and sell humans and then fly them to some country they do not know. If you make them do things against their wishes, their lives will be ruined. Their dreams will cease to exist. So, do not sell her. In fact, release her and give her total freedom. If there are others in that same situation, release them as well. It is the best thing to do."

My lips wore a smile at the end of my speech.

The serious looks on their faces made me proud of myself while I hoped I had not offended them by speaking against their way of life.

But, who cares? Someone has to call them out for their evil ways.

All of a sudden a chuckle ended up as loud laughter which soon filled the whole room. Selena's gentle laughter and Lucius's deep boom filled the room and I stood there, completely confused.

"Oh my... Oh my God. You are so amazing..." Her words were overcome by laughter once again while Lucius kept his chuckles in check as though it was a crime for him to laugh for too long.

"Okay, can I know what exactly is funny?" I asked when I couldn't take it anymore.

Selena regained composure and sat straight

"The Damish Gang doesn't do trafficking, Damon." The softness in her voice was replaced by the very deadliness that always made me feel feverish.

Her hands on her knees, she continued. "It is a law that had been passed down for many generations. We do not traffick humans or drugs."

"I find that hard to believe," I said from where I stood.

"Well," she smirked at me, "now that you are part of us, you will find out whether I am lying or not."

"Anyway, we were talking about a model in TIANOR. We were not discussing how to ship a girl from border to border," Lucius's voice broke through the many thoughts that were now in my head.

"Oh." I still don't believe Selena's words. The Damish Gang is one of the long-lasting gangs in Población. While no one knew the exact details of their operations, there have always been little signs of their activities and it always points to terrible things.

And, when they do announce their existence, it is always loud and bloody. It is never peaceful in the country on such days.

As I sighed and pushed that thought away, Selena said, "Do you want to know about the situation? It's a pretty tricky one."

"I don't-"

The doors suddenly crashed. They made a loud sound that could cause deafness.

I wore a frown as I sighted a bulldozer which was speedily rushing away from the ruined entrance. As I turned to face Selena, I saw that the men that lurked in the corners now had their guns pointing towards the entrance.

Suddenly, ugly laughter filled the room. The cackle was interrupted by some fits of cough and an averagely tall man walked into the room. But, his choice of clothing was rather... unusual.

His hairy chest greatly exposed, the man had a purple towel wrapped around his waist saving our eyes from his possibly bushy groin area and he walked towards Selena who was now being guarded closely by Lucius.

"A towel? Really?" I heard Selena ask with disbelief.

The man's shoulder-length hair danced a little as he shrugged enthusiastically and made cracking noises with his fingers one of which exposed the gun he had in his hold.

"I came here to fight not to talk about my dress situation," he said, his hawk-like nose twitching significantly.

I huffed.

Dress situation. What dress?

What a funny guy.

"Who sent you here?" Lu's voice demanded as he stepped closer to the man who had also halted his steps.

"Won't divulging that information spoil the fun? It would get boring if I told you at the very start of our battle who wishes you dead. Such things should be said when your entire face is so busted that you won't be able to speak."

"Why are you here?" Lucius demanded strongly, the motion of his hands showing how ready he was to take action.

"I need to see The Dangerous Dame. We have got scores to settle," he said with excitement.

"I am sure The Dangerous Dame would have notified us if she had a business with you," Selena replied as she slowly stepped forward.

"I was afraid you'd say so." It became clear to me that he had no idea who Selena really was.

Then the towel man placed his hand on the trigger, ready to pull. While he was trying to align his weapon in Lucius's direction, the taller man instantly kicked the gun out of his hold.

The weapon found a way to slide to where I was.

Overwhelmed by the proximity, I stared at the gun with wide eyes. I forced myself to tear my fearful gaze away when grunting noises filled the room.

Lucius and the man had begun to fight.

Carefully, Lucius attacked the man, kicking him at vital points and rendering the man useless. As Lucius threw definitive punches that made Towel Man stagger, Selena rushed at the duo with a small knife in her hand.

She was so close to stabbing the man's back when the intruder swiftly moved and kicked Lucius's knees so that the man remained unstable for some seconds. Then he turned, slapped the knife out of Selena's hold, and wrapped his large hands around her neck with great force.

With that firm hold, he drove her until her back hit the closest couch around. The man pressed against her lower body as his fingers maintained their murderous pressure.

With horror, I watched as Selena struggled for breath. Instincts pulled me toward the gun at my feet and I grabbed it immediately.

As I watched the intruder throw all of his focus into strangling Selena while muttering words about hating nosy women, I glanced at Lucius who gave a short nod.

As I tried to regulate my speedy breathing which was now turning into thick pants, I settled my fingers around the gun and placed one on the trigger.

Okay, all I have to do is aim and pull the trigger.

I released a shaky breath as my legs seemed to shiver as well.

Aim and pull the trigger...

I pointed it in the intruder's direction. If I get the hit, it would end up in the side of his abdomen.

Aim and pull the trigger...

As I exhaled hard, Lucius got up instantly.

"Now!" Lucius instantly commanded, his voice resounding in the room.

I don't know if I eventually pulled the trigger, but I recall hearing gunshots from every direction of the room. It was loud and scary.

The cry that came from the intruder's mouth made me scared as well.

And, when I opened my eyes, a much more gruesome sight greeted me.

The dead man had holes shot into vital points of his body and his now dead and completely naked body which rushed out blood like a stream rested on Selena who my feet ran toward without my head putting much thought to it.