THIRTY NINE

DAMON

“How was that?” Selena was all smiles as her staggering feet tried to find balance. She had just sung a song I have never heard before and while she performed, I found the moment more and more amusing. Her hat falling off at a point made it more fun to watch.

“What…?” Alejandro’s husky voice filled the hall as Selena turned off the microphone and left it in the hands of Lucius who had walked away from the drum set which he played with a serious look on his face. “What was that?"

Selena chuckled as she walked past me and got off the stage. “You should be grateful, Alejandro. You just got a lovely gift from me and you are about to get another one.”

I got up as well and walked to the middle of the hall where Alejandro was positioned.

“You are yet to give a reply to my question,” Alejandro sounded tough, the folds on his neck stretching as he managed to sit up. “Who are you?”

I don’t know how… but, as Selena’s noisy footsteps approached the man, I could sense her dangerous side coming out. As my legs shifted a little to give me a better view, I noticed the man’s eyes wear a fearful look.

“Alejandro…” Selena began, her voice hardly audible to others, yet sinister. “I heard you have been looking for me. I know you want to take over what I have.”

Alejandro’s hands pressed into the arms of the decorated chair. He looked highly uncomfortable. “Y..you…”

His stutters were cut short. “Are you the rabbit trying to get into the wolf’s territory?” With ease, she placed her slender hands on his hairy arms and leaned closer. “How ambitious.”

“T-the Dangerous Dame?” His brows quivered with fear, and so did his eyes. “You are The Dangerous Dame?”

After a sharp exhale, Selena stood straight. Her hands swung backward, sweeping her gown along. As she clasped her hands behind her, she wore a smile. “I know you joined hands with Malik to gain control of my gold. What else were you planning?”

If it were possible for Alejandro to move ten feet away, he would have done so. As he wore more fright on his face, he replied, “N-nothing.”

Instantly, her head swung in his direction, her eyes darted daggers at him. “Nothing?” A brow was raised. “Did you just say nothing? You weren’t planning anything?”

Alejandro shook his head sharply. “No.”

Before one could blink an eye, she dug her hands into the roots of his lustrous blonde hair. “No?” she asked, her frown getting deeper, her eyes getting darker. “You weren’t planning to assassinate me?”

My ears twitched as I heard her question. From where I stood, I looked at her and wondered how she could be so calm about it. She didn’t appear fazed or highly scared for herself as she glared at Alejandro whose head was being tilted higher thanks to the seemingly painful hold she had on a handful of his hair.

“I-I…” Alejandro found it hard to speak.

“Do you even know who you are trying to get rid of?” Her face leaned closer to his, almost as though she wished to kiss him. “Do you know what happens to flies like you when they act stupid?” The man shook his head as his fear abounded and gripped his entire body, causing his shoulders to shake. “They die.”

That whispered phrase caused the man to plead fervently. “Please, don’t… Please spare me. It was Malik that-”

“That’s okay,” Selena shut him up once more, her feet falling backward as though she couldn’t bear to stand so close to the man. “Lucius, can I have the bag?”

“Yes, boss.” With haste, the tall man rushed toward Selena who was yet to lock eyes with me since her sudden performance.

“There,” Selena curtly said as she dumped the bag on Alejandro’s lap. As the man wore a pained look which he quickly masked as though he was scared that Selena would use that expression against him, Selena continued, “In that bag is a good fraction of the gold you tried to steal from me.”

I was as surprised as Alejandro who darted his gaze between the bag and Selena who folded her arms and stared at the man. Quickly, the tied man maintained his gaze on Selena who began to probe the insides of her mouth as her folded arms started to display her impatience.

“What do you want me to do?” Alejandro asked, his clouded eyes getting wider and freer from his earlier fear.

“Good.” Selena’s lips broke into a small smile. “You are not as stupid as I thought. I will spare your life if you take the gold and work for me.”

“What?”

Like a passing breeze, Selena’s hand swiftly landed a painful hit against the man’s cheeks. As my ears replayed the sound that followed that hit, I wore an expression that shared the pain that the man felt.

“Are you questioning me, Alejandro?” Selena asked almost angrily as she grabbed his hair again. “You… are going to accept this gold and work for me. Or else, I’ll order your death and hang your organless body on your father’s porch. Do you want that to happen?”

“N-no…” Alejandro quietly replied as he tried to hide the quiver his lips were experiencing.

“Then, do as I say. You should have given your ridiculous plans more thought before forming an alliance with Malik. So…” At this point, tears were already rolling down the man’s face. “… do you accept my gold?”

“Y-yes. Yes, I do.”

"Oh, look at you…” Selena began to wipe his tears, a small pout on her face. “You are such a baby. You are so cute. Make sure you use your gift to get yourself something nice, okay?” The man nodded in response. “I will send word to you before the week ends.”

As I watched Alejandro become a mess, I began to imagine a scenario where I am the man tied to the chair. The thing that made my imagination worse was the thought that Selena could actually have me in such a position one day. It doesn’t matter if I am doing what she wants, her selfish and manipulative ways could turn our seemingly smooth but ill-fated relationship sour.

“I think my job here is done,” Selena announced to the men that stood at corners with hard looks on their faces. “You can tell everyone to come in, the party must go on.” Her gaze fell on me and I raised a brow. “Lucius, take care of our ally, he is a VIP.”

Lucius nodded curtly. “Yes, boss.”

“Damon, let’s go,” she said, her gaze on me yet to fail.

As she walked toward me and grabbed my hand, I exhaled hard and followed her.

But, as we walked past the stage, as I stared at her braided ponytail, I began to recall my anger toward her. The imagination I had earlier joined the train of thoughts and made me more furious.

Besides, I am yet to understand why she pulled me out of my hospital bed. I barely did anything while she messed up Alejandro’s mind.

So, yes… my anger was right to return.

We had walked into the building’s car park when I instantly pulled my hand out of hers.

As she turned, Selena made her lips into a cute frown. “Why? I like holding hands with you.”

I guarded myself instantly. If I let myself loose, I will easily fall back into the emotions that adore her and her prettiness. As I folded my arms, I said, “You wasted my time by bringing me here.”

“I did?

“You know what? I have something to say.”

“Say it.”

“You make me angry,” I spat out without hesitation.

“I do?” Selena didn’t seem to be affected by my utterance.

I sighed hard as I darted my eyes to the side. “What gives you the right to decide what to do with my life? The contract I signed with you concerns working for your gang and the company. It does not indicate on any page that you get to tell me how to live my life.” I locked eyes with her again. “So, why?”

“You are angry because I helped you escape boredom? Was the hospital that interesting to you? I felt that you must have missed being outside, so I came to get you.”

Is this woman kidding me? “That is not the fucking point, Selena.”

She shrugged. “What is the point?”

“You always think you know what’s best for me, so you act anyhow without caring about how I feel.”

“So…” Selena narrowed her eyes as she took a step closer, her fragrant scent hitting my nose once more. “… I hurt your feelings. That is why you are angry?”

Ugh… will this woman freaking see the point? Will she admit that she is the problem here?

“Damon Jones, if your feelings are hurt, I think you should work on how you process things. As far as I know, I have not done anything to make you angry, so-”

“What do you want me to do about my anger then?” I instantly hollered and Selena’s eyes widened. “How do you expect me to get rid of it? Gosh, I feel like fucking-” Selena cut my angry words short as she took my right hand and placed it around her neck. Confusion on my face, I asked, “What are you doing?”

“If I indeed make you angry, take it out on me.” My eyes twitched as she secured my fingers around the skin of her neck. As my hand felt the warmth of her body, she said, “Choke me, Damon.”

My fingers twitched as the moment took a route I didn’t expect. “What?” I repeated with disbelief.

“Think about how angry I make you and choke me,” Selena replied, her voice stern, her eyes wearing intent. As her words played in my mind, I found that my anger was rising, so as I thought about her ridiculous words, unknown to me, my fingers wrapped around her neck a little tighter. “Is that all you got?” she whispered as her hands wrapped around the biceps of my right arm. Then, she screamed, “Fucking choke me, Damon. Do it,” she dared me.

As I stared into her eyes, I felt my emotions erupt. She was doing the very thing I hated her for. My teeth gritted as my finger twitched and snaked around her neck more.

“That’s it, Damon."

“Stop fucking telling me what to do!” I screamed, my entire facial nerve worked up as I glared at her. I could feel our unexpected contact become more intense as our feet began to stagger at the same pace. Selena’s breath raged as we glared at each other. When her back hit a wall, I watched as her brows jerked. Her hands slid off my arm and she seemed to surrender to my touch.

Then, after seconds of exchanging heated breaths, she whispered, “Harder.”

“No…” My voice was tender at this point. My chest moved heavily as I stared more and more into her eyes. “Don’t tell me what to do, Selena.”

“Just fucking do it. Don’t be a-” Selena's words were interrupted as I surprised myself by planting my lips on hers instantly. My hold on her neck maintained, I placed my other hand on her waist and intensified the kiss, capturing her lips as though they were the antidote to a long-term illness.