SIXTY THREE

DAMON

I have no idea why my feet led me to the mansion, but as I looked up and took in the grandness of the building, I recalled the circumstances that caused me to become a frequent visitor of the building.

Recalling my mother’s words after, anger overpowered the sorrow in my soul and I walked past the surprisingly open doors.

For some reason, the huge living room was empty. There were no guards in the room, the couches were missing and the artworks that usually brightened the room were nowhere to be seen.

Looking toward the stairs, my ears picked up some faint voices and once I traced them, my feet led me to a part of the mansion I have never been to before. Just on that ground floor, past the naked living room, there were two doors tucked away from prying eyes. Noting how dimly lit the space was, it made sense that I never noticed that area.

“What the hell do you think you are doing, Selena?” I recognized the voice of Selena’s father. Quickly, my feet led me to the door on my left. Luckily, the single door was slightly open. Carefully, I pulled the door a little more and peeped into the room.

And there she was.

Selena came into my view and I watched as she locked her gaze with her father’s. The more I stared at her slender figure, the more my head began to play memories of the past. I recalled every single thing. From the moment we met, to the attractions we fought, to the feelings we failed to acknowledge.

The more I recalled those moments, the more my heart throbbed. I still can’t get used to the fact that Selena pulled me into her life because of… diamonds.

Silently, I sighed and made sure to place my focus on the duo in the well-furnished room.

Then, the man said, “You had one job, Selena.”

“Didn’t I tell you to stay out of my business?”

“I did just that and now Malik is trying to ruin this gang. You have given him a chance to get to us.” Selena rolled her eyes and she was about to say something sassy when her eyes met mine. With a loud thud in my heart, I was instantly thrown into confusion. I didn’t know whether to quietly walk away or remain where I was.

“Father…” Selena looked away and crossed her arms. “I will handle things.”

“Yeah? Do you remember saying the same thing when you hired that Damon guy without my permission?”

“I was handling things.” Her response sounded forced.

“You were supposed to get the diamonds!” Her father suddenly hollered and I almost fell to the ground. “You said his brother was the last person in possession of the diamonds.”

So, it was all true. The reason she approached me was to get the diamonds back. After my brother was killed for the same reason, she dared to rope me into her life years later. All because of diamonds.

“Why are you so obsessed with those diamonds?” Selena asked quietly.

“You know why. You know that it is vital to take your grandfather and Malik down.”

I wondered if there was some sort of connection between her devilish grandfather and Malik. The collaboration sounded unlikely, but weird things happen in life.

When I peeped into the room again, Selena looked in my direction, and of all things, she grew a smirk on her lips... A sinister smirk that sent deadly chills down my spine.

Taking steps back, the heart-wrenching image of her smirk playing in my head, I listened as Selena said, “I have done things your way for too long, father. At this point, I just want to focus on the gang. Because of your greed, I have lost something important and I don’t want to lose more.”

“Oh yeah?” The tone of her father's voice mocked her. “What did you lose?”

“My sanity.”

“You look sane enough.”

“Because of you, I allowed Damon Jones into my life and-”

“And you fell in love with him?”

Silence ensued. And I waited for her response.

When it came, my entire soul shattered so much that I felt like throwing up.

“I just hate the fact that I had to accommodate someone like him. I had to make him think that I loved him, Father. And all because of what? Your stupid diamonds.”

“You could have just asked Lucius to torture him for the truth. So, don’t feed me that bullshit. I know all the things you have been up to. I know you have stupidly fallen in love with Damon Jones.”

“I didn’t…” The smug look on Selena’s face failed. “I don’t love…”

Her father stifled a laugh. “Do you remember what you told me the day you asked about your mother? You told me that you would never let a man touch you. You said you would never fall in love like your mother and I did.”

For the first time, Selena looked weak. Her tough front shattered and when our eyes met, she didn’t hold my gaze. Her eyes quickly darted elsewhere and her fingers began to pick at each other.

Then, as I stood straight, I came to a realization.

Things made more sense.

But I quickly pushed my thoughts to one side and put my attention on their conversation.

Selena’s father said, “Lucius told me about everything. Way before I told you about the diamonds, you knew about it. But you were never concerned about the gems, your attention was on Damon Jones. Yes, he is handsome and all, but I didn’t understand your infatuation with him until you actually brought him in. You let go of yourself, Selena.

You let him touch you in ways you once said you arbored and now you are falling in love.

But I need you to get yourself together. Get that man out of your thoughts and ask him about the diamonds. You can dump him after.”

“Father, I-”

“You should learn to keep your word as a person, Selena. I raised you better than this.”

“You hardly raised me.”

“So, are you refusing to do as I ask?”

“I just want you to stay out of my business.”

“Get Damon Jones to spill about the diamonds and I will do as you wish. And if you are going to move out of this building, let me know. I would love to hold my parties here.”

The older Danniman was walking toward the door when I rushed out of that area. Without looking back, I walked out of the mansion. As much as I wanted to turn and have a talk with Selena, I didn’t.

I just kept walking until I got to the main street and got a cab.

~

Despite the curfew that plunges most of Poblacíon into solitude, there were hidden places that always managed to stay open.

And for some reason, after aimlessly circling the city, I have found myself in such a place.

Leaning into the loudness in the room, swirling the glass of whiskey in my hand, I started to sort out my thoughts.

While it is true that Vani Jones’s diamonds is the reason my brother died and the reason Selena contacted me, the words her father said in the mansion made me realize that Selena wasn’t the one I had an issue with.

Well, I do have issues with her frequent denial of what she feels.

But everything I have heard so far is just proof that Selena is stuck in a crazy battle her father caused. Just like I am stuck in the insane mess my father created.

Selena and I have more in common than I thought.

To summarize things, Selena is not my enemy. Malik and Selena's father are the ones after me. And while everyone around me is so certain that the Damish Gang killed my brother, I couldn't help but think that Malik is linked to the whole thing on a bigger scale.

But there is no denying that Selena hid a lot from me. But then, she took it upon herself to protect me and my family. Even though her reaction since yesterday has done nothing but plunge my soul into darkness, I appreciate her for what she did.

A deep sigh followed and I wondered what my next line of action would be. As it is, I am in possession of the diamonds those desperate Mafia dons want. And, if I am not careful, I could end up dead and my family might not be spared.

Downing my drink, I decided to serial my thoughts, so I swirled my seat to watch the scene behind me.

Bodies jamming against each other, men and women sharing flirtatious stares... there was certainly no holding back for the party people. From where I sat, I noticed that some eyes were gawking at me without mercy.

Those eyes didn't fail to display their need to have me in their bed that night.

I was about to imagine what Selena would say to the horny souls when someone had their seat beside me.

It was Ethan.

There's just something about this half-brother of mine that makes my entire body boil with anger.

Swiftly, I faced the bar and signalled to the bartender to pour me another drink.

Then, gruffly, I asked, "What do you want?"

"You need to help Malik."

My eyes narrowed at the audacity of his sentence. "Why would I want to help that person?"

"Because The Dangerous Dame has failed you."

"She hasn't," I strongly retorted as I sat straighter and faced him. "Selena has not failed me."

Ethan wore a sneer on his face as he returned my glare. I don't know if it was me, but his face looked weird in the dark lights of the club. He looked so weird in a way that could scare a person on a dark night.

Briefly eyeing my drink, he said, "Are you that ensnared by her? She is the reason our brother died."

"Our brother?" I didn't hide my distaste at his choice of words. Eyeing him furiously, I asked, "Since when was Emmanuel your brother? Since when do you associate yourself with my family?"

"That's not important, Damon." Eagerly, Ethan shifted closer. Eyes squinted with intent he said, "You have to make the Damish Gang pay for what they did. Aren't you angry that they killed your brother and then lured you to work for them?"

"I was angry seconds ago."

He clapped his hands suddenly. "That's it. You need that anger to fuel your soul. You need to make her pay for what she did to me."

"Ethan?"

"Yeah?"

I scoffed, my brows twitching as I took a sip from my drink. "Listen to me..." His attentive face was kind of creepy. Maybe it was his bulging eyes that gave me that feeling or maybe my head was just making things up. "I am not going to do it."

"What do you mean?"

"Where is the proof that The Damish Gang is responsible for my brother's death?"

"What stupid proof do you need, Damon?" Ethan glared at me, his restless body finally getting off his stool. "You have heard so many things since yesterday. Are you still not convinced that The Dangerous Dame is responsible for the downfall that befell your family? She killed our father and bro... And, your brother."

"Where is your proof?"

"What is wrong with you, man?"

Calmly, I said, "Before I joined the Damish Gang, I got to see two videos. One showed how my father sold his sons to the gang. Do you know what was in the second video?"

"What?" he grumbled.

"A video of The Pretties' leader ordering his men to kill my brother. While he didn't mention the diamonds back then, I recently got to meet a member of that gang who testified that my brother was killed because of the diamonds. And it turned out to be a useless murder because Mr. Felix didn't get the diamonds at the end of the day."

"How can you be so gullible?" Ethan asked, his right hand pressing the edge of the marbled bar table. "The Dangerous Dame is one of the most powerful dons in Población. It is not hard for her to make these things up. She could have paid-"

"Show me the evidence. Prove to me that she is indeed responsible for my brother's death and I will give you what you want."

"You don't even know why I am here."

I leaned closer, some sort of dark aura around me. "You want to know where the diamonds are, don't you?"

Ethan moved closer, the scowl on his face now relaxed. His lips close to my ear, he asked, "Do you know where they are?"

"What else do you want to know?" I asked, dashing his hope of getting a definite response. I wasn't stupid. Saying that I knew the location of the gems would put me in more trouble.

"My boss needs information on the Dangerous Dame. "

"Then, tell your boss to bring proof."

"The fuck!" Ethan exclaimed as he took a step back. "Why are you so stupid? Do you think being stubborn will help you? If you don't act accordingly, you will end up like your brother."

"You are threatening me."

His teeth gritted visibly and he released a sharp exhale after he released the tension in his jaws. "Listen to me..." His hand rested on my shoulder and I pushed it away. "Malik is as ruthless as The Dangerous Dame. He can do anything to get anything. Right now, Malik needs to take The Dangerous Dame down, but he needs your help to do so."

"Why? Isn't he the president?"

"Shh!" Ethan looked startled and he wouldn't stop glaring at every corner of the room after my truthful and careless utterance. "Are you nuts?"

"No." I got off the stool. "I am done with this conversation. I am not giving Malik the details. And tell him not to bother asking me for the diamonds. I won't budge until I see the proof that the Damish Gang is responsible for my brother's death."

"You..."

"Don't ever show up in front of me. The next time you do, I will throw anything and I mean anything at you with no care." A deadly glance at the man and seconds later, after I made my payments, I was walking out of the club and wondering how to contact Selena to discuss things and clear the air.

Apart from the whole gang business, I needed to discuss emotions with that woman. She finds it easy to toy with my feelings instead of acknowledging the things she felt and I was not okay with that at all.

At this point where everything and everyone is tense, I believe it is for the best to discuss things with Selena. From there, I would know the way forward.