SIXTY FOUR

DAMON

“Ma!” I rushed into the living room, my jacket and cross bag falling onto the ground as my eyes hastily scanned the room. “I am here,” I announced again, hoping that nothing was wrong.

I had gotten a text from her, telling me that we needed to talk. And that was all she sent. Despite the numerous messages I sent to her after, my mother didn’t reply and I became more worried. So much so that I abandoned my work and hurried to her house while praying fervently that Malik or Selena’s father had not gotten a hold of her.

“Oh, Damon…” My mother’s voice greeted me as she calmly walked out of the kitchen.

Heaving a sigh of relief, a small frown etched on my forehead, I rushed to her and engulfed the entirety of her body in my embrace. I used the assurance of her presence to soothe the terror that was about to grow inside me.

Patting my back almost reluctantly or maybe confusedly, my mother asked, “Is something wrong?”

Shaking my head, I answered, “No. I am just glad you are here.”

“Okay?”

Seconds later, my eyes were still trained on the roasted chicken she placed on the kitchen counter ahead, and I broke our hug.

“What’s with your text?” I wasted no time in questioning her. “It was a worrisome one. Did something happen?”

“We need to talk,” my mother simply replied.

“Where is Becca?”

“She is sleeping.” I began to approach the television which was set to a low volume, sparing me the chance to listen to the terrible news that’s always broadcasted religiously. “Damon, that TV is the least of our problems. We need to talk.”

“Then, say something ma,” I pleaded as my feet swiftly swirled to face her. “You are just adding tension to my soul by repeating the same thing. I know that we need to talk, you sent me a text already. So please,” I walked toward her again, reaching for her hands, “just let me know what’s going on.”

For a second, it looked as though my mother was going to scold me. But a conceding sigh followed and all she did was pull her hands out of my gentle grasp. She found herself a seat to settle in and began to play with the objects around her.

“Damon…” Her fingers rimmed the edge of the glass cup next to her. Not lifting her head to look at me, some sort of heaviness wrapped the tone of her voice as she continued, “I think it is time for us to move.”

My eyes narrowed in slight confusion, I made my gaze briefly fall on the ceiling as though I would find a reason to back my mother’s statement on the grided roof. I didn’t find any reason. My sight glanced through the room and I was yet to find a fault in the room that could cause my mother to utter such a statement.

So, I faced her and said, “The house is still in good condition, so why would you want to move? Besides, you just recently became the full owner, so why are you finding it easy to suggest moving after all you have been through to secure this place.”

“Damon Estevan Jones…” I almost groaned at the mention of my middle name. I don’t mind being called by my full name, but that middle name… That very middle name reminds me of my father’s name. Despite the classiness attached to the name Estevan, I still hate it. My mother finally looked my way and I adjusted the scowl on my face. Hands on her thighs, she said, “Things have changed. Now that you know about the diamonds, I can’t help but feel uneasy.”

“So, you want to move? What difference would that make?” My hands rested on both sides of my waist, crumpling my tucked shirt a little bit. “Mom, in case you have forgotten, the entire country is controlled by these Mafia dons. There is nowhere we can run to, they’ll always find us.”

“Who is talking about moving to another house?” One of my brows quirked in reaction to the sharpness in her voice. “I am talking about moving out of the country. Or moving away from the country. Whichever is correct.” She threw her hands in the air as she muttered, “English is complicated.”

“You want us to move out of the country?” The first thought that came to my mind as I watched my mother nod her head was Selena. Leaving Poblacion easily equates to never seeing Selena again. Does that mean that Selena will soon become a distant memory?

“Damon?” My mother called me out of my thoughts. When our eyes met, she said, “I want our family to start a new life. We have been tied to our pains for too long, it is high time we got rid of them.”

“I don’t think it is that easy to escape from one’s pain,” I remarked, my soul feeling slightly fearful because a part of me was already agreeing with my mother’s suggestion.

“But we have to try,” came that whispered response. “We have gone through so much, Damon. Let us leave this country and start somewhere new. Even if it is too hard to escape from the shackles in our soul, let’s do this for Rebecca who doesn’t deserve to suffer any more than she has.”

I sighed. “So, what do you plan to do? We need money to move. I don’t think we can sell the diamonds here. That will be too risky.”

“Vani Jones willed a beach house to me. I am thinking of selling it. We can sell the diamonds after we move. They are five-carat diamonds with a high value on them. We can get a good deal if we sell some later on.” She nodded her head as she concluded her thoughts. “But for now, let’s sell the beach house first.”

My eyes narrowed and I asked, “Why do I get this feeling that you are almost done selling it off?”

My mother eyed me. “Why didn’t you tell me that you had your vacation in that house? I barely managed to prevent the Mafia from wrapping their claws on the building."

“How was I supposed to know whose house it was? It was Selena that-” I quickly halted my words. Peering at my mother, I wondered if she knew about my relationship with Selena. Then, I wondered if Selena took me to that beach house on purpose.

Did she perhaps do such because she knew that Malik and Basiton would show up and accuse her of killing my brother in my presence? Did she take me there to find a chance to weasel out of the things she felt for me?

“Who is this Selena? Did you get a girlfriend?” While my mother's words dragged me out of my bothered thoughts, her smile grew. “Is it that woman that visited you at the hospital?”

“Mom, we are going off track.”

“Oh yes…” She got up. “I have some money saved. If we add it to the money I will get from selling this house and the beach house, we will be more than set for the journey ahead. So think about it within three days. My plan is for us to move out before the month ends.”

“But this month just started.”

Almost dismissively, my mother looked to the side and said, “That’s why you have to hurry your thoughts and…” I noticed how her stance was swift to change. Her full attention was instantly placed on something.

I turned and the bold headline that greeted my sight caused a thud in my heart.

“The leader of The Damish Gang is a woman?” my mother asked no one in particular.

All I focused on was the image of Selena displayed on the TV. Thankfully, the image hid most of her face. But I knew it was her. I recognized the outfit to be the very one she wore to Alejandro’s party.

My mother grabbed the remote and increased the volume.

The shrill voice of the newscaster kept talking about The Dangerous Dame’s identity and the many ‘crimes’ she had committed. While it was easy to ignore the ridiculous information being read to the entire country, when I heard the newscaster mention that Selena was already in police custody, my entire soul was plunged into terror.

But I didn’t let that terrible feeling get to me so much. The next second, I grabbed my bag and rushed out of the house. For some reason, as I hailed a taxi, I had the feeling that the second half of the news was also a lie.

Selena is not someone who easily gives in to bullshit. And since I could sense Malik’s hands in the terrible news being circulated, I am more than certain that Selena would never let someone like Malik get the chance to put her behind bars.

~

I didn’t find her.

She was not at the mansion or the small prison behind the mansion. I found a way to trace the smelly warehouse where I once met Selena but she wasn’t there either.

As a means of trying hard, I made sure to dial her number repeatedly.

Nothing. Nothing came out of my efforts.

All I got was the constant reminder that the entire country was close to knowing her real identity. Hours that were spent trying to locate her were raided with blurred images of Selena that were spread all over the city.

It is certainly a matter of time before Malik or whoever is behind this bullshit reveals her face.

And I can’t have that happening.

But how can I stop this terrible thing if I don’t know where Selena is?

Exhaling hard, my eyes roaming the old walls of my small living room as I walked into my house, I briefly entertained the thought of reaching out to Malik. I could use the diamonds he desperately wished to lay his hands on to bargain Selena’s freedom.

The idea sounded nice but highly reckless. I can’t pull off that plan without someone’s help.

I soon plopped myself into the single couch in the living room. Pushing my bag aside, my soul became more confused as I wondered what I could do. I don’t think I would be able to live with myself if Selena gets fully wrapped up in the crazy drama going on with the gang.

I  know I sound crazy considering how Selena is somewhat involved in the entire diamond drama. But as things are, they have decided to use her as bait. And I can’t let that happen. They seemingly consider her the best sacrifice because she managed to infiltrate their male-dominated mafia world in a way they don’t like.

This must be their chance to get rid of her.

Groaning as I struggled with getting up, I quickly deduced that my mother’s plan to leave the country will be stalled for a while. I can’t leave unless I am certain that Selena is safe.

After a few steps closer to my room, the slight darkness in the living room started to give me a strange feeling, and to kill the eerieness that came with that certain darkness, I flicked the switch and illuminated the room.

Satisfied within my soul, I turned to take a quick look at the small space behind me.

I was instantly greeted by a sight that numbed my senses.

Hair laying on her shoulders, her all-black outfit making her look dangerous, Selena got up from the couch. Displaying anger on her face, her quiet footsteps began to approach me who was yet to move an inch.

While I was glad that she wasn’t behind bars, having her so close made that moment feel a little overwhelming.

The different sides of Selena I witnessed over the past few weeks began to play in my head and as though it wasn’t glaring enough, I tried to figure out which side of Selena I was looking at.

“Damon Jones…” The sound of her voice snapped the tension out of my body. She moved closer and didn’t stop until our chests were almost touching. Seeing her that close caused a small gasp to leave my mouth. It was a sound that showed how relieved I was. Running my gaze through her face, I began to take in every detail on her face, including the wrinkles of fury around her eyes.  My full attention was on her and I didn’t miss the way her lips moved when she gruffly asked, “How could you, Damon?"

I had no idea what she was talking about and I wished to know what it was, but not at that moment.

My heart thumping way more than I thought it could, I relaxed my body as Selena fiercely grabbed my collar. She was about to speak when I lowered my head and shut her up.

Taking her lips between mine with great frevour, my entire body was instantly wrapped in shivers, and to stop the feverish desire within me, I found her waist and pulled her closer, ignoring her slight resistance which soon disappeared.