12. Damier
T he day had been long, but I thrived on keeping busy. Sitting at my desk in the high-rise, I stared out at the skyline of Downtown LA. The city always had a way of reminding me of the balance I needed to maintain—one foot in the legit world, the other in the underworld that had built my family’s empire.
I gazed at my burner phone on my desk and picked it up, dialing Marco’s number.
He answered on the first ring. “Damier. I’ve been waiting days for your call.”
“I was tied up, but I am calling you now to settle things,” I said, leaning back in my chair. “You did good bringing Damian to me. I’m going to send you an incentive for it—a nice one. You did what was right.”
“Appreciate that,” Marco replied, his voice even.
“I’m not faulting you for working with him,” I continued. “You didn’t know the full story. Hell, none of us know everything about each other in this world. I’m sure he didn’t tell you the truth.”
Marco didn’t deny it, so I pressed on.
“I’ll tell you what you need to know. Damian’s my twin, my blood, but he betrayed me. What you saw when you brought him to me—that’s the fallout of family drama turned into war. And that’s the reason I’m still going to do business with you. Loyalty is everything, Marco. I’ve been wanting to expand into Canada, and now you are my golden ticket. Don’t fuck this up.”
“I definitely won’t fuck this up,” Marco said. “I’m not in the business of betrayal, Damier. All I want to do is make money.”
“That’s how it should be,” I said. “Stay loyal, and the money will always follow.”
With that, we ended the call.
I was about to dial Hocus when my personal phone rang, Dream’s face lighting up the screen. I picked up immediately, leaning back and gazing out the window as her voice came through.
“Hey, baby,” she said, her tone soft but tired. “I just got out of a session and needed a breather. Figured I’d call you.”
I smirked, letting her words wash over me. Dream could talk about anything, and I’d listen all day. Her voice had a way of grounding me.
“How’s your day going?” I asked.
She sighed. “Busy. But better now that I’m talking to you.”
We talked for a while, and she talked about her patients and the little things that happened at work. Then, her voice softened. “I wanted to invite you to dinner at my mom’s tonight. My dad wants to thank you personally for everything you’ve done for Donta and the family.”
I didn’t hesitate. “Of course. Text me the address.”
Her voice lit up with happiness, and after a few more moments, we ended the call.
Once I got off the phone with her, I called Hocus and King on three-way about Marco, and they were good with the decision I made. I also told them I would be ready to meet with Felix after I came from vacation with Dream. Things were back going my way, and it felt good.
$$$$$
At 6:00 PM, I pulled up to a cozy one-story home in Woodland Hills. It was modest but warm, the kind of house where love lived. Dream met me in the driveway, her face lighting up like it always did when she saw me.
“Hey, you,” she said, opening my door for me.
I stepped out, pulling her into a hug and taking in the soft floral scent of her perfume. “You’re always so happy to see me, woman. I’m not that exciting,” I teased.
She grinned. “Can you blame me?”
Before we walked in, I asked, “What are your parents’ names? You know, so I can greet them with respect.”
She laughed lightly. “Just call them Mr. and Mrs. Jaxton. Keep it simple.”
Inside, I was introduced as her boyfriend for the first time. Her mom smiled warmly, and her dad’s handshake was firm and genuine. Mr. Jaxton immediately thanked me sincerely for everything I’d done for Donta and the family, his gratitude catching me off guard.
“You’ve done what I couldn’t,” he said, his voice heavy with emotion. “I’ve tried my best as a father, but the Knight Foundation stepped in when I couldn’t. Thank you.”
I respected men like him—hardworking, humble, and not too proud to accept help. “You’ve done a lot for your family,” I said. “I’m just glad I could help, though.”
Later, Mr. Jaxton asked to speak with me privately. He led me to the basement, which he’d turned into a man cave. The space was impressive—plush leather seating, a big-screen TV, and memorabilia on the walls.
He poured us a drink and got straight to the point.
“I know who you are, Damier. Really,” he said.
I stiffened but didn’t interrupt.
“Roman, your father, was my plug for decades,” he continued. “I did business with the Knight family when you and Damian were young. I went to jail for ten years, and I never snitched. Took my time like a man. When I got out, Roman was battling cancer, but he still gave me a couple of million. Told me to build a life.”
He paused, his voice growing heavier. “I bought this house with that money, paid it off. Saved the rest to go legit as a mechanic. Dream’s college tuition? I paid it. But when Donta got sick, that money drained fast. I love my son, and I went broke for him. Now… he wants to die, and there’s nothing I can do to stop it.”
His words hit me hard. “You’re a good father, Mr. Jaxton,” I said. “You’ve done more than most men would.”
He nodded, his expression softening. “I’m glad Dream has you. Beyond the money and chaos, I can see you’re a good man. Roman raised you right.” Then, he looked at me seriously. “How much does Dream know about your life?”
I met his gaze, my voice steady. “Everything. But I don’t bring her around the chaos.”
He nodded. “Just keep her safe.”
“I will,” I said firmly. “You have my word.”
“Well, let’s get back to the women before they come knocking.” Mr. Jaxton chuckled.
Back upstairs, Dream and her mom were laughing as they set the table. The sight made me pause. Dream had something I rarely saw—strong, loving parents. My exes never had that, always leaning on my family to fill that void.
Mrs. Jaxton spotted us and smiled. “We have a celebrity in the house, so I brought out my good china. Tonight, it’s filet mignon and lobster.”
We all laughed, and the dinner was just as warm and inviting as the house. Dream’s parents were down-to-earth, and I felt a level of comfort I hadn’t expected.
$$$$$
After dinner, Dream was yawning constantly, but she insisted on checking on Donta before we left. I followed her to his room, my first time meeting him. The air in the room was cold and sterile, the faint hum of oxygen machines filling the silence.
Donta’s face lit up when he saw Dream. “Hey, sis,” he weakly said.
Dream introduced me. “Hey, baby brother. This is my boyfriend, Damier. We just came to check in before we headed out for the night.”
Donta nodded, his voice soft. “Nice to meet you. I’m… going away soon, so please treat my sister good. I’m going to miss her.”
The words hit me harder than I expected. Dream lightened the mood, and we talked briefly before leaving him to rest. After we told her parents goodnight, we left.
Outside, the night was calm, but my mind wasn’t. Seeing Donta in that cold room had hit me harder than I expected. The hum of the machines, his frail body, and the way he spoke about leaving… It reminded me too much of my father in his final days.
As we stood by Dream’s car, I pulled her close, taking in the warmth of her presence. “Seeing Donta,” I said softly, my voice rough with emotion, “it fucked me up a little. Reminds me of when my dad was sick with cancer. Watching him suffer for years taught me to be humble. Makes me want to thank God for my health.”
Dream nodded, her gaze steady but laced with sadness. “That’s how I feel every day,” she admitted. “But I try to save my sadness for when it’s time. For now, I just take things one day at a time.”
I admired her strength and the way she carried the weight of her family without breaking.
She tilted her head toward her car. “I’ll follow you back to your place.”
I smirked, pulling her closer by the waist. “Looks like somebody’s trying to move in.”
She laughed, the sound soft and comforting. “That’s if you want me to.”
“You know I want you to,” I said, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “But I’m on your time, baby.”
She smiled, her fingers lightly trailing over my chest. “Feels like I’m on your time, though. I stayed put like you said while you were gone. But I’ll be ready soon. Just know I’m not a penthouse type of girl. I like a home like mine.”
I kissed her forehead, smiling at how simple yet grounded she was. “I like the simplicity of you. I’ve got homes, too, but whenever you’re ready, we’ll find a place you like. Or we’ll move into yours. It’s your call.”
Her laughter softened as she leaned up to kiss me gently. “You always know what to say.”
I watched her get into her car and waited until she pulled out behind me. The drive back to the penthouse felt lighter, and her presence in my rearview mirror was a reminder of everything I was working to protect.
When we got home, the weight of the night fell away. Dream talked my ear off about our upcoming trip to Turks and Caicos, her excitement filling the penthouse like fresh air. And as the night went on, we lost ourselves in each other, our connection making everything else fade into the background. With her, the chaos of the world didn’t matter—it was just us.