30. Damier
T he door burst open under the force of my boot, slamming against the wall. My revolver was already drawn, and the first thing I saw was Dream—naked, trembling, and curled on a filthy mattress with a small cover barely concealing her. My heart dropped to the floor, rage exploding in my chest like a bomb.
She looked helpless like she’d been fighting for her life. Her eyes were red and locked on mine, and for a moment, I wanted to drop everything and rush to her. But then I saw him.
Lamari stood by the far wall, frozen like the coward he was.
All I saw was red.
“You really are a dumb ass nigga,” I growled, my voice low and deadly as I stalked toward him.
Lamari panicked, his hands fumbling as he tried to charge at me, but he wasn’t ready. I was bigger, stronger, and angrier than he could ever imagine. I caught him by the collar mid-step, slamming him into the wall with enough force to make the drywall crack.
The revolver was in my other hand, and I shoved it into his throat so hard he gagged.
“You thought you could extort me?” I hissed, my face inches from his. “You thought you could touch what’s mine and walk away alive?”
“I-I’m sorry,” he stammered, his voice strangled against the pressure of the barrel. His apology only pissed me off more.
“Sorry?” I said, my voice rising. “You’re a bitch. You should’ve stayed in your fucking lane.”
He whimpered, his body trembling as he tried to squirm out of my grasp. His fear only fueled my fury.
I pressed the gun harder into his neck, the anger boiling over.
His mouth opened to beg again, but before he could get another word out, I pulled the trigger.
The gunshot echoed in the small room, and his body instantly went limp. Blood splattered the wall behind him and on my hands, as he crumpled to the floor.
As soon as Lamari’s body hit the ground, Dream stood up quickly, the blanket still clutched to the front of her body. Her legs wobbled, and she ran to me, frantic and crying.
“Baby,” she sobbed, her voice breaking as she buried her face in my chest.
I holstered my gun and pulled her close, wrapping her in my arms. “I got you,” I murmured, my voice steady even though my heart felt like it was shattering.
I took off my hoodie, sliding it over her trembling frame. “Put this on,” I said softly.
She nodded, slipping it on as her tears soaked into the fabric. Once she was covered, I scooped her up in my arms. Her head rested against my chest, and she clung to me like I was the only thing keeping her from falling apart. Dead bodies were laid out as King, Hocus, and I ran out of the house.
King’s SUV was parked right outside, the engine still running. I climbed into the backseat with Dream, holding her close as King got behind the wheel.
She broke down completely in my lap, her sobs muffled against my chest. My arms tightened around her as I pressed my lips to the top of her head.
“It’s over,” I whispered, even though my mind was still racing. “You’re safe now.”
The ride to my mother’s estate felt like forever, even though it wasn’t far. I couldn’t stop thinking about how helpless she’d looked when I burst into that room, how close I came to losing her.
When we pulled up, my mother was already at the door, her expression a mix of relief and worry.
Dream clung to me tighter as I tried to set her down. “You’re good with my mom, and you know that,” I reminded her. “She’s going to take care of you. I’ll be right here.”
Dream’s tear-streaked face tilted up to look at me, her lip trembling. “Don’t leave me,” she whispered.
“I’m not leaving. I’m going to go talk to my uncle,” I said firmly. “But let her help you. The family doctor is upstairs waiting.”
Reluctantly, she let go, and my mother wrapped an arm around her, leading her inside.
Once she was out of sight, I headed to my father’s old study with King and Hocus. The weight of everything started to settle in, but there was no relief—just exhaustion and anger.
“We found her,” Hocus said, pouring himself a drink. “That’s what matters.”
King nodded, sinking into the leather armchair. “That’s the hardest I’ve worked in years, nephew. But you stood on business. Proud of you for that.”
I leaned against the desk, my head bowed. “I feel like I failed her dad,” I admitted. “I promised Mr. Jaxton I’d keep her safe and look what happened. Now I have to tell him what happened.”
King glanced at me, his expression unreadable. “You did what you had to do to get her back. But think hard about whether you’re going to tell her father. Some shit is better left unsaid. She is alive and well. I’m sure she doesn’t want her parents to know that. I know Mr. Jaxton was in the game, but he is in a different space now. Talk to ya fiancée about not telling him.”
I nodded, but his words lingered in my mind.
$$$$$
After they left, I headed to one of the shower rooms. The hot water and soap washed away the blood, but it didn’t ease the knot in my chest. By the time I got dressed, I still didn’t feel like myself.
I walked upstairs to find Dream, pushing open the door to her room. The doctor was just finishing up and packing her bag as Dream lay in bed looking more peaceful than she had when I found her.
The moment she saw me, she jumped out of bed and threw her arms around me, her sobs returning.
I held her tightly, letting her cry into my chest. She pulled back slightly, her eyes red and puffy. “I was so scared,” she whispered. “But I knew you’d find me.”
I kissed her forehead, my hand cupping her face. “Tell me everything,” I said.
Through tears, she told me everything Lamari had done, her voice shaking as she relived it. My anger fueled as I listened, my blood boiling all over again.
My mother stood frozen near the door, mortified, while the doctor looked equally disturbed. Our doctor had been in our family for decades and knew not to speak a word about anything she heard, but I asked my mother and the doctor to step out for a moment.
Before leaving, my mother gave Dream a knowing look and said, “Make sure you tell him.”
The door closed behind them, and I turned back to Dream, confused. “What did she mean by that?”
Dream hesitated, her hands fidgeting. “The doctor… she said even though Lamari called himself using condoms, I should still be tested in a couple of weeks, but she gave me a pregnancy test.”
My chest tightened as I stared at her, waiting. Hearing he had touched her in ways that violated her made me want to go back and kill him again. He deserved a slow death, like Damian.
“It’s positive,” she said softly.
A small smile tugged at the corner of my mouth. Hearing her say the test was positive made me feel good for a moment.
“You serious?”
She nodded, tears welling up again. “Yes… But I don’t want to stay in California while pregnant. Not after what happened. I need to leave, Damier. I want to go to Thailand—to a beach house with Donta and stay there until the baby comes. I need it for my sanity.”
I didn’t even hesitate. “Whatever makes you happy, baby. I’ll make it happen.”
She shook her head. “You don’t have to come. I know you have business here?—”
“I’m not letting you go alone,” I interrupted, my voice firm. “If I have to, I will travel back and forth. It’s temporary, right?”
Her lip trembled as she nodded, her hand resting on my chest. “Yes. It’s temporary… You protected me, Damier. You found me, and that means everything. Me and the baby will be fine if you can’t stay.”
I kissed her deeply, holding her close.
When I noticed her bare hand, I stopped kissing her and frowned. “Where’s your ring?”
“I left it in my car at the house before I met Zaraa. She was already jealous, so I didn’t want to make her feel more of a way. I guess she was going to be jealous either way. But I’m glad I thought to take it off because one of those niggas would have stolen it. They took my necklace and diamond earrings,” she said.
“So, she was involved. I’m glad I popped her ass then,” I said darkly.
She nodded. “Yes. And she deserved whatever you did to her.”
I held her tighter, knowing I’d do whatever it took to keep her safe from now on. As the doctor returned with Tylenol and my mother’s chef brought up a smothered steak and loaded potatoes meal for Dream, I sat beside her, feeling a strange sense of relief.
I’d found her, and now she was carrying my child. And no matter what, I’d make sure nothing and no one ever touched her again.