Chapter 33
Ajori
That evening, the vibe was chill as Marcos and I lounged by the pool, just enjoying the night long after everyone else had ducked inside. I could hear Kyrin and Lainey laughing in the background while they watched a movie, their giggles fading softly through the glass doors.
I swirled my drink, the ice clinking, and casually asked, “Why do they call Damari Domino? He told me bits and pieces, but you’ve known him longer—maybe you can fill in some details.”
Marcos turned to me so quickly that I almost laughed. “He told you his real name? Or did your father?”
“He did.”
Marcos leaned back in surprise, as if I had just said the sky was falling. “Well, I’ll be damned.”
I frowned. “What’s so shocking about that?”
“That nigga doesn’t tell anyone his real name,” he replied, shaking his head. “Not even people who’ve known him for years. He acts like his birth certificate is classified. You must be special or something,” he added with a smirk.
“Maybe I was for a moment,” I muttered.
“What does that mean?” he questioned.
I shook my head, brushing it off. “Nothing.”
Marcos scrutinized me for a moment, then leaned back in his chair, drink in hand. “You really want to know why they call him Domino?”
I nodded. “Yeah, I do.”
Marcos exhaled slowly. “Years ago, before he became the underboss, before people feared him like they do now, he was just Damari—dangerous, but nobody knew how dangerous yet. There was a crew that thought they could cut Alejandro out, take a shipment, and disappear. They thought they were slick.”
“What happened?”
Marcos’s mouth twitched. “Domino happened.” He took a sip, then continued. “He didn’t go after all of them at once. He found the weakest one first, pulled him in, made him talk… then let him go.”
I leaned forward slightly. “He let him go?”
“On purpose, so he’d run back scared and paranoid. And that’s exactly what he did. After that, Dom just started applying pressure. One got picked up, another lost his stash, another got caught slipping at his girl’s house.”
“Like… a chain reaction.”
Marcos nodded. “Exactly. By the time Dom showed up in person, they were already falling apart and turning on each other. One of them even took himself out. When it was done, five men were gone. The whole crew collapsed without a full-on war. Somebody said, ‘Man… he didn’t even have to touch them all. He just tipped one and watched the rest fall like dominoes.’ After that night, nobody called him Damari in the streets anymore.
Alejandro promoted him the next day… said any man who could end a war without starting one deserved to be right at his side. ”
“Damn,” I whistled, stunned by the whole story. “All that? From one move.”
“That’s his gift. He doesn’t rush or miss.”
I glanced down at my drink. “And I walked into all this thinking it was just a run.”
Marcos chuckled softly. “Yeah… nah.”
Then his tone shifted slightly. “But here’s the part you should really understand. Domino doesn’t move like that unless he has to. He isn’t cruel for fun. Everything he does has a purpose. If he ever turns that side on you, it’ll be because he thinks he’s protecting something… or someone.”
And I had a pretty good idea who that someone was.
Clearing my throat, I nudged the topic elsewhere. “And he’s never had a girlfriend?”
Marcos smirked immediately. “You sure you don’t have a thing for my boy? You’re asking some detailed questions.”
I rolled my eyes playfully. “I’m just curious.”
“Uh-huh. That’s how it starts.”
I ignored him. “And speaking of having a thing for someone…” I added, narrowing my eyes at him. “Let’s not act like you and Lainey weren’t just putting on a full production across the hall.”
Marcos choked on his drink. “Damn,” he coughed. “She told you that?”
“No, she didn’t… yet. But was it supposed to be a secret?” I folded my arms.
He rubbed the back of his neck, looking a bit sheepish. “From the way she was talking… yeah.” “
“That’s crazy.”
He pointed at me. “You’re messy.”
“And you’re loud,” I shot back. “You all weren’t even trying to be discreet.”
He laughed, shaking his head. “So you’re not feeling my girl like that?” I asked.
“Nah, I am. She’s cool… and fine as hell.”
“But?”
“But we’re just… having fun right now,” he admitted, sounding sincere. “We’re not trying to make it deeper than that. We live in two different worlds… literally. That long-distance, serious relationship stuff? That’s not easy, especially with our lives.”
I nodded slowly. “Makes sense.”
I heard him, but I wasn’t fully convinced. I was already planning to ask Lainey for her side.
Later that night, I was on my way up front, not really headed anywhere specific, just trying to clear my mind. I rounded the corner near the main foyer when suddenly… boom. I collided with someone.
“Damn—” we both exclaimed simultaneously, stepping back in surprise.
I looked up, blinking a couple of times to regain my composure.
It was the same guy from the event; the one who kissed my hand like he had manners and flirted like he didn’t.
A slow, mischievous smile spread across his face. “Well… guess we gotta stop meeting like this.”
I let out a small laugh. “Or maybe you just need to watch where you’re going.”
“It’s nice seeing you again,” he said, smoothly.
“You too,” I responded, the words feeling genuine.
A pause stretched between us.
Then, with a slight tilt of his head, he asked, “You know… I never got your name that night.”
“Likewise. But it’s Ajori.”
“Ajori…” he repeated, as if he were committing the name to memory.
“And yours?” I asked.
“Mateo,” he replied, extending his hand toward me instead of leaning in for a kiss like before.
I shook it. “Nice to officially meet you, Mateo.”
“Trust me,” he paused, his eyes dragging over me just a little, “the pleasure was already there.”
I laughed softly and was about to respond… until I felt that presence.
It was Domino.
I glanced past Mateo’s shoulder, and there he was, walking in.
He stopped just short of us, his gaze drilling into me before shifting to Mateo.
There was a coldness in his eyes, unreadable yet intense; they narrowed slightly as his jaw flexed once, and then he dipped his chin in a curt nod before continuing on his way like none of it mattered…
like I didn’t matter. And just like that, that petty part of me woke up.
I turned my attention back to Mateo, forcing a small smile, trying to shake off the tension. “So… what were you about to get into?”
He shrugged. “Honestly? Just heading home… unless you got something else on your mind.”
I held his gaze and smiled. “Probably the same as you.”
With a subtle movement, I turned slightly and stepped back. “Come on,” I added, glancing over my shoulder. “Walk with me.”
Without hesitation, he replied, “Lead the way.”
As I started toward my room, I could feel that awareness again. Domino was still somewhere close.
I knew I was being reckless. I knew it, but I didn’t care.
“By the way,” Mateo spoke behind me, “you smell like mangoes… and something I can’t quite figure out.”
I glanced back with a smile, intrigued. “Trouble, maybe?” I laughed.
That man didn’t know me, but he made me feel seen, and if Domino didn’t want me, somebody else could.
We stepped into my room, and I closed the door behind us, locking it. Mateo looked around slowly, nodding with approval. “Nice place. You fit it.”
“Do I?”
“Yeah,” he replied, his eyes returning to me with an intensity that made my pulse quicken.
“Sit,” I pointed at the bed.
I sauntered toward him, pausing until I was between his legs, close enough to feel the hitch in his breathing. His hands rested on his thighs, but his eyes were firmly locked on me, hungry and focused.
He licked his lips, visibly taking in the moment. “You sure about this?”
I nodded, my fingers brushing against the tie of my robe. “Yeah. But let’s be clear… I don’t want nothing from you but—”
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The violent knocks rattled the door, reverberating through the walls.
“Open the door, Ajori!”
My heart dropped.
Shit!
Domino.
I stepped back instantly, panic rising. “No! Wait! You gotta go!”
Mateo blinked, confusion flickering across his face. “Wait—what?”
“Open the door!” Domino’s voice sliced through the air again, louder that time.
“You gotta go!” I hissed urgently.
“You serious?” Mateo asked, bewildered.
“I made a mistake! I can’t do this!” I instantly regretted.
“Do you want me to hide?” Mateo asked nervously, scrambling.
BAM!
The door didn’t open; it came straight off the hinges.
Domino stormed in like a force of nature, presence filling the entire room.
“You serious, Ajori? You got a nigga in here?”
Mateo stood up, hands half-raised in a gesture of peacemaking. “Yo, man, chill—”
Wrong move.
Domino gripped him by the throat, lifted him off the ground, and slammed him against the wall so hard the picture frames fell.
“You came here for business with Alejandro, not to fuck his daughter!” Domino growled, his voice a low thunder.
Mateo struggled to catch his breath, attempting to explain.
“Domino, stop!” I screamed, rushing to his side, yanking on his arm in desperation. “Please! Let him go! You’re gonna kill him!”
Domino's eyes were locked on Mateo’s face, but I could see the muscles in his grip relax marginally.
Mateo dropped to the floor, coughing, gasping.
Domino pivoted to glare at me next, and that look he gave was worse than anything I had ever experienced.
“This what you doing now?” His voice cracked from rage and disbelief. “Fucking random niggas to get back at me?”
“I’m not trying to get back at you!” I shouted, my voice rising defensively.
“At least I knew the bitch I fucked!” he snapped back, eyes burning with resentment. “I didn’t take you to be a hoe, Ajori!”
In a flash, my hand connected with his cheek, hard enough to leave a mark. Domino’s eyes fluttered shut momentarily. He inhaled sharply, jaw clenched, lips twitching as he struggled to contain the violent emotions boiling inside him… or was it something deeper, more vulnerable?
“Get out,” I whispered, my voice breaking with the weight of my hurt. “Now.”
He hesitated, raw anger and something softer battling within him.
“I said get out!” My voice rose again, a frantic plea.
His eyes met mine one last time—so much unsaid in that moment—before he turned and walked out, slamming what was left of the door behind him.
The room felt utterly wrecked afterwards, as if a storm had blown through and stripped away all remnants of peace.
Behind me, Mateo’s voice emerged, rough and raspy as he tried to find his footing. “You could’ve warned me y’all were together.”
I shook my head, feeling tears prick at my eyes, a mix of humiliation and heartbreak washing over me. “We’re not. It’s just… complicated.”
“Yeah… aight. Stay away from me,” he muttered, and with that, he was gone, leaving me alone, horny, humiliated, and hurt by a man who hadn’t even touched me yet.